• 13KoonceThis fall will mark the 50th anniversary of the victory of the "Amazin'" New York Mets over a talented Baltimore Orioles team in the World Series. A veteran bullpen pitcher from Hope Mills named Calvin Koonce played a key role in that title, winning six games down the stretch for the Mets and earning seven saves.

    Late last month, friends and family of Koonce, who died in 1993 at the age of 52, traveled back to New York to take part in a 50th anniversary celebration held at the Mets’ current home stadium, CitiField. 

    Peggy Koonce, wife of the late Mets reliever, had a hard time believing it’s been 50 years. It was shortly after her husband’s death that she attended the 25th anniversary reunion.

    Many of the former Mets stars have since died, players like Tommie Agee, Don Cardwell, Don Clendenon and manager Gil Hodges.

    Hall of Famer Tom Seaver, the biggest pitching star for the 1969 Mets, was also absent. His family recently announced he is no longer making public appearances as he’s suffering from dementia.

    One of Koonce’s closest friends on the team, Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, was unable to attend the 50th anniversary. Mrs. Koonce said her husband was a mentor to the younger Ryan, helping the flamethrower deal with control issues taming his lethal fastball. Ryan ended his career with the most no-hitters in major league history: seven.

    The Mets treated the Koonces and the other families there for the 50th anniversary weekend firstclass, putting them up at the Plaza Athenee, which has hosted guests like actress Elizabeth Taylor and Princess Diana.

    The ceremony held before New York’s Saturday, June 29, game with the Atlanta Braves took about 30 minutes. The deceased Mets were introduced first, with their pictures individually flashed on the giant video screen, followed by a live camera shot of the family member or members there representing them.

    The living players were driven via golf cart to a platform in the infield. Lifetime Met Ed Kranepool spoke on behalf of the entire group.

    “It was bittersweet because the health of so many of them has failed,’’ Mrs. Koonce said.

    But the memories of the victory over the Orioles were still fond ones for her. “I think the thing that was so important was knowing we were playing the Orioles and they were so good,’’ she said. “We were a team not chosen to win it. We were holding our own, and the young pitchers were doing their job.

    “When you’ve got Nolan Ryan and Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman and a bullpen consisting of Calvin and Ron Taylor and all those guys, it looks pretty good.’’

    Mrs. Koonce said she felt pretty special just sitting in the stands for that World Series, looking around and seeing the late Jacqueline Kennedy just a couple of rows behind her, and the entertainer Pearl Bailey not far away.

    “Just seeing the look on Calvin’s face after it was all over,’’ she said. “It was just wonderful. The expressions of love they had for each other.’’

    Also along for the 50th anniversary observance was Timmy Smith, who played baseball for Koonce when Koonce was first head coach at South View High School and later at Campbell University.

    “Most anybody you talked with about Mr. Koonce talked about how he was a positive influence (on his teammates) and took them under his wing,’’ Smith said.

    Smith added that Koonce had a similar effect on him. “He was like my second father,’’ Smith said. “He could tell you more by not saying things than he could with words. Just his looks and his motions.

    “One player told me (Koonce) sold him a couple of sport coats, took him under his wing and took care of him and his reputation. Another person said it was great to have (Koonce) there to talk with because he could have made a lot of wrong choices along the way. Mr. Koonce helped

    him make the right ones.’’

  • 15FultzSouth View track athlete Isaiah Fultz made history and won a state championship earlier this year in a rented wheelchair with a flat tire. Now the school is trying to get him a chair he can call his own.

    Fultz, who was left paralyzed after a childhood car accident, became the first Cumberland County athlete to compete and win an event in the wheelchair division of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 4-A track meet this spring. He won in the 100-meter wheelchair division with a time of 21.91 seconds.

    So far, Fultz has been competing in a rented wheelchair that costs $150 a month. In addition to the cost of renting the chair, he had to spend additional money for repairs during the recent track season.

    The week of this year’s state championship meet proved to be a nightmare for Fultz, South View athletic director Chad Barbour and South View track coach Jesse Autry. The Monday of the state track meet, Fultz had a tire to blow out on his wheelchair. Barbour took it to a local vendor, who promised to have it repaired in time for the meet. The day of the meet, the vendor had not received the new tire for the chair, and it wasn’t ready. Barbour and Autry picked it up and did the best they could to patch the tire so Fultz could race.

    “He actually could have raced a lot faster,’’ Barbour said after Fultz won in his broken chair.

    So this summer, Barbour began pricing racing wheelchairs and found one that sold for $3,055. Barbour started a fundraiser for the chair, but so far has only raised $150.

    Barbour said the investment in the chair on Fultz’s behalf would be worth it to potential donors. “He’s the type of kid, if you get him what he needs, he’s going to be out there putting in the work,’’ Barbour said. “He’s as determined a young athlete as I’ve ever seen. He’s just a great kid who inspires me to do my job better.’’

    Donations of any amount are welcome and can be dropped off at South View High School during normal summer business hours or mailed to Barbour at the school mailing address: 4184 Elk Rd., Hope Mills, NC 28348.

    Barbour said checks should be made out to South View High School/Chad Barbour.

    Photo: Isaiah Fultz currently relies on a rented chair for racing

  • 12HM teamThe Hope Mills Nationals 8U baseball team will carry the North Carolina Dixie Youth Baseball state title banner to Ruston, Louisiana, in search of a championship. But to get there, they'll need a lot of financial support.

    Jesse Cox, one of the coaches of the Hope Mills team, said a fundraiser has been started to try and cover the numerous expenses involved with getting the squad of 12 players and four coaches to their destination.

    “We are looking at having to reuniform our team in North Carolina attire,’’ Cox said. “We’ll have some expense in that.’’

    But that’s only the tip of this expensive iceberg. The distance by road from Hope Mills to Ruston is just under 1,000 miles and will take just over 13 hours by car. The tournament is scheduled to run July 26-30, and the Hope Mills team is hoping to rent as many as 20 rooms for the players and coaches. Those rooms will cost from $120-$150 per night.

    Figuring out how to handle transportation is also a challenge. Cox doesn’t want to rent a full-sized bus. The team hopes to be in Louisiana for more than a couple of days, and a bus would not be a convenient way to make repeated trips to the ballpark and other places.

    “We want to be more mobile,’’ he said, considering possibilities like passenger vans or carpooling in SUVs because of the large amount of baseball equipment they’ll need to transport.

    Flying wouldn’t be cost effective, he said, unless someone out there wants to offer the team use of an airplane.

    “They are a special team and group, and you do want to make it fun,’’ Cox said. But, he also noted, “I’m going down there to win that thing, to compete.

    “The town and community should realize this is not only for Hope Mills but the state of North Carolina,’’ he said. “It gives us the opportunity to represent this town in a broad spectrum. We want to do everything possible to get these boys down there, to get them there and enjoy themselves.’’

    Sponsorships are available for larger donors from $250 to $1,000. All major donors get their name or business logo on the team banner.

    The team is also selling 50/50 tickets for cash only. A date for the 50/50 drawing had not been established at press time.

    The GoFundMe web address for the team is www.gofundme.com/state-championship-bound. The page was originally created to raise money for the trip to the state finals in Brunswick County.

    Editor's note: The Hope Mills 10U softball team came out of the losers bracket last Wednesday afternoon and defeated Lumberton 2-1 to win the 10U Dixie Softball state championship. In doing so, it become the second Hope Mills team advancing to a Dixie Youth World Series.

  • 11Macky HallFormer coworkers at South View High School and friends from the education community remember McKinley “Macky” Hall Jr. as a devoted supporter of education who had a strong loyalty to his many friends in the South View school district. Hall, a former football coach, Hope Mills political leader and longtime school board member, died earlier this month at the age of 85.

    Bobby Poss was head football coach at South View during Hall’s final years as the school’s athletic director. He had a special nickname for Hall no one else used, calling him Tiger One.

    “He was so encouraging and supportive,’’ said Poss, who guided the Tigers to their only state 4-A football championship in the fall of 1991. “He was a great administrator but also a very good friend. That’s all he tried to do, be a helper. He was thinking and the wheels were turning.’’

    When Poss arrived at South View in 1989, the school had never made the North Carolina High School Athletic Association football playoffs in its previous 17 years.

    Poss was placing his first equipment order with Hall, and Hall asked if there was anything missing. Poss told Hall that at his previous job at Seventy-First, he always ordered new socks for his team to wear in the state playoffs.

    “South View had never been to the playoffs, but Macky said we better order playoff socks,’’ Poss recalled. South View finished the 1989 season 9-4 and won the first two state football playoff games in school history.

    “We ordered playoff socks and we got to wear them,’’ Poss said. “That was an example of the kind of encouraging he can do for a guy.’’

    Poss said Hall did the same for other South View coaching legends like Randy Ledford, Ron Miller and Eddie Dees.

    “I don’t think a coach ever felt slighted by Macky,’’ Poss said. “He was the first all-in guy before it became a popular term.’’

    Greg West served with Hall on the Cumberland County Board of Education. He called Hall a pleasure to work with and someone who cared deeply about schools, both the buildings and the people in them.

    “He didn’t raise his voice, and he spoke to the point and spoke his mind,’’ West said. “He wasn’t confrontational. He worked with people to try to talk you into seeing it his way.’’

    Current South View athletic director Chad Barbour first got to know Hall five years ago when Barbour took over the position. Though retired, Barbour said Hall continued to show support for the schools, and especially South View.

    “Anything you look at as far as South View athletics and the success we’ve had in the past is basically a direct reflection of his efforts here as athletic director,’’ Barbour said. “He was the engineer behind that great state championship run.’’

    Over a period of about a half-dozen years just before and after Hall stepped down as South View athletic director, the Tigers won state championships in baseball, football, boys golf, boys basketball and softball.

    “He got the right coaches in place, gave them what they needed, and they built somewhat of a dynasty through his leadership,’’ Barbour said. “That carried over for many years.’’

    Even after his health began to fail, Barbour said, Hall was a regular at South View home football games and was instrumental in getting the school a larger, modernized press box. Unsuccessful attempts have been made to have the press box named in Hall’s honor.

    “He held South View very near and dear to his heart,’’ Barbour said.

    Former Cumberland County Schools student activities director Fred McDaniel coached with Hall when the latter was head football coach at Terry Sanford in the mid-1970s.

    “He was really an advocate for kids,’’ McDaniel said. “As a board member, he was concerned with athletes, not so much winning and losing, but our integrity, making kids do the right thing. He worked hard for kids and their well-being, giving them the best opportunity.’’

    Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner followed Hall's work as athletic director at South View and recalled he was a familiar fixture at town events, athletic fields and restaurants.

    “He was involved in the community beyond being on the school board,’’ Warner said. “He was always very active until the last few months.’’ 

    Warner said Hall was part of a special time when South View was the only school in Hope Mills, before Jack Britt and Gray’s Creek opened.

    “It was the height of school spirt in Hope Mills,’’ she said. “That was when they decorated the town orange and black.’’ This was something that Tiger One certainly appreciated.

    Photo: McKinley "Macky" Hall

  • 11rivermistRock’n on the River, presented by Healy Wholesale Company, Inc., is set for Friday, Aug. 16, at 6 p.m. The music event will take place at 1122 Person St., behind Deep Creek Outfitters.

    “Rock’n on the River is Fayetteville’s newest free music venue where adults can take kids, be safe, have police protection, have beer and food and listen to free music,” said Greg Adair, founder of Rock’n on the River. Adair compared the event to a small-scale Fayetteville After Five, noting that Rock’n on the River is usually on the third Friday of the month.

    The August concert features Adair’s band, Rivermist, and a Leonard Skynyrd tribute band. “Rivermist is a great group of guys,” said Adair. “We have been together since 2014 as a band.

    “The direction changed at the end of 2016. We were limiting ourselves to classic rock, and you cannot limit yourself to one genre and succeed there unless you are a tribute band.”

    Adair added that some of the biggest things that have contributed to Rivermist’s success locally are being humble, approachable and kind to people. The band has a Christian background. Its members believe their success and anything they do is a blessing, and they know where it comes from. 

    “Two of the band members, who are another guy and I, had open-heart surgery years ago, and both of us are walking testimonies,” Adair said. “It has been 10 years now, and I feel better now than when I was in my 30s.”

    “My purpose of the event is to have another family-friendly event that all families can go to that does not cost an arm and a leg,” said Adair. “It has been my vision to do this. Plus, it is right by the river, and nobody has really done anything with the Cape Fear River in years.”

    Adair added that the first Rock’n on the River show hosted approximately 440 people. At the last show, there were 580 people, which keeps it intimate. The audience is not far from the stage and can hear the music easily.

    “I want people to come to the event and be relaxed and drawn to it,” said Adair. “I want to thank Healy Wholesale. I appreciate their friendship and support because we could not do this without them.”

    The event is free and open to the public. Food, beer and drinks will be available for purchase. Parking begins at 5 p.m. and costs $5 per car. Coolers and containers are not allowed. Bring chairs, umbrellas and blankets. For more information or to become a sponsor, follow the event on Facebook or email rocknontheriver@gmail.com.

  • 02pubpenimageFINALExcept for Democrat Sen. Kirk deViere, Cumberland County politicians in Raleigh have demonstrated a refreshing display of unity, cooperation, communication and focus on the needs and priorities of the people in our community.

    First and foremost is their desire to create a stronger, more vibrant, more competitive Fayetteville and Cumberland County for residents and future generations. Finally, we have responsible leadership with vision — leaders who are placing people over politics and assuring Fayetteville and Cumberland County will be taking their places amongst the larger, more prosperous cities and counties in our state. It is this delegation that, along with a substantial number of residents, businesses and organizations, has worked for years to improve our community. For too long we have watched other North Carolina communities receive special favors and funding from our state legislature while leaders ignored the needs of Cumberland County.

    Many of our former legislators worked hard to improve the situation for Cumberland County and Fayetteville. Their efforts laid the groundwork for this current legislative delegation to garner state legislative support for much-needed projects that will impact our community for decades. This group of relentless bi-partisan leaders can only be described as a visionary tour de force for recognizing the needs and opportunities for Fayetteville/ Cumberland County, the likes of which we have never seen before.

    The 2020-22 budget presented by the North Carolina Legislature brings more than $132 million in projects that benefit diverse aspects of our community. In a rare show of unity, their vision and “people over politics” leadership style has netted us big and long-lasting benefits, including projects that, once completed, will net Cumberland County $20-$40 million dollars a year in additional revenues.

    While no budget meets all the needs of the community, this budget is a oncein- a-lifetime win-win for all of us here in Fayetteville and Cumberland County. A very special thank you to Rep. John Szoka, R-District 45, and Sen. Ben Clark, D-District 21, for leading this charge.

    This being said, it would be nice to celebrate our good fortune. Unfortunately, we cannot. Gov. Roy Cooper, D-N.C., has vetoed the budget.

    Why? I smell partisan politics and Cooper’s desire to impress his fellow left-leaning political cronies by demonstrating that he’s a team player willing to reject the state budget because it excludes Medicaid expansion. Cooper and political opportunists like deViere have put the possibility of this $132 million infusion into our community in jeopardy.

    Here’s what we would gain with the approved budget — or what we could lose if Cooper’s veto is upheld.

    • $12 million for the North Carolina Civil War and Reconstruction History Center; $3 million in year two with anticipation of a total payout of $46 million in the years ahead

    • $28.8 for school construction and renovation and repairs

    • $8 million to fund Cape Fear Valley Medical Center’s physician residency program

    • $1.53 million for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park

    • $1.5 million for Kingdom Community Development, which includes affordable housing construction

    • $900,000 for the North Carolina Military Business Center headquartered in Fayetteville

    • $750,000 for Airborne and Special Operations Museum’s renovation second-year funding

    • $750,000 for Cumberland County Veterans Healthcare pilot program

    • $16.2 million to Fayetteville State University

    • $20 million to Fayetteville Technical Community College

    Opportunities like these don’t just happen. It takes thousands of residents, businesses and organizations spending time, energy and money to make projects of this magnitude a reality for any community. It takes a dedicated group of hardworking, business-savvy political leaders who understand the needs of our community and care more about their constituents than they do about themselves or their political futures. This is why it is vitally important that we support and encourage our local legislators — Sen. Clark and state Reps. John Szoka; Marvin Lucas, D-District 42; Elmer Floyd, D-District 42; and Billy Richardson, D-District 44.

    Encourage them to stand up for Fayetteville/Cumberland County constituents by keeping people before politics. Encourage them to pursue the $132 million infusion into our community by rejecting Gov. Cooper’s veto of the 2020-22 legislative budget.

    For some, this will be a bold and challenging move. However, it will demonstrate to everyone in Fayetteville, Cumberland County and the rest of North Carolina that our leadership possesses the integrity, vision and talent needed to aggressively move our community forward by doing the right thing for the right reasons.

    No doubt, tough, gut-wrenching decisions will have to be made. That’s what real leadership is all about. However, in doing so, the rewards are many and the consequences are few. Without a doubt, this budget touches many people in wonderful and diverse ways. A vote by our legislators to reject the governor’s veto will be a vote that will assure a bright and bountiful future for current Fayetteville/Cumberland County residents and future generations.

    Again, a very special thank you to our hardworking local delegation: Clark, Szoka, Lucas, Floyd and Richardson.

    Keep up the good work!

    Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • 08borderFriday, July 13, Bud Light presents On the Border as part of its Fayetteville After 5 Concert Series. The concert takes place at 6 p.m. in Festival Park.

    “The purpose of the Fayetteville After 5 Concert Series is to help us raise money for our Fall Festival and our signature Spring Dogwood Festival,” said Sarah Suggs, marketing and events coordinator for the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival. “All of the funds we make at each event is a fundraiser for the following event, so the more revenue we can generate at these Fayetteville After 5 events, the bigger and better we can make our fall festival and spring festival.”

    July’s headlining act is On the Border – the Ultimate Eagles Tribute Band, and the opening act is Rivermist. “We have had On the Border in previous years, and they are really popular and definitely a Fayetteville favorite,” said Suggs.

    On the Border hails from Charlotte. Their shows feature timeless hits from the iconic rock band The Eagles. During performances, each member of the band plays his respective character of the original Eagles band.

    Rivermist is a classic rock band from Fayetteville. The band represents the collaboration of musicians who have been playing in and around Fayetteville for more than 20 years. Rivermist’s classic rock sound dovetails perfectly with the evening’s headliner.

    Another way that the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival makes a difference in the community is by supporting other nonprofits and organizations. This season, there is something new.

    “Every month this season, we have done a thank you to different groups of employees,” said Suggs. “For June we did teacher appreciation night, and (in) July we will be doing city and county employee appreciation night.”

    Suggs added that city and county employees can go to the radio station tent near the stage to enter for different giveaways such as a gift card and a Bud Light prize pack.

    Come hungry. “We have 12 food trucks for the event,” said Suggs. Beer and wine will also be available. The concert is free and open to the public. Gates open at 5 pm. Bring a blanket or a lawn chair to enjoy the concert. Outside coolers, food and beverages are not allowed. For more information, call 910- 323-1934.

  • 11Alex Warner with flagThis Fourth of July, Alex Warner will display the United States flag and the POW/MIA flag outside his business, Countryside Furniture Co. on Main Street in Hope Mills.

    He’ll set up chairs beneath his covered storefront so folks can sit and enjoy the annual Fourth of July parade as it traverses the roughly two-mile route from Hope Mills Middle School to Rockfish Elementary School when it begins at 10 a.m.

    For Warner, a former politician who is the husband of Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner, the Fourth of July is filled with tradition, memories and deep respect for what the celebration means.

    Warner thinks back to his youth, when Hope Mills ground to a halt for the holiday.

    At midnight on July 3, Warner said, the machinery at the textile mills the town was named for would shut down and go silent. The only noise you might hear was people setting off fireworks or firing a shotgun in celebration if they didn’t have them.

    The following day the whole community would gather to celebrate, something that Warner said wasn’t easy in a mill town since you always had people coming off a work shift and preparing to go on the next one.

    For Warner, it wasn’t a celebration just for the sake of celebration. There was history behind it.

    “We knew the history of our country, and we knew that we were celebrating the rebellion from England and the almost impossible establishment of a brand-new country,’’ Warner said. “It could not have happened without the leadership and the grace of God that created it.’’

    Work benches were taken out of the mills and set up for people to come and sit and enjoy food that people brought and shared. The folks from Merita Bread donated loaves to make all manner of sandwiches, but peanut butter and jelly was always a big hit.

    Lemonade was served from huge wooden tubs. Warner said he can still remember how sweet it tasted.

    Elderly veterans were in attendance, proudly wearing old military uniforms that in some cases were becoming threadbare from age.

    For a vantage point to watch all the things that were going on, Warner said he and some of his young friends scouted out a huge acorn tree. They used a fence near the mill to climb up and get to the lowest branch, and from there they had ringside seats to all the action.

    There was plenty of music, mostly singing of patriotic and religious favorites, accompanied by guitar, banjo and maybe a flute.

    There was a watermelon seed spitting contest, a three-legged race and softball games, sometimes between mill villages, and sometimes the kids played.

    It was a day of pure fun. The only real danger of getting hurt, Warner said, was stepping barefoot on a lit cigarette butt or a hill of red ants, so everybody watched where they were walking.

    Warner said the celebration in Hope Mills was timed so everyone could travel to Fayetteville for the parade there. “I remember Uncle Sam would show up on stilts 10 feet tall,’’ Warner said.

    In his store today, Warner has a framed American flag he got from Charlie Biggs that was flown at the end of World War I on Nov. 11, 1918, and the Fourth of July every year after that.

    “Today, the small towns have preserved much of that,’’ Warner said. “We were appreciative of the freedom and liberty given us by our forefathers. It was a day of appreciating our country, a great day of excitement and unity among our people.’’

    In Hope Mills this Fourth of July, it still is.

    After the parade, activities will move to Municipal Park near Town Hall on Rockfish Road. There will be a horseshoe tournament at 4 p.m., a cornhole tournament at 4:30 p.m. and a frozen T-shirt contest at 5 p.m. The object is to take a T-shirt that has been frozen, try to thaw it out and put it on over your clothes.

    The official welcome will be at 6 p.m., followed by performances by two bands, Eastline and Rivermist. Both play beach and country music along with hits from the ’80s and ’90s.

    The day will conclude with fireworks at 9:15 p.m.

     

    PHOTO: Alex Warner displays an American flag that was flown at the end of World War I on Nov. 11, 1918.

  • 07Declaration of Independence 1819 by John TrumbullThe British Empire settled its first permanent colony in the Americas at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607. This was the first of 13 colonies in North America. The colonies can be divided into three regions: New England, Middle colony and Southern colonies.

    The New England colonies included Connecticut, Massachusetts Bay, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

    The Middle Colonies were those now described as the mid-Atlantic and included Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Settlers in these colonies included English, Swedes, Dutch, Germans, Scots-Irish and French, along with Native Americans and some enslaved and freed Africans.

    The Southern colonies were North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Georgia. Long before Jamestown, in 1587, a group of 115 English settlers arrived safely on Roanoke Island off the coast of North Carolina. By the middle of the year, the group realized they needed more supplies, and they sent John White, governor of the colony, back to England. When White got back to  Roanoke, there was no trace of the colony, his wife, his daughter or his granddaughter.

    Conflict between the colonies and England was already a year old when colonial leaders convened a Continental Congress at Independence Hall in Philadelphia in the summer of 1776. In a June 7 session, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia presented a resolution with the famous words: “Resolved: That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.”

    Lee’s words were the impetus for the drafting of a formal Declaration of Independence. A committee of five was appointed to draft the document, and the task itself fell on Thomas Jefferson. Discussion of Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence resulted in some minor changes, but the spirit of the document went unchanged. The process of revision by the Continental Congress began July 1. It continued through all of July 3 and into the late afternoon of July 4, when the Declaration was officially adopted.

    Of the 13 colonies, nine voted in favor of the Declaration, and two – Pennsylvania and South Carolina – voted no. Delaware was undecided, and New York abstained. July 4 has been designated a national holiday to commemorate the day the United States laid down its claim to be a free and independent nation.

    Benjamin Franklin was a member of the committee of five that drafted the Declaration. Historians consider his contributions vitally important in the history of the movement from 13 individual colonies to one unified nation. He said of the new United States of America: “We must, indeed all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.” Franklin’s actions as elder statesman and diplomat helped ensure independence. His scientific and literary achievements earned him respect at home and abroad. His significance cannot be understated.

  • Suicide report for active duty military, veterans confusing

    The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs late last month reversed itself on a new suicide study that appeared to show thousands of unreported military deaths in recent years. The VA’s annual National Suicide Data Report is a collaboration between Veterans Affairs, defense researchers and census analysts. It found that from 2008 to 2016 about 20 veterans took their own lives daily.

    For the first time, this most recent update breaks down the figures into veterans receiving VA health care, veterans not using the department’s health services, and a group including active-duty troops, guardsmen and reservists. The new calculation would put the official Defense Department suicide total among troops at close to 1,400 for 2015, or 65 percent higher than what the military previously reported.

    Several news outlets took note of the sudden data spike following the report’s release. VA officials acknowledged that the military figures are misleading. “In our report, VA did not differentiate deaths between active duty... Guard and Reserve,” said Dr. Keita Franklin, VA’s national director of suicide prevention. “This difference in the report may have caused some confusion and led to the misperception that approximately 1,000 more current service members died by suicide than DoD reported in 2015.”

    VA officials blamed the confusion regarding the troops’ suicide information on inconsistent definitions used by various agencies. Individuals who served in the Guard or Reserves and are considered “veterans” in census reports may not have been counted in the Defense Department statistics.

    VA researchers are now emphasizing they have not found fault with official military suicide statistics, which have counted between 550 and 450 active-duty, Guard and Reserve suicides in each of the last five calendar years. Fort Bragg authorities do not disclose suicides when reporting soldier deaths. The Army does not disclose cause of death in such instances.

    05Prince Charles RenoPrince Charles Hotel project update

    There is clear evidence of progress in the renovation of the former Prince Charles Hotel on Hay Street. A photo taken from the floor of City Hall across the street shows that window frames are being removed for replenishment. The Historic Resources Commission has told owners of the building that its facade must remain intact. Developer Jordan Jones said renovations are on schedule and should be completed by the end of the year. By February 2019, Jordan said, the building should have 61 apartments plus offices on the eighth floor with restaurants, coffee shops and retail facilities at ground level.

    New public safety hires

    The Fayetteville Fire Department has hired 17 recruits who graduated from the Fire Academy in June. A significant number of the graduates were minorities. The department has been under pressure in recent months to diversify its force. Fire Chief Ben Major said the academy class included three African-Americans, two Hispanics and two Asians. A total of 62 applicants were interviewed for the vacancies.

  • 16 DKSports RadioStarting on Aug. 7, fans of local sports in Fayetteville will have another source for news and commentary as DK Sports debuts its weekly radio talk show, “The Sports Page.”

    Don Koonce, founder of DK Sports, said he’s been kicking the idea of a local talk show around for a couple of years. It will air weekly on Monday nights on WCLN, 107.3 FM, featuring well-known local play-by-play announcers Trey Edge and Bill Boyette.

    Both Edge and Boyette have been working with DK Sports for some time in various roles. Last year Edge also anchored the weekly Terry Sanford football radio show while Boyette has for some time handled the DK Sports weekly pre-game football coaches show.

    “Bill’s got connections with basketball, Trey with football and I’ve still got some with baseball,’’ Koonce said. “I thought we could attract some good interviews for the show. We wanted it to be quality, locally based, with guys with ties to the community.’’

    The show will air four times a month from 6-8 p.m. It will be available both on air and via internet streaming.

    “The sports base in Cumberland County has been looking for something like this,’’ Koonce said. “I certainly hope we fill that void. This show brings together two premier play-by-play guys.’’

    Edge and Boyette have worked together in the broadcast booth before, and Edge said he’s excited to resume that pairing. But he said coaches he’s spoken with are excited too, for a different reason —“Getting even more exposure for their kids and their programs,’’ Edge said. “For us, that’s a win-win. If you can get more exposure of a kid doing something on the field or in the classroom, it’s a good thing.’’

    While high school sports will be a big part of the show, Boyette said it wouldn’t end there. “Trey knows college football coaches, and I’ll have ties with college basketball coaches,’’ Boyette said. “I think we’ll have a good shot of making them a part of our program.’’

    The Sports Page will also have an association with Up & Coming Weekly, with the two outlets cross-promoting their work covering high school athletics.

    Bill Bowman, publisher of Up & Coming Weekly, said the new alignment is part of the community newspaper’s role in the Newspapers in Education program. By the start of this school year, Up & Coming Weekly will have racks in all Cumberland County Schools providing free copies.

    Bowman said this will provide students the chance to read about themselves in the High School Highlights feature each week in the newspaper. “It not only recognizes the outstanding young people, but we can get children reading... about other things going on in the community,’’ he said.

    “Now DK Sports can be everywhere Up & Coming Weekly is and Up & Coming can be everywhere DK Sports is. With Don Koonce, Trey Edge and Bill Boyette being advocates for these young people, they are going to become advocates for education, literacy and community involvement. "We're excited about that."

     

    PHOTO: Bill Boyette, Don Koonce, & Trey Edge

  • 14 MotorcycleMany motorcycle enthusiasts love the feeling of being on the open road and in touch with one’s surroundings. The style of a bike and the reputation of its manufacturer factor heavily into riders’ decisions when choosing bikes. But while bike fans may have their favorite features, safety and comfort remain at the top of many riders’ priority lists when choosing new motorcycles.

    Recent technological advancements have pushed motorcycle comfort and safety to the forefront. Engineers continue to reimagine bikes and gear so riders can enjoy the road that much more. The following are some features to consider when buying a motorcycle.

    Suspension

    Fully active suspension systems are impractical in motorcycles because of the weight of the components, but some manufacturers, such as Ducati and BMW, are now offering semi-active suspension systems, which allow for a more stable ride and give riders greater control, particularly on rough terrain or uneven road conditions.

    Cornering advanced braking systems

    Also known as lean-sensitive, anglesensitivity or race ABS, this technology employs data gathered from various sensors on the bike. The data is then transferred to a processing unit, which computes the optimal amount of pressure to apply to the brake pads, as well as the proportional levels of braking force between the front and rear brakes. This is an important safety feature for any rider, regardless of his or her level of experience.

    Adaptive headlights

    Riding in the dark has long been a concern for bikers. In addition to the rider’s limited ability to see, other motorists on the road often experience difficulty seeing motorcycles. Turning while riding at night proves problematic as well, because standard headlights on a motorcycle will only light up a portion of the turn.

    Adaptive motorcycle headlights, such as those produced by J.W. Speaker, are changing night riding. According to the American Automobile Association, adaptive headlights can make nighttime riding considerably safer. Such lights work when a bike leans into a curve and the onboard sensors calculate the angle at which the motorcycle enters the curve. The headlights then adjust the lighting array to illuminate areas where traditional headlights might provide inadequate lighting.

    Liquid-cooled engines

    Riding motorcycles on a hot day or when stuck in traffic can quickly become a steamy endeavor with aircooled engines. Air-cooled engines dissipate heat directly through the fins on the exterior of the engine. This heat can radiate and make riding uncomfortable for riders.

    Liquid-cooled engines, however, have a streamlined and closed design, producing less noise and heat. They also transfer heat to a radiator near the front of the bike.

    Evolving technology strives to make the motorcycle experience safer and more enjoyable for riders.

  • 13 DGMartinCan you believe it has been almost a year since I last wrote a column about local countrycooking eateries, my favorite stopping places when I’m on the road?

    My editors have been kind enough to let me write about eateries every few months or so in place of my usual topics such as books and politics. It turns out that the foodrelated columns are almost always the most popular of all.

    I confess I have exploited my editors and readers by getting them to tell me about their favorite stopping places when they are traveling North Carolina roads. Then, I used their reports to write more columns about eateries. All of that help eventually led to the descriptions of more than 100 eateries featured in “North Carolina’s Roadside Eateries: A Traveler’s Guide to Local Restaurants, Diners, and Barbecue Joints.”

    “Roadside Eateries” was designed for regular travelers with an adventuresome bent. It is for those who would rather experience a special or unusual local favorite restaurant at mealtime than eat another quick meal at one of the ubiquitous national chains.

    Since you and other readers and editors helped write that book, you are entitled to a report about how it is doing. There is good news and some bad news.

    The good news is that the book is selling well and has gotten good reviews. The publisher, UNC Press, is pleased. Folks seem to like the way the book is organized along the routes of the interstates so that it is a good glove compartment resource and reference. If you do not have the book, you can see a list of the eateries covered and read the introduction and a sample chapter at: https://unc.flexpub.com/shelfpreview/oEEpO.

    But there is bad news too. A few of the book’s favorite restaurants have closed. Fuller’s in Lumberton was destroyed by flooding after Hurricane Matthew. The Acropolis in Cornelius sat on ground too valuable not to sell. The owners of Angelo’s in Graham just wore out. We know such things happen, but each one still makes  me sad.

    More bad news. Some readers tell me they wish that  “Roadside Eateries” had not restricted itself to restaurants near the interstates. They say, “There are plenty of other great eateries and barbecues in other parts of the state and along other North Carolina roads.”

    To respond to these comments, I am considering another book to complement and supplement “Roadside Eateries” by covering more North Carolina highways. Many of the roads in the U.S. highway system are as important as some interstates, and they cover North Carolina more completely. For instance: U.S. 64 runs almost 600 miles from Murphy to Manteo and into Tennessee, U.S. 74 begins near Murphy and runs to Wrightsville Beach, and U.S. 17 runs along our coast from Calabash through New Bern and Elizabeth City to the Virginia line.

    Along these highways and others with numbers like 70, 264, 501, 421 and the iconic U.S. 1, I hope we can assemble a group of local eateries where the food may be modest, but tasty enough to attract the locals.

    I want to be sure to include some classic favorites such as King’s Barbecue in Kinston, TL’s in Manteo, the Daniel Boone Inn in Boone, Shatley Springs in Crumpler and West Jefferson, Cyprus Grill in Jamesville, Short Sugar’s in Reidsville and lots of similar ones that I am counting on you  to recommend.

    The new book would be a great project, but I am not sure I have the strength to take it on right now — certainly not without your help and willingness to suggest your favorites. So let me hear from you. Write me at nceateries@yahoo.com and share your favorites.

  • 12 FTCCWork-based learning is a partnership involving the employer, the student and the college — a situation where everyone benefits. At Fayetteville Technical Community College, the Work-Based Learning program has been successful in intern placement with partnerships developed for on-the-job training experiences. The experience focuses on enhancing classroom knowledge by allowing students to apply knowledge in the workplace. Students also develop a professional work ethic, workplace skills, resumes and employer contacts.

    FTCC offers the work-based learning experience in over 50 programs of study. Over 300 FTCC students completed internships during the 2016-17 academic year. Employers throughout the community work with students in all academic areas, including funeral services, culinary arts, health care management technology, paralegal technology, criminal justice technology, business administration, carpentry, A/C, heating and refrigeration technology and medical office administration.

    The program offers each student the opportunity to collaborate and network with individuals in their chosen careers. In some cases, employers hire students immediately upon completion of the  internship.

    During the internship, an FTCC faculty coordinator and an on-the-job supervisor advise the students. This partnership builds the bridge between college student and hired graduate. The faculty coordinator is a specialist in the career area at the college level, and the supervisor is the professional expert on the job. The internship provides the opportunity for students to ask questions when in doubt. It also encourages the students and gives them a sense of confidence to achieve success in their careers. 

    The Work-Based Learning office is located at the Fayetteville campus of FTCC at the Tony Rand Student Center, Room 3. Prospective students and employers can call, email or stop by to learn more about the opportunities available through workbased learning experiences. 

    Registration for fall semester classes is currently underway. Fall classes begin Aug. 21. FTCC is the smart choice for a high-quality education at an affordable price, with more than 250 programs of study to choose from that lead to an associate degree, certificate or diploma.

    Students can begin work after graduation or transfer to a four-year college to pursue a bachelor’s degree and beyond.

    FTCC offers opportunities to help students achieve success. To learn more, visit www.faytechcc.edu or visit our Fayetteville, Spring Lake or Fort Bragg locations. To learn more about the Work-Based Learning program, call (910) 678-8268, email nunneryj@faytechcc.edu or visit www.faytechcc.edu/academics/work-based-learning/.

  • 11 Book DriveThe economy does not work well for some individuals. For many, keeping food on the table and lights on in the house is a challenge. It is not an easy task for some students to obtain school supplies for the upcoming school year, and that is why the Register of Deeds Office is having its annual backpack school supply drive for Cumberland County Schools’ homeless students.

    The idea for the school supply drive started when one of the senior staff members at the Register of Deeds Office came to work discouraged. She shared that at church the previous evening there was a presentation on the number of homeless students in Cumberland County. She indicated there were some children who lived in storage units, under bridges and in vacant houses. This news affected the entire office. The office had a meeting that day and decided they wanted to try to help.

    “This is our 10th year that we have collected school supplies for backpacks for Cumberland County’s homeless students,” said J. Lee Warren Jr., register of deeds for Cumberland County. “Our third year of the supply drive Zan Monroe and his Realtor Association wanted to help, so they bought all of the book bags that year and have continued purchasing them every year since including this year.” Warren Jr. added that they want every child’s book bag to look alike.

    There are plenty of other items needed, too. These include pens, pencils, notebooks, rulers, folders, composition books, notebook paper, pencil sharpeners, erasers, glue sticks, crayons, toothpaste, toothbrushes, toothbrush cases and hand sanitizer.

    The goal this year is to collect items for 1,000 backpacks for students. “This year, due to Hurricane Matthew, we have 800 homeless students,” Warren Jr. said. “So this year we are doing an additional 200 backpacks for Hurricane Matthew victims. That makes it 1,000 backpacks, and it is kind of a stretch for us.” Warren added that he and other Register of Deeds employees have faith that the residents of Cumberland County will come through to help. 

    School supplies can be dropped off at the Cumberland County Courthouse in room 114 by Aug. 1.  

    Gift cards and monetary donations can be dropped off until Aug. 7. No checks, please.

    “If you would like to drop something off at our office, please give us a call, and we will have someone to meet you in the parking lot to obtain the supplies or the donation,” Warren Jr. said. “This is something that really touched our hearts, and we have done (it) every  year since.”   For more information, call (910) 678-7775.

  • 07 farmers marketThe time and place of the Murchison Road Community Farmer’s Market remain constant, but the market’s organizers aren’t letting it go stale.

    MRCFM organizers are bringing more than just local produce as a resource to the Murchison Road community. They’re bringing a safe medication disposal bin and knowledgeable health service providers, too.

    On Aug. 9, the Fayetteville Police Department is set to host Operation Medication Drop at the farmer’s market to collect any unused or outdated medications. “Medicine take-back programs are a good way to safely dispose of most types of unneeded medicines,” according the Food & Drug Administration.

    “Medicines play an important role in treating many conditions and diseases and when they are no longer needed it is important to dispose of them properly to help reduce harm from accidental exposure or intentional misuse.”

    Julius Cook, MRCFM manager, said for now Operation Medication Drop is a one-time event, but he hopes it will serve to spearhead a more frequent initiative. The market is also planning Healthy Wednesdays, a health-oriented market to be held on the second Wednesday of every month.

    During Healthy Wednesdays, community members will be able to get free health screenings and healthcare information from community service providers, including representatives from Stedman-Wade Health Services, Cape Fear Valley Health System, the CARE Clinic, the Cumberland County Department of Social Services and more.

    According to a Fayetteville State University press release, there will be many perks of attending Healthy Wednesdays. “Blood pressure, blood sugar and other simple, but important screenings are provided,” the press release said.

    It went on to say that local chefs would also provide healthy cooking demonstrations with produce from the market.

    As always, shoppers can purchase produce, chicken eggs, duck eggs, quail eggs, pastureraised processed chickens, baked goods, organic tea blends, boiled peanuts, fresh herbs, herbal salves and handmade soaps — all fresh and from local farms and vendors.

    Cook has managed the MRCFM for three years while attending FSU for entrepreneurship and owning his own business, Bezzie’s Homestyle Foods, Inc. He said in his three years working with the market, he’s seen the market have a positive effect on the community.

    “The community’s very satisfied with the market coming to them and not having to go to the market,” Cook said. “(Before) they had to wait on some form of transportation in order to go and even attempt to shop.” This is the MRCFM’s fourth season serving the community. The market was created after a few food markets closed and four business students at FSU recognized the need for fresh food that was accessible to their community.

    “Food deserts are defined as parts of the country vapid of fresh fruit, vegetables, and other healthful whole foods, usually found in impoverished areas,” according to the American Nutrition Association. “This is largely due to a lack of grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and healthy  food providers.”

    Don F. Bennett Jr., MRCFM operations and marketing manager, said, “We try to make it as convenient as possible for the families to come and shop without having to go too far out of their neighborhood.” It’s for convenience, too, that the farmer’s market accepts all major forms of payment, including EBT.

    Even though the market is intended to keep Murchison Road community from becoming a food desert, Bennett said, it’s open to anyone in the city looking for good, fresh, local foods.

    “It may be small, but it definitely packs a large experience and offers everything you need to supplement your weekly groceries with local items,” community member Anna-Caterina Fiore said in a Facebook review. “Almost all of my produce comes from local farmers markets in town, including the Murchison Road Community Farmers Market!”

    In the future, Cook said he hopes to “grow the market to where we’ll be able to conduct the market more than one day per week.” For now, the Murchison Road Community Farmer’s Market is set to be open every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. until Oct. 18 in Bronco Square across from FSU.

  • 08 Confederate War MemorialTedious restoration and repair work in Fayetteville’s historic Cross Creek Cemetery Number One downtown has been completed. An artisan hired by the city spent months resetting headstones, setting monuments upright that had fallen, repairing cracks and even locating stones that had sunk into the ground.

    The City of Fayetteville owns Cross Creek Cemetery Number One and four others. “That’s rare because only a few cemeteries are municipally-owned,” said City Historian Bruce Daws.

    Cross Creek Cemetery Number One, located at N. Cool Spring and Grove Streets, is among the oldest in North Carolina. The others stretch along Ann Street from Grove Street to beyond Lamon Street. Number One was established in 1785, following the American Revolutionary War. Some markers date to 1786 and are the graves of Revolutionary War dead.

    The cemeteries are managed and maintained by the cemetery office of the Fayetteville/Cumberland Recreation and Parks Department. Cross Creek Cemetery Number One was added to the National Register of Historic Places in September 1998 as a national historic district. “It’s one of Fayetteville’s most significant historic landmarks,” Daws said. “Being listed on the national registry is a big deal because cemeteries are rarely considered for the honor,” he added.

    Following the Civil War, the Ladies’ Memorial Association of Fayetteville had soldiers who had been killed in battle — along with those who had died and been buried in various nearby locations — interred or re-interred in the cemetery. The group raised funds to erect a Confederate Soldiers Monument in the cemetery. It was crafted by noted Scottish stone mason George Lauder and is believed to be North Carolina’s first Confederate monument, dedicated on Dec. 30, 1868.

    In 1915, the General Assembly created the Cross Creek Cemetery Commission to provide for the graveyard’s upkeep.

    Brookside is an area of Cross Creek Cemetery dedicated to burials of post-Civil War African-Americans. It contains the graves of many notable families of the Fayetteville area. They include E.E. Smith, members of the Chesnutt family, Dr. Paul Melchor, Robert Harris, the first principal of the Howard School and Bishop Hood. The grounds consist of free blacks buried after the Civil War and others born during the days of slavery.

    Cross Creek Cemetery Number One, and to a lesser extent Number Two, has been desecrated by vandals from time to time. In 2001, Daws and then-City Councilwoman Betty Milligan toured the grounds noting significant damage. Milligan called for security fencing to protect the sacred property. In June 2010, more than 50 headstones were damaged and in disarray following another period of vandalism.

    Finally, in 2013, a massive eightfoot wrought iron fence was installed around the perimeter of the cemetery. In 2016, the city installed fencing across Grove Street along the front of Cross Creek Cemetery Number Two to discourage vandalism there. “Since their completion, there has been no vandalism in the cemeteries because vandals can’t cut through them now,” said Recreation and Parks Director Michael Gibson.

    The other three cemeteries are not fenced because officials said they are not as vulnerable to vandalism. Daws noted that Cross Creek Cemetery Number One sees regular tours of students attending high school humanities classes. “It’s a museum of Fayetteville’s history,” he said.

  • 07 Prince Charles HotelSkeptics have yet to be convinced, but talk of minor league baseball in downtown Fayetteville has already attracted interest in the financial market. PCH Holdings, LLC, expects final approval of a $9 million loan commitment from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development any day now. The firm’s renovation of the former Prince Charles Hotel into 62 apartments is expected to cost $15 million.

    “Conversations with banks, which were initially disappointing, have started to be more productive as the amount of confidence in investing in downtown Fayetteville has increased,” said PCH Development Manager Jordan Jones. He added:

    “We have received several term sheets from bank lenders that have a strong interest in providing us a loan. We have also secured all of our historic tax credit investors as well. Essentially, funding for the Prince Charles Hotel is secured, and we look forward to starting the project this fall.”

    That puts the enterprise a few months behind schedule. Ironically, Jones’s grandfather built the hotel, which opened in 1923. The $33 million stadium and the millions to renovate the Prince Charles represent about one-half the financial developments planned for the remaining two acres of property adjacent to the ballpark. A four-story hotel topped with a four-story parking garage will also anchor the Hay Street project. A pedestrian patio and main gates will showcase the stadium entrance between the two buildings, according to design plans recently approved by the City of Fayetteville and Houston Astros Baseball Club.

    07 Park Bridge 1Lafayette Park Handicapped Accessibility 

    Officially, the park on Green Street in the heart of downtown Fayetteville is called “Cross Creek Park.” The park was badly damaged by the flood when Cross Creek overtopped its banks during Hurricane Matthew. Repairs have been a long time coming, but “they’ve been worth the wait,” said Recreation and Parks Director Michael Gibson. Last week, FEMA approved reimbursement for the cost of replacing the pedestrian bridge that stretches from the Green Street fountain to the statue of Lafayette. “The FEMA award will cover up to $200,000,” Gibson said.

    The original bridge was built more than 30 years ago. The new bridge will eliminate steps and will be handicapped-accessible. New footings and pilings will secure the bridge where it crosses the creek. Design work is underway. 

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    07FFD Station 12

    New Fire Station

    The City of Fayetteville is about to replace an aging fire station with a brand new $3 million station house.

    The former Lafayette Village Fire Station on Hope Mills Road became the Fayetteville Fire Department’s Station 12 following the annexation of the area. “The new Fire Station 12 is a needed addition for our department,” Fire Chief Ben Major said.

    The station was built 60 years ago and has become structurally unsound. It likely would have cost more to bring the old building up to standards than replace it, said FFD spokesman Battalion Chief Michael Martin. “It was easier to build new with land conveyed by the school system at no direct cost,” Martin said. The Cumberland County School Board donated property in front of J.W. Coon Elementary School, 905 Hope Mills Rd., to the city for the new station. Construction is underway.

     

    Workforce Development Honors

    The Cumberland County Workforce Development Board presented awards to program participants and partners during its annual recognition luncheon held at Cape Fear Botanical Garden. Workforce
    Development offers programs for youth, adults and dislocated workers through the Cumberland County NCWorks Career Center.

    The objectives are to increase employment and training opportunities and to enhance participants’ productivity and competitiveness in the workplace.

    Honorees included: Outstanding Young Adults – Tiquell Allbrooks, William Johnson and Daniel Thompson; Outstanding Adults – Christine Diamond, Elaine Johnson and Marion Person; Outstanding Employer – Mears Construction Company; Outstanding Workforce Development Partnerships – Nursing and Allied Career Pathway, Cumberland County Public Library and Cumberland County Schools.

    Hot Weather Emergency Funds

    The Salvation Army is accepting Energy Crisis Intervention Program applications from individuals and families who are experiencing or in danger of a health emergency.

    Household assistance with cooling needs is available on a first-come, first-served basis. The Cumberland County Department of Social Services administers the program, but applications are made to the Salvation Army at 1047 Southern Ave. in Fayetteville, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Funds will be available until they  are exhausted or through the end of the State’s  fiscal year.

    Household benefits may vary depending on the amount needed to alleviate the crisis but cannot exceed $600. Individual identification and crisis verification must be fully documented. A household is considered in crisis if a resident experiences or is in danger of experiencing a life-threatening or healthrelated weather emergency. More information is available at (910) 307-0359.

  • 06 NC Attorney General Josh SteinLaws, to have an impact, must be enforced — fairly and impartially. In North Carolina we have elected district attorneys to enforce laws in our hundred counties. But it is the elected attorney general who oversees enforcing our laws in North Carolina. As such, many call our attorney general North Carolina’s chief law enforcement officer.

    The attorney general, to be effective, must have the respect and support of all elected officials and the citizens of our state. Josh Stein is currently our elected attorney general. He needs our support and respect.

    Apparently, our legislature does not want our current attorney general to be an effective law enforcement head. During the last days of the last long session, after our Appropriations Committee met and decided about the attorney general’s budget, leadership, at the urging of the Tea Party, decided to cut the attorney general’s budget by $10 million.

    Not only did they cut his budget, but they cut it where it would hurt the most: personnel. And to ensure that the attorney general did not replace the cuts with leftover monies or reserves, they put a ban on his ability to transfer monies into these areas.

    Such cuts are not just cruel. They are mean politics, and they are flat-out dangerous.

    The cuts will impair the attorney general’s ability to keep criminals behind bars. For example, with more than 126 attorneys and other key personnel being laid-off because of this $10 million cut, who will be available to prosecute white-collar criminals and our most violent offenders? Who will handle close to 700 criminal appellate cases each year? With these lay-offs we also lose institutional experience, which further adds to the loss.

    These cuts affect the department’s ability to handle frivolous and other lawsuits filed against the state. Presently, there are 115 civil lawsuits pending with over $400 million in potential liability. These include everything from breach of contract to tort claims.

    The attorney general’s staff who will be laid off are all dedicated, hard-working employees. They enforce DWI revocations, do countless calls from agencies and citizens and enforce consumer protection laws. They enforce credit and usury laws. They represent every phase of the state and state agencies that we have, reviewing transportation contracts, enforcing regulations and protecting our interests.

    Now, every state agency will be short staffed and face difficulties without effective assistance and counsel. Who will enforce and protect our waters from pollution and unintended consequenc
    es of the same?

    This careless action by our leadership is unnecessary. We did not do this for cost-saving or out of necessity. We especially did not do this after hearings and deliberations. We did not even get the attorney general’s input on the cutbacks. And we did not hear from our bosses — you the people.

    Rather, this is mean, cruel, harsh politics designed to hurt the attorney general, presumably because of his party-affiliation or because he refused to defend the unnecessary court cases our bad laws have created.

    Currently, we have more than 22 lawsuits pending that are the result of bad legislation. This is wrong. Wrong intent. Wrong process. Wrong result.

    Laws not enforced, agencies not advised and 110 fine state servants laid-off because of political gains and intent to harm. Mark Twain once said, “It’s never wrong to do the right thing.” The same is true of doing wrong. It’s never right to do the wrong thing. This is wrong. We have important laws that protect you that need to be enforced. An unenforced law is worse than no law because it creates disrespect for the law. The rule of law is essential to  our democracy.

    Citizens want lawmakers to serve with a servant’s heart. They want us to stop playing petty games and to compromise with each other and put their interests first.

    As former Republican Justice Bob Or said, “Our citizens deserve a General Assembly who will stop this vindictiveness and move on to doing their business, which is serving the people.” He is spot on. Playing political games with people’s lives and the one-ups-man ship must stop. It is past time to put North Carolina first and political party engagement ship last on the priority list.

     

    PHOTO: NC Attorney General Josh Stein.

     

  • 05 legally speakingI am the product of a Bible college. In the fall of 1977, as an 18-year-old, I enrolled in a college in Birmingham, Alabama. I graduated four years later with a bachelor’s degree in Pastoral Ministries.

    God graciously allowed me opportunities to go back to school three subsequent times for two master’s degrees and a doctoral degree — for which I am grateful. With each course taken and additional degree earned, I learned truths that were new to me. That being said, it is not a stretch when I tell people that a significant part of who I am and the foundation for much of my life and ministry over the past 35+ years was laid in those first four years at Bible college.

    Bible colleges exist to prepare men and women for various ministries, including but not limited to pastoral roles, youth and children’s ministries, missions and nonprofit ministries.

    They are similar in many ways to seminaries except for the degrees offered — associate’s and bachelor’s degrees rather than master’s and doctoral degrees.

    Why was Bible college so foundational for me? After all, I have nine years of additional study in graduate schools and seminaries and only four years in Bible college. The following are a few reasons I advocate for Bible college:
    • My degree from Bible college required a healthy dose of Greek (the original language of the New Testament) and Bible interpretation courses. These courses aimed to prepare my fellow students and me to understand what the Bible says with greater clarity.

    • Six semesters of preaching and communication courses aided me greatly in taking what I’d learned from my study of God’s word and being able to communicate it effectively to others. I am sure I would have been a much less effective communicator without those courses.

    • Finally, I met others who had the same goal I did. They wanted to serve Jesus, be instruments used to bring him glory, and help people find peace with God and purpose for living. Those classmates became my best friends … one became my wife.

    Since 2004, I have had the privilege to be at Carolina College of Biblical Studies. I have the joy of leading a team of faculty and staff that are being greatly used by God to lay a foundation in our campus and online students’ lives for current and future ministry around the world.

    I often tell CCBS students if they get half as much out of Bible college as I did, they will still be transformed, useful for God’s purposes and grateful as I am. Hardly a day passes, even 36 years after graduating, that I don’t find myself reflecting on and relying on the truths I learned in Bible college.

     

  • 04 houston astrosHit

    The Houston Astros 

    It doesn’t hurt local enthusiasm for minor league baseball that the parent organization of our team is the best team in the American League. The Astros have posted a winning record of 60-30 and have a commanding 10-game lead over their nearest opponent.

     

     

     

     

    04 Utility patchesMiss

    City Streets

    Why doesn’t the City of Fayetteville take better care of our streets? Numerous utility patches deteriorate and make for rough roads. Manholes become the equivalent of pot holes.

     

    04 FDTlogowithTowerHit

    Fayetteville Dinner Theatre

    What a wonderful idea! Dinner Theatre has returned to Fayetteville, ironically at the same hotel where it was last seen decades ago, but now under a new name. Off-Broadway mainstay “The Fantasticks” was the inaugural show.

     

     

     

     

    04 Bike Lane with Car

    Miss

    Bike Trail

    In historic Haymount and some nearby neighborhoods, there are bike paths marked along newly-paved streets. Three issues: Planners put them on steep, hilly roads. Most of the bike paths are not marked as such. And the lack of a city ordinance means cars can park on bike paths. Huh?

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    04 StadiumLeftFieldDevelopmentHit

    Baseball Park

    Ground breaking for the downtown minor league baseball stadium is on schedule. City officials hope to begin the project Sept. 1. Preparations are already underway. Construction is expected to take 18 months.

     

    04 Cross Creek Park FlagsMiss

    Flag Disrespect

    Flags flown at the historic Lafayette statue in Cross Creek Park off Green Street downtown have become badly faded, and one of them is torn.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    04 Splash Pad BannerHit

    Splash Pads 

    The city is wasting no time. Crews broke ground for the first two splash pads authorized by voters in last spring’s recreation and parks referendum. Mayor Nat Robertson was the moving force behind the water features.

     

    04 NY Restaurant 2Toss up

    New York Restaurant

    The popular Eastern Boulevard restaurant is a throwback to 50 years ago when it first opened: It still serves delicious and inexpensive southern-style home-cooking. But, patrons have to pay with cash. There’s no handicapped parking and the restrooms are outside the building.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    04 Hiring VeteransHit

    Hire Vets

    More and more local and national businesses, literally hundreds of them, are hiring veterans. Two vets I know who’ve been living on the street now have full-time jobs with benefits.

  • 03 Melon sign 2017In a column titled “Tim White: Time to kick government out of the booze business,” White wrote, “Remind me again, please: Why is it that North Carolina needs to regulate when a restaurant can serve a drink?”

    He was referring to SB155: legislation passed by the North Carolina General Assembly and signed by Governor Roy Cooper. A key component of the legislation allows cities and counties to adopt ordinances that permit restaurants to sell alcoholic beverages starting at 10 a.m. on Sundays. The previous start time was noon, in consideration of the normal church worship hour.

    Tim White is not alone in supporting this legislation. Jeff “Goldy” Goldberg, host of “Good Morning Fayetteville” on WFNC Radio, described opposition to the legislation as “ridiculous.” These two men, who are in positions of influence, are joined by others who argue that preventing the sale of alcoholic beverages before noon on Sundays will not cause more people to attend worship services or deter those who do. White wrote:

    “And while we’re at it, can someone give me a really rational explanation why we’re getting so worked up over legislation that would let restaurant brunch customers order Bloody Marys before noon on Sunday? Does anyone really think that an 11 a.m. mimosa will be the deciding factor for anyone pondering the church-or-brunch conundrum?”

    My response to Tim White and the multitude of others who support this legislation has nothing to do with worship attendance. I oppose the legislation because of the message it sends. In a country founded on Judeo-Christian values and ushered into greatness because many people embraced those values, the message of this legislation belittles those values. Dr. Richard Lee listed some of these Judeo-Christian values in an article titled “Seven Principles of the Judeo-Christian Ethic.” Here are six of the listed values which are rather selfexplanatory: the dignity of human life; the traditional family; a national work ethic; the right to a Godcentered education; common decency; our personal accountability to God.

    Every indication is that, across several centuries in the history of America, leaders understood the tremendous benefit to society of messaging that held these values as deserving respect and attention. I contend the previous regulation on serving alcoholic drinks on Sunday mornings was, in part, meant to encourage respect for Sunday as a primary day of worship. I remember that in my youth most businesses were closed on Sunday. The following quote from http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Blue+Laws speaks to this point:

    “Blue laws have been part of U.S. Legal History since the colonial period. These laws, which today are usually referred to as Sunday closing laws, prohibit certain types of commercial activity on
    Sundays. Originally these laws were directed at personal activities regarded as moral offenses, such as gambling or the consumption of alcohol. In the nineteenth century, however, state and local governments passed laws that forbade businesses from operating on Sunday. Although these laws were clearly based on Christian beliefs, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled they do not violate the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause. Many blue laws have been repealed since the 1960s, but some laws that ban the sale of alcohol on Sunday remain in force.

    Consider those Judeo-Christian values provided by Dr. Richard Lee referenced earlier in this article. I find it very difficult to understand how anyone would fail to see the tremendous positive impact on society if respect for these values is encouraged. I am old enough to remember when respect for Judeo-Christian values was encouraged. In spite of all the societal challenges of that time, I remember a country that was far more moral, civil, patriotic, family-oriented … simply a much better place. Among the reasons was the messaging of those  blue laws.

    We have come to a time when the prevailing thinking is that Judeo-Christian values are to be relegated to a period in the far-flung past. Consequently, these values have been shelved by far too many individuals and groups who control the messaging in our country. My father talked about how there are many voices that cry out to us regarding what is acceptable behavior and reasonable thought. My observation is that the voices that oppose promotion of Judeo-Christian values are so strong, so powerful, that they are drowning out the voices that support these values and call the world to them. I contend that one who chooses any of the challenging issues of our world will, upon honest examination, find that embracing Judeo-Christian values is our best hope for rectifying those destructive conditions. Choose one … poverty, crime, racial tension, war, homelessness and on the list goes.

    He does not specifically refer to Judeo-Christian values, but in a column titled “The sequence to success,” George Will speaks to this practice of routinely discarding past approaches:

    “In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s day, as in ours, it was said that problems were so daunting that old principles must yield to new realities. Perhaps, however, unfortunate new realities are the result of the disregard of old principles. Hawthorne recommended consulting ‘respectable old blockheads’ who had ‘a death-grip on one or two ideas which had not come into vogue since yesterday morning.’ Ideas like getting an education, a job and a spouse before begetting children. 

    The words and actions of those in authority influence the thinking of the masses as to what behavior is acceptable. In pursuit of power, people in positions of authority are also influenced by the desires of the masses. In this circumstance, messaging flows both ways. Couple this two-way messaging with JudeoChristian values being shelved and replaced by feel-good values, and the result is what George Will and Nathaniel Hawthorne warned against.

    We are on the precipice of totally turning from the values that helped make America an amazing country. Our rapid movement is toward being a nation with no moral compass. My problem is that the message from many in authority, and many under that authority who support the Brunch Bill, is that replacing Judeo-Christian values with feel-good values is acceptable. No matter the destructive consequences to society, this shift is viewed as and messaged as acceptable.

    I spend a good bit of time in the Fayetteville Community Garden. On a recent visit, a young lady who has a garden plot told me someone stole three of her watermelons. She also showed me a sign she had put in the plot. It read, “Is that the way you want to be when Jesus comes back?” After hearing her account and thinking about the possible effectiveness of the sign, I concluded it will not likely be a deterrent when the melons next to it are large enough for eating. In a time when society embraced Judeo-Christian values more fervently, the sign probably would have caused a thief to pause and maybe not steal the melons. Today’s messaging says those values belong in the past and that we should leave them there. I contend that messaging is extracting a high cost from America and the cost is rising. The Brunch Bill is part of this messaging.

    I hope the thinking presented here qualifies as “a really rational explanation why we’re getting so worked up over legislation that would let restaurant brunch customers order Bloody Marys before noon on Sunday.”

     

    PHOTO: In a time when society embraced Judeo-Christian values more fervently, the sign probably would have caused a thief to pause and maybe not steal the melons.

  • 02 Fayetteville Dinner Theatre FlyerWnewlogoThe timing couldn’t be better for the local theater scene. Good things are happening. The Cape Fear Regional Theatre has a new artistic director, and Fayetteville has a new live theater venue. We are “moving on up!” 

    This being the case, I’m yielding my editorial space this week for the awareness and promotion of the newest cultural venue coming to our community. This will be an exciting week for Fayetteville. On Thursday, after an absence of more than three decades, the curtain will rise on the Fayetteville Dinner Theatre at Bordeaux, which is returning to the Fayetteville, Fort Bragg and Cumberland County
    community. July 27-29 the Ramada Plaza Convention Center and Up & Coming Weekly, in conjunction with Purple Door Productions, will present the wonderful and delightful romantic musical comedy “The Fantasticks.” This is one of the most popular and continuous-running musicals in the world. It is the longestrunning off-Broadway play of all time.

    The Fayetteville Observer’s Rodger Mullen wrote an excellent feature on the show and the production company in the Family Life section of Sunday’s newspaper. You can read it here: http:// www.fayobserver.com/news/20170723/ dinner-theater-returns-to-fayetteville.

    So, no more four-hour round trips to Greensboro. Hallelujah for that!

    “The Fantasticks” is being billed as “A unique theater experience.” And, it will be. I promise. 

    See the details below and check it out for yourself at www. fayettevilledinnertheatre.com. We hope to see you there. Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

     

    PHOTO: Go to www.FayettevilleDinnerTheatre.com to learn more.

  • 13 piney woods boysOn the evening of July 28, Downtown Fayetteville will come alive with its monthly 4th Friday festivities. Local restaurants, shops, galleries and museums host special events and extend their normal hours. Vendors and performers fill the streets, making a stroll through beautiful Downtown new and lively.

    4th Friday focuses on showcasing the arts and entertainment in Downtown Fayetteville. This monthly event is a perfect opportunity for new and longtime residents to explore what Fayetteville has to offer. It runs from 6–10 p.m. 4th Friday is in large part organized by the Downtown Alliance, a not-forprofit membership advocacy organization. Local business owners work together to revitalize and strengthen Fayetteville through business recruitment and support, economic development, marketing and special events. The DTA organizes several events throughout the year.

    The Arts Council kicks off the opening of the “Cultural EXPOsure” exhibition. Enjoy a Cultural Cabaret featuring Scottish music. The short performances highlight the community’s diverse cultural arts industry. The opening reception lasts from 7  to 9 p.m.

    The Ellington-White Gallery, at 113 Gillespie St., continues its exhibition “Resemblance: New Works by Soni Martin.” See the art from 7 to 9 p.m. Martin is a local professor and artist.

    From 7-8:45 p.m., the Headquarters Library, located at 300 Maiden Ln., will be filled with lively music, stories and discussion. This month, The Piney Woods Boys play Southern traditional string band music. This style of music has its roots in “oldtime” and bluegrass music genres. The Piney Woods Boys, back by popular demand, are a local favorite. This program is sponsored by Systel. Light refreshments provided.

    During 4th Fridays, Fayetteville’s history is on display. The Market House in the center of Downtown is open to the public from 6-10 p.m. and admission is free. A National Historic Landmark, this iconic building serves as a small museum for local history. It has a permanent exhibit called “A View from the Square: A History of Downtown Fayetteville” and a rotating exhibit that changes monthly. The rotating exhibits focus on different aspects of local history. Past exhibits have included “Scottish Heritage,” “Vintage Postcards” and “Banking.”

    The Fayetteville Area Transportation Museum, located at 325 Franklin St., is a restored 1890 Railroad Depot and includes exhibits that rotate frequently. The exhibits cover local history from pre-history to the early 20th century. The museum is open from 6-10 p.m. on 4th Friday, and admission is free. This is a particularly fun place to visit for history buffs interested in trains and cars. Fascinate-U is a great place for families with smaller children to visit.

    Fascinate-U is a museum specifically designed for children. The exhibits are designed to be interactive so kids can learn about the world through play. It makes learning vital skills fun and natural. On 4th Friday, admission is free from 7-9 p.m., and kids are usually invited to participate in a free artistic project.

    Call the Downtown Alliance at (910) 222-3382 to learn more about 4th Friday.

     

    PHOTO: The Piney Woods Boys are set to perform at Headquarters Library on 4th Friday.

  • 10 Purple Door ProductionsIt was the military that brought Jeanne Koonce to the Sandhills. She was a singer and an actress — a performer steeped in the magic that is theater. And she stayed. 

    She found work with the Bordeaux Dinner Theater and later at the Carolina Civic Center in Lumberton. While there, she created a program for the public schools. It was a a series of countywide productions that allowed students from all over the county to meet each other and participate in musical and theatrical events.

    “I ran it for many years,” Koonce said.  She and the choreographer for the program eventually realized they shared a dream. “She and I started talking about wanting our own company,” Koonce said. “It was great doing shows with young kids, but these were teens, and I wanted to work with adults. I wanted to do shows like ‘Chicago,’ and you can’t do that with high school students. My friend and I put our heads together and decided to take the plunge.”

    Four years ago, Koonce and three colleagues opened Purple Door Productions. Between them, they shared a multitude of skills. They were all actors, dancers and singers. One had experience in stage design, and two were choreographers as well. “This is something most theater groups don’t have,” Koonce said. “You may have a director and some actors or a business person; you seldom have a core who can do everything plus two choreographers and a director. We had two costumers, and two could build sets.”

     

    They rented a studio space in downtown Lumberton to put on small shows designed for audiences of 25–30 people. There, they also taught dance and music and acting.

    Then Koonce bumped into a student of hers from years ago who worked at Robeson Community College. “She and I talked about it and entered into a partnership,” Koonce said. “We would do big shows there, and part of the money goes to her foundation at RCC to pay for scholarships.”

    Suddenly, the group was performing in a theater with dressing rooms, sound equipment and more. That was in 2015. Now, the staff of four, including Koonce, Jacob Barton, Lance Carter and  Teresa Davis produce shows that can entertain small groups or audiences as big as the 800-seat space at RCC.

    Now, three-and-a-half decades after performing in the Bordeaux Dinner Theater, Koonce is back.  The Fayetteville Dinner Theater returns for the inaugural performance, “The Fantasticks,” under Koonce’s direction. July 27-29, this romantic musical comedy takes place at Ramada Plaza.

    “The Fantasticks” is the longest-running off-Broadway show of all time. “There is a reason why,” Koonce said. “It is a crazy, peculiar little piece of work. It has its roots in Shakespeare, but it’s a musical. It has sharp edges, but its word play is quite good.”

    Playing on the strength of the script and the talent of the actors, Koonce sees the intimate setting a dinner theater provides as another strength for this production. It is a smaller-scale show with only eight characters. “The philosophy of young lovers and family arguments is carried forward into (this) intimate little play,” Koonce said. “It is done very sparsely — just like it was in Shakespeare’s day. The focus is on the actors and it is lovely this way.”

    The cast is composed of regional talent that many local theater enthusiasts will recognize. Amber Jansen, a junior at Massey Hill Classical High School and a regular performer at Purple Door Productions for the past three years, plays Luisa. Ryan Ransom plays Matt. Ransom is a St. Pauls native and a music/theater student at UNC Pembroke. Matthew Jacobs and Steve Chambers are the meddling fathers. Jacobs is a Robeson County native with more than a decade of acting experience in the region. Chambers is a working actor from the Lumberton area who has been a stage performer since he was five.

    Clay Rogers is El Gallo. Rogers is a native of Fairmont and has performed across the country for the past eight years. He currently works at Givens Performing Arts Center in Pembroke.

    Denver McCullough, an Oklahoma native, plays Henry, the old actor. McCullough has performed in many regional theaters, including Fayetteville’s own Cape Fear Regional Theatre. “Denver has a long history in Fayetteville’s theater world,” Koonce said. “He’ll be easily recognized here.”

    The evening includes much more than dinner and first-rate theater. The event opens with a cocktail reception at 6 p.m. Cape Fear Vineyard and Winery will be on-site offering a variety of wines for tasting and sales. Located in Elizabethtown, Cape Fear Vineyard and Winery offers fine dining and lakeside lodging and hosts weddings and events.

    At 6:30 p.m., dinner is served. The curtain rises at 8 p.m.

    Special musical guests include the award-winning Fayetteville Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, the Cross Creek Chordsmen.

    “With a V.I.P. reception, door prizes, a great dinner, an awesome show, an exclusive wine-tasting, dinner entertainment by the Cross Creek Chordsmen — all culminating in a post-show meet-andgreet with the actors and a giveaway grand prize from Cape Fear Winery each night — this is truly a unique theater experience,” said event producer and Up & Coming Weekly publisher Bill Bowman.

    Tickets cost $75 per person and are available at www.fayettevilledinnertheatre.com or from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the box office at Ramada Plaza. Proceeds benefit the Kidsville News Literacy and Education Foundation.

     

    PHOTO: Matt (Ryan Ransom) defends Luisa (Amber Jansen) from swashbuckler El Gallo (Clay Rogers) and his gang (Wynona Oxendine and Dakota Hammonds), while the fathers (Matt Jacobs and Stephen Chambers) are excited by the whole plan.

     

  • 07 news digest Mitch ColvinIt’s official now. Mayor Pro Tem Mitch Colvin issued a formal announcement that he is running for mayor.

    He joins fellow City Council member Kirk deViere in challenging two-term mayor Nat  Robertson.

    A fourth candidate, Quancidine Hinson Gribble, has also filed for the post. After declaring for months that he would not seek a third term, Robertson announced in April that he would run again.

    Colvin’s entry into the race makes for interesting political dynamics, especially since two of the nine incumbent Council members have chosen not to seek re-election. Because more than twice the number of candidates for the mayor’s seat are in the running, a primary election will be held Oct. 10. The candidates who receive the top two most number of votes will meet in November.

     

     

     

    07 ness digest Voter VotingSpeaking of Elections…

    The Cumberland County Board of Elections is seeking precinct workers for the 2017 municipal election Nov. 7. Interested persons must be U.S. citizens, registered voters in Cumberland County, available to attend required training and able to operate laptop computers.

    They must remain non-partisan on the day of the election and be available to work the entire day from 5:30 a.m. until dismissed by the Chief Judges, usually between 9 and 11 p.m.

    Precinct workers are compensated for attending training and for working on Election Day. Twentysix precincts/polling locations are especially in need of workers. Interested people should call (910) 678-7733.

    07 news digest Soldier Re enlistingFort Bragg Soldiers Are Encouraged to Re-up

    The Army is offering big bonuses to qualified soldiers it hopes to retain in order to build the force back up to 1 million troops. It’s an acrossthe-board effort in the regular Army and the reserves. Bonus money is available to persuade service members to stay on, especially in critical MOSs. Applicants will be expected to score well on aptitude tests.

    “There is a group of young men and women that are motivated by money,” Command Sgt. Maj. Anthony Stoneburg told the Army Times. For example, an airborne-qualified combat medic NCO interested in Special Forces can reenlist, complete special operations qualifications and receive up to $72,000 in bonus money, depending on rank and contract commitment. Non-airborne infantrymen can also earn bonuses by becoming paratroopers. Fort Bragg’s 82nd Airborne Division is the only parachute division in the military and is considered the Army’s elite.

    07 news digest Tokay Fitness CenterTokay Senior Fitness Center to Open Soon

    The City of Fayetteville missed its mid-July target date for reopening the popular Tokay Senior Fitness Center on Hamilton Street off Tokay Drive. It will reopen Aug. 1, according to Fayetteville / Cumberland Recreation & Parks Director  Michael Gibson.

    The interior of the building sustained smoke damage in late March during an electrical fire caused by a short circuit in an electric treadmill. The rubberized floor of the building had to be replaced, and air conditioning ducts were cleaned, all of which delayed the reopening of the center. Patrons and some city officials voiced concerns that it took four months for city contractors to make repairs to the building.

    07 news digest Veterans Park Dedication CoinNorth Carolina Veterans Park

    Fayetteville was chosen by the North Carolina General Assembly to host the nation’s first state park devoted to military veterans. The multi-million dollar facility at 300 Bragg Blvd. is adjacent to the Airborne and Special Operations Museum. It was built at state expense and is maintained by the City of Fayetteville. It is the first state park dedicated to military veterans — young and old, living and deceased, from all branches of the  armed services.

    Admission is free. The North Carolina Veterans Park’s hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m. It’s closed Mondays, except on federal holidays. It’s also closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Easter.

     

    07 news digest Pedestrian CrosswalkImproving Pedestrian Safety in Fayetteville

    The City of Fayetteville is asking residents to take part in a survey to help improve pedestrian safety in the city. City Council wants to complete a pedestrian master plan in cooperation with the North Carolina Department of Transportation. A committee met this spring to begin the process for developing the plan. Since then, a consultant has been creating an inventory of options for pedestrians. The committe has built a website for the project: www.WalkingFayetteville.com.

    A section of the website is devoted to collecting input from residents who are encouraged to complete the survey.

  •  

    02 pub otesSorry for the confusion this year folks! However, we appreciate the calls for Best of Fayetteville clarification on how our readership survey works and how to properly submit a valid ballot. So, I will clarify what the Best of Fayetteville is, what it stands for and what it means to this community. This, in turn, will explain why it is such a coveted, distinguished and soughtafter recognition. For 19 successful years, we’ve presented and launched the Best of Fayetteville Readership Survey during the month of July to avoid conflicting with The Fayetteville Observer’s Reader’s Choice Awards, which is its advertising sales promotion. This annual sales program has been in existence for 23 years, and until this year, The Observer ran it during September and announced their winners in October.

    Even though our two programs are completely different in nature and purpose, to avoid reader confusion we voluntarily agreed in 1997 to launch our Best of Fayetteville Readership Survey during the month of July and announce the winners in September. For 19 years, this arrangement worked perfectly without conflict or confusion. This year, we were surprised to find that Gatehouse Media, the new owner of The Fayetteville Observer, arbitrarily and intentionally changed the format and launched their Readers Choice Advertising Sales Program in July, after the Best of Fayetteville program was launched.

    We cannot explain these actions considering our cooperative 19-year working relationship. It was our newspaper that made the recommendation and went out of the way to not conflict or interfere with their program. Weird. Who knows? Has it affected our Best of Fayetteville Survey results? Absolutely not. It has only served to confuse and inconvenience those we are so ardently trying to please. According to Don Garner, the Best of Fayetteville project manager, ballot counts are up, and participation is ahead of last year.

    However, the final numbers won’t be in for another couple of weeks. At this writing, the numbers reflect that 2017 will be the best year ever. And, rightfully so. This is our 20th anniversary! So, here’s the bottom line, we cannot control how Gatehouse Media runs its newspaper or its business. Honestly, this is just another routine, shortsighted and bazaar action initiated on the corporate level confirming and reinforcing its disconnect with the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community.

    Please don’t be confused or distraught. We are here for you. Matter of fact, here are a few fun facts that will help you understand and distinguished between Best of Fayetteville Readership Survey and the Readers’ Choice Award Advertising Sales program. Please share this with your friends, and let us know if anyone needs more clarification. 

    Up & Coming Weekly’sBest of Fayetteville is a readership survey. It is not an advertising sales program. Here is the distinction:

    Up & Coming Weekly does not pre-sell advertising to promote or showcase specific businesses and organizations for Best of Fayetteville. However, we do encourage them to promote themselves and encourage their friends, family and customers to vote Best of Fayetteville.

    Up & Coming Weekly does not sell or require businesses or organizations to participate with advertising purchases in pre-contest special sections to get their business officially printed on the ballot. The Reader’s Choice ads that are pre-sold before the ballot is printed are called sponsorships. These Reader’s Choice Award sponsors get their names preprinted on the ballot, making a legitimate survey invalid. However, it does identify first-, second- and third-place finishers, entitling everyone to a Readers’ Choice Award. Since the award itself does not designate what place the business finished, a third-place rating has the same credibility as a first-place standing.

    In comparison, Up & Coming Weekly does no pre-ballot advertising sales. After the survey is complete and the ballots are tallied, there is only one winner in each category. At this juncture, winners only are given the opportunity to purchase advertising/marketing programs to thank their customers and supporters and to market and brand their companies, capitalizing on and taking advantage of their Best of Fayetteville achievement. These Best of Fayetteville advertising programs are unique and significantly discounted so winners can take full marketing advantage of the honor. Winners have only one opportunity to participate in these advertising programs. In addition to the beautiful ($25) wall plaque awarded each Best of Fayetteville winner, they can use the official Best of Fayetteville logo in all print advertising, radio, billboard, TV or social media advertising.

    The Best of Fayetteville is an exclusive and extremely valuable designation. The way we manage it is what makes this program credible. Is it perfect? No. However, it has developed into one of this community’s most respectable and prestigious awards. Now, if this is not enough clarification for you and it is still unclear whether you’re participating in Best of Fayetteville Readership Survey or someone else’s advertising program, take a good long look at the ballot; if the ballot has names already printed on it, it is NOT the Best of Fayetteville. 

    OK, here’s the fun part. Every year, we have a Best of Fayetteville Award Party - and you’re invited. Mark your calendar for Sept. 19, and join us at the 20th Anniversary Celebration recognizing the 2017 winners. This is their party and what a party it will be. Join us at the Ramada Plaza, when Up & Coming Weekly, Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce, the Beasley Media Group and Five Star Entertainment all assist CPA Lee Utley and Jimmy Keefe of the Trophy House in recognizing this community’s Best of the Best. Don’t miss it.

    Meet, celebrate and congratulate the people, businesses and organizations that make Fayetteville, Fort Bragg and Cumberland County a great place to work, live and raise a family. Curious? So, is everyone else. It is always fun, exciting and a virtual Who’s Who. So, join me, Fayetteville Mayor Nat Robertson, Senator Wesley Meredith, State Representatives Billy Richardson and John Szoka, Cumberland County Chairman Glenn Adams and several hundred of Up & Coming Weekly’s very best friends.

    Be there. And oh yeah, Vote Best of Fayetteville. Click the yellow “Vote Best of Fayetteville” button on our website www. upandcomingweekly.com, or complete and send in the ballot on pages 21 and 22 of this issue of Up & Coming Weekly.

    Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

     

  • 12 Cover StoryThe Wild West. Dusty trails. Cattle drives. Campfires. Cowboys. It was a simpler time, when grit and hard work were the measure of a man and his word was his bond.

    It still exists, this world of quiet bravado and carefree charm. In fact, 7 Branch Farm spends an entire day celebrating it. Celebrate National Day of the Cowboy at a rodeo on July 28 and 29 at 7 Branch Farm in Lumber Bridge.

    This is the 4th Annual National Day of the Cowboy at 7 Branch, and it looks to be a winner for participants and audiences alike. National Day of the Cowboy celebrates the spirit of the west and the ruggedness and independence that made cowboys the icons we know and love. It celebrates the code that governed the Wild West.

    While cowboys only get one official day of recognition, at 7 Branch Farm, the cowboy spirit is obvious every day. Ron Payne bought eight acres of land nine years ago. His intent was to turn it into a horse farm. With the help of his children, Payne did just that and
    so much more. Today, the farm boasts 37 acres and is home to several rodeo events each year.

    “I was involved in professional team roping and qualified for the National Finals of Team Roping three times,” said Buddy Blackman, general manager of  7 Branch Farm. Blackman’s experience at rodeos helped shape the way the horse farm grew. “We decided to put in an arena at our farm,” he said. “It eventually grew into a full-size competition arena with bleachers and a 1,800-square-foot arena and building, including a lit parking area and water stations for competitors. We held our first official competition in 2012 and our first rodeo in 2014. We were the first venue in North Carolina to hold a National Day of the Cowboy Rodeo.” 

    Growing up steeped in the rodeo and equine culture, it was no surprise when Blackman started competing in rodeos.  His family owned horses, and he rode them as a child. By the time he was 18, he was riding bucking bulls and horses in professional rodeos. He was good at it, and he loved the excitement it added to his life. He got to have adventures and see different parts of the country.

    “Participating in rodeos is adventurous; it allowed me to travel from state to state,” Blackman said.

    Eventually, he was ready for a new kind of thrill and started hosting rodeos. It turns out that hosting rodeos is also fun for Blackman. “Hosting and producing a rodeo is a lot of hard work. It includes planning and coordinating with others to produce a wonderful event,” he said. The legwork can be exhausting, but when the rodeo starts, it is all worth it, he said. “The best part is when we finally get to the opening ceremony, and the rodeo is underway.”

    But there are other things he loves about putting on a rodeo, too. “There are many favorites,” he said. “The big crowd, watching the bull riders and the cowboy mounted shooting. (They shoot) .45 caliber pistols at balloon targets on a predesigned pattern. The wild bull riding is always the main attraction — a 2,000+ pound bull versus a 150-pound rider.”

    Whether this is old hat or a new experience, the events are lively and fast-paced and are sure to keep the crowds entertained. The lineup includes rodeo standards like barrel racing, team roping, cowboy mounted shooting, bull riding and trick riding.

    There is a new event this year, too. “We are having a bull pinball competition,” Blackman said. “Five or six guys are in the arena in a 10-foot diamond or circle. We let a bull out and the last guy left in the ring wins.” It’s something he’s been meaning to add, he said, and this just seemed like the right time.

    Blackman expects a crowd of 1,500 to 2,000 people and suggests coming early. Gates open at 5 p.m. “We will have several vendors of food, information and plenty of activities to see and do,” he said. “The show starts at 8 p.m. Based on previous events, there is always a long line at the ticket window at 8 p.m.” 

    There was no law in the Wild West, so cowboys had to make up their own code of conduct. It wasn't legally binding but more of a code of honor.

    7 Branch hosts several events throughout the year, but the National Day of the Cowboy Rodeo is a special one for Blackman because this event is not only a great time, it is also a fundraiser for two charities. Cape Fear Valley’s Friends of the Cancer Center is the main charity. The Lumber Bridge Fire Department also benefits.

    “We hope to raise enough money to make a difference so that both organizations get a good donation,” Blackman said.

    Tickets are available at www.dayofthecowboy. wordpress.com. Find out more about 7 Branch by searching its name on Facebook.

    PHOTO: Buddy Blackman

  • 02 Margaret 2.jpg in his wordsThe chattering classes have been using the words “Donald Trump” and “sexism and misogyny” in the same sentences for decades now. It did not matter much when he was a real estate developer and reality television star, but it matters tremendously now that he is president of the United States. It matters both to Americans for whom he makes lifechanging decisions and to people who watch us all around the world and who are also affected by his actions.

    Trump apologists say they are disappointed and personally would not say such things, but that we should not worry — it is just “Trump being Trump.” Each of us can decide that for ourselves. Here, in his own words, are actual documented quotes Trump has uttered about women in general and some women in particular.  He and his staff have tried to reinterpret some of them, but no one has denied he actually said these things.

    During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump attacked both prominent women and private citizens.

    Revealing an unsettling interest in bodily functions, he ridiculed Hillary Clinton for going to a ladies’ restroom, using the word “disgusting.” And who can ever forget his characterization of news anchor Megyn Kelly when he said she “had blood coming out of her where ever.”

    Also opinionated about women’s looks, Trump slammed fellow Republican presidential hopeful Carly Fiorina saying, “Look at that face! Would anyone vote for that?” He did not care for Clinton’s appearance either, commenting, “I just don’t think she has a presidential look. And you need a presidential look.” 

    Private citizen Ghazala Khan also drew Trump’s scorn. The mother of an American soldier who was killed in Iraq stood beside her husband as he spoke at the Democratic convention. Trump criticized the grieving mother, suggesting she “wasn’t allowed to have anything to say,” because she is a Muslim. 

    Incredibly, Trump’s views of women were apparently even more toxic before he went into politics. His 2005 comments about being attracted to beautiful women are well-known. “You know I am automatically attracted to beautiful — I just start kissing them,” he said. “It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. And when you are a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab them by the p***y; you can  do anything.” 

    But these words are hardly the most shocking. During proceedings related to a real estate lawsuit, Trump objected to an attorney taking a break to breastfeed her infant. “You’re disgusting,” he said, and walked out of the room. Stunningly, he also suggested that he might like to date his daughter, Ivanka. “Yeah, she’s really something, and what a beauty, that one,” he said. “If I weren’t happily married, and ya know, her father….” He also told Howard Stern in a 2004 interview that he did not mind if Stern referred to Ivanka as “a piece of a**.” 

    Trump’s feud with comedian Rosie O’Donnell is well-known and exceptionally cruel and hypocritical. “We’re all a little chubby, but Rosie’s just worse than most of us,” he said. “But it’s not the chubbiness — Rosie is a very unattractive person, inside and out.”

    A quick Google search reveals much more, some of which I could not bring myself  to transcribe. 

    Most Americans — those who voted for him and those who did not — are under no illusion that any of this is going to change.  Donald Trump is our president, with both the right to free speech and the international spotlight to make sure everyone hears exactly what he says and tweets. We are just going to have to live through it.

    The red flags here are not Trump’s obvious disdain for women other than as beautiful and sexual objects. The red flags are that his attitude will become an acceptable social norm — that it will become OK for other men, and sadly women as well, to speak in such painful and degrading ways.  Young people who are still forming their views hear Trump’s words.  Just as Americans have looked up to presidents since George Washington, we may come to see Trump’s views as acceptable.

    The rest of the world hears all this as well, and the international community is forming opinions not only of our president but of us for tolerating and, in some cases, embracing his views of women. 

    Would any of us tolerate someone saying such things about our mothers, sisters, wives and  daughters?

     

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    UAC070517001 for webAnyone interested in a fresh and highly creative approach to image-making and ceramics should plan on attending the opening of a new exhibit at Gallery 208. “In the Between: New Work by Kaela Nommay” opens with a public reception at 208 Rowan Street, from 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, July 11.

    Gallery 208 is very pleased to introduce such a fresh and gifted artist to the community at large with her first one-person exhibition in the region. Nommay brings the contemporary sensibilities of a postmodern pop culture artist to Fayetteville and the area. The artist employs her exquisitely detailed drawing ability as a way to bring the viewer in closer to look at her work. After taking the time to look closely, the viewer may be perplexed. It’s as if the work alludes to something we should remember but have forgotten, or maybe something we missed and should pay attention to?

    Having flawless design skills, Nommay juxtaposes large areas of negative space and sometimes patterns with details of the recognizable in nature. If her work is anything, it is idiosyncratic, and the viewer senses from the images and forms a bigger dialogue is taking place — the whimsical is foreboding, something seemingly romantic is perhaps a metaphor or evidence of a state of being. Inherent value in the work is that it is not decorative but visually calls to be examined.

    After looking at Nommay’s work, I was interested to know if my sense of the content was at least close to the artist’s intent. The artist affirmed parts of my interpretation when she explained what inspires her and her approach to the work.

    “When creating these works, I was thinking of the relationship between human-constructed space and nature and how both sides are affected — the ongoing push and pull for defining whose space is where,” Nommay said. “As an answer, I ended up with an ambiguous gray space as the starting point to explore in this new body of work. Often, I reverse the roles of animals and humans to lighten the mood and create an absurd and humorous experience of the animal’s displacement.

    “The scenarios in the work are recreated from my everyday observations and experiences. Whether it be from a phone call with my mother, catching a snippet of a conversation or a funny scene I see idly walking by strangers — all of these small moments stick with me. Mundane moments are what I believe can make life interesting. It separates each day from the next, but these small moments are constantly in flux, much like defining our space apart from nature with roads and structures as we are constantly restoring areas and adding new ones.”

    Although her style is highly graphic, drawing and painting is one way in which Nommay distinguishes herself from a reproduced or scanned image. The use of patterns has also been used by the artist in older work and continues in the new work. When asked about her design practice and why she often uses patterns, she explained, “The patterns found in my work are common to home interiors such as wallpapers, fabrics and pillows. Integrating patterns that are commonly found in the home suggests the presence and influence of the human figure. On a formal level, this flat space contrasts and balances the more rendered areas and forms. It also leads the viewer’s eye throughout the artwork, directing it to other significant areas of the composition.”

    The Fayetteville community and region is fortunate to have an artist of Nommay’s caliber as a local artist, educator and resource for innovative work and thinking. Nommay moved to Fayetteville from San Antonio, Texas, a year ago. She earned an MFA in Ceramics from the University of Texas at San Antonio in May 2016, and a BFA from the University of the Incarnate Word in 2013, also in San Antonio, with a double concentration in ceramics and painting.

    Since Texas is a different landscape from North Carolina, the artist was asked if living in our region has affected her work. “Since I primarily recreate observations from everyday life, I have had a new influx of inspiration since moving to North Carolina,” she said. “Having trees all around, a river a few feet from my balcony at home and experiencing the changing seasons has given me a new source to observe the relationship between human space and nature.”

    As a young and emerging artist, Nommay has already been regularly exhibiting her work. In 2017 her work was included in the exhibit “Game of Chance” at the Freight Gallery in San Antonio. In 2016 her work was included in “Dreamers and Realists” at the Ruiz-Healy Art Gallery in San Antonio and  in the exhibit “Blue Star Red Dot: Emerging Artist” at Blue Star Contemporary Gallery in San Antonio.

    Nommay has already been formally influencing the area’s art students since arriving in Fayetteville. During this past academic year, she has been busy working as adjunct faculty for all three of the local institutions of higher learning: Fayetteville State University, Methodist University and Fayetteville Technical Community College. She has plans to continue teaching in the area and exhibit her work as much as possible in the region and nationally.

    The public is invited to the opening reception at Gallery 208 to meet the artist and have a preview of “In the Between: New Work by Kaela Nommay” July 11 from 5:30–7 p.m. The exhibit will remain up until Sept. 10, 2017. If you are not able to get to the opening reception, Gallery 208 is open during regular business hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For questions about the exhibit or location of Gallery 208, call Up & Coming Weekly at (910) 4846200 or go to www.upandcomingweekly.com

     

  • BOF VOTING NOW BUTTON 2017

  • JurassicOn July 9 and 10,  Jurassic Quest comes to the Crown Complex. Both days, the exhibit opens at 9 a.m. and is open all day. This is not a performance in the traditional sense. It is really an experience. The Crown Complex will be filled with exhibits featuring realistic animatronic dinosaurs. These dinosaurs are ultra-realistic and life sized. This family-friendly event is perfect for any dinosaur enthusiast. But kids certainly don’t have to love dinosaurs to love this exhibit. It is the closest anyone can come to really walking with dinosaurs. They leap off the pages of history books and move right before audiences. Visitors can even interact with the exhibits where entire realistic scenes are depicted in vivid detail. Jurassic Quest brings fun, history, learning and science together in one incredible day. 

    Cool exhibits are not the only dinosaur fun available at Jurassic Quest. According to Jurassic Quest, general admission includes, “Dinosaur exhibit, exhibit Tour, Dino Theater, Science Station, Dino Crafts, Dino Coloring Station, Baby Dino Interaction, Walking Dino Interaction, Touching real fossils and Games.” There is enough fun to delight any kid and inspire a new love for the long-gone beasts. This is an interactive and fun peek back in time, which encourages learning and creativity in a more engaging way than the average museum. Reading about paleontologists just doesn’t last as long as digging up a few bones yourself. Jurassic Quest brings history to life and creates life long memories of fun and ancient beasts come to life.

    There are also VIP tickets for children, which are $27. As this event is intended for children, there are no VIP tickets for adults. This ticket option includes, “Everything in general admission plus:  unlimited dinosaur rides, fossil digs, dino scooters, inflatables and a bungee pull,” Jurassic Quest staff explained. However this does not include, face painting, which costs $5 for one side of the face and $10 to paint both sides of the face. Green Screen photos that place your family in a photo with a professional dinosaur background costs $10 for a 4x6 photo and $20 for a 6x8 photo. 

    All of the events are held inside the Crown Complex and customers are permitted to leave and return on the same day with a wristband or a hand stamp. One ticket can provide an entire day of entertainment and learning. 

    “It generally takes about three hours to experience the show.  There are no show times. It is an interactive experience and customers move through the show at their own pace. Strollers are not a problem. Lines are generally shorter during the last three hours of the day. Customers with time constraints should come toward the end of the day,” Jurassic Quest staff advised. 

    Adult tickets are $23 and general admission for kids is $18. No outside food or drink is permitted, but concessions will be sold.  For more information of to purchase tickets visit www.crowncomplexnc.com/events/detail/jurassic-quest. They can also be purchased on site the day of the event.

  • Historic ToursAt this writing, a stroke of Governor McCrory’s pen is all that remains to complete a long hoped for collaboration between Cape Fear Valley Medical Center and Campbell University. Legislative approval of $7.7 million in recurring funds makes it possible for Cape Fear Valley to be reclassified as a “rural” hospital, allowing it to greatly expand its residency program. Becoming a rural hospital will allow the medical center to receive an additional $30 million in federal funding for its residency program for training and salaries for the residents, said Cape Fear Valley Health System Chief Executive Officer Mike Nagowski. They’ll earn about $50,000 a year with full benefits while in training. The fledgling physicians will be instructed by full- and part-time physician professors who will earn up to $400,000, depending on specialty. 

    “These are all new jobs, and most will reside in Cumberland County,” County Commission Chairman Marshall Faircloth told Up & Coming Weekly. Campbell University trustees pledged their support to expand the residency program at Cape Fear Valley during a board meeting in May. Faircloth noted that, with the reclassification, Cape Fear Valley will lose $10.7 million in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements. Campbell pledged $3 million and the general assembly’s appropriation of $7.7 million makes up the deficit. “What a major win this is, and what an effort by a lot of great folks,” said Faircloth. “This will be a combination of economic development and future expansion of community medical resources that we have not seen before. Cape Fear Valley’s relationship with Campbell and its excellent work with Harnett Health is paying dividends.”

    Cape Fear Valley Medical Center has had a fledgling medical residency program for three years. But, the new collaboration will make it possible for the hospital to train up to 300 resident medical school graduates. The first year there will be 157 slots in several specialties. Nagowski said they’ll train in specialties such as general surgery, emergency medicine, pediatrics, internal medicine and obstetrics and gynecology. Studies have indicated that, when they complete their residencies, many of the new docs will choose to live within 50 miles of where they received their training “Thus giving a huge boost to rural health care access for our community in the future,” Faircloth observed. Osteopathic medicine provides all the benefits of modern medicine including surgery, prescription drugs and technology. In addition, it offers the added benefits of hands-on diagnosis and treatment using manipulative medicine. Osteopathic medicine emphasizes helping each person achieve a high level of wellness.

    Faircloth noted that there are significant residuals for the community as well. The residency program will give county government the financial flexibility to entertain some level of participation in projects that the Fayetteville/Cumberland community is considering like a ballpark, Civil War History Center, an arts and entertainment district, performing arts center and other quality-of-life enhancements many believe are crucial to the county’s future. 

    It’s the first time the chairman has indicated an interest in county commissioners joining with Fayetteville City Council on the construction of a minor league baseball stadium. Fayetteville Mayor Pro Tem Mitch Colvin has suggested adding a couple of county commissioners to the city’s stadium subcommittee. Faircloth observed that not everyone is happy that these projects are concentrated in or near downtown Fayetteville. But, he said, “If you look around at cities which have made a successful transition in their livability, that’s where the investment has been made.”

  • NEWS1The Army’s Kiowa helicopters, which departed Fort Bragg after a patriotic sendoff, are on station in the Republic of Korea. The First Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment of the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade arrived in Korea to complete the Kiowa’s final deployment. When Task Force Sabre returns to Fort Bragg next Spring its OH-58Ds helicopters will be retired and replaced by AH-64D Apaches. Soldiers of the 17th Cavalry Regiment are the last squadron in the Army to make the conversion to Apaches. The addition of unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, is a force multiplier. “Teaming Apaches and unmanned aerial vehicles essentially changes the face of the battlefield,” said Captain Adan Cazarez, spokesman for the 82nd CAB. The Apache will play a supporting role for the RQ-7 Shadow UAV.
    An Apache crewman operating a UAV can survey enemy movements and relay information back to ground forces. 

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    News2More on Opioid Abuse                         

    Governments at every level have joined the war on prescription opioid and heroin abuse in America. “I think the public doesn’t fully appreciate yet the scope of the problem,” President Barack Obama told people attending the National Rx Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit in Atlanta, Georgia, earlier this year. New initiatives include making funding available to states to purchase and distribute the overdose reversal drug, naloxone, and to train first responders and others in its use.

    Fayetteville Police have been saving lives administering emergency naloxone for nearly a year now. Opioids such as Percocet, Vicodin, Lortab and heroin are highly addictive drugs. Deaths linked to opiates soared to more than 29,000 in 2014, the highest number on record, according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued its first-ever recommendations to clinicians on prescribing opioids. The CDC developed materials to assist clinicians with implementing the recommendations, including a decision checklist. The Food and Drug Administration recently announced safety labeling changes for all immediate-release opioid pain medications, including requiring a new box warning about the serious risks of misuse, abuse, addiction, overdose and death associated with these drugs.

     

     

    News3SFC Earl Plumlee’s Mixed Emotions                                                

    “It seems kind of odd” said Army Sgt. 1st Class Earl D. Plumlee as to why he was denied the Medal of Honor for his heroics in Afghanistan three years ago. Plumlee’s comment came in a Stars and Stripesinterview. He said he does not “lie awake every night burning up with anger” about it. His concern is the subjective nature of the honors decision-making process. In August, 2013, Plumlee’s Special Forces unit was attacked by Taliban fighters. The battle that followed resulted in the death of one Green Beret and the wounding of several others. Plumlee was recommended for the Medal of Honor, but he received the Silver Star Medal, two levels below the nation’s highest award for valor in combat. “I kind of have mixed emotions about it,” Plumlee told Stars and Stripes. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif. asked for a Defense Department inspector general investigation to determine what happened. After all, Plumlee is credited with leading his men in a fierce battle that fought off the insurgents. Several service members were decorated for valor with one receiving the Silver Star Medal posthumously. Senior commanders in Afghanistan at the time, including Marine Gen. Joseph  , now the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Gen. Mark Milley, now the Army Chief of Staff, had recommended that Plumlee receive the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty.  But Plumlee’s nomination was denied once it reached the Pentagon. Army Secretary John McHugh instead signed off on a Silver Star Medal after a panel known as the Senior Decorations Board recommended that the higher award not be approved. 

     

    News4Fayetteville Chamber Revitalizes Membership     

    The Greater Fayetteville Chamber hopes to grow its membership by revitalizing its popular Ambassadors program. Beasley Media Sales Representative Gary Rogers chairs the program in the fiscal year ahead. He’s currently serving as the Ambassador of the Year. “He acts as the chamber’s liaison for support and services to members,” said Kelly Moore, Chamber Membership Engagement Specialist. She calls it a goodwill outreach to get business owners more involved in the organization in order to improve branding and grow the membership. The Chamber currently has 708 members according
    to Moore.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    News5Judge  Lou Olivera Elected 2016-2017 Vice President of the N.C. Bar Association

    At the June, 2016, membership meeting and annual conference, the members of the North Carolina Bar Association, endorsed and confirmed by the NCBA Board of Governors, voted Judge Lou Olivera as vice president for the Association. The organization consists of more than 15,000 active members.

     Other Fayetteville residents who have served as Vice President of the NCBA from its inception in 1899 are Judge Maurice Braswell, Justice Cheri Beasley, Judge Elizabeth Keever and Judge Lynn Johnson.

     Judge Olivera is a graduate of the Campbell University School of Law and is a Veteran of the United States Army.  He is a District Court Judge in Cumberland County, North Carolina. 

    The North Carolina Bar Association is a voluntary organization of lawyers, paralegals and law students dedicated to serving the public and the legal profession. 

  • Historic ToursDid you know that the city of Fayetteville offers historic tours? The Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum, which is an educational resource, offers year round customized tours of our city. Tours may include a visit to the Market House, the Fayetteville Light Infantry Museum and Armory, one of a number of historic churches, Liberty Point, Cool Springs Tavern and Cross Creek Cemetery.  This summer three specific tours each with its own historical focus are available. The Downtown Alliance offers horse-drawn carriage tours, too.

    Historic Tours by Carriage

    Tour historic downtown Fayetteville in a horse-drawn carriage on July 9. The narrated tours include historic sites from Fayetteville’s 250-year history, including many from the Revolutionary War era or earlier. 

    “We started developing this back in March and as we were researching and putting this together, we decided to do a test run thinking the tour would only take 45 minutes,” said Downtown Alliance Events Committee member Hank Parfitt. “It ended up taking two and a half hours, so we ended up focusing on the Revolutionary War era because a lot of people don’t realize Fayetteville’s history goes back that far.” 

    Parfitt also noted that if the tours do well, the Downtown Alliance would like to add tours that focus on other historical eras as well. “We use S&S Carriage Rides because their horses are so well-trained and their equipment is always clean, which makes the carriage rides that much more fun.” 

    The carriage rides take place once a month and run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tours leave hourly from the Downtown Alliance office at 222 Hay Street every hour. Tickets are $25 per person ($20 with military ID, active and retired) and $15 for children between 3 and 12. Purchase tickets at 222 Hay Street or by calling 222-3382. Tickets are also available online at www.visitdowntownfayetteville.com. The rain date is Sunday, July 10. 

    Downtown Architecture Walking 

    Join staff from the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum at the Headquarters Library on Saturday, July 30 at 9 a.m. and bring your walking shoes. A presentation begins a fascinating look into the arches, gates and gables of some of the most noteworthy buildings in Fayetteville.  Then, travel with us on a guided walking tour in the core Downtown Historic District. Admission is free.

     Cape Fear River Presentation and Boat Tour 

    Learn about the history of boats on the Cape Fear River and then hop on board one for an evening boat ride on Aug. 6, at 6 p.m. The presentation will be in the museum annex and then participants will travel to Campbellton Landing for a sunset river tour to the confluence of the river and Rockfish Creek. The boat ride has a fee of $25 per person and pre-registration is required. Contact the museum at  433-1457 for more information or to register.

    Lafayette History Bus Tour 

    Museum staff will lead you on a fascinating trip through time as you retrace General Lafayette’s footsteps when he was a guest of the city on March 4, 1825. The tour begins at the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum and takes participants to several historic sites via bus. There is a small fee which includes lunch. Pre-registration is required. Contact the museum at 433-1457 for more information or to register. This tour is part of the annual Lafayette Birthday Celebration and takes place on Saturday, Sept. 10. Learn more atwww.lafayettesociety.org.

     The Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum is located at 325 Franklin St. Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. The museum is operated by the Historic Properties Division of Fayetteville Cumberland Parks and Recreation, a department of the City of Fayetteville. For more information, visit www.fcpr.us or call (910) 433-1457, 1458 or 1944.

  • Margaret

    No one, friend or foe, has ever called me a crafts person.  

    As a little girl, I did make potholders on a handloom by threading colorful cotton loops over and under and crocheting the edges. This was a regular pastime as I rode the Greyhound to visit my grandparents in Kinston. As a young woman, I took up knitting briefly but obsessively. In just a few days, I knitted an afghan the Dicksons still snuggle under, ignoring the fact that I ran out of yarn so that one end is festooned with a luxurious, deep fringe and the other end is naked as a jay bird. I also knitted my boyfriend, later husband, a sweater of a lovely blue, which matched his eyes but whose sleeves could have accommodated the arms of LeBron James. My sweetie duly wore the thing a time or two, looking like a slender fellow with Michelin Man arms.

    That was the end of my crafting career. No scrapbooking. No stained glass making. No hand- thrown pots. No jewelry made out of beads and shells.

    This summer I am breaking my long-running craft boycott.

    As a gift to the Precious Jewels, I am sorting through and organizing  thousands of family photographs and documents so that they, their children and their children’s children will have some sense of where we all came from and why we are who we are. My maternal grandmother put together a notebook of that side of our family nearly 50 years ago, but my knowledge is sketchier about my father’s family and certainly about my husband’s kin. But I will pass along what I do know, and even though the Precious Jewels are not especially interested at this point in their lives, I am confident they will be later.

    Overwhelming is the only word I can think of to describe this process, but I am also learning that I am far from alone in diving into this task. The internet is full of “how-tos” about dealing with mountains of family material, including “ethical wills,” documents that attempt to pass ethical values down to new generations and directions about writing family narratives. The thinking goes that it is much easier to understand the personal stories of immigrant ancestors, Jane and Joe Dickson perhaps, arriving at Ellis Island and becoming Americans than it is to memorize the history of Europeans coming to our shores.

    Among the helpful hints I have found that resonate with me are some by Ann Brenoff in The Huffington Post. They make perfect sense, and we are likely to have most of these items. Among Brenoff’s recommendations is your first passport. This is a real conversation starter, as in, “Mom, I had no idea you went on a Mediterranean cruise when you were 15!”  

    How about your military discharge papers. I do not have any of these myself, but I would love to have my father’s to share. He served as a medic in Europe during World War II, including during the D-Day invasion of France. So few of his generation remain, and these papers would feel like a voice from a different time.

    I do have many pictures of my wedding to the Precious Jewels’ father, and they have seen some but not all of them. I plan to make sure they see others, so they will know their dad and I were once their age and—dare I say it? — fun!

    Brenoff also suggests something that belonged to the oldest relative your children know. My aunt died earlier this year at 90, and they knew her well and loved her.  Memories of her and the tangible gifts she made over the years will keep her alive in their hearts.

    How about a sentimental piece of jewelry? It does not have to be a 10-carat diamond. My mother’s childhood friendship bracelet has been turned into a pair of earrings, and those who wear them in the years to come will know who first wore those itty-bitty blue stones. Ditto for some monogrammed gold cuff links of my grandfather’s, who died before I was born.

    I do not have one of these but wish I did — a receipt with a date on it showing that a gallon of milk really did cost $1.50 and a nice car could be had for less than $10,000. These fall into the “you’ve got to be kidding” category.

    A picture of the first time you held your Precious Jewel. Got those, thank goodness, including some discreet delivery room hugs and kisses after all the action was over.

    Brenoff has more suggestions. Childhood report cards, especially if teachers commented on them. Those are generally good for a laugh. Tags worn by childhood pets are guaranteed to bring back memories, maybe even a tear or two.

    And, maybe best of all, your favorite music — think oldies! — recorded on a platform they can use. Think iTunes, not cassettes, or — heaven forbid! — 8-track tapes!

    I know. I know.  

    This is to be a huge effort.  

    But what else is more worthwhile during the heat of July?

  • PUB PENWow! What a great weekend we had. Celebrating our country’s birthday always makes me recognize and appreciate  the great country we live in. Though I think we have a tendency to take our freedoms for granted, especially in times like these when we seem to be straining and stressing under the weight of our own governance. Well, I’m not really worried about it. Americans have always proven their resilience time and time again when it comes to defending our rights and the American way of life. I love Fayetteville. Life here is good. Could it be better? Absolutely. But, then again, we suffer from too much governance locally where old habits, unilateral motives and conflicting priorities hinder and stifle our progress and growth.

    Recently, a former resident of Fayetteville returned for a visit after a 30-year absence. He was amazed and pleasantly surprised and even impressed with our city’s transformation - especially downtown. He hardly recognized it. Taking pride in his compliments and observations, I couldn’t refrain from making the comment, “Yeah, but we’re not where we should be or could be. If only we could get out of our own way.”

    And, it’s true. Everyone I talk with loves Fayetteville/Cumberland County. The problem is, they love “their” community. A common theme runs through every conversation I have with Fayetteville and Cumberland County residents. That one single thing that everyone mentions and agrees with consistently is: we are a community that fails to communicate or cooperate with each other. It is amazing. Everyone agrees that we should communicate and cooperate, but, openly admits that we don’t. Go figure. This is sad and not necessarily the type of thinking that inspires, energizes and motivates a progressive community.

    We seem to be in a perpetual circular firing squad. 

    At least everyone recognizes the problem, and they say that’s 50 percent of the solution. I agree, we have made great progress over the past three decades. However, we still have plenty of work to do - and with several awesome opportunities on the horizon, let’s all hope that our collective community communication improves. After all, we could talk ourselves into a future baseball stadium, a performing arts center and a North Carolina Civil War Education Center. It could happen! What do you say? Can we talk about it?

    Thank you for reading the Up & Coming Weekly.

  • 19aMarksmen tab Ryan Cruthers as Director of Hockey Operations, Head Coach

    The Fayetteville Marksmen, proud members of the Southern Professional Hockey League, have signed Ryan Cruthers as the director of hockey operations and seventh head coach in team history.
    Cruthers, 39, from Farmingdale, New York, served last season as the assistant coach for the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede.

    “I’m excited to be a member of this new Marksmen family and take it to new heights,” said Cruthers.

    Cruthers’s coaching experience has included multiple stops at the top levels of American junior hockey. He was the head coach and assistant general manager of the USHL’s Chicago Steel during the 2017-18 season and the following year was tabbed as bench boss for the NAHL’s Corpus Christi Ice Rays.

    Most recently, Cruthers helped engineer a USPHL-Premier expansion franchise with the Columbia Infantry before undertaking the assistant coach’s post in Sioux Falls.

    “We could not be happier for Ryan and his family,” said Stampede general manager Tony Gasparini. “He had an instrumental part toward our success both on and off the ice, in particular, working with two of our defensemen who were picked last week in Nashville at the NHL Draft.”

    From 2015-22, Cruthers was one of the architects of the Charlotte Rush championship teams in the USPHL. The Rush won their first of two USPHL-Elite national championships under Cruthers in 2017, just his second season with the organization. In 2021, both the Charlotte Elite and Premier divisions captured national titles while he served as general manager and Premier head coach.

    For two games during the 2017-18 season he filled-in as the interim head coach for the Marksmen and earned a record of 1-0-1.

    “Ryan is going to put us in a position to have a successful season again this year and is going to drive us in the right direction on and off the ice,” said Marksmen owner and CEO Chuck Norris.

    Prior to his coaching career, Cruthers was a force on the wing with eight seasons of ECHL experience. In 429 ECHL games and 32 AHL games, he logged four separate 20-goal seasons and led the 2009-10 Reading Royals in points (71).

    Consistently touted as a leader, Cruthers was captain of the Royals from 2010-12 and then donned the “C” for the Orlando Solar Bears in 2012-13. He was the captain and first rostered player in Solar Bears history.

    “I think your playing career – as a coach – helps you relate to what the players and team are going through at different times… success is built on relationships, and I’ve already started building these relationships with our players,” said Cruthers.

    A standout at Robert Morris University, Cruthers was a four-year NCAA Division-I letterwinner. He captained the Colonials in his senior season, a year where he was also a preliminary nominee for the Hobey Baker Award as the NCAA’s top men’s college hockey player. Prior to starring with R.M.U., Cruthers played his first two college seasons as the United States Military Academy at West Point.

    “I am passionate about the military and what the Marksmen stand for and we’re founded from,” said Cruthers.

    “[Cruthers] is not a coach looking for a chance, he’s proven how valuable he is already at the NCAA Division-I level, the ECHL, and the top two tiers of North American junior hockey. That type of experience is hard to find in the SPHL, but we’ve been able to capture it with him,” said Norris.

    Cruthers will lead the Marksmen during opening weekend on Friday, Oct. 20 at Roanoke and Saturday, Oct. 21 at home vs. Roanoke.

    “Our fans will have a team they can relate to, a daily commitment to excellence both on the ice and in the community,” said Cruthers. “My goal is the entire Fayetteville community can feel the positive direction in which we are heading.”

    19bMarksmen sign two-time SPHL Champion Kyle Sharkey as Assistant Coach

    The Fayetteville Marksmen also announced they have agreed to terms with Kyle Sharkey as assistant coach for the 2023-24 season.

    Sharkey, 30, a native of Moore, Oklahoma, served as an assistant coach with NAHL’s Minot, North Dakota Minotauros last season.

    “I’m excited and grateful for the opportunity to join the Marksmen,” said Sharkey. “My family and I are looking forward to making Fayetteville home and can’t wait to be a part of the community.”
    Sharkey logged 150 SPHL games as a player and notched 130 points (50g, 80a), all with the Huntsville Havoc. In 2018-19, Sharkey finished third in points for the eventual President’s Cup champion Havoc.

    A two-time SPHL champion, Sharkey also contributed for the 2017-18 championship Havoc team, and served as an alternate captain for the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point on the Pointers 2015-16 NCAA division-III championship squad.

    “[Sharkey] brings a championship pedigree as a player and has valuable experience in the SPHL,” said head coach Ryan Cruthers. “He is eager to grow as a coach and will have an immediate impact on our team.”
    With Sharkey’s experience, the Marksmen round out the 2023-24 coaching staff with a combined eight championships between two coaches.

    I’m looking forward to hitting the ground running,” said Sharkey, “and helping to build a culture we will be proud of for years to come.”

  • 18God is faithful, and the cycle of the seasons signifies that God will preserve and redeem His created order. Genesis 8:22 reads, “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” (KJV) This verse is part of the covenant or promise God made with Noah after the flood and a reminder of His faithfulness each day and every season in our lives.

    One definition of the word season tells us that it is the period of the year that is distinguished by special climate conditions that come, go and reoccur in a year. In the Gregorian calendar, four seasons are generally recognized in temperate and sub-polar regions. God, not science or scientists, divided the year into the cadence of spring, summer, autumn and winter.

    “To everything, there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven,” states Ecclesiastes 3:1. In eloquently penning this verse, King Solomon, the writer of the book of Ecclesiastes, expressed his commentary on the ebb and flow of human lives. His words spoke not only to the people of his time but speak relevantly to our lives today. Continuing, he elaborated on the season we all face: There is “a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted. A time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down, and a time to build up. A time to weep and a time to laugh.” (AMP)

    Another meaning of the quoted scripture has to do with the changing seasons of our lives. Each season or stage of life teaches us something new about ourselves, others and life in general. Research tells us that four personal seasons of life exist like the four we have in nature. Orchestrated by God for a purpose, these periods develop our personalities and lay the groundwork for the lives we will lead in the future. Moving through each spiritual season builds our faith and brings us closer to the Lord.

    Spring is the time in your life from birth to mid-twenties, a time of hope, new beginnings and opportunities.

    Summer represents the transition from adolescence to adulthood. A time to celebrate the meaning of life which brings growth. There is a need for protection from the abundance of distractions that plague life during this time.

    Fall is the time of your life when you slow down or retire. More time is available to mentor others in this season.

    Winter can be a season of true wisdom or a time of sadness and despair.

    Some of these seasons of humanity may last for a lifetime or for a short time. Seek the Lord to know the season and the reason for your various relationships; when to start, when to continue, and when to let go.

    We are in the summer, the warmest time of the year, with longer days and more opportunities to get outside and enjoy the sunshine. I enjoy walking early in the morning or riding my bike in my neighborhood for exercise. Seeing and interacting with my neighbors as they walk or ride their bikes is always a pleasure. I love watching outdoor sports, attending barbecues, picnics, having fun at the beach, and sitting on my porch enjoying the helicopters flying over our house. I also enjoy watching the bees go from flower to flower while sitting on my porch.

    I genuinely love the array of beautiful blooming flowers and trees in my yard and the tomatoes and green peppers growing in our raised garden beds. I am not particularly fond of pulling out the weeds in the beds. These weeds compete with plants for water, nutrients, sunshine, and space.

    Spiritual weeds in our lives are similar to those in flower and vegetable gardens. We don’t always recognize them as weeds. They grow so quickly and choke the life out of what we want to flourish.
    Spiritual weeds can flourish by watching too much television, spending too much time on the phone, social media, and news media. Other prominent weeds include pride, envy, greed, lying, yielding to temptations, unforgiveness, and associating with people that are pulling us away from the Lord.

    We strengthen our walk with God by reading and applying the Word to our lives, and praying daily.
    God is not seasonal. Both Malachi 3:6 and Hebrew 13:8 declare that God is always the same and never ever changes. He is always good, always loving, always all-powerful. No matter how this world changes around us, we can trust God who is always consistent.

    Nothing is too large for Him to handle or too minute for Him to notice. He is omniscient. He sees and knows all the details of our lives — our worries, struggles, victories, frustrations and conflicts.

    We can trust Him to lead and guide us to all truth. We may never understand why God allows things to happen in different seasons of our lives. We can know that He is in control, and there is a set season for everything by His purpose for our lives. Your life is important to God.

    “And let us not be weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.” (Galatians 6:9).

    Editor’s note: A version of this article appears in the July issue of Women’s View Magazine.

  • 7aWhat books are you featuring on PBS-NC’s “North Carolina Bookwatch” this season?

    I still get this question even though Bookwatch, the program about North Carolina books and authors that I hosted, ended its 23-year run almost two years ago.

    Here are some of the North Carolina-related books and authors that might have been featured if the program had continued.

    A favorite Bookwatch guest was Lee Smith, one of North Carolina’s favorite authors for almost a half-century. She always gives her readers a look at the interesting lives of compelling and often quirky characters.

    Her latest, “Silver Alert: A Novel” is set in Key West and is full of those quirky characters like those Smith’s fans treasure. Herb is an 83-year-old wealthy and cranky man in Key West. He and a young manicurist take a wild ride around Florida in his treasured Porsche. Herb’s family reports him missing, and the resulting “silver alert” leads to the book’s conclusion.

    With the hurricane season upon us, one book that would surely have been featured is “Fifteen Hurricanes That Changed the Carolinas: Powerful Storms, Climate Change, and What We Do Next,” by hurricane expert Jay Barnes.

    Barnes gives a good background about the dangers hurricanes bring to our state. Then in separate chapters he covers some of the most memorable beginning with The Great Carolina Hurricane of 1752 and more recent ones such as Hugo (1989), Fran (1996), Floyd (1999), Matthew (2016), and Florence (2018).

    In his latest book, “Lessons from North Carolina: Race, Religion, Tribe, and the Future of America,” UNC Law Professor Gene Nichol writes about the struggles of North Carolina’s poor and North Carolina’s exploitation and inattention to them. Taking on the role of an Old Testament prophet he condemns the ways the state’s powerful oppress the powerless.17b

    The late UNC-Wilmington Professor Phillip Gerard wrote a series of articles for Our State magazine about North Carolina in different decades. His articles about the 1950s are the basis of “North Carolina in the 1950s: The Decade in Motion” published by Blair/Carolina Wren Press.

    Gerard covers such topics as beach music, family visits to the local drive-in theater, the beginning of WUNC- TV, how four North Carolina A&T students sat down at Greensboro’s Woolworth’s whites-only lunch counter, noting their quiet courage and informing readers how rich and complicated the fifties were.

    UNC Professor Daniel Wallace’s best-selling novel, “Big Fish,” and other novels have demonstrated that he is one of America’s great storytellers. His latest book, “This Isn’t Going to End Well: The True Story of a Man I Thought I Knew,” shows that he also can use those gifts to create compelling non-fiction.

    His account of his relationship with his brilliant but troubled brother-in-law and great friend is powerful, moving and memorable.

    De’Shawn Charles Winslow’s debut novel, “In West Mills,” introduced readers to the town and its residents in the 1940s. His new book, “Decent People,” begins in March 1976. Both books give readers a painful inside look at Black communities in northeastern North Carolina.

    “Decent People,” opens: “Josephine Wright could have kissed the ground, she was so glad to arrive back at home in West Mills, North Carolina.”

    Jo Wright was born and grew up in West Mills, but had lived in New York for 48 years. Now she was returning to West Mills to enjoy retirement, live in a cottage, and marry Olympus “Lymp” Seymore, “the man she had waited so long to find, someone she had known as a child.”

    But Lymp has become a suspect in a recent murder.

    Jo’s search for the real murderer finally concludes surprisingly, but only after the reader has learned the complex story of life in West Mills.

    We may miss “Bookwatch,” but North Carolina writers have not missed a beat.

    Editor’s note: D.G. Martin, a retired lawyer, served as UNC-System’s vice president for public affairs and hosted PBS-NC’s North Carolina Bookwatch for 23 seasons.

  • 15As computer science instructors, people often ask us if this or that GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) is going to take away all the programing jobs. We know that some people are worried, but human programmers are not going away anytime soon. Human creativity is not so easily replaceable.

    GPT models are great at generating text, but they can’t come close to the creativity and problem-solving abilities of humans. Computer programming requires imaginative thinking, finding solutions and translating ideas into code. These are skills the models can’t do alone — but they can make a programmer much more productive.

    Spreadsheets have auto-completion and auto-calculation routines built in, and they’ve replaced hand-calculating long list of numbers — but they can’t replace the person who looks at the spreadsheet and decides what to do with those numbers.

    Weighing Costs and Benefits

    Programming is more than just writing lines of code. It involves making complex decisions. While GPT models can offer suggestions or assist with specific aspects, the buck stops with human programmers and their judgment. A model can suggest solutions, but it’s up to you to select the best solution.

    Adaptability is a Human Trait

    Programming languages change over time. Skilled programmers adapt to these changes, continuously learning and updating their knowledge. The most important thing we try to teach our students is to “learn how to learn” because the hottest thing today won’t be the hottest thing tomorrow.

    GPT models, on the other hand, rely on existing data and patterns. They can’t learn new skills or adapt to changing circumstances. That’s up to us.

    Collaboration Between Humans and Models

    Instead of seeing GPT models as adversaries, we tell our students to look at them as tools. They can offer suggestions, provide code examples, and much more. By working alongside GPT models, programmers can leverage their capabilities while contributing their unique insights and expertise.

    In fact, we’re using these kinds of models to help our novice programmers, not just by letting them ask questions about “How do I write programs?” but also exploring the model to figure out what are the right questions to ask.

    We found that when students knew what kind of web page they wanted to make, for example, they would keep asking the model for help until they came up with a web page that matched what they had imagined. It truly was a group effort between programmer and model.

    The field of computer programming

    GPT models have made remarkable strides in generating text and supporting specific tasks. However, they aren’t positioned to replace human programmers. The field of computer programming thrives on human creativity, problem-solving abilities, critical thinking and adaptability to evolving technologies.

    By recognizing the collaborative potential of GPT models, programmers can harness their strengths and prove that humans have to be the ones doing the thinking. We invite you to learn more about computer programming at FTCC. We’re registering students now for fall semester and would love to serve you. For more information visit https://www.faytechcc.edu/academics/computer-information-technology-programs/

    Editor's note: David Teter and Andrew Norris are Information Technology faculty members at Fayetteville Technical Community College.

  • 14The Summer Concert Series presents Gary Lowder & Smokin’ Hot Friday, Aug. 4 at 7 p.m. at Gates Four Golf & Country Club Pavilion.

    “We have had a busy summer and we are continuing until November,” said Gary Lowder, leader of the band Gary Lowder & Smokin’ Hot.

    “We have performed at the Virginia Beach Music Festival, the upcoming North Carolina Oyster Festival, the North Carolina Seafood Festival and anything that has fish or seafood in it, we are there.”

    “Smokin’ Hot has been together about 14 years and we are a full-time eight-piece R & B Soul Party Band,” said Lowder.

    “We play a lot of the music that people grew up with such as KC & The Sunshine Band, Kool & The Gang and our own original music that gets a lot of airplay across the region.”

    He added, “We play a lot of line dance music for our dancing crowd, Shag music for the shaggers and the newer cover music for our young crowd.”
    Lowder has always had a love for music and was exposed to it at an early age.

    “I have been involved in music since I was a teenager and I have played music in and out of the country,” said Lowder. “I grew up in the Carolinas and in 1982 I moved to Minneapolis.”

    His backstory is while living in Minneapolis, he had groups that performed for various festivals and corporate events. The last year that he lived there his bass player and keyboard player were hired by the late singer, musician and producer Prince.

    He decided to move back to the Carolinas and had no intentions of getting back into the music industry, but low and behold, he began working with a few musical groups and decided to put his own group back together.

    His efforts finally formed into the band that it is today, Smokin’ Hot.

    “When I lived in Fayetteville originally I was part of a group called Hot Smokin’ Brass and we were Jackie Wilson’s back-up band for several years until he had a stroke and I kind of borrowed part of the name of that band and created my own band when I moved back to the coast,” said Lowder.

    Their last CD had four number one hits that are played on known countdowns. In 2021, Lowder was awarded Male Vocalist of the Year from The Carolina Beach Music Association.

    When asked what can the audience expect from the band’s performance at the Summer Concert Series, Lowder promises the audience will enjoy themselves because the band knows how to move the crowd.

    “You are going to hear some of your favorite music that you have grown up listening to and we look forward to seeing you at the show.”

    The event is free and open to the public. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., food and drinks start at 6 p.m.

    For more information on the band visit www.garylowdermusic.com

    For more information about the Gates Four Summer Concert Series or to purchase VIP seating visit https://www.fayettevilledinnertheatre.com/

  • 13Chosen Pen is a publishing company based out of Fayetteville that guides and assists authors on the path to publishing their work and sharing their stories with the world.

    The professional publishing house is spearheaded by author and publisher Dr. Norma McLauchlin, who has been able to take her stories and adventures from life and turn them into opportunities to teach and inspire anybody that crosses her path.

    The publishing house is celebrating their 10 year anniversary this September, with McLauchlin doing a TED Talk to celebrate. She was able to partner with a TEDx platform after joining a couple of authors and publishing groups. McLauchlin was able to connect with other writers from all over the world. McLauchlin has now been able to take Chosen Pen to Africa with the TEDx Talk, and has built libraries, schools and gardens for children in South Africa.

    Up & Coming Weekly had the chance to sit down with McLauchlin to discuss Chosen Pen, her personal story, and how she sees the publishing house growing. McLauchlin is an avid writer but began as an avid reader thanks to her grandmother. Before starting Chosen Pen, she was a writer at Fayetteville State University, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Business.

    “I have these visions of being chosen, chosen to write, chosen to help, chosen to do work, God's work,” she said.

    Though she was already constantly writing, the real inspiration came from teaching and hosting her sister groups, where they would get together and discuss books and personal stories. Through this experience McLauchlin realized people were waiting to hear her stories, but also the stories of the women she was helping and teaching.

    Chosen Pen is now home to six authors who have all published their own works, and have collaborated on anthologies together.

    Opportunities like these have given some writers their first published works, and the chance to make profits off book sales. Their most recent anthology is titled “I’ve got to Write! It’s Like Fire Shut Up in My Bones,” and is a compilation of the authors’ passionate writing styles in one book. The anthology is available for pre-order now.13a

    Chosen Pen is open to help publish books by any author, but one of the biggest reasons Chosen Pen was started, was because there was a lack of publishers willing to publish books for and by Black women.

    McLauchlin says, “I decided to be a publisher because so many Black women want to tell their stories, but there are no publishers for them. There’s no one to help them write or publish their work. So, a part of my company is also me being a co-writer coach as well, to help them write their stories and take them through the entire marketing and publishing process.”

    McLauchlin took an active role in integration back in the 1960s to help blend races in schools as a part of the civil rights movement. It’s easy for some to forget the trauma and trouble that people of color went through to have equal rights and education. For McLauchlin this was challenging as well, and having to navigate through that new education system, while still dealing with racism and women’s rights, stays with her until this day.

    “The social aspect was the hardest part of that process, it’s difficult to make friends and be social during a time like that. I would eat my lunch in the supply closet and didn’t go to any social events until my senior prom,” she said.

    Since she started Chosen Pen, a lot of McLauchlin’s stories and writing deal with love, faith, hope, and most importantly, forgiveness. With forgiveness being such a huge part of McLauchlin’s life story, she began to do forgiveness retreats with women to help deal with past hurts and struggles in a more positive way.

    She also has an assortment of books and journals on the topic of forgiveness. McLauchlin says, “The process of healing and carrying around what other people have said or done to you can be a lot. I later understood that the burden that you were carrying was not for yourself, but for others.”

    When it comes to getting your book published through Chosen Pen, McLauchlin takes you through a step-by-step process of taking your book from edited, all the way to how you should distribute, market and sell them.

    “We encourage our authors to use distribution channels like Amazon and Barnes & Noble, but we also encourage them to sell from their own websites or social media platforms to get the most out of their sales.”

    Now that Chosen Pen has established authors and books, McLauchlin plans on taking more of her resources to South Africa, where she can spread more knowledge on forgiveness and love and focus on some of the disparities she sees in those communities.

    “There are a lot of parallels when it comes to hardships in Africa and the United States. The gender gap is huge and there are a lot of absent fathers. We are working on programs to help integrate women into the work force, and programs to ensure fathers stay a part of households and with their families,” she said.

    For anyone interested in getting their stories heard and put out into the world to inspire others, visit Chosenpen.com. There you can book a consultation to get coaching and guidance on your next book venture, and join a writer’s group where you can converse and connect with other writers.

    There are opportunities to publish your next work if you’re already finished with a project and want to see it through. Also, don’t forget to register to join Chosen Pen on Sept. 15 and 16 as they celebrate their 10 Year Anniversary and TEDx Talk. For information visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITsZ4vOT-rg

  • 11Municipal elections determine the makeup of local governments. These elected officials make decisions about development, policing, budgets, local taxation, and other issues that affect voters’ daily lives such as trash service.

    FAYETTEVILLE

    Fayetteville’s mayoral incumbent Mitch Colvin is being challenged by Freddie de la Cruz, Charles Evans and Quancidine Hinson-Gribble. Colvin has been Fayetteville’s mayor since November 2017.
    De la Cruz challenged Colvin in 2022 but was defeated.

    Evans ran for the 7th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2022 but was defeated. He is a former member of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners and served on the Fayetteville City Council representing District 2.

    Hinson-Gribble lost a bid for mayor in 2017.

    The District 1 seat incumbent Kathy Keefe Jensen, will be challenged by Jose Alejandro Rodriguez.

    The District 2 seat, which consists of Downtown Fayetteville, is being challenged. Incumbent Shakeyla Ingram is being challenged by six other people. Gail Morfesis, Larry Marshall, Laura Rodrigues Mussler, Janene (Dublin) Ackles, Malik Eilliam Davis and Anastasia J. Vann have filed.

    The District 3 seat incumbent Mario (Be) Benavente, will be challenged by Michele A. Dillon.

    District 4 Incumbent D.J. Haire is being challenged by Stuart A. Collick.

    District 5 Incumbent Johnny Dawkins is being challenged by three other candidates: Fred G. LaChance III, Justin Herbe and Lynne Bissette Greene.

    District 9 Incumbent Deno Hondros is being challenged by Fredlisha R. Lansana.

    District 6’s Derrick Thompson, District 7’s Brenda McNair, and District 8’s Courtney Banks-McLaughlin are not being challenged.

    HOPE MILLS

    Mayor Jackie Warner is being challenged by former town commissioner Jessie Bellflowers.

    The Board of Commissioners will be a packed race.

    In the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners race, incumbents Bryan A. Marley, Kenjuana McCray, Jerry Legge, Grilley Mitchell and Joanne Scarola have filed. Ronald Starling, Patrick Mitchell, Ronnie Strong, Pat Edwards, Mark Hess, Deanna L. Rosario, H. Elyse Craver and Karen Smith Saracen have also filed.

    SPRING LAKE

    The mayoral seat, currently held by Kia Anthony, is being challenged by Fredricka Sutherland. Sutherland is a previous board member for the town of Spring Lake.

    For the Board of Alderman, incumbents Robyn Chadwick, Sona L. Cooper, Adrian Jones Thompson, Marvin Lackman and Raul Palacios will be facing challengers Daniel B. Gerald, Jackie Lee Jackson, James P. O’Garra and Katrina Bratcher.

    EASTOVER

    Mayor Charles McLaurin will not be facing any challengers in this election.

    For Town Council, incumbent Stan Crumpler, incumbent Cheryl Hudson and Fredrick A. Williams have all filed.

    FALCON

    Wayne G. Lucas will be the only one running for Mayor.

    For Town Commissioner, incumbents John C. Wheeler and R. Dwayne Dunning Sr. and challengers Chris Stone, Sue Brigman, Larry C. Lovick and James Danny Nelson filed for seats on the town board.

    GODWIN

    Willie Burnette will be running for an uncontested reelection for Mayor.

    Board of Commissioners incumbents George Cooper Jr., Ronald McNeill and Scarlet M. Hall will be facing challengers Angela Burnette Lambert and Joseph Smith.

    LINDEN

    Frances B. Collier will be the only one running for reelection of mayor.

    Incumbent board members Barbara C. Denning, Larry Overby, Betsy Small, Ronnie Maness, and Jonathan Collier will be running.

    STEDMAN

    Incumbent Mark Lee will be facing challengers Ralph A. Vogt and Joseph Manuel for town commissioner.

    WADE

    The Mayoral seat is up and will be fought between Johnny Lanthorn and George E. Strater.

    Jennifer Dixon Weaver and Kevin A. Herring are running for reelection of their commissioner seats.

    CUMBERLAND COUNTY

    The Cumberland-Eastover Sanitary District board also has a board member seat open. Dani Osborne, from Eastover, is the only one running for the seat.

    The city of Fayetteville primary is scheduled for Oct. 10. One Stop Voting starts Sept. 21. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Sept. 11.

    The municipal election is Nov. 7. One-Stop Voting starts on Oct. 19. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Oct. 9.

  • 10Works Career Center Fayetteville will host a hiring event July 31 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Spring Lake Town Hall, located at 300 Ruth Street in Spring Lake. This event aims to address the long-standing workforce vacancies in the town, with a primary focus on six key positions.

    The Spring Lake community has been experiencing exceptional growth, and in order to meet the demands of the expanding population, several key positions need to be filled. The hiring event will provide an opportunity for qualified individuals to explore career options and connect with potential employers.

    The following positions are the primary focus of this event:

    • Finance Director: A crucial role in managing the town’s financial operations and providing strategic guidance on fiscal matters.
    • Police Officer: A dedicated and skilled individual who will help ensure the safety and security of the Spring Lake community.
    • Firefighter: A heroic and committed professional responsible for protecting lives and property in emergency situations.
    • Accounts Payable Technician: An organized and detail-oriented individual who will contribute to the town’s financial management by accurately processing invoices and payments.
    • Meter Reader Fulltime: A diligent and reliable person responsible for recording utility consumption and maintaining accurate meter readings.
    • Meter Reader Part-time: An opportunity for those seeking part-time employment to contribute to the community by recording utility consumption and maintaining accurate meter readings.

    Job seekers who are interested in any of these positions are encouraged to send their resumes to Event Coordinator Dwight Butler at dwight.butler@commerce.nc.gov.

    Resumes received in advance will be shared with participating employers, giving them an opportunity to review candidates before the event.10a

    “This hiring event is a wonderful opportunity for job seekers to connect with employers in the Spring Lake area,” said Butler. “We are excited to facilitate these valuable connections and help the community grow by filling these long-standing vacancies.”

    The NC Works Career Center Fayetteville team will be on-site during the event to offer guidance, answer questions, and provide assistance with the application process. Job seekers are advised to come prepared with multiple copies of their resumes and dress in professional attire.

    For further information about the hiring event, please contact Butler or visit the NC Works Career Center Fayetteville website at www.ncworks.gov/fayetteville

    NC Works Career Center Fayetteville

    NC Works Career Center is a dedicated resource for job seekers and employers in the Fayetteville area. They provide a range of employment services, including job search assistance, resume writing support and recruitment assistance for businesses.

  • 9The Child Advocacy Center welcomed new Executive Director Jasie Landeros to their nonprofit organization’s team July 1. Landeros is assuming leadership from Roberta Humphries who retired after 14 years at CAC.

    Born and raised in Wade, Landeros is a Cape Fear High School graduate with strong ties to Cumberland County and the military community. After obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from UNC Wilmington, she taught elementary school for a number of years, even working in gifted education.

    While Landeros’ spouse was stationed in Florida, Landeros ran the Prevention & Outreach Program for the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center, where she focused on spreading awareness of child abuse through the education of children and adults. That program spanned across two counties.

    Upon her family’s transition back to Fort Liberty, Landeros returned to teaching for Cumberland County Schools before applying for her new position at the CAC. She credits her excellent leadership and mentorship at ECCAC for her interest in taking this unique career path.

    Landeros is eager to continue the success Humphries began during her tenure. Humphries effectively doubled the size of the CAC’s staff during that time period.

    “Roberta’s done great work paving the way for the CAC,” Landeros shares, “and now she’s passing the torch, which I plan to handle with love and care. Her dedication and devotion to the mission of the CAC has so obviously impacted the legacy she’s leaving behind.”

    Landeros hopes to continue with the organization’s forward-moving progress by connecting with their community partners and agencies to influence the advocacy of child abuse prevention efforts.
    On the heels of facilitating several successful initiatives for Internet Safety Awareness Month in June, the CAC is currently in the throes of planning their annual Pinwheel Masquerade Ball & Auction for October. This organization’s staff of ten heavily depends on their board of directors and volunteers to facilitate this signature fundraiser and other events and initiatives throughout the year.

    “Through our various community-focused efforts, I want to make child abuse a topic we openly talk about to children and adults–not something scary that we shy away from–and ensure everyone knows what the CAC is and what we do,” Landeros emphasizes.

    “Ultimately, my focus is on increasing therapy services for children facing the healing process and on fostering key relationships and connections throughout Cumberland County via our schools, faith-based institutions, and more,” she concludes.

    This mother, military spouse, and self-described “passionate advocate for children” is also issuing an open invitation to the county’s residents to consider donating their time, funds or resources to the CAC’s mission of working with community partners to respond to and prevent child abuse. The public may learn more about that mission and how individuals can get involved here: cacyfaync.org.

    About the Child Advocacy Center

    The CAC is a place of healing and hope. Joining hands with 19 community agencies, CAC provides a safe and child-friendly place to interview, investigate and provide support for abused children. The CAC also provides prevention education for parents and professionals in the community. The CAC looks to a future where all children live in a safe and nurturing environment, free from abuse.
    To learn more, visit www.cacfaync.org.

  • 8The Fayetteville Public Works Commission announced July 21 the hiring of Timothy Bryant as the utility’s next CEO/General Manager. Bryant, who brings over 25 years of utility experience to PWC, will join PWC Aug. 14.

    Since September 2022, Mick Noland has served as Interim CEO/General Manager following the resignation of Elaina Ball in August 2022.

    Bryant comes to PWC from Florida Power and Light Company where he has held numerous leadership roles since 2008. FPL is a subsidiary of NextEra Energy, Inc, the largest electric utility in the United States, serving an estimated 12.5 million people in the state of Florida.

    “The Commission conducted an extensive search for an Energy Executive who has extraordinary leadership acumen, unrivaled passion for people and the community, and a strong knowledge of the shifting and evolving regulatory and technical challenges that lie ahead for the utility industry,” said PWC Chair Ronna Garrett. “Tim Bryant meets all those descriptors and brings proven leadership, technical expertise and a connection to North Carolina that makes him a perfect fit for our hometown utility and our community.”

    Bryant most recently served as Director of External Affairs for FPL where he worked as a liaison between FPL and its stakeholders in the development of Power Generation, Transmission, Distribution, Economic Development, Community Relations, and Environmental across Florida.

    A former power plant manager, Bryant was instrumental in the operations and maintenance of three FPL Energy Centers. He also served as General Manager of Wind Central Maintenance that led the restoration of wind turbine fleets across North America before moving into External Affairs.

    Before NextEra Energy, he worked for Southern Company in Birmingham, Alabama, where he led a multi-discipline engineering team in designing simple-cycle and combined-cycle power generation facilities and environmental control systems.

    A native of Goldsboro, Bryant began his utility career in 1997 with power generation engineering roles with Black & Veatch Corporation.

    “It is my honor and privilege to join PWC,” said Bryant. “My family and I are extremely excited to come back home, to North Carolina and look forward to contributing to the on-going success of PWC and the greater Fayetteville community.”

    “I am truly amazed by PWC’s commitment to our customers and the community. As CEO, I intend to remain focused on delivering value for PWC’s customers and the community as we navigate the changing energy future and continue PWC’s history of delivering excellence in public power and water.”

    Bryant is a Professional Engineer and a graduate of North Carolina State University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and earned an MBA from Baker University in Baldwin, Kansas. In addition to his utility career, Bryant is a former commissioned officer in the U.S. Army National Guard where he served over 12 years in Kansas and North Carolina.

    He is an active civic leader, currently serving on numerous boards to include: the American Association of Blacks in Energy Board of Directors, Business for the Arts of Broward Board of Directors, Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, Junior Achievement of South Florida Board of Directors, Kappa Foundation of Palm Beach County Board of Directors, Max M. Fisher Boys & Girls Club of Riviera Beach, Parks Foundation of Broward County, and Pompano Beach Economic Development Council.

  • 6The Green Eyeshades have recognized the very best journalism in the southeastern United States since the 1950s. Run by Southerners from the Society of Professional Journalists, journalists in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia can enter their work.

    Up & Coming Weekly is pleased to announce first and third-place wins in several categories for our non-daily print reporting.

    Publisher Bill Bowman’s editorial collection won first place for Editorial Writing. His editorials tackled local politics, the chamber of commerce, downtown Fayetteville, the Arts Council, and lack of local news.

    “Honest editorial and opinion writing are crucial aspects of good journalism, and this has always been Up & Coming Weekly's commitment to the Fayetteville community. We are extremely proud of these awards and recognition by peers in our industry,” said Bowman.

    “Bad news comes in three” was one of the publisher pens submitted for the award. The article can be found at https://www.upandcomingweekly.com/views/8999-bad-news-comes-in-three.

    “I believe honest editorial and opinion pieces disclose viewpoints and expose potential biases upfront. This kind of transparency and awareness allows our readers to evaluate information within the context of the perspective, enabling them to make informed judgments, much to the chagrin of several local government officials,” Bowman said.

    Columnist Margaret Dickson received first place for Serious Commentary. Her columns touched on national politics, redistricting and book banning.

    “Ostriches put their heads in the sand out of fear,” was one of the columns submitted for the award. The story can be found online at https://www.upandcomingweekly.com/views/8969-ostriches-put-their-heads-in-the-sand-out-of-fear.

    Dickson’s collection of columns also received first place for Opinion Writing from the Association of Community Publishers.6a

    “Journalists who are honest about their opinions build trust with their audience and are held accountable for the accuracy and fairness of their work. If we wrote it, we own it! This is what we do and it continues to be our newspaper's commitment and contribution to the Fayetteville and Cumberland County community,” Bowman said.

    Staff Writer Kathleen Ramsey took home third place for Feature Writing for her article, “Curate Essentials: An herbal apothecary and boutique in the heart of Haymount Hill.” The story can be found online at https://www.upandcomingweekly.com/entertainment/8882-curate-essentials-an-herbal-apothecary-and-boutique-in-the-heart-of-haymount-hill.

    This article also won third place for Business Writing from the North Carolina Press Association.

    Assistant Editor Hannah Lee took home third place for General News Reporting for her coverage of Fort Bragg. Some of the coverage included the NATO Deployments in 2022, the renaming of Fort Bragg into Fort Liberty, and the Armed Services YMCA food pantry located on post.

    “Deployments underway for thousands of Fort Bragg troops” was one of the articles submitted for the award. It can be found online at https://www.upandcomingweekly.com/local-news-briefs/8380-deployments-underway-for-thousands-of-fort-bragg-troops.

  • 5North Carolina has enjoyed more than a decade of conservative governance. It’s brought our state impressive growth and widespread acclaim. The General Assembly has reformed and reduced state taxes, lightened the regulatory burden, invested in infrastructure, and promoted choice and competition in public services, among other accomplishments.

    This year, lawmakers have an excellent opportunity to build on this record of success by enacting a 2023-25 state budget with a prudent mix of strategic investments and pro-growth tax reforms.

    Unfortunately, the Senate version of the budget contains a non-conservative — indeed, a decidedly anti-conservative — provision to transfer $1.4 billion in taxpayer money to a private entity, NCInnovation. Its stated intention is to bridge the gap between academic research and successful commercialization.

    Most new businesses fail. Indeed, many seemingly innovative ideas never become businesses in the first place. They fail to attract enough human and financial capital to sustain them as they move from the research-and-development phase to the revenue-producing phase. The business executives, consultants and activists who created NCInnovation propose to solve the problem by making grants to university researchers and other interested parties to carry them across this gap, often described as the “valley of death.”

    There may well be university researchers and other North Carolinians with promising ideas who just need some bridge funding to launch trailblazing new businesses. Sounds like a fascinating opportunity for private investors to pursue, with the promise of significant returns as well as the risk of significant losses. It is not, however, the proper role of state government.

    As NCInnovation itself recognizes, “North Carolina is a powerhouse when it comes to research and development funding.” Our colleges and universities attract a great deal of private and federal research funding. State taxpayers add to that with one of the highest levels of university subsidy in the nation.

    While opinions may differ, my view as a conservative is that it is appropriate to use state dollars to subsidize research on state campuses, and to fund extension services to transfer research findings to private individuals and enterprises to implement.

    As for the other cliff of the so-called valley of death, it’s clearly not appropriate to force state taxpayers to become venture capitalists for private startups. Although the initial budget language for the NCInnovation transfer appeared to allow for equity stakes in recipient firms, that idea is no longer on the table as far as I know.

    Rather, the proposal is to transfer $1.4 billion from the state treasury to NCInnovation, a private entity with a board composed primarily of legislative appointees. Notice I didn’t say “appropriate” I said transfer. The $1.4 billion is not technically an expenditure, which means it doesn’t count against the General Assembly’s annual spending cap of inflation plus population growth. For conservatives, that should already be a big red flag.

    Exactly what range of grants NCInnovation might make from the proceeds of its $1.4 billion corpus is not spelled out in any of the documents I’ve seen. Nor would its activities be subject to open meetings and public records laws.

    And why should we expect the board and staff of NCInnovation to make better decisions about which potential ventures to fund than private investors would make with their own money? This is the crux of the matter. The organization has attracted an impressive array of directors and well-wishers, many of whom are accomplished executives. I don’t question their business savvy. I question why they deem it appropriate to risk just not their own money, or their friends’ money, or their clients’ money, but my money — and yours.

    Conservatives believe that government’s role is clearly defined and limited. We pay taxes to fund public services such as law enforcement, courts, education and transportation assets that cannot or should not be funded through receipts or voluntary contributions.

    When the line between the public sector and the private sector gets blurry, we get concerned. When it disappears entirely, we get angry.

  • 4aA dangerous threat hides in the shadows, inflicting devastation upon our communities and claiming the lives of our loved ones — parents, siblings, children, and friends. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is up to 100 times stronger than morphine, has emerged as a deadly force in the ongoing battle against drug abuse and overdose.

    To combat this threat, the urgent need for comprehensive legislation becomes undeniable. Through the enforcement of strict regulations, targeted law enforcement efforts, and the implementation of harm-reduction strategies, legislation can serve as a formidable defense in safeguarding public safety. By enhancing education and awareness, partnering with law enforcement, investing in research, and tightening regulations, we can create a comprehensive strategy to fight against this chemical warfare.

    This is why I am proud to present legislation that tackles the fentanyl crisis head-on. Senate Bill 189 would increase fines for trafficking controlled substances like fentanyl, sending a clear message that illicit trade in the deadly drug will not be tolerated in our state. Furthermore, we are introducing new offenses that specifically target those who distribute certain substances resulting in death, ensuring that individuals responsible for fatal outcomes face more severe penalties.

    Recognizing the importance of encouraging individuals to seek help, we have expanded limited immunity for the possession of small amounts of fentanyl. This provision offers protection from prosecution, empowering individuals to come forward and access the assistance they need without the fear of legal consequences.

    Additionally, this comprehensive legislation establishes a dedicated Task Force to bring together a team of experts that will enhance law enforcement efforts in combating the illegal manufacturing, importation and distribution of fentanyl and heroin. By promoting a coordinated and strategic approach, we aim to effectively confront the crisis at its core.

    We cannot continue to be reactive to the ongoing fentanyl crisis; we must be proactive in adopting sensible measures to stem the alarming influx of these drugs through our southern border. The illicit trafficking and distribution of these substances is a form of chemical warfare, and we must fight to prosecute the individuals who are trafficking and distributing this deadly poison.4

    We must get drugs off the street before they end up in the hands of our children. This legislation takes significant steps forward in our efforts to combat the fentanyl crisis, safeguard our communities, and offer support and solutions to those affected by this devastating epidemic. 

    On average, eight North Carolinians die every day due to fentanyl. The time to act is now, and I strongly urge my colleagues in the N.C. House of Representatives to pass this important legislation and send it to the governor for his signature. We cannot wait another day.

    Editor’s note: Sen. Michael Lazzara is a Republican who represents District 6, Onslow County in the North Carolina Senate.

  • Pub PenBecause Gov. Roy Cooper’s former secretary of health and human services, Mandy Cohen, just got the nod from President Joe Biden to be the next director of the Centers for Disease Control, politicians and analysts are again debating how North Carolinians fared during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Defenders of Cooper and Cohen argue that their comparatively stringent regulations saved many lives when compared to states such as Florida where lockdowns were shorter and mandates less severe.

    Detractors argue that North Carolinians suffered greater economic pain, including lost jobs and incomes, than was necessary to combat the virus, and that the state’s decision to keep public schools closed longer than neighboring states was particularly indefensible.

    I opined frequently about these issues during the pandemic, criticizing Cooper’s school closures and violations of the separation of powers. But I also urged everyone to try to keep a cool head, to recognize the unprecedented nature of the crisis and the difficult decisions our governor and other officials were compelled to make.

    That being said, we have more data now than we did in 2020, 2021, or even 2022 to assess the effectiveness of policy responses to the pandemic. The clearest finding, in my view, is that closing public schools for more than a brief period in the spring of 2020 was a wrongheaded and counterproductive policy. Schoolchildren were at extremely low risk and didn’t prove to be major vectors of transmission to vulnerable populations.

    What about lockdowns, business closures, mask mandates, and other nonmedical interventions? Some studies suggest the stringency of such regulations exhibited little correlation with the spread of the virus.

    Others, such as a major paper published in the British journal The Lancet this March, found that while regulatory stringency had some relationship to infection rates, it wasn’t associated with death rates. That latter COVID outcome measure was always the better one. Infection rates have more of a reporting bias.

    Places that test more will detect more infections, all other things being equal, while a death is a death, although some ambiguity about its cause may persist.

    As for comparing the pandemic experience of North Carolinians to, say, Floridians, I’m afraid that far too many politicians and activists continue to hurl accusations based on the wrong statistic.

    They use COVID deaths per capita without adjusting for preexisting risk factors such as age. That’s silly. Many of the same people would (properly) insist on adjusting for student characteristics when assessing school performance, for example.

    When adjusted for age and comorbidities, Florida’s COVID death rate from 2020 to mid-2022 was lower, not higher, than North Carolina’s. The Lancet study ranked Florida as having the 12th lowest rate in the country. North Carolina was 27th. On the other hand, many other states in the Southeast had worse death-rate rankings than we did, including South Carolina (35th), Tennessee (38th), and Georgia (43rd).

    Still, The Lancet authors found “no statistical association between the party affiliation of a state governor and cumulative death rates from COVID-19.”

    To the extent there was a political explanation for differences in mortality, it had less to do with lockdowns and masks than with the uptake of vaccines. Republican-leaning places tended to have lower vaccination rates — and that translated into higher mortality for vulnerable populations.

    Now, here’s what I got wrong in 2020: I thought the economic damage from Cooper’s lockdowns would last longer than it did. While North Carolina did experience a worse-than-average drop in economic activity, we also bounced back faster.

    Big losses in employment, especially in restaurants and other service sectors, were very painful in the short run.

    Then loose eligibility standards for unemployment insurance induced some North Carolinians to stay out of the workforce for a while. When those standards tightened back up, most went back to work. (Many of those who didn’t appear to have severe drug addictions or mental illnesses).

    In most ways, North Carolina’s experience with COVID was close to the national average. Unexciting but true.

  • AUSAThe second annual Association of the U.S. Army Warfighter Summit and Exposition is coming to the Crown Complex July 26 and 27. The two-day, in-person summit teaches leadership and professional development. The theme this year is “America’s Army: Ready for Today, Modernizing for 2030 and Beyond.”

    Retired Brig. Gen. Jack Haley is the Vice President, Membership and Meetings for the AUSA. He says they are excited to be back at Fort Liberty. AUSA had their first warfighter summit last year, and 1,300 people came. This year, he hopes to have more people attend and check out the vendors and panels.

    “It’s a tremendous opportunity for the association to work with the Army Forces Command in this case to really showcase what the Army’s all about, because the Army is not about equipment. The Army is about soldiers. So that’s really what we’re trying to do.”

    The summit will feature presentations by Army senior leaders and commands based at Fort Liberty, as well as experts from industry and academia. Topics will span six warfighting functions and highlight ways Fort Liberty’s operational forces can win throughout the expanded competitive space.

    The keynote speaker on the first day of the summit will be Gen. Gary M. Brito, the Commanding General of the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command.

    There will be two keynote speakers on the second day of the summit. Command Sgt. Maj. Todd Sims of Forces Command will be speaking in the morning. Gen. James E. Rainey, the Commanding General of the Futures Command will be speaking in the afternoon.

    One fireside chat that Haley thinks will interest people will be the chat between retired Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel A. Dailey, and current Sgt.Maj. of the Army Michael A. Grinston. Grinston will retire in August, after handing over the position to Command Sgt. Maj. Michael R. Weimer.

    There will be panels dedicated specifically to the needs of the soldiers at Fort Liberty. On the first day, there will be a panel with leaders from the 18th Airborne Corps, including Lt. Gen. Christopher T. Donahue, and Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas J. Holland.

    There will also be panels and chats talking about warfare from the industry perspective. On the first day, there will be a panel about Insights from the Russian-Ukrainian War. Speakers include Joseph Anderson, President and CEO of Rafael Systems Global Sustainment, LLC; David Poland, Client Solutions Executive from AT&T; Lt. Cmdr. Nicole M. Winget, Navy Reserve and Interim Dean of Adult & Online Education and Associate Professor at Campbell University; and Todd M. Burnett, the Executive Advisor of Booz Allen Hamilton.

    In addition, a session dedicated to spouses and families will be held on the second day of the summit. That fireside chat will discuss employment. Holly Dailey, the Director of Family Readiness for AUSA, and Lieutenant General Kevin Vereen, the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army, will be speaking.

    Haley hopes that soldiers who come to the summit will not only learn about AUSA, but about the resources and programs available for them.

    “It’s a great professional development opportunity for soldiers, for really anybody, but certainly for soldiers to get to hear senior leaders, both officers and sergeant majors. Then they get the opportunity to engage with industry leaders. [Soldiers] don’t really get that much opportunity to walk around in a small area and see all of the different technologies that are being developed that are out there to support them,” Haley said.

    The summit is open to the public. There will be a variety of military vehicles and aircraft on display. Special Forces will have an interactive trailer which allows people to experience aspects of the Special Operations world.

    There is no cost for military and government civilian personnel. To register, go to https://meetings.ausa.org/warfighter/index.cfm.

  • GospelBlessed -N- Blessings Gospel Concert is Friday, July 21 at 7 p.m. at Fayetteville State University’s Seabrook Auditorium.

    Apostle Alber “Trevy” Treadwell, emcee and promoter of the event, said concert attendees will experience “a hand-clapping, toe-tapping, exciting good time in the Lord.”

    Treadwell said the event is two-fold. The first is because it celebrates Treadwell’s several decades of preaching.

    Secondly, it is to be a blessing in the community.

    Treadwell’s ministry, Treadwell Evangelistic Empowerment Ministries Inc. is uniting with Church of the Living God Religious Education Center’s Pastor Dr. Calvin Vanbeverhoudt.

    He and Vanbeverhoudt have known each other for years and this is the first gospel concert event they’ve done together.

    It was a vision Vanbeverhoudt had to bring people together after the pandemic and bring them into an atmosphere of praise and worship.

    Treadwell said this event benefits the community because a good portion of the proceeds that are raised from ticket sales will go back to Fayetteville community nonprofits.

    They chose to have the concert at FSU because it allows them to encourage the community, give back to education and the community as a whole, he said.

    “We believe Jesus plus education equals success,” Treadwell said. “We couldn’t have found a better way to give back to Fayetteville State [than] by hosting an event there. Why not pour back into education by hosting the event?”

    Led by the spirit of the Lord
    Treadwell said that music is soothing and provides encouragement to the soul.

    “Whether you’re a fan of secular or gospel music, some form of music has lifted your spirits or has encouraged a person to go one more mile,” he said.

    “We just want to be obedient to the voice of the Lord and He gets the full glory out of
    the event.”

    The concert will also include music by Minister Jarell Smalls & Company and the Rev. Luther Barnes & The Sunset Jubilaires. Gospel comedian Elder Willie Brown will be in attendance.

    Also scheduled is youth group Today’s Youth Giving God Praise. The group empowers the youth, Treadwell said. He said he witnessed performances they had where there was not a dry eye in the place because of how they minister.

    “We want to take gospel music to heal the hurting hearts that are here in the community and surrounding community,” Treadwell said.

    Treadwell said to make the concert more affordable for attendees, when purchasing tickets, use CHURCHY on Eventbrite to receive $10 off a ticket.

    VIP tickets are $45 in advance or $55 at the door on the day of the concert. General Admission tickets are $35 in advance and $45 at the door. There are no cash sales, only debit and credit card only.

    Doors will open at 6 p.m. on July 21 and the concert is set to begin at 7 p.m.

    To purchase tickets visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blessed-n-blessings-gospel-concert-2023-tickets-624124572397.

  • older couple stretch N1803P69006HExisting muscle imbalances can lead to injuries. We often do not know that an injury may be due to muscle imbalances. Three common injuries that occur are in the ankles, hips and spine.

    Lack of dorsiflexion can lead to ankle injuries as well as a lack of flexibility in the ankle.

    The ankle plays an important role in helping the knees to flex with movement that travels up the Kinetic chain.

    Lack of flexibility in the ankles and the ability for forward movement causes them to rotate inward to transfer the weight.

    The rotation causes additional movement of the knees, lower back, and hips.

    Ankle sprains and breaks are also a result of a lack of flexibility and are a leading cause of visits to the emergency room.

    Exercises and activities that require the ankle to bend and be flexible include: running, jumping, squatting and any movement requiring the ankle to move forward.

    A simple test for your ankle flexibility is to stand or sit with your legs in front of you. Pull your toes toward your shin to see your range of motion. Tap your foot from one side to the other, put both feet together, and roll out to the side.

    Lack of flexibility in the hip and leg extension can also cause injuries. Your hips and legs require the ability to extend during movements.

    Movements include many yoga poses such as warrior pose, lunging, walking, and walking up stairs.

    Poor hip flexibility causes the ankle, knee, and lower back to overcompensate putting stress on the joints and muscles.

    A simple test for hip and leg extensions is to lie on your back with your right leg on the mat and your right arm extended in the back of your head. Pull your knee towards your chest.

    Signs of poor flexibility include: the hips shifting when pulling the knee towards the chest, difficulty in reaching the arm back towards the floor, and difficulty in keeping the extended leg close to the floor.

    Repeat the same movement on the opposite leg.

    Many times, over-compensation, will include arching of the back to assist the leg extension to the floor.

    The calves and hip flexors must be flexible enough to allow the leg to travel backward with movement.

    Hip flexor stretches and stretches for the calves are recommended to improve flexibility.

    Seated butterfly stretches (sitting on the floor and bringing your feet together or on a yoga block and lunges with the assistance of a bar or stable surface are good stretches for hip flexors.

    Thoracic spine rotation occurs with the oblique muscles that wrap around the torso from the rib cage to the pelvis.

    Flexibility in these muscles allows the spine to rotate. Some activities that require the spine to rotate include golf, baseball, tennis, basketball, pickleball and kayaking.

    A lack of flexibility can potentially place stress on other areas of your body.

    A thoracic spine is a group of vertebrae that are connected to your rib cage and the entire structure is known as the thorax with the plane of motion referred to as the transverse plane.

    Gentle spine rotations and stretching while seated, standing or lying can improve mobility.

    Going to a fitness center can be a good start for a fitness regimen. Initially working with a personal trainer, group fitness instructor or a corrective exercise specialist can help identify fewer flexible areas.

    The body can quickly adapt to compensate for muscle imbalances, many times including another area of the body to compensate for lack of movement.

    Live, love life and mobility!

  • midsummerYou know it’s summer in Fayetteville when the annual Midsummer Magic event comes back to downtown.

    The two-day event promises a wealth of unique sights and sounds, which is what Betsy McElwee, event coordinator for the Downtown Alliance, is looking forward to the most.

    “One of the main objectives for this event is to get people kind of circulating downtown and learning about new businesses that maybe they didn’t know about,” McElwee said.

    As one of the signature events for the Downtown Alliance, Midsummer Magic is a unique opportunity to bring the people of Fayetteville together for a tour of the businesses downtown has to offer.

    The event takes place at several businesses downtown on July 21 and 22. You just need to pick up a Fairy Journal, which can be found online or at several downtown businesses, and follow the Fairy Door Scavenger Hunt and Quest instructions.

    This journal will also show you where there are special promotions and activities at different businesses. The scavenger hunt will take place between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on
    both days.

    “There are also going to be traveling gnomes throughout the day who will help people answer different questions that are on the quest. So there will be different random kinds of trivia questions. And a gnome may answer that question for you, or they may tell you where you need to go to find the answer. So there is a book of knowledge that will be downtown, where you’ll have to locate the book of knowledge to answer the question,” McElwee said.

    If you complete the Fairy Journal, you can turn it in by July 22 and be eligible for a prize.

    The LlamaCorns will be returning and performers will be scattered throughout the event to delight those on their quest.

    Everyone is also encouraged to dress in their most fantastic fairy, sprite, goblin, dwarf or wizard ensemble for a chance to win this year’s costume contest. Participants only need to tag their picture on their personal social media page with #MidsummerMagicFayNC to enter for a chance to win prizes.

    The costume contest is separated into different categories for Downtown Businesses, kids ages 0 through 4, kids ages 5 through 10, kids ages 12 through 17, adults, groups and pets.

    For adults looking for a different way to explore businesses, the Midsummer Crawl will be coming back on Friday, July 21, from 5 to 9 p.m. The crawl happened once before the pandemic, but McElwee said they are excited to see it return.

    “We’ll be publishing a list of drink specials and activities that’ll be going on during the crawl. And we'll have about 15 or more bars and restaurants, food-based businesses, there’s a few cafes. It won’t only be alcohol. There’ll be some businesses that will have a dessert on the menu. Because not every business that’s doing the crawl has alcohol, but a big portion of them do,” McElwee said.

    Midsummer Magic is free and open to the public, but some activities will have an associated cost.

    For more information regarding Midsummer Magic and to download a Fairy Journal, visit https://www.faydta.com/our-events/downtown-fayetteville-scavenger-hunt/

  • Margaret Dickson OpinionAll parents worry about their children, and back in 1492 when I was the mother of school age children, my husband and I worried about their schools, teachers, and all that accompanies the years-long process of formal learning. We called it “adventures in education,” and it was different with each child and with each school year.

    If I were a parent of school age children in 2023, I would be both confused and terrified. Under the banners of “school choice” and “parental rights,” North Carolina legislators are systematically dismantling public education as we have known it.

    The assault began relatively modestly in 2011 when the General Assembly lifted the 100-school cap on what had been an experiment in less-regulated public schools dubbed charter schools. Today we have more than 200 of them, whose educational quality varies wildly, though many parents may not understand that reality.

    The dismantling effort has continued with a program to channel North Carolina taxpayer dollars to non-public schools, specifically private, often religiously affiliated operations with almost no accountability for the use of our tax dollars. This transfer of public funds into private hands is called a “voucher” program.

    Charter schools are a national phenomenon in response to perceived failures of public schools and a sense that “one size fits all” does not work for many students. Charter schools are likely here to stay, but the ageless caveat of “buyer beware” applies, because the quality of individual charter schools varies significantly. North Carolina has some excellent ones, notably in and around urban areas.

    Charters do administer state-required tests, but they are not required to follow state curricula. Only 50% of their teachers are required to be licensed, and there are no required teacher workdays or professional development programs. Transportation is not required, and if a charter school offers it, it does not have to meet the safety standards of traditional public schools transportation.

    A deeply concerning reality to me is that many charter schools are increasingly operated by private, for-profit companies, a transfer of public funds into private companies that make little investment and face little risk or responsibility.

    North Carolina’s newer school voucher program, appealingly called “Opportunity Scholarships,” is even more problematic. Hard data is difficult to come by since there is little regulation of the program, but a report by the North Carolina Justice Center found allegations of religious and other discrimination and the teaching of factually inaccurate information.

    There have also been instances of private schools receiving more state financed vouchers than they had students and schools receiving tax paid vouchers after they have closed their doors. In addition, these voucher tax dollars may soon be available not only to lower-income families but to even the wealthiest among us.

    Parental desire for choices for their children is understandable and laudable. My family wished for that as well. With choice, though, comes responsibility to research the options as well as possible before diving into them.

    The General Assembly has enormous responsibility as well. It should require more accountability from both charter schools and private schools that take vouchers so that parents can make informed choices for the children and so that taxpayers can see how much and where our hard-earned tax dollars are going.

    Failure to do so is the worst form of dereliction of legislative responsibility to the North Carolinians who sent them to Raleigh.

    Producing ill-educated does no one any good — not individual students and not the state as a whole. Ignorance is the answer to nothing.

  • Hudson Flags"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
     
    Since our nation's founding 247 years ago, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness have defined the American dream. In the Declaration of Independence, our Founding Fathers set the goal of building a land where all could live freely and peacefully.
     
    As your Congressman, I will always defend your rights from those who seek to destroy life, threaten our liberties, or endanger your pursuit of happiness as an American citizen.
     
    That’s why throughout my time in Congress, I have been a leading proponent of protecting your Second Amendment rights. In recent weeks, I have led multiple pieces of legislation that reverse government overreach into your home and on your right to keep and bear arms.
     
    Earlier this year, President Biden’s ATF established a new pistol brace ban which turned many combat wounded veterans and law-abiding citizens into felons overnight. 
     
    These braces were first designed to help wounded veterans continue to exercise their Second Amendment rights. Following the Biden administration’s latest regulation, I took to the House floor to sponsor the legislation to block it and am proud my bill passed the House with bipartisan support.
     
    Although our resolution was just a few votes short of passage in the Senate, I will always defend your Second Amendment rights and will never stop fighting for our nation's heroes who have sacrificed for our country.
    The ATF’s brace rule illustrates the dangers of an unchecked federal agency that is willing to go around Congress and the millions of constituents we represent. 
     
    As Congress’ leading defender of the Second Amendment, I will continue to focus on solutions that protect our rights.
     
    President Ronald Reagan once said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where people 
    were free.”
     
    While there are many things that can divide us, being American unites us all and it's up to us to preserve our nation for the next generation.
     
    This month we celebrated Independence Day — one of the most important holidays in our country, and I am, and always will be, proud to be an American. 
     
    I am especially grateful to the millions of patriots who have served our nation in uniform and sacrificed along with their families, many of whom call our region home, for our freedoms.
     
    As we commemorate the founding of our nation, I hope you were able to enjoy time with family and friends to celebrate the rights we enjoy as Americans and all the things that make our country the greatest on Earth.
  • Pitt after life dead ahead fullDid you ever wonder what happens once you cross the Great Divide? Fortunately, you are about to find out without first breaking on through to the Other Side.

    As another fine leisure service of this column, we have invited Mr. Natural to explain this mystery in only 850 words. Mr. Natural is a world famous philosopher invented by Robert Crumb. Mr. Natural knows even more than Carnac the Magnificent who used to appear on Johnny Carson several decades ago. This is no small feat, as Carnac knew the answers before the question was even asked. 
     
    For those of us in the fourth quarter of life, the issue of what’s next looms up like an ice berg on a frosty April night in front of the Titanic. You can hope for double overtime, but eventually the refs will blow the whistle and the clock stops. 
     
    Now what?
     
    Mr. Natural was watching a zombie movie on Netflix recently which brought up the question of death. He explained: “As a practical matter, do you know what happens the day after you die?” Drum roll, please. 
     
    The answer is everything happens. People go to lunch, pay bills, watch ads on teevee. Flights leave Atlanta. Squirrels chase birds off bird feeders. Weeds grow. Politicians tell lies. If you are lucky, you get a funeral where people say or think nice things about you for about an hour. Then life goes on without you as if you had never been there. Once your estate has gone through probate, your stuff has been distributed to your heirs and the various government agencies who collect a piece of the pie, that’s it. Typically, the only real personal items of the dead person left after a couple of years are their wallets. Emptied of cash, your wallet remains with expired credit cards, an old driver’s license, perhaps a social security card, library card, and a couple of coupons for stores that went out of business years ago. Seems kind of bleak doesn’t it?
     
    However, humanity has come up with various religious theories to make the prospect of your post-death situation more palatable. Let’s take a look at some of the oldest theories. You can choose which one you like best. Any discrepancy in the following summaries and the actual beliefs of the religions are purely my fault in misunderstanding what Mr. Natural told me. 
     
    The ancient Egyptians believed their spirit would get by with a little help from their friends in the After Life. Small funeral statues called Shabtis were buried with guest of honor. Magically, the Shabtis would come to life in the After Life. The Shabtis would work the plot of land assigned to the dead Egyptian in the Underworld. This allowed the dead rich Egyptians to kick back and relax while someone else had to do the work. Pretty sweet deal if you were a wealthy dead guy.
     
    Ancient Zoroastrians figured that the burying the bodies of the dead was a sacrilege because the four elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water should not be contaminated by the bodies of the dead. The deceased was put into the Tower of Silence to be left in the sun where his earthly remains would be eaten by birds. Four days after death, the soul would go to the Bridge of the Requiter where it would be determined if the deceased’s good deeds in life outweighed his bad deeds. Good souls went to heaven and bad souls went to Hell. Ultimately, there was a chance for the bad guys to get out of Hell when the Wise Lord would finally beat the Demon Lord freeing everyone from Hell. Hope springs eternal.
     
    Ancient Babylonians did not hold out much hope for the dead. They believed once you were dead that was pretty much it. You stayed dead. Their best hope was for a long life, old age and descendants who would live long after you were gone. King Nebuchadnezzar is quoted saying: “Make my years to endure like the bricks of Ibarra, prolong them into eternity.” It is unclear if the bricks of  Ibarra are still around. It is certain Nebuchadnezzar has checked out.
     
    Buddhists believe that what goes around comes around. Like John Lennon once sang, “Instant Karma gonna get you.” After you die, your spirit is transferred into one of six levels; three are fortunate and three are unfortunate. If you have been bad, you might come back as a giant bug like Gregor in Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis.” If your Karma is good, you might be reincarnated as a an angel. If your Karma reaches the highest level of Nirvana, the cycle of reincarnation stops; otherwise you keep going through reincarnations. Back in the 60s there was a bumper sticker that said “Your Karma ran over my dogma.” No one knew what that meant. 
     
    So there you have it. If you are not Christian, Muslim or Jewish, you could choose one of these theories if it helps you get through the night. Unfortunately, there is no NFL two minute warning in life about when the game is going to end. Govern yourself accordingly.
  • AgricultureThe demand for food is directly related to population growth. By 2050, food needs are expected to double, according to a study published in the journal Agricultural Economics. That puts increasing pressure on the agricultural sector to meet growing demand.

    However, many experts think the industry will fall short. In addition to increased food demand, consumer habits, technology and policies continue to force the agricultural industry to evolve. Indeed, the agricultural sector may look very different in the future.

    Bigger digital footprint
    Social media has transformed many industries, and it can do the same for agriculture. Farming supply chains can communicate with one another by getting feedback from customers in real time through social media. However, agricultural operations will have to devote teams to manage social media presence, especially since misinformation is so widespread on social media.

    Apart from social media, local farmers may increase their efforts to use mobile apps and direct-to-consumer purchasing options. The global pandemic helped businesses reimagine takeout and curb-side shopping.

    Local farms may want to market to the home-shopping community, providing ways to deliver produce, fresh meat and poultry and other items direct to customers’ homes.

    Regenerative agriculture
    The future may feature a significant shift in the way farms source their ingredients. Regeneration International says that regenerative agriculture can be the future. This describes farming and grazing practices that may help reverse climate change by rebuilding soil organic matter and restoring degraded soil biodiversity.

    Some insist that farmers who utilize regenerative agriculture produce food that is more sustainable and healthy. This is something eco- and health-conscious consumers can stand behind.

    Technological advancement
    There’s a good chance that technology will continue to play important and growing roles in farming operations. New agricultural technologies can collect data on soil and plant health and produce results in real time.

    Precision farming technology can be developed to deliver integrated solutions no matter the size of the operation.

    Shift in what’s grown
    Farmers may give more thought to sustainable products. Crops like hemp and cannabis are being utilized in new and innovative ways, and they’re only the start as consumers have expanded their views on plant-based foods and products.

    While there’s no way to see into the future, individuals can anticipate changes that could be in store for the agricultural sector in the decades ahead.

  • Sunset SeriesAn all-female country and “new” grass band, moonshine, cocktails and a unique NASCAR exhibit are a few of the many options to experience at Cape Fear Botanical Garden’s Sunset Series event on July 21.

    According to Beth Hess, Marketing and Sponsorship Consultant at Cape Fear Botanical Garden, the Sunset Series allows attendees to enjoy the long stretches of daylight during the summer. It even invites people to experience the garden during hours when they are usually closed.

    The Sunset Series has been a part of summers at Cape Fear Botanical Garden since late 2020.

    “We have one featured night in June, July and August. At times it has included murder mystery events, performing arts and concerts,” Hess said.

    The July 21 event is bee-themed and is from 6 to 9 p.m. It’s for more than just nature lovers.

    Attendees of the event will be able to purchase from different food trucks on site, Bees & Boards Charcuterie Co., cocktails and moonshine.

    “Bees & Boards will be there because of the bee theme and because charcuterie is yummy and great to share with your ‘honey,’” Hess said.

    Admission for CFBG members and children age 5 and under is free.

    For non-members, children ages 6 to 12 entry is $5; 13+ entry is $10; military with ID is $9; adults 65 and older is $9.

    Riggsbee Road
    The concert for July 21 will be performed by Riggsbee Road, a music group from Raleigh.

    Hess said that Riggsbee Road was chosen for more than its talent and because of its ties to North Carolina.

    “They have their big banjo sound and harmonies reminiscent of early roots of our region's music. They also continue to perform songs with strong storytelling — from all time periods and genres — that bring back that feeling of rocking on a porch at sunset listening to great stories from neighbors and friends,” Hess said.

    The band was created in 2020 amid the COVID pandemic. They started as a band of five and grew to seven.

    Riggsbee Road got its name because of a walk in the cemetery and a romance story almost a century old.

    Shelley Kelly, lead vocalist in the group, described how it happened.

    “A few months into the project, we needed a name, so we all started brainstorming. We had a long list of ideas, but nothing that really stuck,” Kelly said.

    She and her husband walked through the Oakwood Cemetery in downtown Raleigh — an old, historic landmark in the historic Oakwood neighborhood.

    “As we walked, we looked at the names on tombstones for inspiration. We saw Riggsbee and we both thought it sounded like a bluegrass band,” she said. She added it to the list and presented it to the band and they were warm to it.

    A few weeks later, it was Valentine’s Day 2021, and an article popped up in her newsfeed about a woman who met and fell in love with her husband at a soda shop on the first floor of the Hudson Belk Building in downtown Raleigh.

    Kelly thought it was interesting because she met her husband in the same building on the first floor.

    “The building is called the Hudson today, converted to condos, and is where I lived when I met my husband in 2016,” she said. “The article listed her last name as Riggsbee and continued to tell the story of how the couple married, built a house in 1928, had a family and were buried at Oakwood Cemetery!”

    As coincidences go, dots connected for Kelly.

    “My husband and I got married and bought a house near downtown that was built in 1928! My husband is also the person who encouraged me to start the dream project,” she said.

    Kelly said the women in the band said Riggsbee had to be the name of the group and they just added “Road” to the end.

    Riggsbee Road covers pop, country and classic tunes. As Kelly said, “We cover from Dolly Parton, Chris Stapleton, Bon Jovi to The Judds. From Harry Styles to Meghan Trainor.”

    She said that Bluegrass music is one of the first styles of music played in North Carolina.

    She said it has an earthy, rooted, wholesome feel — especially because she and the other members have gospel and Christian roots.

    “Our audience tells us they can’t guess what’s coming next when we perform,” Kelly said. “We keep them on their toes.”

    Horticulture, Hooch & Outlaws
    “For 2023, we themed the Sunset Series events to coordinate with our Special Exhibit: Horticulture, Hooch & Outlaws in Fast Cars,” Hess said.

    The tour is self-guided with informational panels, memorabilia and more looks at the botanical roots of racing in the south.

    “From the grains used to make the moonshine all the way to the ways NASCAR is looking at biofuels today,” she said.

    The exhibit is on loan from Hortication, a horticulturally based education company that develops traveling exhibits for gardens. For more information, visit https://hortication.com/exhibits/horticulture-hooch-and-outlaws-in-fast-cars/.

    The exhibit at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden runs through Aug. 20.

    The final Sunset of the season is scheduled for Aug. 18. The theme includes lines, such as race-inspired games with finish lines, country music line dancing and more.

    Cape Fear Botanical Garden
    “We are located two miles from downtown Fayetteville,” Hess said. “Right in the middle of business, we are peace, beauty, relaxation and education.”

    Cape Fear Botanical Garden was founded in 1989. It sits on 80 acres of land and is open 360 days a year.

    For more information, visit https://www.capefearbg.org/.

  • PrivacyAn inviting backyard can serve as a welcome retreat from the hustle and bustle of daily life. After a long day at the office or an exhausting day spent transporting kids to and fro, it’s hard to resist the allure of a peaceful outdoor space in which to unwind.

    Privacy is a key component of any backyard oasis. Some homes may be so remote that privacy isn’t an issue. But many suburban homeowners recognize they might need to tweak their landscapes if they hope to create a private oasis outside

    Fencing or planting? Most homeowners looking to create more privacy on their property will have to choose between fencing and planting. Fencing provides immediate privacy because, once it’s installed, no one can see into the yard. Fencing also doesn’t require watering or other immediate upkeep, which will be necessary when planting to ensure tree roots can establish themselves.

    But planting has its benefits as well. Planting for privacy is essentially creating a living fence that can grow over time and provide even more privacy as trees reach maturity. Plants also tend to be less costly than fencing.
    The home renovation experts at BobVila.com estimate that fencing projects typically cost between $1,667 and $4,075. However, fencing projects can cost considerably more than $4,000, especially for homeowners with large properties they want to enclose. Large, mature trees can be expensive, though it’s unlikely they will cost as much as fencing.

    In addition, fencing requires more maintenance and will potentially need to be replaced, while native trees won’t require much upkeep and can last for generations.

    Planting: Homeowners who choose to plant for privacy will next have to decide which type of plants to add to their properties. Evergreens provide year-round privacy because they don’t shed their leaves, so these are the ones most often chosen when creating a living fence.

    A number of varieties of evergreen trees can do the job, but it’s important that homeowners consult with a landscape architect prior to choosing trees so they can ensure the trees will thrive when faced with the growing conditions on their properties.

    During such a consultation, homeowners may discuss the following popular privacy trees.

    Leyland cypress:  The Arbor Day Foundation notes that the Leyland cypress is popular for hedges and boundaries, likely because a typical tree reaches a mature height of 60 to 70 feet and can spread as wide as 25 feet. The Leyland cypress grows fast, which may appeal to homeowners who don’t want to wait to establish privacy.

    Green Giant Arborvitae:  There are different varieties of the arborvitae, but the Green Giant tends to be the go-to option for privacy. The ADF notes that Green Giants will grow up to three feet per year until they reach maturity, providing a fast-growing option for privacy planters.

    The Green Giant can spread as wide as 20 feet at maturity, which is another attribute that makes it so popular among homeowners desiring privacy.

    Eastern White Pine: The ADF notes that the eastern white pine, which can reach heights as high as 80 feet, is favored in spacious yards. That’s likely due to its height and its potential spread, which can reach 40 feet.

    Homeowners who choose the eastern white pine might like it for its resemblance to a Christmas tree, and in fact it is widely used for that purpose. The privacy provided by the eastern white pine is significant, but it might be best suited to especially large properties.

    Whether it’s fencing or planting, homeowners have many options to consider as they seek to create more privacy on their properties.

  • ANime club old picThe Fayetteville, NC Anime Club is a local club for anime and manga fans, a hidden gem tucked away in Fayetteville's community.

    The local Anime Club provides a welcoming space for anime and manga enthusiasts to connect with others, indulge in their shared passion, and forge lasting friendships while having a great time.

    Anime Club is an excellent place to meet fellow anime fans, make new friendships, watch and talk about anime together, and have fun.

    Jessica Bundy, one of the founders of the Fayetteville, NC Anime Club, spoke with Up & Coming Weekly about the club's origins.

    Fayetteville’s local libraries had anime clubs for high school students. It was a wonderful place for teens to socialize and share their passion for anime, she said.

    Unfortunately, there was no place for the teens to go once they aged out of the group. Then the librarian suggested they start their own anime club, and the Fayetteville, NC Anime Club was born.

    The Anime Club meets twice a month on the second and fourth Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. The meetings are held at Beans and Things Coffee shop located at 5554 Yadkin Road, where food and drinks are available for purchase.

    There will be meetings on July 22 and Aug. 12. Future meetings will be on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/FayettevilleNCAnimeClub

    During certain months, they may only meet once a month because of holidays or special events. Any upcoming cancellations of future meetings will be on their Facebook page.

    An Anime Club meeting usually involves showing a few episodes of either the latest anime show or an older one. There is a wide range of interests among the members. For instance, some people play Magic the Gathering while anime plays in the background.

    Anime is a Japanese word for animation and means any animated film, unlike Manga which is printed cartoons. Anime also refers to Japanese animation. Anime-influenced animation refers to anime-inspired animation produced outside Japan.

    Anime is popular globally and is a billion-dollar business. Famous anime shows that might sound familiar are Dragon Ball Z, One Piece, One Punch Man, Pokémon, Sailor Moon, Attack on Titan, My Hero Academia. According to Netflix, over half of their 200 million-plus global subscribers watched anime in 2021.

    To one of the Fayetteville Anime Club founders, the club represents more than a shared interest.

    Jessica Bundy says, “It’s making friends... hanging out with people who are just as excited about these things as I am. It’s a lot about friendship and community.”

    For local anime enthusiasts, the Fayetteville, NC Anime Club is a hidden gem. It offers a community where stories are shared and friendships are created. Whether you are an anime enthusiast, or curious about anime, consider stepping into the world of the Fayetteville, NC Anime Club, where the sense of community and the shared passion for anime create an experience unlike any other.

  • FTCC ConstructionAs the department chairperson for the Building Construction Technology and Carpentry programs at Fayetteville Technical Community College, I have enjoyed serving in this role at FTCC for several years. This experience has provided me opportunities to work side by side with some amazing people including faculty, staff, administration and especially students.

    I have also been rewarded in seeing many of our graduates become extremely successful entrepreneurs or work in high-level management positions with various construction businesses throughout our county and state.

    Many people may not realize this, but some of the wealthiest businesses in North Carolina are in the building trades area. The demand is constant because people will always need new homes or renovations to their existing homes. Our objective within the Building Construction Department is to train individuals who can meet that need and help them develop successful careers.

    The Building Construction Technology Program is a two-year associate of applied science degree program. Emphasis in the program is placed on building and carpentry, but students can also learn plumbing, electrical and HVAC skills through program electives.

    Some students work in construction while completing their degrees. FTCC’s work-based learning program helps students establish credits toward the program degree. After graduation, students can easily find jobs.

    Some of these jobs may involve working with a construction firm as a project manager, working as a NC building inspector, or as a Cumberland County construction employee. Students can pursue becoming a NC Licensed General Contractor. Whatever the desire, the Building Construction Technology Program can get you there.

    Another great experience available through FTCC’s Building Construction Technology program is hands-on learning. Students in the program will apply what they have learned in the classroom by working on actual building projects. We are proud to partner with Fayetteville Habitat for Humanity, Kingdom Development, Veterans Empowering Veterans, and many other nonprofit organizations in building homes, additions, or in renovating existing structures.

    This service not only promotes a great educational learning experience for our students but also helps these agencies continue to serve the great people of Cumberland County in a positive way.

    Every student feels a sense of pride and a great self-worth when taking a moment to stand back to admire a completed house and recognize that a deserving person or family will soon receive a dream home thought to be unattainable.

    What a great honor it has been for me to experience the many great accomplishments taking place through the work at FTCC.

    Qualifying students can receive financial aid and veteran benefits, and scholarships are also available. Learn more about FTCC and the Building Construction Technology and Carpentry programs.

    Email me at carterk@faytechcc.edu or call 910-678-8475 for more information. The dream career leading to better pay starts with better skills. Join us at FTCC to explore your many options.

  • Midsummer Magic coverUp & Coming Weekly received six North Carolina Press Association awards and two Association of Community Publisher awards in recent competitions.

    “Having Up & Coming Weekly's writers, designers and editors recognized and honored for excellence by our peers in the newspaper and media industry speaks volumes to the talent, dedication, professionalism, passion and commitment they have to the mission of a community newspaper,” Publisher Bill Bowman said.

    Up & Coming Weekly continues to focus on the people, businesses, organizations and issues that define the purpose, value and effectiveness of a genuine ‘community’ newspaper,” Bowman said. “This kind of passion and pride cannot be taught or manufactured. It comes from the heart and pours into the community through relevant news stories, fantastic art and artistry, thought-provoking insights, and sometimes even funny and whimsical tales. Together it’s a near-perfect repertoire for an effective and successful community newspaper.”

    North Carolina Press Association
    NCPA’s advertising and editorial contest is one of the largest in the nation, with over 4,000 entries submitted by more than 125 newspapers and news organizations.

    Up & Coming Weekly competes in Division B, which represents community newspapers with a circulation between 3,500 to 10,000. Entries are judged by newspaper professionals from another state to ensure impartiality and avoid conflicts of interest.

    Intern Writer R. Elgin Zeiber took home first place for Arts and Entertainment Reporting for his article “Local duo makes impact through music, service to others locally and around the world.” The article details the start of Cabin Fever Studio, a professional recording studio that sits nestled inside a log cabin one block south of eastern Raeford Road.

    The story can be found online at https://www.upandcomingweekly.com/entertainment/9409-local-duo-makes-impact-through-music-service-to-others-locally-and-around-the-world.

    Columnist Pitt Dickey took home second place for Lighter Columns for a series of his articles. Dickey's columns appear biweekly.“Going goblin mode, with a side of gaslighting” was one of the articles submitted for the award. It can be found online at https://www.upandcomingweekly.com/local-news-briefs/9339-going-goblin-mode-with-a-side-of-gaslighting

    Kathleen Ramsey took home third place for Business Writing for her article, “Curate Essentials: An herbal apothecary and boutique in the heart of Haymount Hill.” The story can be found online at https://www.upandcomingweekly.com/entertainment/8882-curate-essentials-an-herbal-apothecary-and-boutique-in-the-heart-of-haymount-hill.

    Contributing writer Rabbi Dov Goldberg received third place for Religion & Faith Reporting for his article, “Dreidel offers a new spin on Hanukkah, cultural sharing.” The story can be found online at https://www.upandcomingweekly.com/views/9369-dreidel-offers-a-new-spin-on-hanukkah-cultural-sharing.

    Graphics Designer Isaiah Jones received two awards in advertising. He received two first-place wins in Food Ads and Entertainment Ads. Those awards were the “Pates Farm Market” ad and the “New Years Eve Party 80s Style” ad.

    Association of Community Publishers
    The Association of Community Publishers represents community publications from coast to coast, reaching millions of homes on a weekly, biweekly or monthly basis. These publications are united in providing the best advertising coverage to their clients and valuable advertising information to their strong and loyal readership base.

    Columnist Margaret Dickson received first place for Best Opinion Article. “Ostriches put their heads in the sand out of fear,” was one of the articles submitted for the award. The story can be found online at https://www.upandcomingweekly.com/views/8969-ostriches-put-their-heads-in-the-sand-out-of-fear.

    Up & Coming Weekly also received second place for best Front Page Cover for Newsprint. The cover with the honorable award was the July 19 issue featuring the 7th Annual Midsummer Magic event, designed by Arts Director Courtney Sapp-Scott. The cover can be seen at http://www.epageflip.net/i/1473705-july-19-2022/1.

    “Recognition by our peers in the industry is encouraging,” said Managing Editor April Olsen. “It is a source of pride for our team and reminds us to continue our focus on providing articles that inspire, inform and help promote people and organizations in Fayetteville and Cumberland County.”

  • vote standsThe city has been at a crossroads for years in regards to tackling critical issues. A strong case can be made that a high percentage of the current rise in crime and other societal issues is related to a decrease in ethical decision-making. That ethical decision-making is not mirrored or modeled by the elected positions of this city.

    With the city council and mayor continually downvoting independent third-party investigations, it is no shock to any educated individual as to how the population of the city can consider questionable choices as being okay.

    And when a society questions which laws are important or which decisions can be avoided from an ethical standpoint, it has lost its way. That is where the pillars of the community and the fabric of the city collide.

    Below are excerpts from an email that I sent to the elected representation of the city, to include the appointed position of city manager, regarding the unofficial city manager’s State of the City report. From January to June, 26 homicides were recorded by FPD Public Information Officer. If this trend remains constant, Fayetteville will surpass the 50 mark this year.

    This city has a violent crime issue. For the elected body that will have a debate on a way forward, try to do so without inserting identity politics. That will be difficult to do based upon the current data that paints the city as having a violent crime issue with a disproportionate number of citizens from the Black community.

    For most of you identity-politics-elected officials, this will be followed with silence. And closed-door meetings. The current “Can Do” approach does not put the city on a path of transparency or civic debate for critical issues like this.

    Policies of the city and the enforcement within the framework of identity politics, or lack of, has made it easy for some residents to make a bad choice. The set of parameters within that decision-making cycle is what has contributed greatly to the increase in crime throughout the city.

    A series of bad choices tends to end up on this list, which then become a larger issue for residents to overcome. If this was an issue of “Americans” in the city, then everyone that was elected would be discussing it. Instead, the city council’s main objective is identity politics. This is a hyphenated issue. The city has seen your discussions on violence which always end with systemic racism. How about double standards and standards that continually change to where residents understand that laws can be ignored?

    The previous five years have greatly contributed to the current status and state of the city. If you can, one standard... one standard for every American in this city. Your current identity politics hypocrisy of current standards makes this a hyphenated issue. The lack of standards has ruined too many young lives in this city. That is clearly on your shoulders.

    That makes it not an issue the entire city is looking at. But this is Fayetteville, and without a change of character, which generally means most of you should resign, it’s not going to change.

    The difference is that decent Americans who want a better future for their children are going to look at the data and see that the city is failing. That you are failing.

    Where are the pillars of the community?

    Your lack of action on critical issues related to ethics and morality in the city have illustrated the requirement to use your identity politics language in order to get the point across.

    The ethical and moral fabric of this city is degrading. No amount of social justice BS that you currently put forth is going to fix that. If the city doesn’t get back to the basics and establish parameters where ethics and morality take the forefront, you will continue to see violence perpetrated.

    The city has too many pastors in name only. Too many elected and appointed positions that push forth identity politics versus one standard. Too many politicians versus citizens elected to serve. Welcome to the secondary and tertiary effects of those actions.

    —Rob Walls, Fayetteville

    Editor's note: This submission was edited for space.

  • GOV Roy CooperGovernor Roy Cooper announced appointments to boards and commissions last week, including four from Fayetteville.

    Gov. Cooper appointed Chanavia A. Haddock as a member-at-large to the North Carolina Arts Council. Haddock is a volunteer with the Fayetteville Arts Council and has served on the City of Fayetteville Arts Commission. She is the second self-published author to be invited to the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art for her book, “Miracle.”

    Gov. Cooper appointed Jennifer Jones as a Workforce Development Commission representative to the North Carolina Commission for the Blind. Jones is an Accountability Manager for the North Carolina Department of Commerce Division of Workforce Solutions.

    Gov. Cooper appointed Valencia A. Applewhite as a member of the General Assembly to the North Carolina Courts Commission. Senator Applewhite is in her first term in the North Carolina State Senate. She previously served three terms on the Fayetteville City Council.

    Gov. Cooper appointed Caroline Cowan Gregory as a member-at-large to the Fayetteville Technical Community College Board of Trustees. Gregory is an attorney who practices law at Rand and Gregory Attorneys at law in Fayetteville.

    For a full list of State Boards and Commissions appointments, visit https://governor.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2023/07/03/governor-cooper-announces-state-boards-and-commissions-appointments.

  • vitamins HW237073The human body is a marvel. When working correctly, the body automatically performs scores of metabolic functions.

    Individuals can facilitate the performance of those functions in various ways. Careful consideration of what they put into their bodies is one way individuals can make things easier on their bodies. It is vital to supply the body with the nutrients it needs. This includes the essentials: A, C, D, E, K, and the eight B vitamins.

    Vitamin A: This vitamin helps ensure the health of the skin, corneas, lining of the urinary tract, lungs, and intestines. Vitamin A also helps protect against infection. It also is important for vision, as it improves vision in dim light.

    Vitamin C: Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, plays a vital role in immune system function, helping to protect cells from free radicals. Since the body cannot store vitamin C, it needs to be consumed daily.

    Vitamin D: Vitamin D assists in calcium and phosphorous absorption, which helps to keep bones and teeth strong. The body can produce vitamin D naturally by spending time in sunlight. That is why it’s often called “the sunshine vitamin.”

    Vitamin E: This vitamin maintains muscles and red blood cells. It also protects fatty acids.

    Vitamin K: Vitamin K is necessary for blood to clot and helps to keep bones and other tissues in the body healthy.

    Thiamine (B1): B1 is needed for metabolism and for nerve and heart function.

    Riboflavin (B2): Another important nutrient for metabolizing foods, B2 helps maintain healthy mucus membranes, such as those in the mouth and nose.

    Niacin (B3): This vitamin helps to release energy from food and keeps the nervous system healthy.

    Pantothenic Acid (B5): B5 is another vitamin that aids energy metabolism. It also plays a role in normalizing blood sugar levels.

    Pyridoxine (B6): People rely on B6 to metabolize food energy. It also has a role in proper nerve function and helps in the creation of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen around through red blood cells.

    Biotin (B7): This is only needed in small amounts to make fatty acids.

    Folate (B9): Folate is very important for healthy red blood cells. Folate also helps to prevent birth defects, which is why it is recommended as a prenatal vitamin. The manufactured form of folate is called folic acid.

    Cobalamin (B12): B12 is needed to make red blood cells, DNA, RNA, and myelin for nerve fibers. It is preferable to obtain vitamins through healthy foods. If and when foods are inadequate, supplementation might be recommended.

    Certain vitamins are fat-soluble, which means they are stored in the body’s fat and used slowly over time, according to WebMD.

    Others are water-soluble, so they are not stored and need to be replenished frequently.

    Individuals should speak to their doctors and nutritionists about any vitamin deficiencies they may have and how to combat them safely.

  • Fire DepartmentThe Fayetteville Fire Department is equipping firefighters with four new medications expanding and enhancing lifesaving services designed to keep the community safe.

    Firefighters added these four new medicines to their treatment protocol on July 1: albuterol, oral glucose, diphenhydramine (Benadryl), and acetaminophen (Tylenol).

    The addition of these medications will positively impact those suffering from breathing difficulties, diabetic emergencies, allergic reactions, high fevers and related illnesses.

    Nearly 70% of calls for service are medical in nature, so FFD continually focuses on opportunities to enhance patient care and increase survivability during medical emergencies. These new medications will help to improve the quality of care and outcomes for the citizens and visitors of Fayetteville by facilitating early access to life-saving therapy.

    All Fayetteville firefighters are certified Emergency Medical Technicians or EMTs credentialed through the State of North Carolina, and each firefighter received education and training leading up to the implementation of the new medicines.

    This will be an efficient and low-cost service improvement due to the partnership with Cape Fear Valley Health and close working relationship with Cumberland County EMS.

  • Separation of PowerHas there even been a point of time in which so many public controversies rest on a single, abstract principle of constitutional government? I can’t think of one.

    The principle in question is the separation of powers. Here are only some of its recent political manifestations:

    • The U.S. Supreme Court has just blocked President Joe Biden’s attempt to transfer hundreds of billions of dollars in debt from student borrowers to federal taxpayers. The federal constitution gives Congress the power of the purse, not the president, and the statute Biden cited as giving him sweeping authority to transfer debt did no such thing.

    • The Supreme Court also struck down the racial preferences used by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and other highly selective institutions to discriminate against white and Asian students.
      In her dissent, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson argued that if her colleagues believe “preventing consideration of race will end racism,” their intention will “be in vain.” But as Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority decision, the judiciary isn’t authorized to pursue policy intentions of any kind. Its job is to decide whether specific acts are lawful. Racial discrimination isn’t. If you think there should be exceptions, your proper course is to rewrite the relevant federal statutes and constitutional provisions. Courts can do neither.

    • In yet another decision with North Carolina connections, Moore v. Harper, the Supreme Court ruled that the constitutional language giving “state legislatures” the power to determine the time, place, and manner of federal elections does not exclude such legislative decisions from review by state courts. As you may recall, the North Carolina Supreme Court intervened before the 2022 elections to strike down a congressional map drawn by the General Assembly. The state court, then composed mostly of Democrats, drew from general language in the state constitution about “free elections” and “equal protection” to invent a new rule against partisan gerrymandering. Then it authorized non-lawmakers to draw congressional districts for 2022. After the midterm elections, which produced a 5-2 GOP majority on the N.C. Supreme Court, this abuse of the separation of powers was (properly) reversed.
      In the meantime, however, Speaker Tim Moore had appealed the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that under the federal constitution, state courts may exercise no legitimate oversight of congressional redistricting. Chief Justice Roberts disagreed, writing in this majority decision that Moore’s argument “does not account for the Framers’ understanding that when legislatures make laws, they are bound by the provisions of the very documents that give them life.” There is ample precedent for Roberts’ interpretation, such as a 1932 decision upholding the power of governors to veto congressional districts if that’s what their state constitutions permit. When the U.S. constitution refers to state legislatures, the court ruled, it does so in full knowledge that legislatures must act “in accordance with the method which the state has prescribed for legislative enactments.”

    • Finally, on several occasions this session the North Carolina General Assembly has sought to strip the executive branch of significant influence over the enforcement of state laws and the administration of state agencies. As I’ve previously argued, you can be sympathetic to the legislature’s concerns without endorsing an unconstitutional remedy for them. Like the federal one, our state constitution specifically requires that the “legislative, executive, and supreme judicial powers of the state government shall be forever separate and distinct from each other.” Why? Because checks and balances are essential to freedom and effective governance. The English philosopher John Locke argued in 1689 that in any “well-formed government,” the “legislative and executive powers are in distinct hands.” The man who coined the phrase “separation of powers,” Charles de Montesquieu, wrote in 1748 that “when the legislative and executive powers are united in the same person, or in the same body of magistrates, there can be no liberty.”

    Process matters. That’s what we can learn from all of these disputes. Few lessons are more important.

    Editor’s note: John Hood is a John Locke Foundation board member. His latest books, Mountain Folk and Forest Folk, combine epic fantasy with early American history (FolkloreCycle.com).

  • ROTR logoOn the outskirts of downtown Fayetteville, just off Person Street, is Deep Creek Outfitters. The large brick building has a massive wooden front porch area with a tin roof. Behind it, not too far, is the roaring of the water from the Cape Fear River.

    The brownish-colored river twirls in and out of thick foliage and trees, intertwining with all that surrounds it. The sound of the river can be heard from just the parking lot on certain days.

    On the backside of the outfitters is a large grass space, with the Person Street bridge and the Cape Fear River creating a picturesque backdrop for it.

    With an appropriate location and even more appropriate name, Rock’n On the River concert series will host Rivermist and Reflections II in just a little more than a week, on July 21 from 6 to 10 p.m.

    Greg Adair, the coordinator for Rock’n On the River and drummer and vocalist for Rivermist, is a hard man to nail down. Between gigs and coordinating, he can often be reached on the road, either coming from or going to an event.

    “Dos Equis and a lime please,” he says to his waitress. He and his bandmates then have a little laugh about this as it's exactly a line from one of the band’s original songs, “Right Place Right Time,” written by Allen Pier. The line isn’t always appropriate, Adair chuckles. At certain family events or venues, they change up the lyrics slightly.

    “We’ve changed it to Pepsi and a lime.”

    Today the five members of Rivermist are on their way to another gig. The bandmates include Adair, Allen Pier, lead and backup vocals and keyboard, Tony Harrison, Bass Guitar, Cliff Bender, Lead Guitar and Rick Starling, Vocals and Percussion/keyboard.

    “We are all over the place,” Adair says about their music. Rivermist is a variety band, playing songs from Bruno Mars to Eagles to Lynard Skynard. Some of which they fit into medleys.

    “‘All Summer Long’ segs with ‘Sweet Home Alabama,’” Adair says. The band chats among themselves. They seem to share a lot of laughs.

    One thing Adair promises is the energy that he and the bandmates bring to each and every show. For many people, he says, they have to see it to understand it.

    “If you get to [one of our] shows, you are going to say, ‘that’s good’ and I’m not saying this to sound cocky.” Adair speaks about the energy on the stage.
    “There’s a lot going on.”

    Adair, Pier, Harrison, Bender and Starling have been playing together since 2016. Adair got his start in music at the age of 6, playing at church and drumming on lunchboxes, cardboard boxes, really anything he could get his hands on.

    He and all the members of the band, he says, are still active in their various churches.

    “God has blessed us in that,” Adair says of the band’s success. So naturally, he concludes, the members must give back as well.

    For Adair, he grew up as a pretty strict Christian with a lot of rules. As a kid, he wasn’t allowed to swim with someone of the opposite sex.

    As far as music, he was supposed to play church music. But that really didn’t stop Adair or any of his friends.

    “We all did,” he laughs about playing other types of music. Some of his favorite bands growing up are now bands he covers in Rivermist, like The Eagles, Journey, Earth, Wind and Fire.

    Joining Rivermist for Rock’n on the River on the 21st is another variety or cover band, Reflections II. While two variety bands seem like they wouldn’t complement each other, Adair says the feel of Reflections II, with just as much energy as Rivermist, goes well together since they play different set lists and types of music. Reflections plays classic rock to modern country, and even dance music.

    The show will begin at 6 p.m. on July 21 with Reflections II as the opener and Rivermist, the headliner, will take the stage somewhere around 8 p.m.

    Adair encourages concertgoers to bring chairs. While the event is free to go, parking at the venue is a flat $10 fee. The event is outdoors and family-friendly.

    No outside food is allowed but there will be food and drinks for sale. The event water and beer sales will go to the Karen Chandler Fund, a local nonprofit for cancer patients.

    For more information on the Rock’n On the River series or this particular concert, the event series has a Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100049990406810 or you can email rocknontheriver@gmail.com.

    The series goes throughout the year and has published all upcoming events online.

  • National ParkThe National Park Foundation reports that the National Park System spans more than 84 million acres and encompasses 424 sites and units in the United States.

    National parks do their part to foster conservation of natural resources and reserve wild land for the scores of animals that call these places home. They’re also enticing places to visit, with their vast vistas and interesting wildlife. Planning ahead can make any trip to a national park even better.

    Know when to go. Research the best times of year to visit certain parks. All may not be open year-round. Think about the kind of experience you want to have. Most parks are busiest during the summer. Therefore, if you want to skip the crowds, perhaps visit in a slower season.

    Research environments. With so many parks, it can be challenging to decide where to go. Take into consideration your interests as well as your limitations.

    Find out which amenities and features each park offers, including shuttles, stores for gear, animal life, terrain, and potential hazards.

    The more you know about each potential park, the better you can narrow down the place to visit first.

    Know the rules and regulations. Most parks have regulations in place to keep visitors safe. Some parks require reservations to enter or access certain areas of the park. Some may need you to reserve space in advance.

    Permits may be needed for certain activities, such as fishing. Check the park’s website to learn about permits or restrictions that may affect your trip.

    Choose your accommodations. With their expanse of land and things to see, you’ll likely want to spend more than one day exploring a park. Figure out if the park has accommodations on the property. If not, you’ll need to locate lodging nearby.

    Camping on the grounds can be a way to enjoy the park more intimately. Look into campsite rentals or whether recreational vehicles can be parked on a campsite in or near the national park.

    Yellowstone and Yosemite are two national parks that tend to book campsites well in advance, so visitors should plan accordingly.

    Pick your priorities. National parks tend to be massive, so make a list of the must-see attractions this time around (you can always visit again). While you can have an itinerary, you likely will enjoy the trip more if you’re relaxed and get to meander around rather than sticking to a strict schedule.

    Consult the rangers. Make friends with the park rangers. They are experts on the park and can let you know which places to visit or if there are any shortcuts to certain attractions. Use their experience and guidance.

    National parks are located across the United States. The parks are wonderful vacation spots, and visitors can plan now for their trips to see these natural wonders.

  • PickleballA court sport is sweeping the nation, and it isn’t tennis or basketball. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, 4.8 million people played pickleball in 2021, marking a nearly 15% growth in the total number of players from the year prior.

    Data from the SFIA suggests pickleball is popular among people of all ages. Total participation among players between ages six and 17 (21%), 18 and 34 (29 %) and 35 and 54 (20%) is significant, and players 65 and older also are well represented (18%).

    As the popularity of pickleball grows, now is a great time to explore the basics of this game that’s become a go-to pastime for so many people.

    What is pickleball?
    USA PickleballTM notes that pickleball combines many elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong. That game is played with a paddle and a plastic ball with holes and can be played both indoors and outdoors on a badminton-sized court with a slightly modified tennis net.

    Much like tennis, pickleball can be played in a singles (one-on-one) or doubles (two-on-two) format.

    How long has pickleball been played?
    Despite a recent and meteoric spike in popularity, pickleball has been around since 1965. The brainchild of three fathers from Bainbridge Island (which is just a brief ferry ride away from Seattle), the game was invented as a means of entertaining bored children. It has since evolved from those roots and become a wildly popular game across both the United States and Canada, and the game has even begun to spread into Europe and Asia.

    How is pickleball played?
    An extensive list of the rules of pickleball can be found at https://usapickleball.org/what-is-pickleball/official-rules/rules-summary/. A game is typically played to 11 points, and a team must win by two. Tournament games may be played to 15 or 21, and a team must win by two.

    Does pickleball use referees?
    Recreational games of pickleball can rely on the honor system much like pick-up games of other sports do. However, USA PickleballTM notes that referees and line judges are important components of tournament play. More information about becoming a pickleball referee can be found at https://usapickleball.org/get-involved/pickleball-officiating/

    Why should I play pickleball?
    Players enjoy the game of pickleball for a multitude of reasons, including the thrill of competition, the chance to socialize and the opportunity to exercise outside of a gym or home fitness center. But many play the game because they find it fun.

    Pickleball has experienced a notable spike in popularity in recent years. More information about the game and how to get involved is available at https://usapickleball.org.

  • Suicide AwarenessMany people commit suicide under the impression that they no longer want to be a burden on those around them. What they do not realize is those who love them are left in a devastating condition grasping for reason and purpose to the loss.

    The rate of suicide for veterans was 57.3% higher than that of non-veteran adults in 2020, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that law enforcement officers and firefighters are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty.

    Furthermore, EMS providers are 1.39 times more likely to die by suicide than the public.

    Enrique “Rick” Murillo understands this more than he would want to. He started the Man 22 Suicide Awareness Run eight years ago in honor of someone he knew personally who took their own life.

    “For the history of the run, which started eight years ago, May 1st, 2016, and it was because of a friend, one of my best friends, who committed suicide,” Murillo told Up & Coming Weekly.

    “I wanted to do something for him, and everybody was doing 22 push-ups a day. [That’s] based off of the 22 veterans that were committing suicide a day. So I said I wanted to do something more challenging. So I said, ‘Hey, let’s run 2.22 miles... and do the 22 push-ups at the end. And we do this run with body armor and wear the name tapes of those that are following a suicide at the time, eight years ago.’”

    For that first run, 55 people showed up on a rainy Sunday morning. Now, Murillo says they have averaged 800 to 1,000 people for the last four years.

    The run is also not just about the run. Murillo’s organization also places an emphasis on respecting and honoring Gold Star families. There will be an event Friday, July 21, for the families. There will be a private dinner with sponsors from 5 to 6 p.m. Then, after 6 p.m., the meet and greet will be open to the public. There will be raffles, auctions, food, drinks and entertainment. This will take place at The Kraken-Skulls at 822 Shannon Drive. Ideally, this is when the community comes out and meets the sponsors, volunteers and learns more about the organization.

    “They don’t get to experience what community is when they go back home, or, once again, it’s a stigma of suicide, and people don’t recognize that as an honorable death. So [it is important] to have them here, have them see what we do and how we try to combat it,” Murillo said.

    The 8th Annual MAN22 Suicide Awareness Run will take place on Saturday, July 22. This year, the run will take place in downtown Fayetteville, starting at Festival Park.

    The event will kick off with the Gold Star Escort at 9 a.m. The escort will start at Hendrick Jeep, at 543 N. McPherson Church Road, and end at Festival Park.

    The event will officially kick off at 11 a.m. with a demonstration from the All Veteran Group.

    Following the demonstration, an invocation and ceremony will feature guest speakers from the community.

    Fayetteville City Councilmember Kathy Jensen is the guest speaker for the city; Fayetteville Police Chief Kemberle Braden will be the guest speaker for first responders; and retired Master Sgt. Chris Corbin will be the guest speaker for veterans.

    As with each Man22SAR event, there will be 22 push-ups and a 2.22-mile run. The run will start at Festival Park, go into Segra Stadium, onto Hay Street, and back again.

    Following the event, Festival Park will have food trucks and 10 vendors. Nonprofit organizations will be available to talk and provide resources for those who need them.

    Unlike most other runs, registration is not required. You can just show up to the run and participate free of charge.

    The event is not about money, according to Murillo. The event is about showing up, being a community and providing resources to those who need it.

    “In our sixth year, I had five people reach out and say thank you because they went to therapy, they went to inpatient therapy, and then they’re more active in the community. If I’m able to reach one person at this run, then I feel like I’ve accomplished something. If I could save one life,” Murillo said.

    “That year, five people reached out and said ‘thank you.’ And so here we were, 500% accomplished.”

    Murillo shared with Up & Coming Weekly that he lost a good friend last month to suicide. He believes more can be done because we are still losing people.

    This year, Murillo is going to be running with 10 nametags attached to him; all are people he knew personally.

    “I believe we’re not doing enough, and there’s more that could be done. But together, we need to come together as a community and be stronger for each other and care for each other,” Murillo said.

    While the event is primarily organized for veterans and first responders, Murillo wants the entire community to come out, show support, and participate because suicide has a major rippling effect on everyone.

    “We are open up to everybody because suicide is affecting everybody, especially our young kids at a very young age. So I want as many people to come out and just see what we do, see what we do as a community. I always tell people if you want to understand what community means, come to Fayetteville, North Carolina, and you will see.”

    For more information about the run, go to https://www.facebook.com/events/544556577655990.

    For more information about Through Tragedy Comes Light, the nonprofit whose CEO is Murillo, visit https://throughtragedycomeslight.org/.

  • Whos BuyingAs the financial recovery from the pandemic continues, Transworld’s Main Street Market Report found that business acquisitions were up more than 32% from 2021 to 2022. This rebound is great news for buyers, but to fully understand the uptick, let’s drill down into who is currently looking to sell their businesses and which demographics are primed to make a purchase.

    Who’s Selling
    The primary sellers are baby boomers. Born between 1946 and 1964, the later end of this demographic is approaching retirement and looking to plan for their third act. The last of the boomers will reach full retirement age in 2031, less than 10 years down the road. Additionally, recession concerns, labor shortages and general burnout are propelling some to consider selling their businesses sooner rather than later.

    However, not all boomers are ready to cash out and leave the workforce. In fact, 49% of baby boomers expect to, or already have, extended their working lives past 70 or do not plan to retire, according to the nonprofit Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies in collaboration with the Transamerica Institute.

    Finally, the other top category of sellers is those interested in capitalizing on the buoyant business sales market we are currently experiencing. These sellers may be looking to step back from entrepreneurship or simply feel it’s the right time to shift their focus to a new and different business.

    Who’s Buying
    If the sellers are boomers and those looking to cash in on the hot sales market, who are the individuals buying at the moment? The two main groups are people looking to leave corporate America and be their own bosses and strategic buyers.

    The pandemic changed how many people looked at work/life balance. The first group of people buying took a hard look at how their jobs were aligning with their personal lives during the pandemic and came away thinking there had to be a better way. They are interested in entrepreneurship so they can be the ones making the rules and deciding when they need to clock in and out. As a result, this group is looking for businesses that are considered the most recession-proof. Among that group, service-based opportunities are the most popular.

    That leaves strategic buyers, i.e., people interested in acquiring a business for strategic reasons. They have most likely never owned the type of business they are purchasing and are interested in the business to enhance their competitive position.

    For instance, this type of buyer may be looking to gain complementary products, technologies, customer bases, or distribution channels that will help them with cost savings, revenue growth, market expansion, or other strategic objectives.

    Strategic buyers can be larger companies looking to buy a smaller business to expand their offerings or consolidate their industry position. They could be buying a company to enter a new market or eliminating a competitor. The focus is on the long-term benefits the business gives them, not financial returns alone.

    Even with some economic conditions changing in 2023 — interest rate increase and concerns about inflation — the data on sales speed, price and deal volume continue to trend upwards, as they did in 2022. These are all good signs for anyone looking to sell their quality business in the months ahead.

    Editor's note: Ashley Kelsey is a Business Broker at Transworld Business Advisors of Eastern North Carolina. She can be reached at 910-302-6447 or email akelsey@tworld.com.

  • New Fury OwnerThe Fayetteville Fury has a new owner: Phillip Lin aims to cultivate community and a love for soccer in Fayetteville

    Fayetteville’s newest professional sports team, the Fayetteville Fury soccer team, has played two full seasons, and is now preparing for its third.

    The Fayetteville Fury was officially announced on June 7, 2021, as the second franchise in the National Indoor Soccer League.

    When Lin joined as a minority owner in June 2021, the Fayetteville Fury team had four owners. In March 2023, Lin decided to buy out the remaining owners’ shares, thus making him the primary shareholder of the soccer team.

    When asked, “Why Fayetteville?,” Phillip responded, “At the time I was looking to get into sports ownership and picked Fayetteville because I felt connected to this city and its strong ties to the military community. As a successful serial entrepreneur, I felt it was time for me to give back to the community. I believed Fayetteville had a need for community and to have more sports entertainment. I really felt a warmness from the community, and they have embraced me and the entire team.”

    It was Lin’s passion for sports and community that motivated him to continue building and investing in Fayetteville sports entertainment.

    “I feel people get connected through sports. Since COVID, people have lost human connection and I feel sports brings communities together with a common goal and interest.”

    “My favorite thing about attending the games is the energy of the fans, seeing how happy they are, and how they don’t take their eyes away from the game. They are engaged the entire time and it’s a bond for the community as they are cheering together.”

    As a self-identified serial entrepreneur, Lin owns multiple businesses, The Howdy Triangle in Cary, Catering by Design in Raleigh, and three sports teams: Fayetteville Chutes, Oak City Gliders, and now Fayetteville Fury.

    Lin is also a published author of “One Bad Asian,” an autobiography detailing his life as an immigrant whose Taiwanese family moves to the United States to achieve the American dream. He details his struggles as an immigrant, working three jobs, his journey through entrepreneurship, and how he navigated obstacles in life.

    Not only has Lin continued to grow and invest into the Fayetteville team, but he has reorganized the leadership and structure.

    The new organizational structure for the Fury includes Owner Phillip Lin; General Manager and Men's Head Coach Al Florez; Assistant General Manager Dustin Lee; Community Relations Director Ashley Blake; Merchandise Director Terri Sue Maynor-Guevara; Marketing Partners 219 Group; Account Exec Brandon Rodriguez; Women’s Head Coach is to be announced at a later date; Assistant Coach Miguel Sanchez; Fan Engagement & Inclusion Director Ali Arostegui; and the Operations Director will be announced soon.

    The team will host 12 regular season home games at the Crown Center when the season starts in January 2024. Each game-night will feature a Men’s and Women’s Doubleheader.

    During the off-season the Fury soccer team is busy with community outreach, hosting tryouts, youth soccer camps, and soccer tournaments. The team even added their very own dragon mascot, Furyous, who loves engaging with fans.

    The Fayetteville Fury is a professional indoor soccer team dedicated to the community, personal development of the players, and to the growth of soccer among the youth by providing them with the skills and knowledge they need to excel in the sport. For more information visit www.fayettevillefury.com/

  • CucumbersCucumbers are a summer favorite for me, and I love them so much that I think I could eat my weight in this low-calorie fruit!

    Cucumber (Cucumus sativus) is a family of fruit, not vegetables, including watermelon, pumpkin, muskmelon and squash. They are native to India and are one of four ancient fruits that have been grown as a food source for over 3,000 years.

    Early cucumbers may have been bitter because of compounds that were natural defenses to repel insects and other pests. Over the centuries, great strides have been taken to eliminate the bitterness with cultivation, but we occasionally can bite into one with a bitter taste.

    Cucumbers were eaten in ancient Egypt, but the Egyptians made weak liquor out of them by cutting a hole in the ripened fruit and stirring with a stick on the inside to liquefy it. After it was liquefied, they plugged the hole and buried it for several days. The result was said to be a weak form of liquor, but I suggest that you do not try this!

    They were also grown in Italy in the 8th and 9th centuries and later spread to western Europe. During the reign of King Henry VIII, his first wife (Catherine of Aragon) often demanded cucumbers for her Spanish salads.

    Columbus is credited for bringing them to the New World with other vegetables and fruits. He introduced them to Haiti in 1494 and by 1806 eight varieties of cucumbers could be found growing in America’s colonial gardens.

    There are about 100 varieties of cucumbers. Many are found in supermarkets, and farmer’s markets, including English, Persian, Kirby and pickling. There are rare white cucumbers, some are “burpless” and others require a little flavoring in vinegar with salt and pepper.

    There are eight common varieties:

    English cucumbers are seedless, burpless cucumbers that are long with sweet firm flesh, thin and dark green. They are often preferred for cucumber sandwiches, salads and even infused with water and cocktails.

    White cucumbers have a culinary interest because of the white skins. They are served much as English cucumbers.

    Persian cucumbers are small and burpless, easily digestible, have very few seeds.

    Garden cucumbers have thicker skin and are best when they are peeled because the skin may contain some bitterness and they have larger seeds.

    Lemon cucumbers are the size of a small tennis ball. They are mild and sweet with a cool crispy texture and are ideal for salads.

    Kirby cucumbers, my favorite, are small in size with bumpy skins and firm flesh and are a favorite for pickling.

    Gherkins are pickled baby cucumbers that have been allowed to ferment. Pickled in brine or vinegar, they are a favorite for charcuterie boards and cheese trays.

    Armenian cucumbers are long, also known as yard-long cucumber and snake melon. They are not cucumbers but fall into the category of musk melons.

    The health benefits of cucumbers are many. They are about 97% water and great for hydration. The term “cool as a cucumber” is common because a cucumber can be considerably cooler on the inside. They are aids in battling immense heat and they are known for aiding with sunburn by mixing up a puree and applying it to the skin.

    Cucumbers help with flushing toxins and the ability to battle kidney stones. They are also loaded with vitamins and help with weight loss with one cup having sixteen calories.

    Live, love life and stay cool as a cucumber.

  • Stuck in a RutSummer vacations invite exploration, and who doesn’t love to explore? According to Webster’s dictionary, “explore” is defined as traveling in or through an unfamiliar place in order to learn more about it. Whether it’s the excitement of the unknown or the thrill of learning something new, from young to old, we all enjoy taking a risk now and then.

    Such was the case years ago when our young family ventured to the Cayman Islands. Renting a Jeep for the week we decided to go off the beaten path with our two young boys.

    At some point we chose to ignore the road signs (those warnings meant for our safety) and found our paved road turning into a dirt road. It was then that it happened. Our Jeep got stuck in a rut quickly ending our explorations. Thank goodness God got us out of that rut — that deep track made by the repeated passage of those who had made the same wrong choice as us. But what about the ruts in life that get us stuck spiritually?

    I remember once reading a road sign that said, “Be careful the rut you choose, because you will remain in that rut for the next 25 miles.” In other words, be careful with your chioces.

    It’s one thing to get stuck with the people you love on a hot afternoon in the Caymans. It’s another thing to get stuck spiritually — to form a habit or pattern of thinking that is incorrect, especially in your walk with God.
    Romans 12 says, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect His will really is.”

    In a world full of blurred lines, it’s easy to get stuck in thinking the way the world does, and once we get in that rut, it’s difficult to get out. But the Bible teaches us not to become so comfortable with our culture, which is usually self-centered, that we fit in without even thinking. We are challenged to let God’s Word teach us to think differently. Not an easy task considering everywhere we turn we are influenced by others defining truth for us.

    It takes a deliberate, hard turn to align our thinking with God’s truth. But when we do so, we discover that God loves us so much, He will never leave us circling in deeply rutted paths of untruth.

    Making the commitment to study the Bible is not a task to be taken lightly. But attempting to navigate through life with no direction, no signs, no moral or spiritual boundaries to ensure we stay on the right path — well, that will land you in a pothole. When we study the Bible, we get to know the character of God — how He thinks, His nature, His attributes, His desires for our life and for mankind.

    We learn that God will go to any length to have a relationship with people, even as far as sacrificing His son, Jesus.

    We learn the history of how God has reached down to mankind through the ages revealing Himself.

    We learn of man’s rebellious nature, wanting to ignore the road signs and go his own selfish way.

    We lament over the inescapable consequences of man’s sin, yet we are reminded that with Jesus, there is always hope for restoration.

    Through studying the Bible we get to know God, and knowing God changes the way we think. God transforms us into a new person by renewing our minds with His unchangeable truth. After all, nothing is different until you think differently.

    Looking at life through the lens of the Bible changes the way we look at everything in this life. Understanding what God loves and what God hates, grasping His holiness, believing in His sovereignty over all peoples and nations throughout all time — well, that invites a new perspective.

    When we trust in God as the ultimate authority in our lives, His thoughts gradually become ours. We may still be in the rut of unmovable circumstances, but our wrong thinking does not have to remain in that rut. God invites us into a way of right thinking. We begin to see and understand His good and perfect will throughout the ages and how He brings good out of the worst of situations. And once we align our will (our thinking) with God’s will, when we prove by the way we live that He can be trusted, we are changed from the inside out. In the biblical paraphrase of Eugene Patterson, “God brings the best out” in us.

    What well-worn path of your own making are you spinning your wheels in today? After all, we never arrive anywhere in this life by accident. Knowing who or what to trust nowadays seems harder than ever.

    Rather than trusting your own limited, faulty wisdom, consider exploring the Bible this summer. The Bible does not gloss over hard truths, and that’s a good thing — because God knows your name and the rut you are in.

    The good news is you don’t have to occupy that same rut you are existing in the rest of your life. God loves to seek and rescue all, even from the ruts of our own making.

    What are you waiting for? Open the Bible and find the solid ground you have been searching for.

    Editor’s note: A version of this article appears in the June issue of Women’s View Magazine.

  • Pubic Work CalendarThe Public Works Exhibition, powered by the Fayetteville Public Works Commission, is on display through July 22 at The Arts Center on 301 Hay Street in historic downtown Fayetteville. The exhibit is free and open to the public.

    “PWC is thrilled to continue supporting this community event, which has become a cherished tradition,” says Lamont Hinson, Communications & Community Relations Associate of the Fayetteville Public Works Commission. “Through the arts, we aim to foster a stronger sense of connection within our community and bring vibrancy to our downtown areas. Come and see the amazing creativity of our talented local neighbors.”

    Curated by the Ellington-White Community Development Corporation, Public Works welcomed individuals of any age or background, regardless of their artistic experience, to submit their unique, culturally enriched visual artwork. The collection of artwork on display in a professional gallery setting is diverse in nature, featuring various techniques such as 2D and 3D paintings, drawings, printmaking, photography, sculpture, ceramics, and more. Each artist had the creative freedom to select their subject matter.

    Residents living in Cumberland, Hoke, Robeson, Sampson and Scotland Counties, and those in Fort Liberty and Pope Army Airfield were encouraged to participate in the exhibit.

    “This exhibit offers a fair opportunity for individuals of all ages and backgrounds to publicly express their artistic talents,” says Bob Pinson, President|CEO of the Arts Council. “Art has the power to convey powerful messages and promote dialogue, making it a universal language that can help bring people together and build our community. Whether you're a highly trained artist or a self-taught beginner, there’s an artist inside each of us waiting to be discovered.”

    Artwork from the exhibition is also available for purchase.

    People’s Choice Honor
    Visitors to the art exhibition before June 24 were able to vote for their favorite artwork in the “People’s Choice” selection. The pieces with the highest number of votes will be declared as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners, along with Honorable Mentions. The winners will receive a gift basket containing distinctive items from downtown businesses, and their work will be featured in the e-ARTSletter, digital and social media platforms, an artist interview, and an Up & Coming Weekly print ad.

    The Arts Center gallery hours vary. Visit https://www.wearethearts.com/pwc for more details.

  • VisionResourceCenterCollageVision Resource Center has been assisting the visually impaired and blind in Fayetteville since 1939 and its reading service is one of the newer innovations since its conception. Vision Resource Center has a 24/7 stream where those in the Fayetteville community can hear local news, obituaries and other happenings in the community.

    Terri Thomas, executive director at the center, explained more about the service.

    The stream contains content Thomas and volunteers read live or pre-record articles from local newspapers and magazines. The service is accessible to the blind or visually impaired via Zeno Radio, Alexa, online or a telephone call-in. Content includes some entertainment news as well.

    The fresh content comes on from noon to 2 p.m. From 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. audio books, podcasts and uplifting content can be heard. From there, the previous content streams on until the new content comes on at 12 p.m. the next day.

    There are several ways to listen to the stream. The first is by using the websites visionresourcecentercc.org or vrcvlyreadingservice.org.

    Secondly, listeners can dial-in to the number 1-518-801-1347.

    Thirdly, streamers can download the Zeno Radio app.

    The final way to listen is to ask Amazon’s Alexa to open VRCVLY Reading Service. When prompted, say, “Listen Live.”

    Currently, they have about 76 listeners but Thomas knows more will come in time.

    The Road to the Reading Service
    For those wondering how the reading service started, Thomas said it started with COVID.

    She said during COVID-19 clients of the Vision Resource Center let her know they needed to know what was going on with COVID. They also needed other forms of entertainment.

    She said a Fayetteville nonprofit at one point in time did have a radio service located on the Fayetteville State University campus where they read newsy information out to those visually impaired or blind. She said that service was discontinued.

    Thomas explained to the VRC Board that an organization in Raleigh could help the VRC fill the gap where listeners could listen via radio. Rocky Mount had a similar service.

    Thomas said she was researching the two and learning more about how to bring those services to Fayetteville. She said using radio seemed like a great platform, but she knew streaming was what everybody used.
    Johnathan Milam from Winston-Salem contacted Thomas and put together the VRC-VLY website and station remotely.

    The VLY stands for Virginia Lilly Yarborough. According to Thomas, Yarborough was one of the VRC’s biggest supporters and she loved listening to audio books.

    Thomas said it was only fitting to ask her husband and family if the VRC could name the service in her honor.

    Thomas said the service started in 2020. She went on a sabbatical in 2021. They relaunched again in March 2023 because she has been looking for more volunteers to help with the reading service.

    Volunteers needed
    Thomas said she wants to make VRC-VLY more accessible so anyone can access it. She said she already noticed senior citizens utilizing it. She just needs more volunteers to make it happen.

    “People who want to volunteer and get more volunteer hours can do the readings at the VRC or virtually,” Thomas said.

    Volunteers can come to the VRC at noon and read either for one or two hours. A reading partner will be there, too, so one person is only reading part of the time. Another option is to pre-record the news segment at the VRC or via Zoom from 9 to 11 a.m. to upload before noon. Thomas said volunteers can record via Zoom while another person is at the VRC at noon.

    Call the center at 910-483-2719 for more information.

  • Young HistoriansYoung historians from across the state gathered in person for the first time in three years for the North Carolina Museum of History’s 2023 Tar Heel Junior Historian Association Annual Convention in June. The all-day event featured dynamic learning experiences that help young people appreciate and understand North Carolina’s rich history and recognized the junior historians for their impactful historical work on projects.

    Workshops connected to the 2022–2023 themes of Tar Heel Junior Historian Magazine. Highlights included: performances from local musicians, learning how to play the dulcimer, building their own banjos, and diving into the science of sound.

    Representing Cumberland County was Azaleyah Mosqueda from Saint Patrick Catholic School. Mosqueda won second place in the intermediate division of the Exhibit & Visual Arts Contest for her submission Town Creek Indian Mound.

    “Knowing about who came before us is an infectious thing,” said Dr. Darren Waters, Deputy Secretary of the North Carolina Office of Archives and History during his opening remarks to the young historians. “I am hoping you’re deeply inspired and bring inspiration back with you to inspire others.”

    Other presenters emphasized the importance of knowing our history, including Durham band The Beast, who said, “It is so important to know your roots. If you don’t use the roadmap given to you, you can’t know where you’re going. We must use the roadmap so we never forget where we came from and to improve the way ahead.”

    This year’s awards recognized junior historians for their outstanding projects, which featured a wide variety of historical significance of people, places, and events in their own communities and across our state. From artifacts to visual arts, photography, creative writing, and more, there is plenty to learn from in this year’s student projects.

    “As the Tar Heel Junior Historian Association, we believe that students can contribute to knowledge of North Carolina history. And it’s true. I learn new things about North Carolina history each year from the students’ projects. From local conservation efforts that saved the bluebird to the story of local students who operated a printing press, it really illustrates that kids can be great historians, too,” said Jessica Pratt, Curator of Education Outreach and THJHA Program Coordinator at the North Carolina Museum of History.

    All winning projects are showcased in the exhibit History in Every Direction: Tar Heel Junior Historian Association Discovery Gallery, now open to museum visitors.

    Authorized by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1953, the Tar Heel Junior Historian Association is sponsored by the North Carolina Museum of History, part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The association is made up of a network of free clubs across the state, with members in grades 4 to 12.

    Clubs may be sponsored by public, private or home schools, or by other organizations such as museums and historical societies, 4-H groups, Boy Scouts, or Girl Scouts. Clubs can be any size, from one student and one adviser to hundreds of students and several advisers.

    Clubs must renew their membership each school year, and new clubs can join at any time using an online application at tarheeljuniorhistorians.org.

  • Small BusinessCumberland County Government will reopen the application period for its Small Business Economic Assistance Program from July 1 to July 31 to allow for additional small businesses to apply for assistance.

    The announcement comes along with the Board of Commissioners’ approval on June 19 of a revised Small Business Economic Assistance Policy in light of the U.S. Treasury’s Final Rule on the American Rescue Plan, which was released in April 2022.

    The revised policy includes modifications with implications for the county’s Small Business Economic Assistance Program, including revised eligibility criteria, updated funding allocation guidelines, and revised reporting requirements.

    The Cumberland County Small Business Economic Assistance Program allows small for-profit businesses that faced economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic to apply for up to $50,000 in financial assistance.

    For the purpose of this program, small businesses are defined as having no more than 250 employees (including the owner) at the time of application submission.

    Assistance may be provided to reimburse the small business for qualifying expenses related to:

    • Payroll, which includes wages and associated payroll taxes; and
    • Occupancy, which includes rental lease payments, mortgage (for business property) as well as utilities.

    The application and revised policy is available on the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners’ American Rescue Plan website at cumberlandcountync.gov/arp-small-business

    The website also includes a link to a virtual information session with county staff, which will provide more information about the program, including a question-and-answer period.

    Anyone with questions should contact the county’s American Rescue Plan team at arpsmb@cumberlandcountync.gov. For more information on the ARP Committee and Cumberland County’s ARP programs, visit cumberlandcountync.gov/arp.

  • Pitt turtlesToday we are going to learn how the universe is arranged. It is too complicated to explain the goings-on between Putin and Prigozhin in Mother Russia. Russia’s current situation is, to quote Winston Churchill, “a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.”

    Instead we will review how the Cosmos is organized. There are a number of colorful theories about the origin and structure of the universe and Earth’s place therein. You are invited to choose the theory you like best.

    The Big Bang Theory is the one that Mr. Science chooses to believe. Under this concept, once upon a time 13.8 billion years ago there was an original atom who we will call Miss Kitty. She is not to be confused with Marshal Matt Dillon’s friend who ran the Long Branch Saloon in Gunsmoke. For reasons, even Mr. Science does not understand, one day the cosmic Ms. Kitty blew up and spewed out the entire universe, planets, stars, dark matter and the Dook basketball team.

    There are two versions of the Big Bang Theory, neither of which is particularly encouraging. Under the Inflationary Big Bang theory the universe will keep expanding forever until every star and planet is alone in a vast dark void. Not even the Federal Reserve raising interest rates will be able to stop the cosmic inflationary spiral into nothingness.

    The other version is the Big Crunch theory which holds that at some point after the Big Bang, the universe will stop expanding like a rubber band being pulled by a three year old kid. Then, like a rubber band, the universe will snap back into its original location. This will squash everything in the universe into a Mega Black Hole which will once again explode into a new Big Bang. Nothing will be left from our universe after the Big Crunch but Twinkies, cockroaches, and Keith Richards.

    There are a number of other scientific theories about the universe worth mentioning in passing. The Geocentric theory held that the Earth is the center of the universe with the stars rotating around us. Our old buddy Ptolemy came up with this theory in 2nd century AD. It was pretty much the standard theory until an astronomer named Copernicus came up with his heliocentric theory which said the Earth revolved around the sun. Galileo sided with this theory and got into big trouble with the Pope’s Inquisition in 1615.

    The Earth got downgraded again in 1785 when a smart aleck astronomer named William Herschel came up with the Galactocentric theory that our very own sun was the center of the Milky Way galaxy. Not only was the Earth not the center of the universe, it wasn’t even the center of its own solar system, much less its galaxy. Now we know how Pluto felt when it got downgraded from being a planet in 2006.

    The ancient Egyptians’ theory was that in the beginning, the universe was just a big wet puddle of nothing with the Sun God, a dude named Atum sleeping in it while floating around. One day Atum woke up and created an island because he could. Atum stood on the island and began creating the universe by inventing gods and goddesses. When he got tired of creating theological beings, he created humans to amuse himself. The rest is history.

    One of my favorite theories is the Turtles all the way down proposition. A western traveler we will call Fred was in Asia. Fred met an Asian philosopher there. Fred asked what is the nature of the world?

    The philosopher told him that the Earth is “A great ball resting on the flat back of the world turtle.” Fred asked “What is the world turtle standing on?” The philosopher explained that it is “Turtles all the way down.” That is a lot of turtles. It is unclear what the bottom turtle is standing upon. Like in 1950’s horror movies, “There are some things man should not know.”

    I have saved the best cosmic possibility for last. Welcome the Flat Earth Theory. Flat Earthers believe the Earth is flat like a big Frisbee. No globalism for them. A poll in 2017 found that 1% of Americans believe the Earth is flat. While that does not sound like much, America’s population is about 332 million. That means over 300,000 Americans believe the Earth is flat.

    The most popular Flat Earth theory holds that the Artic Circle is in the middle of the Earth. Antarctica is a circular ring around the outside of the Flat Earth Disk with a wall of ice about 150 feet tall.

    Employees of NASA are stationed all along the outer ring of the ice wall to keep civilians from finding out the Earth is flat and to keep them from falling off to where the turtles holding up the Earth might eat them.

    You are now free to pick out the cosmic theory that suits you, just as you are able to pick out the news silo that suits your political leanings. Have a celestial day.

  • Margaret Dickson 2Happy birthday to us!

    Birthdays can be wonderful celebrations for families and friends, and lots of us are having lots of them! In fact, we the American people are having so many birthdays, we are now older than we have ever been.

    Our median age in 2022 was a record-breaking 38.9 years old, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released last month. And while the graying of nations is an international phenomenon, we remain younger than many European nations that have a median age of 44.

    Japan is the oldest industrialized nation with a median age of nearly 49 years, while tiny Monaco has the world’s oldest population at a median age of 55.4.

    Many Americans, including this writer, look at 39 as relatively young, but in demographic terms, we have become much older relatively quickly.

    Our median age in 1980 was 30, in 2000 it was 35, and now it is almost 39. Cumberland County is a bit of an outlier with a much younger median age of 31.4 years, in part because of the young people and young families stationed here in military service.

    Compare that to our neighbors in Bladen and Sampson Counties, with median ages above the national average at 44.8 and 40.3 respectively.

    So what does this graying of America mean? Firstly, it is all about numbers and trends. And once trends have begun, they play themselves out, meaning that because our birth rate has fallen 20% since the Great Recession of the late 2000s, there are simply fewer babies to bring down the median age.

    American millennials, as well as those in other industrialized nations, have put education and career before starting families. Some research also suggests that many of them will not have children for various reasons, including fear of the future, environmental concerns, toxic politics, and fertility issues.

    In other words, another trend can emerge if our birth rate increases, but the current one will continue.

    In addition, as the United States continues to gray, we are also becoming a more diverse nation. So far this decade, our Asian population has grown the most, followed by our Hispanic population, followed by Blacks, then whites. Southern and Western states are growing rapidly through both births and migration from other states and nations.

    The scary part is that many — soon to be most — older Americans are no longer working and paying taxes on their wages, shifting that burden to younger and fewer Americans who are building careers. Will they be willing and able to pay for the social programs, primarily Social Security and Medicare, needed and expected by the millions of Baby Boomers now retiring in droves and even as their life spans continue to increase?

    Economists have been pondering this situation for decades, and the rubber is now hitting the road. The United States confronts questions about the allocation of precious public resources among generations.

    Other nations, some with much more robust social programs, face similar dilemmas. The World Bank suggests several strategies to address the consequences of an aging population. These include improving educational quality at all levels to generate a more productive workforce, encouraging women and seniors to remain in the workforce, increasing savings at all levels — federal, state, local and personal, and supporting innovation and emerging technology.

    And, lest you think the aging of America is not a pressing issue, ponder this. The U.S. Census Bureau says people 65 and over will outnumber Americans under 18 by 2034.

    That is a mere 11 years away.

  • Hudson 1Six months ago, our community was attacked.

    Two substations in Moore County were intentionally attacked on the evening of Dec. 3, leaving my house and 45,000 of our neighbors without power for up to 10 days.

    In the aftermath of the attack, hospitals were impacted threatening medical treatments, schools were shut down, businesses were affected, stop lights were dark, gas stations were closed, cell signals were impacted, and water couldn’t be heated.

    An attack like this could have devastated our community and we didn’t go without our struggles. But overall, I am so proud of our resilient response. In the days that followed, residents truly showed the best of Moore County and the best of America.

    Throughout our region, churches, small businesses, restaurants, police and fire departments, local governments, and individuals stepped up to help their neighbors and showed the true strength of the community. It was inspiring to see everyone come together in our time of need.

    I also thank Sheriff Ronnie Fields and our local law enforcement for their quick response during those dark days and for their ongoing investigations to determine who is responsible for December’s attack.

    We must hold those responsible for this act accountable and I will continue to support law enforcement as they conduct their investigation.

    Since the attack occurred, I have been in listening mode. I have heard from constituents, grid operators, community developers, the FBI and law enforcement, and business owners who have concerns with our grid’s security and resilience — all against the backdrop of historic energy costs.

    As your neighbor, I share these concerns with you. And a similar, yet thankfully unsuccessful, attack in Randolph County several months ago underscores the need to address this issue.

    That’s why I brought my colleagues from Congress to Moore County for a House Energy and Commerce Committee field hearing. I took my colleagues to the site of one of the attacks so they could understand the substation involved.

    I introduced them to the community and people who were impacted by the attack. Just as I promised back in December, I brought Washington here and put real faces to the issues that rocked our community.

    Before the hearing, we stopped at the Duke Energy West End substation, one of the two substations in Moore County that was intentionally attacked. At the field hearing, experts from Duke Energy, NC Emergency Management, NC State University, and energy security shared their testimony on the current state of our grid security and resilience and how we move forward from these attacks.

    There are 45,000 stories of why Moore County — and our nation — needs greater grid resilience, and my colleagues and I welcome these testimonies and your feedback in order to help do our jobs effectively.

    This field hearing was the first of many our committee will hold in our efforts to improve the security and resiliency of our nation’s energy grid. It was important to me that the first hearing be where the attack happened, and this is only the beginning of our investigations.

    Being your voice in Congress is a responsibility I take extremely seriously and I will continue to make sure Washington pays attention to the concerns and needs of you and your family.

    It is an honor to represent you and the best of our community — which always shines bright, even in the dark.

  • Pub Pen 1The newly installed president of the Greater Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce, Nat Robertson, is wasting no time setting the course to make the “New” Fayetteville Chamber a tour de force advocacy for business in the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community.

    Hitting the ground running, Robertson is revamping and overhauling Chamber programs to create more value for its members. He is developing new policies, streamlining operating procedures, and hiring competent staff who embrace the organization’s mission and have the skill sets and work ethic to create, implement and execute effective value-added programs for Chamber members.

    In just weeks, the Chamber will relocate its Ray Avenue office to Bronco Square at 1047 Murchison Road, Suite 120, across from Fayetteville State University, putting Robertson on the fast track to turning the Chamber of Commerce into a relevant organization that supports local businesses by taking an active role in their success.

    Vibrant businesses and healthy economic growth foster a vibrant city. Being the former Mayor of Fayetteville, Robertson knows the importance of competent and trustworthy leadership. He also understands that the Chamber of Commerce must actively recognize and nurture such leadership. This is why Robertson’s latest innovative program exemplifies its high priority on well-informed leadership.

    That program is the Greater Fayetteville Chamber’s first Candidates Academy on July 29. For one day, the Chamber invites everyone seeking an elected office in Fayetteville to attend a free pre-election program to get “up close and personal” insights into the city’s operation, making them better-informed candidates.

    Robertson has assembled an impressive and diverse faculty of a dozen local business, political and community leaders who will share their experience and knowledge of city government concepts and inner workings, including the realities of policymaking.

    The topics being covered are as diverse as the facility itself. They include The Downtown District, City Wants vs. Needs, Economic Development, Public Utilities, Arts & Culture, Crime and Safety, and other topics that are vitally important to enhancing our quality of life and assuring that Fayetteville lives up to its reputation as an All America City.

    According to Robertson, “I believe by educating the candidates before taking office, we have a better opportunity of them understanding exactly what we do, and why. Often after taking office, the candidate’s perspective changes … if we can have an honest exchange prior to that time, it may be beneficial for all the residents of Fayetteville.”

    The Chamber will invite all the candidates filing for a municipal office in Fayetteville. Based on attendance, they may open it up to other Cumberland County municipalities if room allows.

    The Chamber of Commerce will later host the Fayetteville Candidates Forum on Oct. 17. Many topics covered during the Academy will be presented as questions during the Forum.

    Up & Coming Weekly supports and applauds Robertson’s efforts and the Chamber’s new, refreshing, long-overdue outlook on Fayetteville.

    We desperately need competent leadership to move Fayetteville forward. For nearly a decade, our city has suffered from a deficit of municipal leadership plagued with ignorance, incompetence and many suspicious allegations of corruption.

    Robertson’s commitment to the community and innovative programs like the Candidates Academy is what Fayetteville needs to attract and develop competent leadership, new businesses, and organizations to the Chamber of Commerce.

    Keep your eye on Robertson and the “New” Greater Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce. Fayetteville and Cumberland County need a strong Chamber and competent leadership for a prosperous future. No doubt, we are moving in the right direction.

    Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • Cumberlan Co logo Cumberland County Manager Amy Cannon on Monday, Aug. 1 again is expected to propose the creation of additional water and sewer districts during a meeting of the county Board of Commissioners.

    The board meets at 9 a.m. in Room 118 of the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse.
    Cannon's proposal to create two more water and sewer districts is in response to an increase in contaminated drinking water wells as a result of chemical air and water discharges from the Chemours chemical plant on N.C. 87 on the Cumberland/Bladen County line.

    The Board of Commissioners was expected to consider Cannon's proposal during a July 18 special called meeting. However, Chairman Glenn Adams adjourned the meeting because the group did not have a quorum. The board in June said it did not plan to meet in July. Adams said after the special called meeting that he was not aware that most board members were going to be absent.

    Cannon is expected to propose creating a water and sewer district in the Cedar Creek and east central portions of Cumberland County. The proposed districts would join the Vander and Gray's Creek water and sewer districts created to provide countywide water and sewer service eventually.

    Additionally, the county manager is expected to ask board members to adopt resolutions giving county staff the authority to apply for grants from state and federal agencies for water feasibility studies.

    Currently, the county Public Utility Department is working with an engineering design firm for the first phase toward extending public water to Gray's Creek and Alderman Road elementary schools.
    The Public Utility Department plans to apply for fall 2022 funding with the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality's Division of Water Infrastructure funding.

    But before the county can proceed, Cannon is asking the board to adopt several resolutions, among them are adopting the county's Code of Ethics, the county's Minority/Disadvantaged Business Contracting Goals, and authorizing her and the chairman to execute those documents.

    After the presentation, Cannon is expected to ask the board to consider creating the two new districts, hold a public hearing on Aug. 15 to get comments on the creation of the water districts and have all the necessary board-adopted resolutions in place to meet the Sept. 30 fall funding deadline for grant applications.

    The board also is expected to hold a public hearing on helping Cargill Inc. acquire $27 million in revenue bonds so it can build and install a solid waste disposal system at its Fayetteville soybean processing plant.
    On July 28, the Cumberland County Industrial Facilities and Pollution Control Financing Authority approved issuing the revenue bonds in an amount not to exceed $27 million.

    The seven-member Cumberland County Industrial Facilities and Pollution Control Financing Authority's function is to help issue revenue bonds for paying all or any part of the cost of industrial or pollution control projects.

    The Financing Authority also helps to finance industrial and manufacturing facilities to alleviate unemployment or raise below-average wages, helps to finance pollution control facilities for industry, and conducts other activities appropriate to its stated legal objectives.
    Although the Financing Authority approved issuing the revenue bonds, its actions do not create a liability or cost to the county. The Internal Revenue Code requires the board to hold a public hearing and render its decision after considering the comments.

  • 03 Market House in Fayetteville NC The Fayetteville City Council on Monday, Aug. 1 is expected to receive an update on the proposed repurposing of the Market House. The council meets at 5 p.m. at City Hall.

    The Market House has been a divisive issue for years, mainly because of its history of slaves being sold there.

    Some people in the community have called for it to be torn down while others have suggested it be moved. The City Council has decided to repurpose the structure.

    The Market House Repurposing Group was formed in late January 2021. The city worked with the U.S. Department of Justice, which held meetings to gather input on how the structure could be repurposed.

    In March, after hearing a report from the Department of Justice, the council voted to hear from more residents, and not just a select group, before making a decision on how to designate a true purpose for the building.

    The report from the Department of Justice came together after the department worked with 80 people — in what was described as a diverse group from different walks of life — during two sessions in October and January to glean opinions for repurposing the Market House.

    Several options were identified. They included educational or themed events at the Market House; expanding the base and alleviating the multiple traffic lanes; using the space for vendor events; and using it as a place where diverse artisans could display their work.

    When the groups were asked to develop solutions to the proposals, they suggested involving various groups in the community, including Fayetteville State University, Methodist University, the Fayetteville History Museum, the Arts Council of Fayetteville-Cumberland County, as well as artists.

    The Fayetteville-Cumberland Human Relations Commission gathered additional community input on the proposed repurposing of the structure. It held meetings and created an online survey, according to background materials in the agenda packet.

    According to materials in the agenda packet, the top recommendations from those meetings include:
    Changing the language on the Market House plaque to reflect the involuntary nature of the enslaved.
    Using the four corners of Market Square to display rotating art exhibits by local artisans.

  • pexels Crime tape Two people have been charged in connection with a Wednesday morning, July 27, shooting that left a woman with life-threatening injuries.

    Officers responded to a report of a shooting just after 1:30 a.m. in the area of the 3300 block of Village Drive, police said in a release.

    A woman had been shot and was taken to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. Police said an “unknown type of disturbance’’ occurred before the shooting.

    Wednesday night police identified the woman as 44-year-old Angie Anderson of the 200 block of Eastwood Avenue.

    “Detectives have determined the victim was not known to the suspects,’’ police said in a release. “The attack on the victim was the result of the disturbance between the victim’s boyfriend and the suspects.’’

    Tyrece Kodjo, 19, of the 3000 block of Queen Anne Loop, was charged with attempted first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury and shooting into an occupied vehicle, police said in the release. He was arrested Wednesday and is in the Cumberland County Detention Center under no bond.

    Justin Simmons, 19, of the 3000 block of Armour Drive, was charged with accessory after the fact. He was arrested Wednesday and received a $50,000 unsecured bond, police said.

    Police said there was a report of shots fired in the area of Village Drive and Roxie Avenue prior to the reported shooting.

    Anderson’s vehicle, a red Ford Fusion, was stalled in the intersection of Village Drive and Roxie Avenue, police said. Her passenger was trying to help her. Multiple vehicles passed through the intersection during this time, police said.

    Anyone who has information about the shooting is asked to contact detective R. Vernon at 910-729-2525 or Crimestoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477).

  • N2008P18002H The Fayetteville City Council will undergo a considerable change next month with four new members joining five incumbents, according to unofficial results Tuesday.

    Three of those new council members – Mario Benavente in District 3, Deno Hondros in District 9 and Brenda McNair in District 7 – ousted incumbents in Tuesday’s municipal election, according to unofficial returns from the North Carolina State Board of Elections. The fourth, Derrick Thompson, was elected in District 6, where Councilman Chris Davis chose to run for a legislative seat.

    Mayor Mitch Colvin defeated his challenger to win another term, according to the unofficial returns.

    The mayor and the council members are set to be sworn in during an inauguration ceremony scheduled for 6 p.m. Aug. 11 at Seabrook Auditorium on the campus of Fayetteville State University. The event is open to the public.

    Meanwhile, there is the possibility of a recount in District 3 if Councilman Antonio Jones requests one and the lead in his race with Benavente remains as narrow as it is.

    Benavente edged Jones by six votes, 1,012 to 1,006, in the tightest race of the night.

    “At this point, we don’t know,” said Vicki Hilburn, who serves as administrative support with the Cumberland County Board of Elections. “That would be after the canvass (process) was done. Right now the margin could widen.”

    That’s because the absentee and provisional ballots will be added to Tuesday’s results during the scheduled Aug. 5 canvass to make unofficial wins official.

    "After all that's done," Hilburn said, “we can discuss that.”

    The canvass will be conducted at 11 a.m. at the Board of Elections, 227 Fountainhead Lane.

    Angie Amaro, interim director of the Board of Elections, said at this point Jones would be able to call for a recount. “But,” she noted, “everything is not final.”

    Jones, 48, is a pastor and a real estate agent. He said he plans to ask for a recount should Benavente's unofficial margin of victory remain like it is.

    For a non-statewide ballot item in North Carolina, a candidate has the right to request a recount if the difference between the votes for the candidate and the votes for a prevailing candidate is not more than 1% of the total votes cast, according to the state recount law.

    "I have my own personal set of ethics," Jones said. "I will not do those tactics, like send out lies and try to defame people. I saw the fliers. If it may have cost me, it's fine. I run a clean campaign. That does not move me. I'm not winning at any cost."

    In response, Benavente said, "We ran a grassroots campaign with a lot of first-time volunteers. Getting young people involved in the political process. We knocked on doors, we pounded the pavement, and we had real conversations with people. And that's the real big difference between our campaigns. I got to know my neighbors, we spent real hours out in the community, and I don't think the same can be said about my opponent."

    Amaro said a request for a recount must be made in writing. The Board of Elections must receive the written request by 5 p.m. on the first day of business following the canvass.

    She said that overall, election night went “very smooth.”

    Turnout in Fayetteville was 11.72% for this off-year election, with 14,833 residents voting out of 126,533 registered voters, Amaro said.

    A grassroots campaign

    Thompson, 60, and originally from Philadelphia, has lived in the Fayetteville area since retiring from the Army after 22 years of service in 2003. He also is a retired postal worker.

    He believes he won the District 6 seat by running a grassroots campaign. He also credited his involvement in the community.

    “Me being a president of the Rayconda Homeowners Association, being a former mailman and having collaborations with other community watch leaders in Arran Lakes, Hickory Grove, Ashbury and Woodland Village, we have the same issues," he said.

    Thompson said his main focus will be collaborating with communities in the district.

    “Every community in my district, I want to get to know you,” he said Wednesday. “To me, it’s about serving the people. My district and my city.”

    The new council will need to come together, as well, he said, when asked how he thought the new members will get along.

    “We need to collaborate together so when we walk out of a planning session, we’re all in one accord,’’ Thompson said. “We stand together or we will all fall.”

    Thompson said he will bring new ideas, an incentive to do hard work, transparency and a willingness to work with others.

    “I’m anxious,” he said. “I’m ready.”

    ‘I want to be a winner’

    McNair, who is 61 and from Hoke County, has called Fayetteville home for 22 years.

    She’s an entrepreneur, having established four beauty salons, a bail bonding business, an HVAC company that does repair work and a landscaping company for her son. McNair also has purchased real estate over the years.

    What did she think led her to victory over District 7 Councilman Wright, who has served four terms on the council?

    “Well, I don’t think I put a whole lot of thought into that,” she said. “I think my strength was with the idea of winning. I’m the type of person, once I start something, I have to finish it, and I have to be at the top. I want to be the winner; I don’t like to lose.

    “I’m very passionate about becoming a city councilman because I have a heart for people, and bringing change and bringing it to the next level,” she said. “I don’t like being stagnant. I don’t like poverty. I grew up in that. My mom and dad struggled, raising six kids. … I was always the one who was a trailblazer.”

    Once she is sworn into office, McNair said she would like to hold a town hall meeting so she can touch base with her District 7 constituents.

    “Because they’re really counting on me,” she said. “I’ve had several calls already. Requests from individuals who are heartbroken and feel they’ve been left out.”

    The newcomers and the incumbents on the City Council have different goals and have set standards, she said.

    “I do believe people coming in now have certain standards,’’ McNair said. “We have to learn each other’s personalities and learn to respect each other. Everybody brings something good to the table.”

    McNair said she likes unity and believes she can apply her common sense.

    “I have the ability to tear down things that are not good and rebuild to a place where it’s good,” she said. “Where it’s functional on a different level. Where everybody will be satisfied. I have very high standards.”

    First-generation American

    Benavente, 32, was born in Korea to a military family. When he was about a year old, the family moved from Fort Bragg to Fayetteville.

    He's a first-generation American, he said, whose father immigrated from Peru and his mother from Korea.

    Benavente felt that his win was due to his working in the Deep Creek community in a variety of capacities since he graduated from undergraduate college. When he returned to Fayetteville about five or six years ago, one of the first things he said he did was go back to his alma mater —E.E. Smith High School. He said he asked, what can I do for my high school?

    "And we started the college bound community, where I would come in once a week and work with students to help them," Benavente said. "To fill out college applications. To fill out college scholarship application essays. It went from there. I got to know the alumni association; I worked on the scholarship community. I'm now the vice chair of the board of directors for E.E. Smith.

    "That's not something that they handed me," he said. "It's something that I earned — the trust of the association, very well established with community leaders. So folks got to know me over this time doing real work for the community. So when I made the shift to try to represent them as a City Council member, it was a logical progression. I had already been doing the work, and now I want to be able to do even more."

    Benavente said that when he joins the council, he intends to continue his efforts on behalf of community members to push for a civilian review board that would provide civilian oversight when police misconduct occurs within the Fayetteville Police Department.

    "I think that's going to be the very first priority for me once I'm on council," he said. "That's exactly what we need to make sure we're improving public safety in the right way."

    Benavente said he has gotten to know most of the council members by attending council meetings and work sessions over the years.

    "So I'm confident of the working relationship that I will have with them," he said. "We'll be hitting the ground running. When it comes to some of the newer faces, we certainly got to know each other in early voting polling locations and seeing the kind of dedication and time that they're willing to invest in serving the community. It tells me that we all want to make Fayetteville a better place. I am looking to move the city forward."

    ‘A true group effort’

    Hondros, 45, is a Fayetteville native who graduated from Terry Sanford High School and Fayetteville Technical Community College. He started in the restaurant business but has worked as a commercial real estate broker for 23 years.

    He credited his victory over incumbent Yvonne Kinston in District 9 to God, his wife, Liza, his son, James, and his campaign team.

    "It was a true group effort," Hondros said.

    He plans to stay true to his campaign platform, focusing on public safety and city infrastructure. Hondros previously served on the Fayetteville Stormwater Advisory Board.

    "Loss of life or potential loss of property — there are a number of things going into public safety to make the community safer," he said. "Workforce housing: I believe that everyone should be afforded the opportunity to live where they labor."

    According to Hondros, Fayetteville is roughly 20,000 units short when it comes to workforce and affordable housing.

    "That's definitely something we can improve upon," he said. "We need to invest resources in doing that" while collaborating with public/private partnerships and land trusts.

    The new City Council will have its own makeup and focus, he said, calling it "a new character."

    Hondros said he intends to apply the standards that he uses in the real estate business.

    "We pledge to ethically represent our clients. Not discriminate. Treat everyone the same," he said. "We pledge to work together and come to a resolution on a daily basis. These are things I think transfer from client to constituent."

  • Deno Hondros Political newcomer Deno Hondros defeated first-term Councilwoman Yvonne Kinston on Tuesday for the District 9 seat on the Fayetteville City Council, according to unofficial returns.

    Hondros received 911 votes; Kinston received 804, according to unofficial returns with the North Carolina State Board of Elections.

    Hondros, 45, is a commercial real estate broker. He could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday night.

    Kinston, 53, was first elected to the City Council in 2019. She is a sales and service agent for AT&T and executive vice president of the 530-member Communications Workers of America Local 3680 branch.

    “I am proud of the race I ran. I’m proud of the work that has been accomplished,’’ she said Tuesday night.

    Kinston said she called Hondros to congratulate him.

    During the campaign, both candidates said transparency and public safety were among their top issues.

    Kinston said that when she was elected to the council there were things that she wanted to accomplish. “And I think we’ve done that,’’ she said.

    When asked if she might consider running for the seat again, she said: “I’m going to take a pause on that and we’ll see.’’

    She said she may find other ways to serve the community.

    “You ain’t seen the last of Yvonne Y. Kinston,’’ she said.

  • Courtney Banks McLaughlin Freshman City Councilwoman Courtney Banks-McLaughlin will return for a second term representing District 8, according to unofficial election returns.
    A strong advocate for the homeless, the 37-year-old received 748 votes, or 79% of those cast, according to unofficial returns reported Tuesday by the N.C. State Board of Elections. Downtown businessman Michael Pinkston had 196 votes.

    Canvassing of unofficial returns is scheduled for 11 a.m. Aug. 5 by the Cumberland County Board of Elections to certify the results, according to Angie Amaro, interim director of the board.

    The mother of five and wife of a former 82nd Airborne Division soldier, Banks-McLaughlin did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday evening.
    Banks-McLaughlin has said she opposes the city funding $7.5 million for the proposed $80 million N.C. Civil War & Reconstruction History Center. She also has said she opposes an initiative to restructure the way City Council members are elected, changing from nine single-member districts to five single-member districts and four at-large council members.

    Pinkston said he was surprised by Tuesday’s election result.

    “I spent more than $30,000,” said the retired Army veteran. “It’s almost inconceivable. I lost 10 pounds walking and meeting people. I sent 17,000 mailers three times. … All the pieces seemed to be falling into place.”

    Pinkston, 70, said he thinks “the election was very clean.”

    “We didn’t spar. There was no mudslinging, …” he said. “But the election is done, and it is what it is. The voters spoke, and they chose Courtney.”

    Pinkston has said that crime was an important issue for the city and called for the removal of Police Chief Gina Hawkins, who has announced her plans to retire.

    District 8 includes the neighborhoods of Cliffdale Estates, Fairfield, Four Seasons, Hammond Hill on Fort Bragg, Kings Mill, LaGrange, Middle Creek, Parkers Ridge and Westpoint.

  • Brenda McNair Political newcomer Brenda McNair on Tuesday upset incumbent Larry O. Wright Sr. for the District 7 seat on the Fayetteville City Council, according to unofficial returns.

    McNair received 679 votes compared with Wright’s 656, according to unofficial results from the N.C. State Board of Elections.
    Wright was first elected to the City Council in 2013.

    This was the first time McNair had run for office. She ran on a platform of change and envisioned becoming more of an advocate for the people.
    Wright and McNair are both ordained ministers. Wright is head of Heal the Land Outreach Ministries. McNair owns several businesses.
    Wright said he doesn't feel bad about losing per se, because, “when one door closes, one door opens.”

    “We congratulate the winners and hope they are successful in their endeavors on City Council and their efforts to help move the city forward,” Wright said.

    Wright said he plans to continue to serve the community.

    “That was my goal from the very beginning of my tenure was to make Fayetteville a better place,’’ he said. “We are still going to work with our community.

    That's what we did before we became a city councilman and that’s what we will continue to do as a pastor and a minister in outreach.”

    “We will look for opportunities to serve,” he said.
    McNair said she faced roadblocks from the mayor and some members of the council who supported Wright. But she said many residents came out to say they were ready for a change.

    “There was so much support from people coming out of nowhere that I have never heard of before,’’ she said. “People reached out to me and volunteered to help.”

    McNair said she couldn’t have done it without that support.

    “I want to thank God because this was really tough for me,’’ McNair said. “It was my first time running and it couldn’t have been done without him. I want to thank my team and the citizens for coming out and voting for me and believing in me.’’

    She said she’s “ready to take this city to the next level.’’

  • Derrick Thompson Derrick Thompson defeated business owner Peter Pappas in Tuesday’s municipal election, according to unofficial returns.

    Thompson received 962 votes and Pappas received 619 votes, according to unofficial results from the N.C. State Board of Elections.
    Thompson and Pappas were running for the seat vacated by Christopher Davis, a one-term councilman who ran for the Democratic nomination for the N.C. House District 45 seat. Davis lost in the primary.

    Thompson, 60, an Army veteran, moved to Fayetteville in 2003. He is retired from the Postal Service.

    “I am just thankful, appreciative and humbled tonight,” he said Tuesday.

    Thompson said being on the City Council will be an opportunity to serve the city on a larger scale.

    “I will continue to serve my district, my neighborhood and my community. It’s what I’ve done for the last 19 years since I’ve been in Fayetteville, including the last five years as president of my neighborhood HOA and on the board for the last 13 years.”

    Thompson also applauded Pappas for running a clean and respectful campaign.
    Pappas, 44, has owned and operated Baldinos Restaurants for 24 years and is a commercial real estate broker.

    “I appreciate the residents who came out to support me and even the ones who voted for my opponent,” Pappas said Tuesday. “We need that involvement in our community. It’s important that we are all involved.”

    Pappas said he will continue to be engaged in the community and encourage participation from others.

    “This has been a very exciting and rewarding journey, and I look forward to more,” said Pappas.

  • Johnny Dawkins Incumbent Fayetteville City Councilman Johnny Dawkins handily defeated political newcomer Fred G. LaChance on Tuesday in the election for the District 5 seat on the council, according to unofficial results.

    “We’re keyed up,” Dawkins said Tuesday night. “I’m not going to be able to sleep for a while. It’s an exciting time.”
    This would mark Dawkins’ fourth term in office.

    Dawkins received 1,643 votes and LaChance received 750, according to unofficial results from the N.C. State Board of Elections.
    Dawkins, 63, has been a member of the City Council since 2017 and is a former chairman of the Greater Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce. He also served on the City Council from 2003 to 2005.

    Dawkins, a health insurance and Medicare benefits consultant, campaigned on the issues of public safety, economic development and improving stormwater infrastructure.

    Dawkins said he’s been in politics with his father, former Mayor J.L. Dawkins, since 1975.

    “We got started early, No. 1; started working on the campaign in March 2021,” he said. “Then the pandemic and census delayed everything. Our team has been working and talking to constituents and listening to their concerns for almost a year and a half. I think being willing to work hard and be willing to listen is what matters with our citizens. My focus has been public safety and improving stormwater infrastructure. Our citizens care about our stormwater and infrastructure and good jobs.”

    LaChance owns an antiques store on Bragg Boulevard. This marked the first time the 70-year-old Navy veteran has run for public office

    “I would have liked to have seen a better turnout,” LaChance said. “We’ve got 12,000-plus voters in the district, and a little over 2,000 turned out. That’s just not good. But it is what it is. I think, personally, it’s the name (recognition for Dawkins). … I congratulate him. … I gave it a shot.”

  • DJ Haire D.J. Haire will be one of the longest-serving members of the Fayetteville City Council after easily turning back challenger Thomas C. Greene on Tuesday for the District 4 seat, according to unofficial returns.

    The 63-yer-old veteran councilman received 1,232 votes and Greene, 50, had 237, according to unofficial returns from the N.C. State Board of Elections.
    Canvassing of unofficial returns is scheduled for 11 a.m. Aug. 5 by the Cumberland County Board of Elections to certify results, according to Angie Amaro, interim director of the board.

    “I thank the Lord for my wife, family and team,” said Haire, who is self-employed in real estate. “We put it all in. I thank the Lord for the residents of District 4. We’ve worked great together.’’

    He will be starting an 11th term on the council. He was first sworn into office on Dec. 1, 1997, and remained in office until November 2013. He stepped away from the council for two terms before winning the district seat in 2017 and winning reelection since.

    “It just means citizens from every precinct are giving you the thumbs up. It means people hear you and see you,’’ he said.

    “They build a trust, and I think that goes a long ways,” Haire said. “I’m always telling new people coming along that you have to build trust.”

    Greene is an Army veteran, bails bondsman and member of the local chapter of the Proud Boys, a nationwide activist organization linked to far-right and white nationalist political causes. At least five members of the Proud Boys were indicted on seditious conspiracy charges in the Jan. 6, 2021, storming of the U.S. Capitol. Greene says he was not in Washington that day.

    Greene told CityViewToday he does not support the organization’s participation at the U.S. Capitol.
    He believes in term limits for council members and said in his campaign that Haire has served too long, but Greene was gracious in defeat.

    “I’d like to congratulate D.J. Haire on his win,” Greene said. “I learned a lot. This was a big learning curve for me. I learned about local politics. Hopefully, we will improve on public safety, our police can be more active and we can hope for a better environment and standard of living for people.”

    Council members and the mayor are scheduled to be sworn in at 6 p.m. on Aug. 11 in Seabrook Auditorium at Fayetteville State University.

  • Benavente Headshot Challenger Mario Benavente edged incumbent Antonio Jones by six votes on Tuesday in the election to represent District 3 on the Fayetteville City Council, unofficial returns show.

    Benavente received 1,012 votes to 1,006 for Jones, according to unofficial results from the N.C. State Board of Elections.

    The count, which was reported about 9:15 p.m., showed that there were 10 write-in votes that could have changed the outcome.
    Benavente said public safety and the search for a new police chief will be his priorities. He said his training as a lawyer and in law enforcement will guide him in helping find a new chief.

    “I look forward to learning about not just their experience in years but something that they can point (to) in the last department they were in,” he said Tuesday night. “Someone who is not just good on paper but on what they accomplished.”

    “I’m very proud of my team,” said Benavente. “I was able to go out into the district and knock on doors and hear about constituents’ concerns. I look forward to being a zealous advocate for them.”

    Jones has held the seat since December, when the City Council appointed him to fill out the term of Councilwoman Tisha Waddell, who resigned. Jones and Benavente were finalists for the appointment, and Jones won a second-round vote 6-3.

    Benavente, 32, is a community organizer and legal professional. This would be his first elected office.
    Jones, 48, is a broker and military relocation agent with the family-owned Jones Realty. He also is a pastor at Temple of Faith Church.

    He could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.

    District 3 includes parts of Fort Bragg and the neighborhoods of Cottonade, Country Club North, Hillendale, Hillendale West, Kornbow, North Hills, Tiffany Pines, University Estates, University Hills, and parts of Pondero

  • Shakeyla Ingram City Councilwoman Shakeyla Ingram, running for her second term in office, held off former Councilman Tyrone Williams in Tuesday’s election for the District 2 seat on the Fayetteville City Council, according to unofficial results.

    Ingram received 749 votes and Williams received 653, according to unofficial results from the N.C. State Board of Elections.

    There were 144 write-in votes, according to the state tally.
    Ingram said Tuesday night that she does not know what the difference in the race was.

    “But what I do know is I went in this race saying I would focus on this race and this race only. I stayed true to that,” she said. “I served in the pandemic and social unrest in my term. Maybe that was what it was. I’m grateful through it all. …

    “It was in the voters’ hands, and I understood that,” she added. “The voters stated what they wanted.”

    Both candidates grew up living in the district.

    Ingram, 31, works in marketing and community relations

    Williams, 53, was a member of the City Council in 2018 for a partial term. He resigned roughly two months after allegations emerged that he tried to solicit money from a developer. At the time he left office, Williams blamed local media for false accusations. Williams also blamed his former wife for falsely accusing him of molesting a 10-year-old boy.

    On Oct. 21, 2019, court records show, Williams entered into a conditional discharge on a charge of assault on a child under 12, a misdemeanor, and received 30 months of unsupervised probation, which came with specific conditions he was ordered to follow if he were to have the charges later dismissed.

    Cumberland County Court records show that Williams did not meet those conditions.

    On April 4 of this year, a judge revoked the conditional discharge and Williams was convicted on a misdemeanor charge of assault on a child under age 12. He was sentenced to 60 days suspended for 12 months and placed on supervised probation, according to court records.
    Williams is a real estate developer and Navy veteran. He could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday night.

  • Kathy Jensen Kathy Jensen will serve her fifth term on the Fayetteville City Council after defeating Alex Rodriguez on Tuesday in the race for the District 1 seat, according to unofficial returns.

    Jensen, 57, received 807 votes to the 561 that Rodriguez received, according to unofficial results from the North Carolina State Board of Elections.

    “I look forward to serving our city for the next year and a half,’’ Jensen said. “This gives me great opportunity to finish working on the parks and recreation bond and to bring more jobs into our city.”

    Moments after hearing the election results, Jensen was humbled, thanking her family, friends and everyone who has supported her over the last eight years.

    Born and raised in Fayetteville, Jensen, her husband, Jerry, and their four children live in North Fayetteville, where she owns An Affair to Remember, a small business featuring prom, pageant and formal wear on Ramsey Street.

    Rodriguez, 48, is a retired Army officer and former police officer. He said he ran for office because he sees Fayetteville heading in the wrong direction with crime, pollution and economic development.

    “I closed the gap on the primary from 29% to 36%, but I am a little disappointed with the results,’’ he said. “Fayetteville isn’t ready for change.’’

    He said part of the challenge was along political party lines.

    “I’m proud of the effort that I put into this and look forward to seeing what happens next,’’ Rodriguez said. “I wish it had been different, but this is a very blue city and getting bluer by the day.”

    Rodriguez said he was undecided if he would run again, but applauded the race as being a good one.

  • Mayor COlvin Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin easily won re-election Tuesday, complete but unofficial election returns show.

    Colvin, who was first elected mayor in 2017, defeated political newcomer Freddie de la Cruz. Colvin received 9,253 votes – or 62.74% of the total cast – compared with 5,452 votes for de la Cruz – or 36.97%.

    Colvin could not immediately be reached for comment. This will be his third term as mayor. He served on the City Council for two terms, including a stint as mayor pro tem, before first being elected mayor in 2017. De la Cruz served 32 years in the Army.

    After it became apparent that Colvin had won, de la Cruz expressed disappointment, not so much that he had lost, but that so few voters went to the polls. Figures from the North Carolina State Board of Elections show that only 11.72% (14,833) of the city’s 126,533 registered voters cast ballots in the City Council election.

    “The biggest thing is look, I gave the citizens of Fayetteville an opportunity to make a change, and they stayed home. That's the message. That's my message,” de la Cruz said.

    Although Fayetteville’s voter turnout was only 11.72%, the turnout for the Charlotte City Council race was almost as low, at 12%. Greensboro saw a 16% turnout.

    De la Cruz said he plans to regroup, continue to operate his businesses – Venus Vogue Weddings and Formals and Fayetteville Limousine Service – and take a vacation with his wife before beginning another run as a mayoral candidate. He said he will take a look back at his campaign and see what he can do better next time.

    During their election campaigns, Colvin and de la Cruz placed a high emphasis on improving public safety, as well as other quality-of-life issues, such as affordable housing and educational opportunities.

  • 19 We have taken down the Silent Sam Civil War monument on University of North Carolina Chapel Hill’s campus and the statues of Confederate soldiers on many courthouse plazas.
    But there are other monuments to the Civil War and slavery that cannot be removed — unfortunately.

    In “Scars on the Land: An Environmental History of Slavery in the American South,” David Silkenat explains how over a 200-year period slavery made possible environmental disasters that cursed and continue to curse our region.

    Silkenat says the slave owners in America’s South saw their landscape as disposable.
    Using intensive farming methods made possible by slavery, southern plantation owners wore out their farms. Rather than rehabilitating the land as they exploited it, they simply bought new land to replace what had been ruined.

    Sometimes, the replacement land could be purchased nearby. Other times, the owners and slaves from worn-out plantations would move from North Carolina to fresh lands in Alabama or Mississippi, with the enslaved people walking all the way.

    In Virginia, Thomas Jefferson noted in 1793 that he did not use manure to fertilize or replenish his worn-out tobacco fields “because we can buy an acre of new land cheaper than we can manure an old acre.”
    Twenty years later Jefferson acknowledged that the intensive farming by his slaves had left his soils inert.

    But the environmental damage associated with slavery was not limited to farmlands.

    In North Carolina, for instance, intensive enslaved labor made possible the exploitation and destruction of the magnificent longleaf pine forests that covered our state. To secure the pitch and tar from the pine trees, enslaved labor tapped, and scratched the surface, taking the ‘blood’ the trees needed to sustain themselves, leaving only ghosts of once-magnificent forests.

    Silkenat wrote, “Intensive extraction conspired with environmental factors to expedite the forests’ destruction. Scarification caused by repeating chipping made the trees vulnerable to wood-boring insects such as the ips beetle, the turpentine bore and the black turpentine beetle. Stripped of their bark, the pine trees stood defenseless against these insects. A turpentine-borer epidemic in 1848 –1849 along the Cape Fear River devastated the heart of North Carolina's longleaf pine.”

    Also, in North Carolina, the use of enslaved labor during the gold rush days before the Civil War made possible the extraction of gold but left a ruined landscape behind.

    In South Carolina, the rice plantations that made that state wealthy before the Civil War, required an enormous commitment of enslaved labor to dig and manage the canals and other waterways that provided the right conditions for the crop. Those canals and their upkeep, adjustment and repairs destroyed the natural environment and left the coastal lands permanently affected.

    Similarly, along the Mississippi River, the construction of levees to protect farmlands from flooding required enslaved labor. Continuing maintenance and repair demanded a long-term commitment of enslaved labor. The adjustments to the normal ebb and flow of the river still make for the continuing disruption of the great river’s natural flow.

    In cotton and tobacco fields, hardwood and pine forests, rice fields, goldmines, rivers and levees, slavery brought about even more damage to the environment. Although the author sets out many more examples of damage, he acknowledges that “the environmental devastation chronicled in this book pales in comparison to the brutality of American slavery on human bodies and souls. Yet looking at slavery through an environmental lens reveals how the chattel principle poisoned everything it touched.”

  • 17 Dr. Marye J. Jeffries has been named an Honorary Trustee of Fayetteville Technical Community College.
    Jeffries, who served on FTCC’s Board of Trustees for 26 years, including four years as Board Chair, was honored June 21 in a ceremony at the monthly meeting of the FTCC Board of Trustees.

    The designation of Honorary Trustee recognizes an individual for exceptional service and support of FTCC through the years. Jeffries served on FTCC’s Board of Trustees from 1992 until 2018. She served as Board Secretary from 1993 to 2004 and as Board Chair from 2004 through 2008. Jeffries was instrumental in the installation of the College’s two most recent presidents, Dr. Larry B. Norris in 1997 and Dr. J. Larry Keen in 2007.

    Born in Victoria, Texas, Jeffries began her teaching career in Tacoma, Washington, then moved to Fayetteville in 1963 and began teaching elementary school. She was the first African American teacher at Vanstory Hills Elementary School and earned her Master’s degree in Education while working at Vanstory.

    In the early 1970s, she joined Fayetteville State University as an associate professor of education. She earned her Doctorate in Education Administration and Supervision from UNC-Chapel Hill and held a series of positions at FSU, culminating in her appointment in 1995 as Associate Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs. She was the first African American female to hold that position. Dr. Jeffries retired from FSU in 1998 but remained extremely active in her community.

    Her community service has included chairing the Fayetteville/Cumberland County Arts Council and the Cumberland County Auditorium/Arena Commission (now the Civic Center Commission).
    She is a longtime member of the Fayetteville Chapter of The Links, Inc., an international women’s service organization, and served on its Executive Council and as its president. Her daughter, Dr. Kimberly Jeffries Leonard, is currently the national president of The Links. Kimberly Jeffries Leonard and several officers and other members of the Fayetteville Chapter of The Links, Inc., attended the ceremony at FTCC. Also in attendance were Glenn Adams, chairman of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners, and his wife, Superior Court Judge Gale Adams; and FSU Chancellor Darrell
    Allison and his wife, La Nica Allison.

    Jeffries’ awards include the Order of the Long Leaf Pine and the Old North State Award. In 2011, she was honored by FSU as an Outstanding Black Woman in American Culture and History.
    Jeffries is the 10th person to be named an Honorary Trustee of Fayetteville Technical Community College. Previous honorees include Tony Rand, W. Dallas Herring, Helen E. Batten, Thornton W. Rose, Lura S. Tally, Thomas R. McLean, Jeannette M. Council, Glenn Adams, and Larry L. Lancaster.

    FTCC President Dr. Larry Keen praised Jeffries for her dedication and leadership at FTCC and in the community. “She has done such a remarkable job in so many ways,” he said. “We have all benefitted and learned so much because of her.”

  • 16 A new exhibit dedicated to banking will be opening at the Fayetteville History Museum Aug. 2. The exhibit will focus on the history of banking in the Fayetteville area beginning in the late 1700s.
    The exhibit will take the place of the History of Baseball exhibit on the museum’s second floor. Staff are working to create a space reminiscent of the opulence often found within banks. The room has been painted deep green, and white columns decorate the space. All of these finishing touches within the exhibit help to create the atmosphere of a bank, according to Bruce Daws, museum director.

    “Architecture in banking was important. The bank had to speak to opulence, it had to speak to being solid, and it was usually classic architecture,” Daws said.

    One of the panels in the new space is dedicated to architecture in the banking world, highlighting buildings in downtown Fayetteville such as the building at 100 Hay St. Originally built to be the National Bank, it has now been converted into office spaces. The building was built to replace the original National Bank, a three-story classic brick building.

    “When they decided to build the 10-story skyscraper to replace [the old building], they asked the city if they could move into the Market House. The bank conducted business, not in the upstairs, but put windows and infill in the arches and opened that up as the bank while the mammoth structure was being built,” said Daws.

    Stories like this fill the new exhibit space, which in addition to information about the architecture of banks, will hold a large collection of banknotes used in the Fayetteville area for 200 years. Most notable will be a 20 shilling note from 1754, the same year Cumberland County was established. The note is British, as, at the time, everyone who lived in the area were subjects of the Crown. In addition to this rare note, foreign coinage that would have been used for transactions will also be on display. Foreign currency was allowed as payment until the 1850s, when an act was passed forbidding it.

    These coins and notes, known as “obsolete bank notes,” tell the story of the Fayetteville financial sector during the 1700s and 1800s.

    “Banking is an important subject just to who we are as a city,” said Daws. “We were a colonial port city located at the head of navigation on the Cape Fear River. We were an important trade community. Fortunes were being made and lost on the Cape Fear River. Banks were certainly an important ingredient in the big picture of Fayetteville.”

    The museum will be displaying obsolete bank notes from the local banks that popped up between 1807 and the Civil War. A rare set of four Bank of Clarendon notes will be shown. The notes are significant in that they are unsigned and uncut, meaning they never saw circulation.

    The exhibit continues through the Civil War. The Civil War impacted banks in the South quite significantly, and the exhibit will have several displays detailing the roller coaster of currency during the war.

    “Now, that was an interesting time because all of a sudden, overnight, you had to develop a treasury department and start printing money. Money was being printed so quickly at the very beginning that clerks were signing bank notes; they were being cut with scissors often times instead of being professionally cut,” said Daws. “At first that confederate currency held its value, it was kind of a trust that it was what it represented itself to be. As the war drug along and it wasn’t looking as good for the South, it had lesser and lesser value.”

    On display will be a pile of confederate money that came down through one of the old families in Fayetteville.

    “It was worthless, but it wasn’t thrown away. Often, it was tucked away as a souvenir, and after many years these saw the light of day again. Some of these notes are heavily worn where they were in circulation for a while; some are pristine,” said Daws.

    Another significant piece on display is a banknote signed by the mayors and commissioners of Fayetteville on Aug. 1, 1865. Fayetteville fell to General Sherman in March of 1865. This note is important because of how soon after the war it was printed. A display panel also tells the story of William G. Broadfoot, a banker and confederate agent during the war at the Bank of Fayetteville. As Sherman was marching into town, he had an idea to hide the bank assets around Fayetteville. He put notes in a bank stationery envelope with details as to where these were hidden.

    Several of the assets have since been located, affirming that Broadfoot’s plan worked.

    Daws hopes the exhibit will showcase the importance of banking to the city’s history. From prominent bank presidents, vice presidents and directors such as Dr. Paul Melchor and Dr. E.E. Smith to Jacob Stein and E. A. Poe, the history of banking within Fayetteville is varied and tells a unique Fayetteville story. The banknotes on display all tell a tale of where the city has been.

    “The notes themselves to me are like artwork. They are so finely done,” he said.

    Daws said a special thanks should be extended to David Boitnott of North Carolina. The majority of the collection that will be on display is from his own private collection, and he generously allowed the museum to feature the history he has collected. Rev. Robert Alves of St. John’s Episcopal Church has also generously loaned out coinage for the exhibit.

    The exhibit opens Aug. 2 at the Fayetteville History Museum at 325 Franklin St.

  • 15Be inspired by art and music at Kreativity Unlocked on Aug. 4 in the Orangery Ballroom at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden. Host Keith Sykes is a local photographer who will have prints on display to view with select items available for sale.

    There will be an open bar with wine, spritzers and hors d'oeuvres. Guests can get creative with a 360-photo booth. There will also be musical performances by Testimony and DJ Liek, who both hail from Norfolk, Virgina.

    This is not the first photography exhibit Sykes has organized. He held a show in 2018 at the Cape Fear Regional Theatre and one in 2019 at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden. He chooses locations that will inspire creativity in his guests so they can fully experience the art and music.

    "One of the things that I always say when I'm putting (events) together is that it's all about the experience," said Sykes. "I want the people that come through the door to really experience something different than they've experienced in the first two shows."

    Sykes has had a varied career that led to becoming a photographer and owner of an event planning company, IKreate Consulting. The New Orleans native joined the military when he was 20 years old. Sykes traveled the world while he served, which sparked his interest in photography. He settled in Fayetteville after 20 years of service.

    "I have had a love for photography for a very long time because one of my older brothers was a photographer at one point, but it was never really serious," said Sykes. "And then, in 2015, I started taking it seriously because a couple of friends suggested it. So, my very first exhibit was in 2018."

    Much of Sykes' inspiration comes from travel, and guests will be able to see areas like Edisto Island and Greenville, South Carolina, and some local spots in Fayetteville through his lens.
    This event will be the last featuring his work as he plans to organize future events to help local artists.

    "I want to give other local artists who are not very well known and who are not very visible in the local community the opportunity to show their work," he said. "So, I think the next thing I do will be something collaborative with a couple of different artists."

    The event is limited to 100 guests. The cost is $50 and includes all drinks and appetizers. No tickets will be sold at the door. The event is not formal, but guests are encouraged to dress to impress.

    Purchase tickets here www.eventbrite.com/e/kreativity-unlocked-tickets-302584035997.

  • 13 The Summer Concert Series at Gates Four Golf & Country Club will be "Back in Black" on Aug. 5, with headlining band Shoot To Thrill set to take the stage. Presented by Fayetteville Dinner Theatre, the all-female AC/DC tribute band will grace the stage at 7:30 p.m. prepared to rouse the crowd in grand fashion.

    The family-friendly event is intended "For Those About to Rock," and the buzz around one of the hottest bands out of Raleigh couldn't be louder.
    The concert series has proven both successful and popular amongst those looking for good music and good vibes on a lazy Friday night.

    The show offers concert-goers a little bit of everything up on the stage. Heartbreaker, Tuesday's Gone, and Mostley Crue, cover bands for Heart, Lynard Skynard and Motley Crue, respectively, are just a few of the bands still destined for the Gates Four stage before the concert series is over.

    The relaxed, outdoor event will have food for purchase as well as beer with liquor provided by Healy Wholesale Co. Inc. Guests are encouraged to unfold their camping chairs and spread out their blankets to enjoy this awesome show against the backdrop of a fiery North Carolina sunset.

    The gates open at 5 p.m. and local musician, Judah Marshall, will open the show shortly thereafter. The "Hometown" crooner's folksy, acoustic-driven offerings will undoubtedly be the perfect counterbalance to Shoot To Thrills' hard rock riffs.

    Shoot To Thrill, featuring the talents of Kara (Vocals), Susan (Guitar), Jai (Bass), Wendy (Guitar), and Kate (Drums), are a powerhouse ensemble that brings the Australian rock n' roll band to which they pay tribute boldly to mind during their high voltage sets.

    The five Raleigh women often take to the stage in a mix of lingerie and thoughtful nods to AC/DC, like Angus Young's classic school boy uniform and Brian Johnson's iconic newsboy cap. The energy and heart they bring to the stage as the crowd before them whips into a frenzy, stomping along to the first heart-stopping chords of "Dirty Deeds" is quite an experience, and the Gates Four audience should prepare for a wild ride.

    "We love to have a lot of audience participation," Wendy, Shoot To Thrill's guitarist, told Up & Coming Weekly. "We really try to put on
    a show."

    Shoot To Thrill's journey started around five years ago with Kate, Susan and Wendy. Originally a southern rock cover band, the response to their hard-rock covers, especially AC/DC, caused the band to shift focus and drill down on their niche. From there, Shoot To Thrill was born.

    "People were just going crazy," Wendy joked. "We thought maybe we should just do an AC/DC tribute band, and here we are."

    Despite their success, popularity, and undeniable talent, the road isn't always easy. As an all-female band, the women have had to deal with the challenges of sexism throughout their careers.

    "People think we have it easier because we're women, but we get rejected a lot," Wendy said candidly. "People are concerned that women won't show up to see us, but our audience is about 60% women. We definitely have our own fight to get in, but we're working hard, and we're really happy, we're having fun, and we're all friends."

    Fans of the classic rock band will hear hits from throughout their catalog, and there will be plenty of opportunities to sing or scream along. From Bon Scott era "Highway to Hell" to Brian Johnson's powerful anthem "Back in Black," Shoot To Thrill aims to please and knows how to get a crowd going.

    "We watch a lot of live AC/DC, and we try to change it up, even the more obscure stuff. We try to design the sets, so the die-hards are happy, as well as the people who've never heard a single AC/DC song," Wendy said.

    Off the stage, the women all lead lives very different than their rock-star stage personas. Wendy has worked at IBM for the past 22 years, Jai is a veterinary surgeon, Kara is a salon owner, Susan is a professor of music at Elon University, and Kate is an architect. To accommodate the demands of their two worlds, the band tries to maintain a three-week on, two-week off schedule to ensure there's room in their lives for all the things that matter.

    "We were going non-stop, and then COVID happened, and it helped us realize we need to find a balance, to take our time for our family vacations. We don't want to miss anything."
    The Gates Four performance will be the band's second time playing Fayetteville, and they're excited to return. After Shoot To Thrill wraps for the evening, guests are invited to hit the free after party at the Sand Trap Sports Lounge, which promises more fun beginning at 10 p.m. with an opportunity to meet the band.

    Though the event is free and open to the public, the Gates Four Summer Series offers an experience for every taste and budget. VIP packages are available for those that crave a more exclusive experience. Four packages range from $38 for single tickets, including table seating and all food, beer and wine, to $500 for a table seating eight inside the pavilion with food and beverage included. Guests can also look forward to door prizes.

    As the summer season winds down, there is no shortage of opportunities for people to come together for a good time in all corners of Cumberland County, a primary goal for the Fayetteville Dinner Theatre.
    Businessman and Up & Coming Weekly publisher Bill Bowman reconceived the Bordeaux Dinner Theatre intending to bring premium entertainment options to Cumberland County residents living outside of downtown Fayetteville.

    With a name change and a move to Gates Four, Bowman and many talented performers have more than made good on that intention.

    Additionally, events held under the banner of Fayetteville Dinner Theatre support Cumberland County education by contributing to Kidsville News Literacy and Education Foundation.

    "Through Fayetteville Dinner Theatre, we get to create new cultural events and help fund an education initiative," Bowman said.

    Gates Four Golf & Country Club is at 6775 Irongate Dr. in Fayetteville. For more information about Gates Four, visit www.gatesfour.com/.
    For more information concerning the Fayetteville Dinner Theatre and to purchase VIP tickets, visit www.fayettevilledinnertheatre.com/.
    To keep up with Shoot To Thrill, visit www.shoot2thrillband.com/. For those about to rock, we salute you.

  • 12 Segra Stadium, home of the beloved Fayetteville Woodpeckers, will host its inaugural “Back to School Bash” event on Aug. 5.

    As the days melt off the summer calendar, parents throughout Cumberland County know the time when they must trade flip-flops and sunscreen for lunch boxes and three-ring binders grows closer. Soon, the dreaded school supply lists will start circulating around Target, Walmart and grocery stores, sending local parents into a frenzy.

    For some, the color-coded folders and index cards bear no additional financial stress; for others, the notoriously picky lists will be placed in the queue next to a growing number of items that have become increasingly expensive.

    North Carolina gas prices still hover around $4 per gallon, and the price of groceries continues to increase; many families will struggle to secure the school supplies their students need to start the year.
    To remedy this concern and ease some of the hardship associated with this time of the year, Segra Stadium is partnering with over 22 organizations to hand out school supplies to students across Cumberland County from 6-9 p.m. at the event on Aug. 5.

    Up & Coming Weekly spoke to Kristen Nett, Community and Media Relations Manager for the Fayetteville Woodpeckers, about the event and its importance within the community.

    “I knew a ton of ‘Back to School’ events happening all over the city,” she explained. “So instead of duplicating, I decided to bring all those efforts together. Our big goal is to partner with people who share the same goals — that‘s really important to us.”

    The family-friendly event will entertain guests with games, a kid zone, batting cages and face painting — all free to those in attendance. Additionally, the stadium’s concession stands will be open and offer food and beverages available to purchase. “We want families to stay and have fun, enjoy time with each other,” Nett said.

    To prepare for August’s event, fans can donate school supplies during games from July 26 — July 31 in exchange for a voucher which can be redeemed for a discounted $7 ticket. The ticket is good for any game left in the 2022 season. Public donations will be accepted until Aug. 5.

    Nett expressed her excitement over the forthcoming event and why projects like these are close to the organization’s heart.

    “We are a multimillion-dollar business and can use our platform to come into this community and make a serious difference. It’s very important to me that we equal the playing field and provide opportunities to people regardless of socioeconomic status. School is starting soon, and some people simply don’t have the resources — we want to bridge that gap.”

    Families must register to participate, and supplies will be given on a first-come, first-served basis.

    Segra Stadium is located at 460 Hay St. in downtown Fayetteville.

    To register for the event, visit https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=bLr1ayMS-0aHO5q1XAC9JFug2voy1hFAl18UB_YKCyJUQTMzVjJCWkJJREFTNFZOTEtRRkQzQjVCTC4u.

    To donate, email Kristen Nett at knett@astros.com.

    To learn more about the Woodpeckers, visit www.fayettevillewoodpeckers.com/.

  • 11 Kia Walker places her blue violin underneath her chin. She smiles, as she so often does, says a sentence or two, partially in song form, as she often does, and then straightens up to begin. Her soft ringlet curls fall just slightly onto her forehead as she looks down at the instrument. She moves her slender fingers over the string at the neck of the violin while the other hand glides the bow across the strings. In a flash, the bow is moving quickly over the strings, stirring up white resin dust on the strings, neck and bridge of her instrument. Her fingers slide from string to string. They glide in unison, almost dance-like. This instrument has become natural to her. It is second nature.

    In Walker’s studio, piles of thin books line the walls and shelves. They range from beginning music books to more difficult levels, some are duplicates — meant for students. There are pieces of artwork around, all of which revolve around music. In each window sill, signs with quotes about music or God sit. The studio is quaint and bright with natural light pouring in. Just outside, through the window is the bustle of downtown Fayetteville. Walker continues to play, drowning out the faint noise of the city that can be heard just outside. She is in her own world now.

    Walker puts down her instrument and rearranges herself. Her makeup is always done and she can usually be seen wearing long, dangly, bright earrings. She loves her jewelry. She loves people. She loves teaching. And most of all, she loves music.

    In various corners of the room, instruments are displayed. At the entrance is a cello, held by its stand, and in the room next to it is a piano and a guitar. These are not for show. Walker plays all of these instruments and uses them at The Blue Violin Music Education Center — her music studio where she gives lessons for piano, violin, viola, cello, guitar and voice. Well, almost all of them are played. In the corner of the entire studio stands bright red conga drums.

    “I don’t play the drums. I bought those drums because they are pretty,” Walker laughs. “I just thought it would be a nice little splash of color.”
    Walker began her life with music singing as a 7-year-old. Around age 10, she started playing the violin when Cumberland County came to her school to introduce orchestra. She remembers even at those young ages, being in love with music. She tried her hand at writing songs, including one she gave to her orchestra teacher.

    “I thought she was going to be all impressed. But she said, ‘Kia, your song doesn’t have any rests in it,’” Walker laughs again and then shakes her head. “She said, ‘your song has to breathe.’”

    And so did Walker. For about 18 years, Walker put the violin down. In high school, she took piano lessons that she paid for herself. She remembers driving herself to her piano teacher’s home. Her mom, a single parent, was busy working, taking care of Walker and her younger sister.

    “I just wanted music that badly,” she said.

    Eventually, Walker went off to UNC-Chapel Hill to study psychology. But music still was her first passion. During college, she got lots of offers for credit cards. They would come in the mail and she would look them over. She decided to get her first credit card and make her first big purchase.

    “I bought my first piano. I put my piano on my first credit card,” she said.

    The piano that she bought still sits in her studio and she uses it to this day to help teach her students. Occasionally she’ll sit down to play it for herself.
    Walker returned to Fayetteville to finish out her last years of college at Fayetteville State University. She eventually met her husband, Skip, at his recording studio in town. She would come into the studio to sing and record songs — both that he wrote and that she did.

    “I started noticing that I was falling in love with him. After our recording session, we’d end our sessions at the Waffle House. I would get the scrambled eggs with cheese,” Walker sings the word scrambled eggs with cheese.

    Walker continued on to take a job doing special education at an elementary school for Cumberland County Schools. At the end of each day, Walker would return home exhausted.

    “I noticed I was too tired after teaching all day … I was too tired to practice. I thought maybe if I began doing music as my job I could practice too. I wanted to be fresh enough to practice. I wanted to play the piano or the violin.”

    Walker looked outside the window for a moment and smiled. This portion of her life is where she picked the violin back up. She picked up other instruments too. She began to combine her first passion with one of her other passions.

    She transferred into teaching music. This is where her life made sense to her. On the side she learned to play the organ and played for a church in Massey Hill. This is a job she still holds to this day. This position taught her some great life lessons that she carried into her later projects.

    “I was not that good at it. I was learning that you don’t start being good at it until you practice it for a while and give yourself the time to get good at it. To this day, I have that job. Some songs I smoke them. Some songs I don't,” Walker laughs a loud, infectious laugh and shakes her head.

    Walker went on to get a Master's in Divinity Church Music from Campbell University Divinity School. For Walker, faith is very important. She said she has been a Christian for a very “long, long time.”

    “As I have become older, seen life and experienced things, my faith has become much stronger. Sometimes I’ll just sing to the Lord.” Walker sings a little bit in a normal sentence. Her life is part musical.

    This year Walker began an online TV show for her music that she named “Music Life.” She says she wants to show the parallels between music and life and life and music. For her, there’s no separation of the two.

    “There are life lessons that come from playing an instrument. I was really slow at playing the cello because it’s a big instrument. There’s a parallel there. Sometimes in life we don’t want to face the big problems that we have in our life, we want to play the small instruments. We want to play things that are more familiar to us. We don’t want to try new things.”
    Walker stops for a moment. She looks around her room, the place where she learned so many lessons in life.

    “Music Life is highlighting those areas in life where we learn to … there’s a saying, be patient everything is difficult before it is easy. Playing cello is difficult for me. Playing the violin was difficult for me at one time. It’s easy for me now.”

    Walker continues to the piano and plays a song, on the same piano she bought with her first credit card in college. Her head bobs as she moves through the music. Rain began to patter outside but nothing distracts her from the song at hand. She trips over a part and starts over. This correlates perfectly to the first episode in her show. Walker is having each interviewee pick a focus word for the session. The first one is practice.

    “If you mess up, you go back to the beginning and start again. Same thing with life. You aren’t going to get it all right the first time but if you keep perfecting what you do, and perfecting who you are, and excellence is your goal … you will get there.” Walker smiles and then packs up her violin.

  • 10 Fort Bragg is one of the world’s largest military bases. Housing over 50,000 active duty troops and over 100,000 retirees and family members, Cumberland County is home to a brave population of men and women who have dedicated their lives to keeping America safe.

    The price of service

    But service, no matter how noble, can sometimes come at a high price. According to national research, incidents of major depression in the military are five times higher than in civilian populations, and PTSD is almost 15 times higher.
    A 2021 study found that while over 7,000 soldiers have died in combat in the 20 years since 9/11, over 30,000 active duty and veteran soldiers have died by suicide.
    Mental health has become one of the largest threats to modern military service, and resources to help struggling soldiers and their families are in high demand. One valuable resource available to the abundant military population in Cumberland County is the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Centerstone.

    Founded in 2016 by philanthropist Steven A. Cohen, the father of a United States Marine, the Cohen Veterans Network is a national not-for-profit network of mental health clinics for post-9/11 veterans, active duty service members and their families. Cohen Veterans Network has helped over 30,000 former and current service members and their families through 21 nationwide clinics.

    The local clinic treats several mental health challenges for all post-9/11 veterans regardless of rank, discharge status or role while in uniform; all active duty service members with a Tricare referral; and the entire military family from spouses to in-laws. Clients can seek care for depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, adjustment issues, anger, grief and loss, family issues, transition challenges, relationship problems and children’s behavioral problems. Care can be managed in person or through face-to-face video therapy.
    Up & Coming Weekly spoke to Retired Army Major Sharjuan Burgos, Outreach Director for the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Centerstone, about Cohen Veterans Network’s work within the local military community.

    “Nearly everyone who works for our organization is military affiliated,” she explained. “In this clinic, we understand the lingo — we have a very high military, cultural competency here. We believe that military families deserve a healthy life, and that’s our goal: ‘getting families back to better.’”
    Burgos served in the military from her high school graduation to her retirement in 2020. With 27 years of service under her belt, she has been a compassionate witness to the sometimes heavy burden such an honor can bestow and feels right at home in this new position.

    “It’s such an honor,” she said, beaming. “I thought I knew everything about the military, but it’s a huge transition working this side of it, but it’s wonderful to serve the people I know best. I knew I wanted to live a life of purpose and give something back. Taking off that uniform can be hard — I know I felt lost when mine came off.”

    Stigma of seeking treatment

    The stigma surrounding mental health and health care is still quite prevalent in the civilian world, but even more so in the military. Fear of career derailment or possible discharge keeps many soldiers from seeking the help they need. Burgos understands the pressure many in the military face to slap a “Hooah!” on their pain and keep it moving.

    “There are so many reasons service members don’t seek treatment,” she said. “Many military service members struggle to be two people; they hide a lot, put on their cape, shield and boots, and then go home and have to be themselves — it’s hard. They put on their super capes, and then they must try to be the things they fear they aren’t.”

    Underserved populations

    One underserved population supported by Cohen Veterans Network is female veterans. The unique challenges of female military service pertaining to family, sexual safety and pressure not to appear weak in a male-dominated career field make it even more difficult for these soldiers to seek help. Among veteran clients, women comprise 30% of the group — more than two times the female veteran population in the United States. These numbers are especially important to Burgos. “One of my jobs is to make sure everyone is included, especially female veterans, because they’re so often overlooked,” she explained.
    Military children are also a very high priority to the clinic and its larger organization. “We see kids as young as five years old,” Burgos said. “Kids don’t know how to express themselves the way we do. We give them the atmosphere and space to help them work through the challenges of having parents in the service. These kids are so resilient — unexpected PCS [permanent change of station,] constantly leaving friends — they’re strong but need support too.”

    Understanding the personal and environmental challenges associated with seeking help, one of Cohen Veterans Network’s foundational principles is removing barriers to care. The clinic provides transportation to appointments, on-site childcare and Telehealth appointments for those who’d prefer to get help from the comfort of their own home. Additionally, the clinic works with clients individually to ensure that neither finance nor circumstance supersedes treatment.

    Additional resources

    Equally important to the clinic is linking clients to resources that will help them and their families with various needs.
    Clinic case managers connect clients with additional support such as housing, employment, healthcare, legal support, educational opportunities and other necessary support based on the client’s needs. With such a high military population to serve, the clinic endeavors to meet all needs, one case at a time.
    “There are just so many resources in the community, and that’s one of our goals here,” Burgos said. “Our case manager works to get people what they need outside mental health services. We’re gap fillers.”

    Continuity of care

    Because the Cohen Veterans Network builds its service around military bases, service members are never far from the care they need. Also, the continuity of care is especially important. The services a person receives at one Cohen Military Family Center will be available at another.
    Burgos is proud to continue her service to such a deserving community and is honored to be a part of a growing legacy here in Fayetteville.

    “It’s an amazing community, an amazing place to work, and the same work is needed everywhere you go.”

    The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Centerstone is located at 3505 Village Dr. in Fayetteville. For more information about The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Centerstone's services, visit https://centerstone.org/cohen-military-family-clinic/fayetteville/.

  • 9 A global food crisis is hitting the pocketbooks of those in the United States, including U.S. service members.
    Jeremy Hester, the Executive Director for the Fort Bragg Armed Services YMCA Food Pantry, says they have seen an increase of 15% of service members coming to the pantry.

    “Right now we're seeing an uptick in usage,” Hester told Up & Coming Weekly. “We're also seeing kind of a downturn in donations.”

    The pantry typically receives calls from companies like Smithfield Foods and Tyson Foods on random days when their meat is about to expire. The pantry will accept this frozen meat and then do a massive giveaway to families on post. However, the last time they received these donations was over two months ago.

    “We're not getting those phone calls anymore,” Hester said. “So there's this little bit of fear of just the food insecurity stuff, the scarcity that everyone's talking about and supply chains and things like that. So it makes us worry a little bit as to what six months will bring, a year will bring as far as us being able to supply [assistance to those in need].”

    Individual donations have also gone down in the last three months.

    “I would say in 2021, like clockwork, every couple of hours people would come in. Whether it's a small bag of food or they're bringing in boxes of stuff that they bought for us, or they're bringing in a couple of items that they just have extra. That has slowed down quite a bit as well,” Hester said.

    This comes as inflation reached 9.1 percent in June, the largest 12-month increase in more than forty years. Food prices increased by 1%, with certain products seeing sharper increases, like margarine (6.8%), flour and prepared flour mixes (5.3%), butter (4.8%), ice cream (4%), breakfast cereals (2.5%), canned vegetables (2.1%), salad dressing (3.3%), and chicken (1.7%).

    The food pantry is working to continue to keep the pantry stocked. One way is taking donations from the Commissary's Feds Feed Families program. Last week, the Commissary donated 70 bags of food.
    Another way of creating more food is using the Victory Garden, just a few blocks north of the pantry. The Fort Bragg Victory Garden provides on-post residents a way to plant and grow nutritious produce in a social atmosphere. Two of the plots are reserved for the pantry.

    “We're really recruiting volunteers to help us with the gardening because we want to prove that we can keep those gardens going,” Hester said. “We're getting some of those vegetables and things and bringing them to the pantry. And we're taking our group out there a couple of times. If we can keep that going and not lose a beat and not let it grow out, then I think there's an opportunity for us. Do more plots and just get more people involved. Right now we're getting a good amount of stuff out of there. But if we had 100 plots, it can really help.”

    Plans to increase the food pantry are underway with a mobile food van that delivers food to Linden Oaks, a Corvias community located away from the military installation. There are also plans to move the pantry itself away from the small building it's currently in and somewhere more centrally located and filled with more freezers and fridges.

    “We're the only food pantry on Fort Bragg and we have the potential to expand,” Hester said. A new, more central location that would be more conducive for a food pantry could potentially help more families, he said.

    “I'm pushing now for people to think they have the capacity to reach out through donations or monetary donations to make sure that we can continue this on for the next couple of years at least.”

    Currently, the most requested items for the food pantry are canned fruit, healthy cereal and bagged/canned beans. Donations of food, personal hygiene items and baby items such as formula or diapers can also be donated. The pantry is located on the north end of Fort Bragg at 2411 Rodney Trail #2 from Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for donations.

    The U.S. Army Public Health Center and U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service released a survey last year that found that nearly 33% of more than 5,600 respondents at an unidentified Army installation were considered marginally food insecure, meaning they faced food hardship or had difficulties ensuring their food budget stretched through the end of the month.

    Blue Star Families’ annual national member survey found that 14% of almost 4,500 enlisted active-duty family respondents reported low or very low food security in 2020. This can be compared to 10.5% of all U.S. households.

    The Center for Strategic and International Studies and advocacy group Military Family Advisory Network both released studies this year that found structural parts of military life, such as high rates of spouse unemployment and moving and child care shortages, are driving the growing rate of food insecurity among active duty military families.

    A new report from the Defense Department reviewing food insecurity in the U.S. military is due by Oct. 1.
    In the meantime, University of North Carolina graduate students are doing a study on food insecurity at the Fort Bragg food pantry.

    “They've done voluntary interviews with some of our families and they're really doing a good job there. They're going out talking to food banks. They're going out talking to lots of different organizations on post and off. And they're putting together a kind of an action plan,” Hester said. “How can we connect more? How can we help this organization that can help our food pantry?”

    The Fort Bragg Armed Services YMCA offers other services outside the food pantry to help military families. Those services include financial planning classes and family support services that include child care,
    mentoring and infant support.

    For more information about the Fort Bragg Armed Services YMCA, go to their website, www.asymca.org/what-we-do-fort-bragg, or their Facebook page to learn more about special food giveaways.
    The food pantry is open every Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and every second Saturday, excluding holidays.

    Service members and their families do need to register and can only do one pick-up a month. Registrants can choose their preferred date for pick-up on the monthly online registration form, which can be found on their website.

  • 7b The N.C. Green Party has filed an emergency motion in federal court in its bid to gain access to the state’s election ballot this year.

    The motion filed Thursday, July 21 contends that the N.C. State Board of Elections has failed to provide a legal reason for excluding Greens from the ballot. The group seeks a preliminary injunction. It would force the elections board to recognize the Green Party and place its candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot.

    “It has been 51 days, and counting, since NCGP timely filed its petitions with NCSBE, and NCSBE still has not certified NCGP as a new party, which it is required to do ‘forthwith,’” according to the Green Party motion.

    “NCSBE has cited no legal authority for its failure to certify NCGP as a new political party,” the motion added. “NCSBE has cited no applicable statutory provision, regulation, or other legal requirement with which NCGP failed to comply. On the contrary, NCSBE concedes that when it voted not to certify NCGP, county boards of elections had validated 15,953 signatures on NCGP’s petitions – 2,088 more than the 13,865 valid signatures required under state law.”

    “Thus far, the only explanation NCSBE has given for its failure to certify NCGP comes from its Chair, Defendant [Damon] Circosta, who stated that he had too many ‘questions’ to vote in favor of certification, because NCSBE staff claim to be investigating ‘irregularities’ in the NCGP petitions,” the motion continued.

    “NCSBE has never produced evidence of any ‘irregularities’ in NCGP’s petitions to NCGP, nor has it provided NCGP with any opportunity to defend the validity of the signatures on its petitions or the integrity of its petitioning process,” according to the motion.

    “Yet NCSBE appears to have undertaken a wide-ranging investigation into NCGP’s petitions, pursuant to which a team of NCSBE investigators has contacted NCGP’s petition circulators by telephone and email to request information about virtually every aspect of their petitioning efforts,” the Green Party asserted.

    “NCGP has fully and voluntarily cooperated with NCSBE, promptly providing all information and every record requested by NCSBE’s investigators. Further, NCGP has repeatedly requested the opportunity to meet with

    NCSBE to review its petitions and resolve any questions regarding particular signatures, but NCSBE has rebuffed NCGP each time.”

    The Green Party argued that the state elections board “continues to invalidate NCGP petition signatures that county boards of elections validated.” That process has removed 127 signatures to date, and “That number continues to drop each day.”

    The motion noted the involvement of Michael Vincent Abucewicz, “who appears to be a field operative of the North Carolina Democratic Party,” in the campaign to keep the Green Party off the ballot. The Greens allege a “concerted campaign by Democratic Party operatives to contact NCGP petition signers and convince them to request that their names be removed from NCGP’s petitions.”

    “Thus, there is documented evidence of fraud in this case – Plaintiffs have audio and video recordings proving it, which they are prepared to submit – but it was perpetrated by Democratic Party operatives seeking to gain political advantage in the 2022 general election, not by NCGP,” according to the motion.

    The Green Party initially filed suit on July 14. The party’s U.S. Senate candidate, Matthew Hoh, discussed his concerns about the state elections board’s actions in a one-on-one interview with Carolina Journal.
    A hearing on the Green Party complaint is scheduled Aug. 8 in Raleigh before U.S. District Judge James Dever.

  • 7a On the recommendation of Cumberland County Schools Superintendent Marvin Connelly Jr., the Board of Education approved five district-level appointments and one principal appointment at a meeting Wednesday, July 20. The special meeting was held largely in closed session and focused on the personnel changes.

    Lawrence Smalls was approved as principal of Ramsey Street High School. After joining the system as an administrative intern in 2011, Smalls was an assistant principal and athletic director at both E.E. Smith High School and, most recently, Pine Forest High School.

    In 2007, Smalls earned his master’s degree in teaching and a special education general curriculum license from Fayetteville State. Smalls earned a principal certification from Sandhills Regional Education Consortium in 2012 and completed the local school district’s Aspiring Principals Program in 2016.

    The new district-level appointments follow the naming of four new associate superintendents and two other district administrators in June. Five former associate superintendents retired over the summer.

    The appointments approved Wednesday include:
    Christine Catalano, assistant superintendent for K-12 curriculum and instruction. Catalano is new to the district and most recently worked for Durham Public Schools as executive director of K-12 curriculum and instruction, CCS said in a news release. She began her career as an exceptional children and regular education teacher in Halifax County. She held multiple jobs as she advanced to leadership roles with Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools. After obtaining her master’s degree in education administration from East Carolina University, Catalano earned a doctorate in education leadership in 2018 from ECU.
    Donell Underdue, assistant superintendent for district transformation and strategic initiatives. He joined CCS in 2018 and most recently was principal of E.E. Smith High School. Underdue began his career in education as a teacher in 1993 after serving in the Marine Corps Reserve. He has certifications and licenses in Florida, Illinois, Georgia and North Carolina. Underdue obtained his master’s degree in school administration from ECU in 1998.

    Christopher Young, executive director of technology. Young's career with the school system started in 2002. While working as a network systems administrator, he obtained his bachelor’s degree in business education with a focus on information technology from ECU in 2012. The release said Young is a member of several professional organizations and technology committees, including the N.C. K-12 Cybersecurity Advisory Council.
    John A. McMillan, director of exceptional children's services. McMillan joined the district in 1998 as a teacher's assistant and bus driver at Howard Hall Elementary School. He has been in numerous jobs, including special education teacher, assistant principal, athletic director and principal. Most recently, McMillan was the district’s exceptional children's programs coordinator. After earning a master's degree in school administration from Fayetteville State University in 2009, he earned his education specialist degree from Wingate University in 2015.

    Ann-Marie Palmer, Title I coordinator. Palmer joined the school district in 1995 and most recently was principal of Massey Hill Classical High School. She obtained her master’s degree in school administration from Fayetteville State in 2004.
    In addition to arts education, Palmer has served the district as an exceptional children’s resource teacher and case manager. She has been a school administrator in multiple CCS elementary and high schools since 2002.

  • 6 People who stand up to violent criminals resonate with Americans of all walks of life. The courage to fight back against crime is heroic. Everybody believes this today except the woke prosecutors in our midst.
    One of the most notorious woke prosecutors is New York City District Attorney Alvin Bragg. He brought charges against Jose Alba, 61, who stabbed an ex-con and assailant to death at a bodega shop he owned. After an earlier argument with the attacker’s girlfriend about not paying for an item, Alba defended himself when the perpetrator went behind the counter to assault him.

    The New York City bodega owner was stabbed multiple times by the attacker's girlfriend. Despite the incident being caught on security footage, the district attorney’s quest for a scalp of somebody who dared to defend himself overrode common sense. The girlfriend who stabbed Alba was not charged, according to news reports. Bragg’s office not only charged Alba with murder but even tried to throw excessive bail at him, sending Alba to the notorious Rikers Island jail.

    Fortunately for Alba, a judge lowered the bail, allowing a bond to be secured for his release. And eventually, weeks later, given clear evidence in favor of Alba’s actions and public pressure, charges against him were dropped. Still, Bragg’s office sent out the message that they aren’t afraid to criminalize those who act in self-defense.

    The right to self-defense is inherent and something John Locke called a “fundamental right of nature.” Yet, woke prosecutors are increasingly concerned about social engineering over rights or justice.

    “Jose Alba should never have been charged with a crime, but New York city’s anti-self-defense authoritarians are determined to protect criminals over citizens,” says Jordan Stein, Southeast region director for Gun Owners of America. “NYC should take heed of the Supreme Court's recent decision, which not only affirmed the God-given right of self-defense but also affirmed the right of the people to bear arms in public.”

    Thankfully, North Carolina has better laws than New York City, including stand-your-ground protections that extend to one’s workplace or vehicle. Self-defense protections are generally strong if one has a legal right to be present at a property or place of business. New York has a duty-to-retreat law, meaning somebody is required to try and flee a violent aggressor outside of one's home. Still, if one legitimately fears for their life and can’t escape — as in the case of Alba — they do have legal protections. Alba’s encounter shows that New York’s law empowers agenda-driven prosecutors, not citizens. If there was no security footage or public outcry over

    Alba’s charges, one can only wonder how much ruin he would have faced.

    Residents in North Carolina and across the country see what woke prosecutors in increasingly left-wing urban environments want to accomplish. Woke prosecutors, who are attracted to the profession because they decide what and whom to prosecute, often make excuses for criminals. Furthermore, as revealed again in the Alba or Kyle Rittenhouse cases, they criminalize those who try to push back against rising crime if they choose to defend themselves.

    Fortunately, soft prosecutors are paying the price for their pro-crime social engineering. Chesa Boudin, the former district attorney of San Francisco, was recalled and removed from office by voters on July 8. “There are no victimless crimes, and we have to send a strong message that repeat offenders will face the consequences for their actions if they continue to choose a life of crime,” declared Brooke Jenkins. After Boudin’s removal, the San Francisco mayor appointed Jenkins as district attorney.

    Rising crime and lawlessness are bad enough that we shouldn’t have to worry about prosecutors taking the side of criminals. Soft-on-crime policies only lead to death and destruction. The only humor in the rise of a woke criminal justice system is many of the same government officials talking about taking away firearms from law-abiding citizens.

  • 5 Ever hear the old saying “Heck hath no fury like a woman scorned”? There may be grain of truth the size of Mount Everest hidden in that proverb. If you have ever said to an angry woman, “Just calm down,” you are yet another clueless man. That helpful advice didn’t work, did it? Gentlemen, consider this column a learning experience to help you deal with women of the female persuasion.

    Today we return to the land of Greek Mythology to visit our old friend Medea. She was not a woman to be trifled with. Actually, trifling with any woman is a good way to regret your birth. Medea was a mortal woman, but her granddaddy was Helios the Sun God. She had some pretty impressive magic powers, the most impressive of which was her skill at revenge. Think of Glenn Close on mega steroids in the movie "Fatal Attraction" and you begin to approach Medea.

    History has given Medea a pretty bad rap. But she didn’t mean nothing by it. Medea fell in love with Jason who was the leader of the Argonauts. Jason had family troubles. His Uncle Pelias had killed Jason’s daddy who had been the King. Pelias sent Jason on a suicide mission to bring back the Golden Fleece in return for restoring Jason as King.

    Jason knew he was going to need help on his quest. He also knew Medea had magic powers which could come in handy. Like Meat Loaf’s famous song “Paradise by the Dashboard Light,” Medea and Jason were smitten by each other. Whoopie was about to be made. But as Jason neared home plate, Medea said: “Stop right there! / I gotta know right now! / Before we go any further/ Do you love me? / Will you love me forever? /

    Do you need me? / Will you never leave me? / Will you make me so happy for the rest of my life? / Will you take me away and will you make me your wife?” Like many men before and since, Jason promised to marry her and love her forever until the end of time. Spoiler Alert: This will not work out well.

    Jason had three tasks to get to the Fleece. First, he had to plow a field with a team of ornery fire-breathing oxen. Medea made him a magic skin cream poultice of Sunblock 9000 which kept him from getting burned by ox breath.

    Next he had to sew the plowed field with Dragon Teeth. The problem with Dragon Teeth is they immediately sprout into armed psychotic soldiers who want to kill Jason. Medea saved Jason’s bacon by telling him to throw a rock into the soldiers. The soldiers then started killing each other instead of Jason.

    The last task was to grab the Golden Fleece which was guarded by a dragon who never slept. Medea whipped up an ancient version of Ambien. Her Sleep Potion Number 9 put the dragon right into dream land, thus allowing Jason to flee with the Fleece.

    Uh oh. Wouldn’t you know it? When Jason got the Fleece back to Uncle Pelias, the deal was off. Medea came up with a plot to have Pelias’ daughters kill him. Media got his daughters together and chopped up an old ram. She dropped the ram parts into a magic stew pot. Immediately, a young ram jumped out of the pot dazzling the daughters and going on to become UNC’s mascot Ramses. Thinking that their Daddy Pelias could use a return to his youth, they chopped up Pelias and put him in a pot. Unfortunately for Pelias, nothing happened but Dead King Stew.

    Jason and Medea high-tailed it to Crete. They married, had kids, and lived happily for ten years until their love sell by date expired. Jason imitated "Mad Men’s" Don Draper. He fell in love and married Princess Glauce. Abandonment by Jason after she gave him the best years of her life did not sit well with Medea. Seemingly forgiving, she sent the newly wed Glauce a beautiful poisoned dress as a wedding present. Although the dress killed Glauce, it did give Putin his idea for poisoned Polonium tea.

    Boiling the family bunny was not enough for Medea. Not content to be left alone in the castle with their kids, she was still mad at Jason. Medea murdered two of Jason’s sons as an act of revenge. She refused to let Jason bury the boys. She left town on a chariot pulled by flying dragons sent by her Granddaddy Helios taking the corpses of the boys with her. This is one angry lady.

    So, what have we learned today? Jason would have done better to have taken Meat Loaf’s advice by staying with Medea and praying. Mr. Loaf advised: “So now I’m praying for the end of time/ To hurry up and arrive/ Cause if I got to spend another minute with you/ I don’t think that I can really survive/ Praying for the end of time/ So I can end my time with you.”

    If you make a commitment, stick to it. You don’t want any chariots pulled by dragons showing up at your front door.

  • 4 I have strong opinions — but not about how to perform brain surgery, write an app, design a golf course, or produce a hip-hop album. Perhaps you do have a strong view about one of these, but almost certainly not about all four.

    Why? Because none of us can simultaneously be a surgeon, a software engineer, a golfing expert and a music producer. When it comes to our work, we specialize in a few things and then trade what we produce for the goods and services other specialists produce. The exchange makes us all better off.
    We live most of our lives engaged in such exchanges. There is a great deal of specialized knowledge, with more produced every day. But individually, we possess or are even aware of only a tiny fraction of that knowledge. It would be too difficult or costly to acquire. We don’t need it. We just need to trade for its fruits.

    Among specialists or other discrete communities of interest, however, there is often robust debate. Surgeons learn, practice, and disagree about the merits of new ways to attack brain cancers. The rest of us don’t typically know which side to root for in these contests. We just root for them to keep at it, so we as potential cancer patients can benefit, and otherwise leave them alone as we go about our own business.

    Now consider what happens when goods and services are provided by government agencies and public employees rather than private companies and independent professionals. Suddenly, we all feel the need to express our expert opinions about the best ways to rehabilitate a prisoner, treat a mental illness, or teach a child to read — even though we can’t possibly possess expertise about so many different and challenging fields, and even those possessing such expertise may lack consensus.

    The problem is that, unlike in the earlier cases, we can’t simply sit back and let the professionals fight it out. If we don’t like a new smart-phone app or hip hop album, we don’t have to buy it. If a particular brain surgeon or hospital seems to have poor results, we can go elsewhere.

    But what if we don’t like the outcomes produced by our prisons, public health agencies, or public schools? It’s either impossible or highly expensive to “take our business elsewhere,” as it were, by relocating ourselves and our tax dollars to another state. Instead, we seek to change the mix of professionals providing those services by casting ballots in the next election.

    This is not nearly as effective an accountability mechanism. For one thing, we may be outvoted. Even if our preferred candidates win, they may not be in a position to swap out the personnel in question or overrule their professional judgments. And through it all, we end up doing the very thing I’m suggesting we lack the capacity to do well — engaging in debate about matters we don’t and can’t fully understand.
    There is no magic wand one can wave here. Ensure more competitive elections? Great. Collect more data and encourage more experimentation and research? Sure. But the problem will remain in some form. It is endemic.

    I submit that the best response is to minimize the extent to which people are compelled to receive services from professionals they don’t select. That argues for more choice and competition in education, health care and transportation, even when those services are substantially funded by governments. The next best thing is for governments to pay for measurable performance, by public or private providers, rather than focusing on inputs or dictating procedures.

    More fundamentally, this argues for limiting the scope of the public sector. In fact, I think it’s one of the best arguments for limited government. Although you may care and worry about me as a person, it does you no harm if I have a wrong idea, do a foolish thing, or hire an incompetent doctor. You can even learn from my mistakes.

  • Chief Gina Hawkins FPD City Manager Doug Hewett said he plans to work with a recruiting firm as he looks to find a replacement for Police Chief Gina Hawkins, who announced last week that she intends to retire early next year.

    Hewett said he also plans to get input from the community.

    As the city manager, Hewett is responsible for hiring and firing the police chief.

    “This doesn’t happen often, thankfully, that you’re having to replace a police chief or a position of this magnitude,” he said Friday. “I want to make sure that we do this right and that it’s not something that’s rushed. I appreciate people’s input, whether it’s good or bad. This is a professional process, and it takes time.”

    Hawkins announced on July 15 that she plans to retire effective Jan. 17.

    “I want to thank her, of course, for her time here in service to the city and for giving me, hopefully, enough time to do a thorough search,’’ Hewett said. A “comprehensive and nationwide search to find our next police chief.’’

    He said the process starts with finding a recruiting firm that will help identify candidates and that will set out the process for selecting the next chief.

    He said the city will have a structured process “to make sure that we notify as broadly as possible any candidates who are interested.’’

    Councilman Johnny Dawkins said he expects Hewett to hire a consulting firm that will gather resumes and probably pick the top eight or 10 candidates for the post.

    "And my hope is that we get someone who is a lawman or lawwoman very focused, very experienced, in dealing with gangs and drugs," he said. "Those are the two areas in our society that create a lot of crime."

    Dawkins said he also hopes that Hewett will hire someone experienced in solving drug crimes and someone who has dealt with aggravated assault. Both, he added, are prevalent in Fayetteville, along with gang activity.

    "Now it's much more violent," he said of the city. "Now there are so many guns."

    Mayor Mitch Colvin said the council needs to be clear as to what the expectations are and that will help Hewett make a better decision.

    "I have confidence that he understands that the City Council sets the policy for this hire,’’ Colvin said. “We'll have that conversation when we come back."

    The City Council has primarily taken off the month of July and will begin meeting again in August.

    Colvin said the next police chief needs to be someone who connects with the community.

    "Basically, they need to be someone that is willing to connect with the community and not over police,’’ he said. “But they also have to understand the law enforcement side — the necessity to enforce the law and be a pragmatic person and understand the diversity of the community."

    "Be community police orientated and the law enforcement component, as well, to enforce the law in our community to keep us safe," he continued. "Sometimes that's a difficult balance, but I know there are people capable of doing it. At the end of the day, what I'm looking for are the results of their efforts. I want to have some clear matrix to show there's progress being made."

    He said he supports a national search but is not opposed to an in-house hire.

    "You don't know what's out there if you don't look," he added.

    The search process

    Hewett said he is still trying to put his thoughts together as to what would be the best approach to take. A significant part of the recruitment will be identifying the skills and traits of the candidates. To do that, he said, he plans to have discussions with members of the Police Department, the City Council and the community.

    He said that will help him prepare a recruitment profile.

    Hewett said he also wants to spend time with Hawkins, the Police Department and the community describing where the city is when it comes to public safety.

    “That way, anyone who is interested in applying, not only are they trying to sell themselves to us, but we’re also trying to sell our community to them,” Hewett said.

    “There are several ongoing issues that we have as a community which aren’t really different from what is going on (at) a national level,’’ he said. “But really, (we) owe it to any candidate seeking the position to make sure they understand where we are as it relates to our crime reduction strategies, where we are as it relates to our recruitment issues and challenges, where we are trying to work with our state and federal partners.”

    He said the city “will be looking for a leader who can take the recent success of our department and build upon it for the future while fostering a strong working relationship between the department, the city and the residents we serve.”

    A decision to retire

    In North Carolina, a police chief is eligible to retire after a half-decade, and Hawkins is already surpassing the five-year mark.

    “The chief is not resigning; the chief is retiring,” Hewett said. “And when she was hired – she came to us from another state. How the retirement process works in the state of North Carolina is that you’re eligible to retire after you have served for five years.”

    “I was not surprised that the chief chose to retire now,” Hewett said. “She has served our community for five years.”

    When asked if Hawkins was retiring on her own or would otherwise be forced to step down, Hewett said: “That’s not any consideration that I had. That’s not even an adequate question.”

    “This was her decision alone to retire, and I had no conversations with her about anything other than that,” he said.

    Hawkins has come under fire by members of the community in recent years. She has been criticized for telling officers to stand down when protesters became violent and tried to burn down the Market House on May 30, 2020, following the death of George Floyd. An independent review of Hawkins’ handling of that situation by an organization called the Performance Evaluation Review Forum – or PERF — also found issues with morale in the Police Department and officers leaving in numbers higher than national averages.

    The city has increased salaries for new officers and offered other incentives as it works to recruit officers.

    Hewett said looking back at the tenure of chiefs since Tom McCarthy – who was chief when Hewett first came to Fayetteville in 2004 – they have almost all served five to six years before retirement.

    The late McCarthy headed up the Fayetteville Police Department for six years. Former chief Tom Bergamine served for five years. Harold Medlock, Hawkins’ predecessor, held the position for about 3 ½ years.

    “By the time Chief (Hawkins) retires in early 2023,” Hewett said, “she will have been with us for 5 ½ years. Just in Fayetteville, that seems to be the tenure.’’

    Hewett said he “would love to keep folks as long as we can, but I definitely respect her decision to retire.“

    “This last five years,” he said, “has been a challenge for the country, it’s been a challenge for the city, and it’s been a challenge for the Police Department, including Chief Hawkins, as well.”

  • pexels Crime tape A Sanford man was arrested Thursday and charged with statutory rape and 23 other counts in a sexual assault case, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office said.

    William Darryl Wright, 56, was arrested by detectives with the Special Victims Unit. He also was charged with six counts of indecent liberties with a child, six counts of felony child abuse, six counts of crimes against nature and five counts of second-degree sexual offense, the Sheriff’s Office said in a release.

    He was being held at the Cumberland County Detention Center under a $1.2 million bond, the release said. His first appearance was scheduled for Friday afternoon at the detention center.

    Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact detective S. Odenwelder at 910-677-5477 or Fayetteville / Cumberland County CrimeStoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477).

  • FPD logo A Fayetteville man has been charged with robbing a business on Ramsey Street on Saturday afternoon.

    Officers with the Fayetteville Police Department were dispatched to a business on the 5300 block of Ramsey Street at 3:48 p.m.

    The Police Department said in a release that a clerk was helping a customer when a man got in line behind the customer. Once the customer left, the man placed a bag on the counter and demanded money from the clerk. The man left with money from the register, the release said.

    Officers were given a description of the robber and the vehicle he left in, a red Chevrolet Cruze, the release said. Officers located the vehicle, and the suspect fled on foot, the release said. He was detained by officers and taken into custody.

    Josiah Jennings, 22, of the 7000 block of Bucktail Road, was charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon, common law robbery, possession of a stolen motor vehicle and possession of stolen goods, the release said.

    Police said the vehicle that Jennings was driving had been reported stolen from Walmart on Skibo Road the day before.


    Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact detective S. Berrios-Rivera at 910-703-6243 or Crimestoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477).

  • Cumberlan Co logo In response to dangerously high temperatures this week, Cumberland County Government has opened several County facilities as cooling stations for residents who do not have access to air conditioning.

    The National Weather Service predicts high heat and humidity for the entire week of July 25-30. Beginning Monday, July 25, the heat index may be over 100 degrees daily. The heat index will peak with 106-degree temperatures on Wednesday and Thursday. Cumberland County Emergency Services urges residents to take precautions as this is the second consecutive week of high heat and humidity.

    The Department of Social Services, located at 1225 Ramsey St., has opened the auxiliary lobby as a cooling station. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The lobby is on the first floor waiting area by the reception desk. Masks or face coverings are optional. However, masks and and social distancing are encouraged.

    The first-floor lobby of the Cumberland County Department of Public Health, located at 1235 Ramsey St., is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Anyone entering the Health Department is required to wear a mask and pass a temperature scan. Masks will be provided to anyone who does not have one.

    All eight Cumberland County Public Library locations are open as cooling stations. Libraries are open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Headquarters Library at 300 Maiden Lane, Fayetteville, along with Cliffdale, North Regional, and Hope Mills branches are also open Sundays from 2 to 6 p.m. To find your local library, go to cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/library-group/library.

    The 18 Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation Centers are open to the public year-round, during normal operating hours and can be used by residents as respite from the heat. Recreation center locations, hours, contact information and programming schedules are posted at fcpr.us/facilities/recreation-centers/.

    Extreme heat and humidity will significantly increase the potential for heat-related illnesses, particularly for those working outdoors. Cumberland County Emergency Services reminds residents to take precautions during the hot weather. Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned rooms, stay out of the sun, avoid strenuous work, check on relatives and neighbors, and never leave children or pets unattended in vehicles under any circumstances.

    Stay informed by visiting the County’s website at cumberlandcountync.gov or County social media pages at facebook.com/CumberlandNC, facebook.com/CumberlandCountyNC911 and
    twitter.com/CumberlandNC.

  • Tyrone Williams On a podcast in May, City Council candidate Tyrone Williams denied that the FBI investigated a secretly taped conversation in which Williams tells the project manager of the Prince Charles Hotel properties that he can make “a cloud” on a lien disappear for $15,000.

    On the same podcast, Williams blamed his former wife for creating a false accusation about him molesting a 10-year-old boy and threatening to tell the media unless he paid more in child support.

    But Billy West, the district attorney for Cumberland County, and Jordan Jones, the Prince Charles project manager, said the FBI did investigate Williams.

    And Cumberland County court records show that an arrest warrant was taken out against Williams on Aug. 30, 2018, charging him initially with the felony offense of taking indecent liberties with a child. The alleged incident happened between Dec. 21 and Dec. 22, 2017, according to the court records. Williams was served the warrant on Sept. 11, 2018.

    On Oct. 21, 2019, the records show, Williams entered into a conditional discharge on a charge of assault on a child under 12, a misdemeanor, and received 30 months of unsupervised probation, which came with specific conditions he was ordered to follow if he were to have the charges later dismissed. The records show that Williams did not meet those conditions.

    On April 4 of this year, a judge revoked the conditional discharge and Williams was convicted on a misdemeanor charge of assault on a child under age 12. He was sentenced to 60 days suspended for 12 months and placed on supervised probation.

    Williams, who reluctantly resigned from his City Council seat shortly after the audio recording of him surfaced, is again running for election in District 2. He faces incumbent Councilwoman Shakeyla Ingram in the July 26 general election. Ingram received 26.29% of the vote in the May primary. Williams was the second-highest vote-getter with 24.48% of the ballots cast, which qualified him to compete against Ingram in the general election.

    Williams was reached by phone Tuesday but declined to comment about his past before politely hanging up. He was sent a text message asking him to call back. He responded, “Out at the poll helping my people.”

    He was reached again Wednesday and said he would provide court records showing he was not convicted of sexually abusing the boy and then hung up again.

    He is correct in that respect: The felony charge was lowered, and he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor child abuse.

    Williams interviewed on a podcast

    About 10 days before the primary, Williams appeared on a podcast – "UP Zone" – hosted by former Fayetteville Councilwoman Tisha Waddell; former state Rep. Elmer Floyd, who is again running for election to the state House; and former Councilman Wade Fowler.

    During the podcast, Williams alleged that the audio recording of him offering to remedy a lien on the Prince Charles properties for $15,000 had been doctored.

    “There was a lot of those cut-and-paste, and I didn't realize at the time, but that's something that can be done with audio. He can change places, names and words and put it together and paste it all together,” Williams said.

    The “he” Williams is referring to is Jones, the project manager in the Prince Charles properties. Jones made the recording on his laptop in December 2017 during a meeting with Williams and a man identified as Fayetteville businessman T.J. Jenkins. Jones later shared the recording with The Fayetteville Observer and the FBI. He said the recording had never been doctored.

    Jones said he met multiple times with the FBI to discuss his dealings with Williams. West, the district attorney, also said the FBI investigated Williams. Jones and West said they do not know the outcome of the investigation. An FBI spokeswoman said she could neither confirm nor deny that Williams was investigated.

    Williams: ‘There was no FBI investigation’

    “There was no FBI investigation,” Williams said during the podcast. “This was City Council. I was never charged with anything, never was any bribing. I didn't get a call from the FBI. This was all council.”

    At another point in the podcast, Williams emphatically said, “There was no FBI investigation. Never. I never went and talked to any FBI. There was no contact from the FBI. There wasn't nothing to investigate. It was all city individuals.”

    Williams also denied during the podcast that he abused a boy, but he didn’t say that he was convicted of misdemeanor assault on a child a month earlier. He also didn’t mention that he had been given the opportunity to have the charges dismissed if he abided by the conditions of his probation.

    One of those conditions was that he complete 24 hours of community service within 120 days. Williams said in the telephone interview Wednesday night that he mistakenly did his community service work through an organization that had not been approved by the court.

    The District Attorney’s Office has a different account.

    “He never provided any proof to the court that he completed community service,” Senior Assistant District Attorney Alicia Marks said in a message to West. “He was supposed to submit it to the court within 120 days of the plea, and he did not. He was supposed to immediately obtain a mental health assessment, complete treatment and provide regular reports to the court of his treatment every six months, and he did not.”

    Williams said he did nothing inappropriate with the boy. He said his former wife threatened to tell the media he had abused a child unless he paid her $2,800 in monthly child support. If he agreed to her demands, Williams said, his ex-wife told him she would “squash the story.” He said he didn’t agree, and the story went public. Williams’ former wife could not be reached for comment.

    According to a grand jury indictment, Williams “did unlawfully, willfully and feloniously take and attempt to take immoral, improper and indecent liberties … for the purpose of arousing and gratifying sexual desire” with a child under the age of 16.

    Despite his conviction, Williams denies that ever happened.

    “It was actually nothing more than grabbing him and sitting him down and disciplining him,” Williams said. “But she (the ex-wife) took it to another level and had no evidence of anything.”

    Williams insists that he was convicted only of hitting a boy — not sexually abusing him — and emphazied that the original felony charge of taking indecent liberties with a child was lowered to the misdemeanor charge of assault on a child under age 12.

    The matter of a lien

    In the matter of the lien, Williams said he loaned former Prince Charles owner John Chen $100,000 for work that needed to be done on the then-ailing hotel. He has said publicly that he both didn’t get repaid and that he did get his money back. Records show that he was paid and that any liens on the property had been satisfied before Prince Charles Holdings bought the properties.

    Williams also has said that another $15,000 worth of work he did for Chen was canceled when the hotel was sold to Jones’ company.

    Then why did he tell Jones he could clear up the lien for $15,000, according to the audio recording?

    “So looking forward, you'll see that the property transferred without having the lien released,” Williams said during the podcast. “So what happened was an individual tried to get a loan on the property and the lien came up. I got a phone call (that) the lien needs to be satisfied before we can fund it.”

    Jones said there were no outstanding liens on the properties when his company — Prince Charles Holdings Inc. — bought them. Those properties are now the sites of Segra Stadium, the renovated hotel and a parking garage.

    Williams gives reasons for running again

    Williams said on the podcast that he wants to return to the City Council because he believes District 2 has fallen deeper into social ills and he believes he can help fix the problems. The district includes the B Street, Old Wilmington Road and Massey Hill communities, some of the city’s poorest areas. Williams said he moved back to the district from Norfolk, Virginia, some years ago to be closer to his family.

    “I rode through my district and it looked worse than ever,” he said. “The people I know, the people I talked to, was doing far worse. Homelessness everywhere, poverty everywhere. It's like it's been totally let go. … Mental health is everywhere on the streets. It’s like we forgot about District 2.”

    Jones said he was surprised when he heard that Williams is running again.

    “We do live in a democracy, so it is up to the voters to decide what to
    do,” he said. “If I was a resident of District 2, I would not be voting for Mr. Williams.”

  • cumberland co schools Students will not have to wear uniforms in Cumberland County public schools in the coming school year.

    School uniform requirements will be waived for the 2022-23 term, according to a news release from Cumberland County Schools.

    The pause is the result of supply-chain problems that the district has verified with major retailers in the area.

    “Some stores said that it would likely be late September or October before they received sufficient inventory,” according to the news release.

    Parents of children who attend schools that usually require uniforms may choose to dress their children in uniforms, but there will be no penalties for students who don’t wear a uniform.

    The student dress code will remain in effect for all students, meaning their attire must be school-appropriate, the release said.
    The Board of Education waived the dress code and uniform policy in the 2020-21 school year because of the financial impact of COVID-19 on families.

  • FTCC logo The Fayetteville Technical Community College board of trustees met Thursday in a special called meeting to receive recommendations from the Presidential Search Committee on the potential successor to President Larry Keen.

    In January — after nearly 15 years of service at the school off Hull Road — Keen announced his plan to retire on Jan. 1, 2023.

    “The full board met today almost entirely in closed session to discuss recommendations of the candidates that were recommended by the search committee,” said Catherine Pritchard, a spokeswoman for FTCC.

    She said some candidates were interviewed last week before the Presidential Search Committee determined its recommendations for the job. Those applicants were then presented to the full board at the special called meeting.
    After emerging from the approximately 30-minute closed session, Pritchard said, the full board accepted the recommendations from the search committee.

    “They will invite those recommended candidates to campus for interviews the first week of August,” she said. “These are the finalists for the job.”

    The names of the finalists were not released.
    Pritchard said she didn’t know how many applicants remain in the running for the job and, if she did, she would be unable to release that information at this time. Likewise, she didn’t know the overall number of applications the school received for the position.

    Keen’s successor will be the fifth president in the history of FTCC. Keen joined FTCC as the college’s president on Aug. 1, 2007.

    The board of trustees is scheduled to meet again on Aug. 15, when its members are expected to discuss the finalists and may come to an agreement on its top candidate.

    Once the board comes to a consensus, its recommendation will go before the State Board of Community Colleges.

    “It would be anticipated that the state board would consider and, hopefully, approve the candidate in September – Sept. 23,” Pritchard said.

    Fayetteville Tech serves roughly 28,000 students annually.

  • pexels Crime tape The Fayetteville Police Department has identified the man who was found shot to death Wednesday in the parking lot of an apartment complex on Frankie Avenue.

    Tony Ray Parker, 64, of the 1800 block of Frankie Avenue, was pronounced dead on the scene, police said in a release Thursday.

    Officers were dispatched to the 1800 block of Frankie Avenue just after noon. They found Parker in the parking lot of the apartment complex.

    No charges have been filed, and the investigation is continuing.

    Anyone with information about this shooting is asked to contact detective D. Arnett at 910-929-2565 or Crimestoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477).

  • FPD logo The Fayetteville Police Department is asking the public for help identifying a man it says robbed two Family Dollar stores of cash and cigarettes on consecutive nights.

    The robberies happened at the Family Dollar stores on Owen Drive and Raeford Road on Monday and Tuesday between approximately 9 and 9:30 p.m. In both instances, the robber entered the store with a handgun and demanded money from an employee, the Police Department said in a release. Each time the robber left with cash and cartons of cigarettes, the release said.

    After the robbery on Tuesday, the man was seen getting into a black Nissan Versa. Police released a photo of the man and the vehicle.

    “Through the investigation, detectives have reason to believe the suspect is the same in both of the robberies,’’ the release said.

    Anyone with information regarding the identity of the man or this investigation is asked to contact detective K. Glass at 910-605-1975, Sgt. C. Hudson at 910-703-1058 or Crimestoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477).

  • pexels Crime tape The Fayetteville Police Department is investigating after a man was found shot to death in the parking lot of an apartment complex on Frankie Avenue Wednesday afternoon.

    Officers were dispatched to a shooting on the 1800 block of Frankie Avenue just after noon, police said in a release. Frankie Avenue is off Bingham Drive.

    They found a man with gunshot wounds in the parking lot of the apartment complex. He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said in the release. His name is being withheld until next of kin can be notified.

    “Those involved in the shooting remained on the scene and are cooperating with the investigation,’’ the Police Department said in the release.

    Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact detective D. Arnett at 910-929-2565 or Crimestoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477).

     

  • N2008P18002H Shakeyla Ingram is campaigning to keep her District 2 seat on the Fayetteville City Council. Challenging her is former Councilman Tyrone Williams, who is running for office again after reluctantly resigning four years ago when allegations emerged that he tried to solicit money from a developer.
    Both are Fayetteville natives who grew up in District 2. Both regard themselves as entrepreneurs.

    Neither responded to repeated requests for a phone interview or to answer questions by email.

    District 2 encompasses the entire downtown district and areas across the Cape Fear River including the Cedar Creek Road area, part of the Baywood subdivision to Dunn Road, and everything up to the Gillespie Street and Massey Hill areas as well as the Holiday Park neighborhood.
    Ingram says she's able to understand what the needs are in Fayetteville after living in Atlanta while attending school.
    Looking back, Williams says his family took a chance, leaving his parents’ 14-acre farm in Raeford to move to Fayetteville for the chance at a better life.

    “I don’t want the investment of my parents to be a bad investment,” he said during the Greater Fayetteville Chamber general election forum on June 30. “I want District 2 to be the district and not to be a bad investment.”

    Over the years, he said, he has served on the Economic Development Board in Norfolk, Virginia, and the Safety and Procedures Board of the Norfolk and Southern Railway.

    In 2018, Williams resigned from the City Council after weeks of pushing back against calls for his removal. Williams was under investigation by the FBI after allegedly asking Prince Charles Hotel developer Jordan Jones for $15,000 in exchange for handling a favor related to the property’s title.

    He maintained that he had done nothing wrong. In his resignation letter, he wrote: “I did not violate any law, or ordinance, or other legal authority.” He placed the blame on the media for “false and misleading accusations.”

    Williams has denied there was an FBI investigation, but Jones and Cumberland County District Attorney Billy West said the agency did investigate. A spokeswoman for the FBI said she could neither confirm nor deny that there was an investigation.
    In 2018, Williams was accused of inappropriately touching a 10-year-old boy. He was charged with taking indecent liberties with a child, according to court records.

    In October 2019, he entered into a conditional discharge on a charge of assault on a child under 12, a misdemeanor, and received 30 months of unsupervised probation and was ordered to follow specific conditions to have the charges later dismissed, according to court records.
    As part of the agreement, Williams returned to court on April 4 of this year to determine if he had fulfilled the terms of his conditions and probation. The conditional discharge was revoked and a judgment was entered for a conviction of assault on a child under 12, a misdemeanor, according to court records. Williams was given a 60-day sentence that was suspended for 12 months as well as supervised probation, according to court records.

    Williams did not respond to emails or phone messages seeking comment on the allegations.

    Neither candidate responded to CityView TODAY’S requests to discuss issues facing the city. The following responses were culled from their answers during the Greater Fayetteville Chamber candidates forum.

    Crime in the city continues to rise. Are city officials – specifically, the police chief and Police Department – doing enough to address crime? If not, what should be done differently? (Note: Police Chief Gina Hawkins has since announced that she plans to retire effective in January.)

    Ingram: “Yes, we are. We’re doing all that we can to address crime in the city of Fayetteville. I would like to lean on the other side to say that I think we, as a community, have to do a little bit more to help with the efforts by City Council to better the crime here. We have made many investments where police officers are being paid more.

    We’re now at 8% staff (low) where that number within the last six months was a bit higher. Our staffing for police officers has gone up comparably to other large cities. We're doing a bit better than most in North Carolina where it comes down to staffing. As it relates to being able to pull in our community to help with crime, we started the community safety micro-grants where we are giving money to help with crime in the city of Fayetteville. You can’t arrest your way out of everything. And so we have to bring in our partners in the county and judicial system to ensure that the laws – when people are being charged with something, it sticks. Because what you will see are repeat offenders who continue to get out and not learn their lesson, for whatever reasons, and continue to commit the same crimes. Those are the things we’re doing to help better the crime.”

    Williams: “The city police, Chief (Gina) Hawkins, they’re doing a good job. Are they doing a good enough job? No, they are not. And I’m saying that because my brother got killed three years ago right here in the city of Fayetteville. And I understand they’re doing a lot, but it's never enough. I feel like I’m personally responsible for my community. And I think the citizens and also City Council feels the same way. If something happens in our district, we should know about it. Some way or other, there should be some individual who knows that person and that we should go talk to. … These are the people who need to get involved in the city to curb the crime, to curb the homelessness and to curb what’s going on in our city and also District 2, which I’m focused in. These are the people I would talk to start the programs, pilots, STEM programs. The people that they already respect. But the problem is we’re geared now to so much crime going on over America, seeing the blue suits show up. There's a problem. We need to get back to local leaders that have the respect and the leadership to have things done.”

    Sometimes it seems almost like there are two District 2s. There’s the District 2 that includes downtown, where we’ve seen lots of investments, lots of opportunity. Then there’s the other District 2, where people are struggling. Some of the struggles have already been mentioned. What specific ideas would you bring to that (part of) District 2, where there’s a great need and people are trying to make ends meet and they’re dealing with crime? What investment opportunities would you specifically say to target that part of District 2?

    Williams: “One of the things I’ve been following is Fayetteville Technical Community College. They just gave a program that’s just awesome. I give kudos to the Cumberland County board. They put a program together when you’re coming out of jail, if you are felony offenders, you can come and apply for a program that puts you through an eight-week course. You can become a plumber, electrician, you can become an HVAC person or a contractor. If you go through that program, it’s subsidized by the county. Half the money the employer who hires them to be paid is by the employer who hires them to give initiative. And then they work on-the-job training. I was actually part of on-the-job training. In high school, I went to Terry Sanford. I was bused out of the community. What happened is, that program — that two summers I went to school – I learned a trade. And it was construction. And to this day, I do construction. They paved the way. That OJT (on-the-job training) — I’m all for it – 100%. You have to put the work in the programs that they can get into.

    Felonies, offenders, you’ve got to give them a chance. Not only change their generation but also change the next generation. And by them changing that next generation, it changes your people where you are and their family and gives them a job. You’ve got to make them employers, not employees. You’ve got to raise people up like never before.... It’s not two District 2s; it's one. The other one’s coming to the district downtown and making statements.”

    Ingram: “I’m going to tell a very short story about how I got here. … I had been talking with my grandmother when I moved back. I was talking with my grandmother about what I was seeing. I used to live in Atlanta for school. I was talking a lot with my grandmother about what I was seeing and why the community was looking the way it was. I was concerned because I was seeing the development of a new baseball stadium, but I was seeing where my grandmother lived in Haymount, it was just up and down. I attended a forum the mayor was having at that time. Then I went to a hospital room where my grandmother was pronounced deceased.

    From that time on — I was actually going to move to Durham. But that changed because I was very concerned about what was happening in my community. Concerned about the mindset of two different District 2s. … What I think makes this district conclusive, we have to bring up equity, to get everybody’s needs. What council has done, we have added a lot of money into to our corridors, in our communities, for beautification and homeownership. We’re also added money to the workforce development. So those three things — along with our community safety efforts and making sure we educate our citizens about these opportunities. I believe this work the council is doing now will be able to help spread equity not just across Distinct 2 but the city of Fayetteville.

    There is a lot of concern among the residents of District 2 and all districts about community safety, property damage and especially our murder rate, which is escalating. There is also talk about police accountability. You see those words a lot. The police chief heads up the Police Department, and she works for the city manager. How do you define police accountability?

    Ingram: “So back in 2020, of course, we had a specialist come in to talk about community policing. With community policing, we learned that community policing is not the police officer's job. We learned that community policing is how and what we want to (do) within our own community. When it comes down to police accountability, and let me say this, when it comes down to violent crimes, gun violence, I have been on the receiving ends of both where I've had family members that have committed gun violence, and I've had family members who have been victims of gun violence. So being in the middle of that and understanding what police accountability looks like, it looks like this: We call our officers to do a job and respond to what our needs are.... Accountability is our officers showing up and presenting constitutional law and enforcing within the right manner. It is up to us to recognize when the law is not working, and we have to be educated, in short.

    To me, police accountability is having the education and knowing what your rights are as a citizen. Knowing what jurisdiction the police officer has. Knowing not just what the police officers do but knowing what the Sheriff's Department does as well as your N.C. special police officers. You must as a citizen know and feel the need to build a relationship and get to know your police officers. There's contact information on the website where you can reach out if you see something going on. You have every right to ask an officer what is going on. You have every right to report something. That is accountability, not just for police but citizens, as well."

    Williams: “Police accountability, we have lost that. And tell you why we've lost it. Because of the media, the TV and all the activity going on. District 2, when you turn on the TV, you see all the murder, you see all the abuse, all the claims of people who died and got shot by a police officer with their back turned.

    So you must understand that is what they see, that is what they understand. So what we have to do now is to go back to the middle schools and the elementary schools and have the police officers showing up. They have to come in with their blue uniforms and talk to the kids and let them understand that is not who they see on TV. Encouragement. Good words. Now the older generations, it's going to be a task. But if you start with the younger generations, and they go home and tell mother how the police officers came today and how he taught the class and how he showed a few things, those types of things are going to evolve over time and you could make this a better system. But the system — as calling the police initially went up, there's already animosity going on and the thoughts already in their mind — it's a critical situation. Sometimes it escalates it even more. I love the police officers. I know half of their names.

    When I see them, I shake their hands on the street, pat them on the back and tell them, 'Thank you for your service.' Also, the Fire Department. I understand their work is very hard. It's not because of the individuals; it's because of the sense of who they are. … So we have to go back to the elementary schools. We have to go back to the middle schools and retrain the kids over the next generation. And, hopefully, they would change the parents' view. Just a whole other level of policing. We have to get human nature involved. We have to love one another to make this world go round and round."

    Shakeyla Ingram
    Occupation: Entrepreneur in marketing and community relations
    Elected office: Fayetteville City Council, one term
    Contacts: 910-644-0368; shakeylaingram@fayettevillenc.gov; votesingram@gmail.com; https://www.facebook.com/smifaync/; https://twitter.com/IngramDistrict2; https://instagram.com/IngramDistrict2

    Tyrone Williams
    Occupation: Owner of Veteran’s Reality and Community Advancement Awareness, real-estate investor and developer; Navy veteran
    Elected office: Fayetteville City Council, partial term
    Contacts: 910-584-9249 or tyrone.williams70@yahoo.com

  • FOrt Bragg sign Fort Bragg soldiers who were training with Somali forces in Mogadishu went from training mode to responder mode when a civilian plane crashed Monday morning, the U.S. Army said in a press release.

    Three 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade soldiers provided emergency care to 30 passengers when a Jubba Airlines aircraft crash landed at Mogadishu International Airport around 10:30 a.m., the release said.

    The Fort Bragg soldiers were conducting medical training with a platoon of Somalia’s Danab commandos when the crash occurred.

    The plane skidded to a halt upside down near their training location, the release said. The Danab and SFAB soldiers climbed a razor-wire fence to reach the plane.

    Members of the Danab commandos pulled injured passengers from the aircraft while the SFAB team members established a triage station and helped local emergency responders evacuate 16 injured passengers to nearby medical facilities, the release said.

    The Army identified the soldiers as Sgt. 1st Class Caleb Vanvoorhis, Staff Sgt. JoAnna Baxter and Staff Sgt. Taylor Palmer. They were training with Somalia’s Danab Brigade as part of an ongoing effort to train and enhance Somalia’s military medical capability, the release said.

    Leaders of the SFAB praised the reactions of the soldiers and the Danab commandos.

    “I am very proud of the team and their partners, the Danab,” Lt. Col. Sean Nolan, commander of the 2nd Battalion, 2nd SFAB, said in the release. “Their combined actions demonstrated the agility, quick thinking and decisive action that is essential to the advisor mission.”

    Col. Michael Sullivan, 2nd SFAB commander, offered similar comments.

    “In our minds, the key thing to highlight is the Danab’s reaction to the crisis,” Sullivan said in the release. “Our soldiers supported their response, which was highly professional and demonstrates the value of our commitment to long-term security cooperation efforts in the region.”

    The SFAB soldiers are part of the Maneuver Adviser Team 2231, which is working with the Somali National Army Danab Brigade to help its mission to conduct offensive operations against violent extremist organizations, the release said.

    The U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa employs the 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade to train, advise and assist African partner militaries on a number of ground force tactics, techniques and procedures, the release said.

  • virus North Carolina officials have confirmed 11 cases of monkeypox, a disease caused by the monkeypox virus, in the state as of Wednesday.
    Of those cases, 10 involve North Carolina residents, and one involves a nonresident.

    At least 929 people in the United States — and over 7,500 people around the globe — have been infected with it since May 18, according to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    North Carolina’s first case during this outbreak was diagnosed in Haywood County and announced by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on June 23. Mecklenburg County announced its first case four days later on June 27. Durham County confirmed its first case on Tuesday.
    While some individual counties are announcing infections, DHHS said it is not providing a county-by-county breakdown or saying where new cases have occurred, citing a desire to protect patient privacy.

    Monkeypox is part of the Orthopoxvirus genus, which also contains the virus that causes smallpox. According to the CDC, most outbreaks of monkeypox are linked to countries in central and western Africa.
    The West African strain involved in this outbreak has a high survival rate but can be “extremely painful” and leave lifelong scars, according to the CDC.

    Treatment and prevention

    While the West African strain of monkeypox has a survival rate of over 99%, the CDC lists several common factors that may increase the risk of death from monkeypox, including individuals who are pregnant or breastfeeding, children younger than 8 years and individuals who have had eczema or who are immunocompromised.

    Monkeypox can cause a rash with a fluid-filled blister that later dries and scabs over.

    “People who have been diagnosed with monkeypox outside of Africa have all had skin blisters,” UNC Health notes. “Some have only a few — or even a single lesion — on the penis, anus, hands, feet, arm, legs or face. Sometimes blisters form on the palms or soles of the feet, which are unusual places to have a rash.”

    According to UNC Health, some patients might experience other symptoms before they notice any bumps. Some individuals may feel ill, be fatigued, experience headaches or notice swollen glands, according to the website.
    While asymptomatic individuals can spread COVID-19, the CDC says individuals infected with monkeypox can spread the virus only if they have symptoms.

    “Monkeypox is transmitted person to person through direct skin-to-skin contact, having contact with an infectious rash, through body fluids or through respiratory secretions,” according to DHHS.

    “Such contact often occurs during prolonged, face-to-face contact or during intimate physical contact, such as kissing, cuddling or sex. While anyone can get monkeypox, in the current outbreak, many of the cases are in men who have sex with men.”

    There are other ways to contract the virus.

    “Touching items (such as clothing or linens) that previously touched the infectious rash or body fluids is another way monkeypox spreads,” according to the CDC.

    “It’s also possible for people to get monkeypox from infected animals, either by being scratched or bitten by the animal or by eating meat or using products from an infected animal.”

    Symptoms can last for two-four weeks, and infected individuals can be contagious until their rash disappears and new skin covers the affected area, according to the CDC.

    “Anyone who has symptoms consistent with monkeypox and those who have had contact with someone who has monkeypox should isolate at home away from others and notify their health care provider,” said Sarah Henderson, health director for Haywood County.

    “It is important to remember that anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has monkeypox is at risk.”

    Dr. David Weber, medical director for UNC Hospitals’ departments of hospital epidemiology (infection prevention) and associate chief medical officer of UNC Health Care, said there is “always concern about mutations” with the virus.
    Weber said that since genome sequencing has been completed, it can help reveal if the virus has mutated.
    Weber said there are two primary worries when it comes to mutations: whether the virus can become more transmissible and whether it might become increasingly “capable of causing serious disease.”

    North Carolina cases

    According to Dr. Raynard Washington, director of Mecklenburg County Public Health, Mecklenburg’s patient is not thought to be tied to another case within North Carolina.

    Henderson said the Haywood County Health Department has received a small number of phone calls regarding monkeypox.

    To protect the Haywood patient’s privacy, Henderson could not say whether there were any other potential cases under investigation or how many contacts the Health Department needed to reach out to regarding the case.

    “Following the initial press release, we received a few calls from local providers regarding sample collection and the algorithm for testing,” Henderson said via email.

    “We have also received a few calls from residents seeking further information and education. If we were to have an increase in cases in the future, we would communicate that with the residents of Haywood County.”
    Once a case is diagnosed, the state assists organizations in determining the next steps.

    “When a monkeypox case is identified in a North Carolina resident, (DHHS) works closely with the CDC, local health departments and health care providers to identify and notify individuals who may have been in contact with an infectious person and to assess each individual contact’s level of risk,” a spokesperson for DHHS said via email.

    Henderson said Haywood County is equipped to handle the outbreak.

    “Public health response to a communicable disease varies slightly based on the illness that we are dealing with,” Henderson said via email.

    “While the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light our response on a larger scale, we at the local level are prepared to respond to public health issues and emergencies as they present themselves.”
    In Mecklenburg, Washington said, public health experts are constantly learning.

    “Our public health teams continue to build on lessons and experience gained via public health response to include COVID-19 response for case investigation, contact tracing and vaccination efforts,” Washington said via email.

    On June 28, the White House announced that it would begin sending vaccines to areas that needed them the most.

    “With today’s national monkeypox vaccine strategy, the United States is significantly expanding deployment of vaccines, allocating 296,000 doses over the coming weeks, 56,000 of which will be allocated immediately,” the White House said in the press release.

    “Over the coming months, a combined 1.6 million additional doses will become available.”
    Last week, DHHS announced the state will receive 444 doses that will go to Buncombe, Durham, Forsyth, Mecklenburg, New Hanover, Pitt and Wake counties.

    JYNNEOS is a two-dose, FDA-approved vaccine for high-risk individuals 18 years old and older and can help reduce the chances of contracting monkeypox and smallpox.

    A spokesperson for DHHS said more vaccines will be distributed as availability increases.

    “Because of limited supply, vaccination will first only be offered to individuals with known or suspected exposure to monkeypox,” the spokesperson said via email.

    “This includes people who have been in close physical contact with someone diagnosed with monkeypox and men or transgender individuals who have sex with men and have had multiple sex partners in the last 14 days in either a venue where monkeypox was present or in an area where the virus is spreading.”

    Additional vaccines should be sent soon, though no firm date for the next shipment has been announced.

    “The second wave of JYNNEOS distribution, likely arriving next week, will allow (DHHS) to implement a broader strategy for preexposure vaccinations,” the spokesperson added. “(DHHS) is continuing to work with local health departments and community partners on education efforts and to be prepared if a wider push for treatment is needed.

    Health officials ask that people with symptoms of monkeypox have a doctor examine them.

    “Though this is the first confirmed case in the county, we know there are likely other cases,” Washington said in a press release when Mecklenburg’s case was first announced. “We are encouraging doctors to consider this in people who have a rash or skin lesion that looks like monkeypox.”

    Detection

    According to the CDC, individuals infected with monkeypox can only pass on the disease if they are showing symptoms, unlike COVID-19, which can be spread by asymptomatic people.
    Dr. Rachel Noble, a professor of marine and environmental microbiology whose lab is helping lead COVID-19 monitoring in wastewater in North Carolina, said the state could begin checking wastewater for monkeypox, if necessary.

    “We have developed the methods and have established the capability to do surveillance for (monkeypox) in wastewater,” Noble said via email. “However, at this time, we have not been called upon by the state of North Carolina to do so, we are ready if it becomes a need.”
    The N.C. Wastewater Monitoring Network began tracking SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in wastewater in January 2021. The wastewater data is about six days ahead of the COVID-19 clinical testing data and can provide a heads-up when an outbreak occurs, even before symptoms become

    widespread.

    “For monkeypox, it may be better to conduct clinical testing because of the need for an individual to be symptomatic in order to transmit the disease, but these are decisions that will be made in the near future,” Noble said.

    A spokesperson for DHHS said there is no timeline yet for making the decision.

    “We are currently evaluating the laboratory tests for identifying monkeypox in wastewater and how to interpret this data into public health action,” the spokesperson said.

    The representative said it is possible the state may add a dashboard to allow the public to monitor the spread in North Carolina, similar to the dashboard that was implemented for COVID-19.

    “We use our reportable disease surveillance system, NCEDSS (N.C. Electronic Disease Surveillance System), to track cases and are considering a public-facing dashboard to display case and vaccine data,” the NCDHHS spokesperson said. “In the meantime, the CDC has up-to-date information on case numbers and ASPR (the U.S. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness & Response) will be sharing vaccine distributed.”

    Neither Haywood nor Mecklenburg plans to create a local dashboard in the near future. With a low number of patients, adding a dashboard could threaten patients’ privacy, according to Washington.

    Misconceptions

    While monkeypox can be spread through physical contact, including during sex, monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted disease.
    Weber addressed some common misconceptions about monkeypox.

    “Monkeys are not the source/reservoir of the disease — carriage by rodents is the reservoir,” Weber explained. “(It is a) generally mild disease, unlike smallpox. (It is) transmitted generally by direct contact, although close, prolonged contact may lead to droplet transmission.”

    Weber said vaccines should be used for high-risk individuals as well as those exposed to the virus. If it is administered within four days of exposure, the chances of infection decline. Within four-14 days after exposure, receiving a vaccine may help lessen the severity of the infection.

    Weber also pointed out other key lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, such as identifying needs for “public health interventions, transparency, global cooperation [and avoiding] stigmatization.”

    To learn more about monkeypox or for the latest case numbers, visit the CDC’s website.

  • classroom “Good morning, Hornet family!”

    With that opening delivered over the intercom, Principal David Greene kicked off the new school year Monday morning for the 525 students who attend Anne Chesnutt Middle School on Skibo Road.

    The school system’s other year-round schools, E.E. Miller Elementary and Reid Ross Classical, also welcomed students Monday.
    At Anne Chesnutt, vehicles were lined up in the parking lot Monday morning waiting to drop off children who attend the school’s sixth through eighth grades.
    After being dropped off, the students moved along at a steady clip to go indoors. One girl stopped to hug Assistant Principal Whitney Iglesias before turning the corner with the rest of the students.

    Superintendent Marvin Connelly Jr. said the parents were probably more excited than the students.

    “We’re pretty happy to get her back in school,” Fred Hardison, who is 72, said of his 12-year-old daughter, Valentina. “In the classroom. Face to face.”
    Last year, she attended Cumberland County Virtual Academy.
    And what were Valentina’s thoughts on returning to school — this time among fellow students?

    “She’s got mixed feelings,” Hardison said just outside the school. “She was happy to get back, but she’s never been a big fan of going to school.”
    Earlier in the morning, Connelly greeted some of the parents and caregivers who drove their children to school.

    “Good morning. We are back. Cumberland County Schools are open,” Connelly told reporters. “We never really closed. We’ve been open all summer. Year-round starts back today at Anne Chesnutt Middle, EE. Miller Elementary and Reid Ross Classical.”

    More than 1,600 year-round students kicked off a new school year Monday, according to Connelly. He also said the district has 16 school buses on the road.

    "We are excited to have our children back in the building," he said. "Everyone is excited to try to move forward from the pandemic. We realize we’re still in it, but we’re ready.”

    In terms of how the system will continue to address in-school COVID-19 concerns, he said the system will rely on the steps that were taken last year to keep the numbers as low as possible.

    “The measures we had in place last year – wear your mask, wash your hands, social distance when you’re able to – they worked last year as well as encouraging everyone to get vaccinated,” the superintendent said. “If you’re eligible, get the booster.”
    Masks are optional for students and staff.

    Spanish Immersion program

    Anne Chesnutt offers a Spanish Immersion choice program. For students in that program, instruction is primarily in Spanish throughout the day.
    About 60 students are taking that program this year, Greene said. The Spanish Immersion choice program has been offered at Anne Chesnutt for about a decade.

    The students also are taught social studies, science and math in Spanish.

    “Anne Chesnutt is a choice school. One of our options is our year-round schedule, and what I call our crown jewel is our Spanish Immersion program,” Greene said. “The program has meant a lot to this school in that it has allowed us to grow.

    “So we have students that would have started the Spanish Immersion program in elementary,” Greene added. “They get to come to us. If they make it through the eighth-grade year, they earn two high school credits in Spanish and are basically fluid in Spanish.”
    Four Spanish instructors, all from Colombia, talked with reporters about the importance of the students learning the language and studying the Hispanic cultures.

    “Right here – this program. It allows students to get a different look at culture,” Spanish teacher Andres Rangel said. "I think the program teaching is really important. Spanish people are emerging in the (U.S.) population.”

    Angelica Restrepo, another Spanish teacher at the school, said "international teachers need to work through the learning. When we share our culture, our language and our heritage, we give them different perspectives. For me, this is the best part.”

    Bus app

    Kristi Harden, the school system's director of transportation, talked about the "Here Comes the Bus" tool that allows families with access to view the real-time location of their child's school bus on a smartphone or computer.

    Parents can sign up or learn more about the app at the "Here Comes the Bus" website.
    Aicha Kine, who is 29, said her family had just moved to Fayetteville from Texas. This was her 12-year-old niece’s first year at Anne Chesnutt. She said her niece has been excited about returning to the classroom. With a laugh, Kine said, her niece had been talking about it “all the week.”

  • Cumberlan Co logo A called meeting of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners was canceled Monday evening because a majority of the commissioners did not attend.
    County Manager Amy Cannon had been expected to ask the board to consider creating two more water and sewer districts to combat a growing accumulation of forever chemicals in part of the county’s well-water supply.

    But board Chairman Glenn Adams adjourned the meeting moments after the 6 p.m. start time.
    The new water and sewer districts would serve an existing district in the Linden and Vander areas in an effort to stem the pollution of drinking water by forever chemicals that leech into the Cape Fear River and groundwater.

    The chemical compound GenX is a byproduct of the manufacturing process used by Chemours chemical company. Formerly known as DuPont, the company has a plant on the Cumberland and Bladen county line. In 2017, chemicals associated with Chemours’ manufacturing process were discovered in the Cape Fear River. Since then, additional chemical contaminants have been found in hundreds of private wells.

    Adams and Vice Chairwoman Toni Stewart and Commissioner Jeannette Council attended Monday’s meeting. Commissioners Larry Lancaster, Michael Boose, Jimmy Keefe and Charles Evans were absent.

    Adams said he was not aware beforehand that a majority of the commissioners would not attend Monday’s meeting.
    In the past, board members who could not attend a meeting in person had the option to participate by phone or online stream.

    Former commissioners Chairman Marshall Faircloth, currently an at-large candidate for a seat on the board, said he was surprised and concerned that a majority of commissioners failed to show up for the meeting just a week before the state is scheduled to hold a public information session about chemicals in private wells in the county.

    The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality will hold a public information session at 6 p.m. on July 26 at the Crown Coliseum complex. Registration starts at 5:30 p.m.
    Assistant County Manager Brian Haney said Monday evening’s meeting will be rescheduled.

  • hope mills logo On Monday night, the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners agreed to place a temporary moratorium on certain businesses while the town’s staff works to create an overlay district.

    The moratorium is effective immediately and will stay in place until January, the same month the staff plans to introduce the town’s new overlay districts.
    The temporary moratorium allows the town to restrict and even temporarily hold business licenses until an overlay district can be put into place. Overlay zoning is a regulatory tool that creates a special zoning district over existing zoning. It can include additional or different regulations that apply within the district.

    “The overlay only affects the commercial district,'' said Chancer McLaughlin, the town’s planning and economic development director.
    The board will decide during work sessions which business will be allowed in what commercial areas.

    “It just stops certain businesses from being in those particular commercial areas,” McLaughlin said.

    “Businesses think we are limiting their uses outright, we are not,’’ he told the board. “We are just saying for a period of time we are not allowing you to move forward.”

    McLaughlin said he was still getting calls from concerned business owners about the moratorium and the overlay districts. However, those calls are mostly from businesses that have just been approved and are preparing to go forward. The new policies will only affect businesses that have not applied for a license and are in their current planning phases.

    The board held a public hearing on the proposed moratorium before the vote. No one spoke during the hearing.
    The moratorium includes the following businesses:
    ● Motor vehicle parts and accessory sales.
    ● Motor vehicle repair and/or body work.
    ● Motor vehicle rentals.
    ● Motor vehicle sales, new and used.
    ● Retail establishments primarily tied to smoke shops and vape establishments.

    The board also heard an update on the public safety building project from its architect, Scott Garner, and unanimously passed a requested change order for nearly $75,000.
    Before the vote, Commissioners Joanne Scarola and Grilley Mitchell raised concerns regarding one of the items listed on the change order — a motorized damper listed at $12,873 for the kitchen’s four-burner gas stove.
    Both asked whether the change was necessary.

    Garner stepped aside to allow Steve Lopez, the town’s operations chief, to better explain the expense. The motorized damper was required for the stove and allowed firemen who live at the station to access the stove in large groups. Lopez said that on some days, as many as 40 firemen would need access to the kitchen at one time and that particular damper was required by code. The expense also paid for additional ducts and wiring.

    After hearing from Lopez, the board approved the change order.
    In other business, the board also voted to move forward with its proposed splash pad and voted to allow the town manager to negotiate the deal with Carolina Parks and Play.

    The splash pad will have a baseball theme, making it unique to the town.
    Before the vote, Commissioner Bryan Marley expressed his excitement about the project and the board’s ability to get it done.

    “This is another item that all the citizens have asked for,’’ Marley said. “Once again, this board is finally getting it done and moving forward with it.”

    After the vote, Town Manager Scott Meszaros took a moment to recognize Parks and Recreation Director Lamarco Morrison for his drive in making the town’s vision a reality.

  • pexels Crime tape Two men are being sought in connection with a road-rage incident that left a man with gunshot injuries on July 11, according to a Fayetteville Police Department news release.

    The victim’s wife and infant child were in the vehicle at the time of the shooting, the release said.
    Demetrius Tydre McNeill, 27, of the 3500 block of Town Street in Hope Mills, and Alphonza Demorris Teasley, 45, of the 2800 block of Baywood Road in Eastover, have been charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury; shooting into an occupied vehicle; and felony conspiracy, the news release said.

    Just after 5 p.m. on July 11, Fayetteville police officers responded to reports of a shooting near the intersection of Cliffdale and Pritchett roads. The officers found a man lying on the ground and suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
    The man, his wife and their year-old child were in their vehicle when the shootings occurred. The wife and child were not harmed, the police report said.

    Witnesses described the shooters’ vehicle as a gold Jeep Cherokee that left the scene on Skibo Road. The vehicle was located and the suspects were identified.

    McNeill is described as 5 feet, 7 inches tall; 140 pounds; and having black hair and brown eyes with tattoos on his face, neck and arms.

    Teasley is described as 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighing 155 pounds. He is bald, has brown eyes, and has multiple tattoos on both arms.

    McNeill and Teasley are considered armed and dangerous, the news release said.
    Anyone with information about the suspects or the shooting is asked to contact Officer A. Wolford at 910-705-2141 or Crimestoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477).

    Crimestoppers information also can be submitted at http://fay-nccrimestoppers.orgor by downloading the fre “P3 Tips” app available for Apple devices in the Apple App Store and for Android devices in Google Play.

  • 13 Fairies, flowers and rainbows set the stage for a fantastic downtown adventure on July 29 and 30.

    Expect a hint of enchantment in the air as Midsummer Magic returns for its seventh year with more fairy fun for the entire family.
    Inspired by William Shakespeare’s tale of magic and mischief, “A Midsummers Night’s Dream,” the fun-filled two-day scavenger hunt will send participants on a journey around downtown Fayetteville to search for clues.

    Following a fairy journal, which can be found online or at several downtown businesses, those participating will journey to a fairy door, behind which will be a letter to help reveal a secret message.
    And, like any good guidebook, the fairy journal will also point out where participants can find special promotions, points of interest and special activities.

    Everyone is encouraged to dress in their most fantastic fairy, sprite, goblin, dwarf or wizard ensemble for a chance to win this year’s costume contest. Participants only need to tag their picture on their personal social media page with #MidsummerMagicFayNC to enter for a chance to win prizes.

    The costume contest is separated into categories for pets, groups, adults and children aged 12 to 17, 5 to 10 and 0 to 4 years old.
    The LlamaCorns of Midsummer Magic will return for their second year, provided by Shaky Tails Party Animals, and performers will be scattered throughout the event to delight those on their quest.

    The day promises a wealth of unique sights and sounds, which is what Betsy McElwee, former social media marketing coordinator for the Downtown Alliance, is looking forward to the most.

    “I love walking around downtown and seeing people and talking to them. I’m really excited to see the new performances this year. I’m looking forward to just being downtown,” she said.

    According to their social media page, “The Downtown Alliance’s mission is to encourage business and retail growth in downtown Fayetteville, and to promote the success of downtown businesses.”
    Conceived as a signature event for the Downtown Alliance, Midsummer Magic is a unique opportunity to bring the people of Fayetteville together for a tour of the businesses downtown has to offer.

    Each participating business is tasked with creating a unique theme-driven experience for potential customers so that each stop will provide something new and different.

    “Even if you don’t want to do the scavenger hunt and quest, it’s still fun to go down and see everything,” McElwee explained.

    “We want people to know about the businesses and shops downtown. It’s really about getting people to engage with the businesses, see how great downtown is and circulate through the area.”

    The festivities begin at 11 a.m. on July 29 and 30, but there’s no official “start” time for the scavenger hunt.

    Midsummer Magic is free and open to the public, but some activities will have an associated cost.
    All fairy journals must be turned in by July 30 to be eligible for prizes.
    For more information regarding Midsummer Magic and to download a fairy journal, visit https://www.faydta.com/our-events/downtown-fayetteville-scavenger-hunt/.

  • 19 How did a Salisbury woman beat the powerful forces of Smithfield Foods, Inc. and its hog farming allies?
    As described in my column last week, Mona Lisa Wallace and her law firm won $32 million in verdicts against the Smithfield group for its nuisance damage to the homes and lives on properties near hog farms.
    In a letter promoting his new book, “Wastelands; The True Story of Farm Country on Trial,” for use in college and law school classes, the book’s author, Corban Addison, explains how he learned about Wallace and her efforts.

    “Three years ago, a friend called me and told me a story that sounded almost too good to be true. It was about a lawyer he knew, a woman named Mona Lisa Wallace from his hometown in North Carolina.”

    Addison’s Salisbury-connected friend is best-selling author John Hart, whose most recent novel is “The Unwilling.” Addison continues, “In 2013, Mona took up the banner of a rural community ‘down east,’ as the locals call it, a community comprised of mostly Black people of modest means. Over the course of a generation, that community had seen its ancestral land — as well as its air and water — degraded by pollution from factory farms tied to the world’s largest hog producer, Smithfield Foods. They had agitated for change, but the change never came. Not until Mona took Smithfield to court.

    “Her mass action required seven years to litigate. It sparked rallies in the streets, a firestorm on social media, death threats to the lawyers, witness intimidation and an attempt by the industry’s bedfellows in the state legislature to modify the centuries-old definition of nuisance retroactively to prevent the lawsuits from ever reaching a jury. Notwithstanding these headwinds, Mona and her co-counsel persisted, bringing five cases to trial and winning five plaintiffs’ verdicts.”

    Of course, Wallace could not have done the whole thing by herself. Lawyers and paralegals interviewed people who had been impacted by the hog farming, mostly people whose homes were nearby, mostly in Duplin, Bladen, Pender and Sampson Counties. They did the research and drafted motions and briefs. And Wallace engaged a talented and energetic
    co-counsel, Mike Kaeske, a Texas lawyer with working class roots. Kaeske handled the trial witness presentations, cross examinations and, most important, opening and closing arguments, for which he spent hundreds of hours in preparation and practice.

    All the work paid off in trials in a Federal District Court, but the defendant appealed the verdict to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Although one judge dissented, the panel of three judges, including conservative J. Harvie Wilkinson, voted to assure Smithfield’s loss.
    Addison noted that Wilkinson, in a concurring opinion, wrote “with Mosaic thunder,” saying that the Smithfield group’s “interference with their quiet enjoyment of their properties was unreasonable. It was willful, and it was wanton.”

    For Smithfield, Addison writes, the ruling was a devastating blow. Its public relations team launched a preemptive strike in an attempt to staunch the bleeding. Its press release “then regurgitates the same warmed-over pablum that the hog barons have served up for more than a generation — that no one understands the industry, that all the negative media and lawsuits and jury verdicts are biased and unfair, that Smithfield cares about farmers, and that it is committed to feeding the world.”

    But writes Addison, “The press release, however, is not just propagandistic. It contains a nugget of news: ‘We have resolved these cases through a settlement that will take into account the divided decision of the court. Information about the terms of the settlement will not be disclosed.’”

    Unfortunately, the book ends on this note, leaving the reader to guess how much more Smithfield had to pay to each plaintiff and whether the settlement will significantly change Smithfield’s methods.

    Still, the book has gained national attention, including a detailed review in the July 10 edition of The New York Times Book Review. Stay tuned. The hog wars are not over.

  • 18 We have a great thought – an epiphany even — and begin hatching a plan to carry it out. Then we gather a few people to rally around our well-intended plan and begin to see the vision of what could be if we get everyone on board with the idea.

    Maybe the goal is to end gun violence, clean up the planet, address an epidemic or something a little less global, but whatever it is, we’re sure as soon as they hear it, everyone else will see the logic in our plan and climb aboard; until they don’t.

    What happens next in too many cases is that the people we sought as allies in our cause suddenly become detractors and fools — at least in our eyes.
    This has played out countless times in history. Heck, it played out several times last week!

    The lack of true unity in our world — down to the smallest denomination of people — is why politics, lawyers, the Constitution and “big brother” exists: When there is no unity, we begin to look to an enforcer of ideas.
    In the Bible, we see this play out as the new order under Jesus becomes known as the way begins to take hold. Righteous-thinking leaders gradually lose sight of the goal and start devising ways to employ and incorporate this new path to God.

    What once was exclusive and bound to a large (and growing) set of hard-to-keep rules was seemingly erased and replaced by a new deal that centered not around the old code, which punished wrongdoing, but around the central idea that God has wanted us all along and loves us so much, he allowed his own son to step up and defend us.
    But tradition — as traditions do — died hard.

    Not everyone agreed on the way to come together under this new deal. So the well-known Apostle Paul writes a letter to a group of leaders in Ephesus who are divided over the process.
    In what we consider the fourth chapter of his letter, he reminds us that the mission itself unites us.
    Not the method. Not the rules. Not the endless disgruntled chatter over what you can and can’t eat or which rules matter most — the mission.
    So, whether your plan is to unite people around the next great way to stem playground violence or clean up the streets in your city, maintain your focus on the goal. Realize many parts make the whole in accomplishing the mission.

    Likewise, for believers — we may differ in the how, but we need to maintain our unity in Christ nonetheless. Love must be our motivation — love for the gospel and one another.

  • 6 I’m a liberty-minded conservative, not an anarchist. I think government is inevitable and necessary but its legitimate scope and practical competencies are rather limited. The many public-policy failures during the COVID-19 pandemic illustrate the point well.

    For the most part, these failures were about competency, not legitimacy. As I argued when the COVID crisis began, combating communicable disease has always been a proper exercise of the police power enjoyed by states and localities. And reacting to truly national emergencies is one of the few powers properly enjoyed by the federal government.

    Alas, when the time came to deploy these powers in a prudent manner, public officials mostly blew it. In Washington, the Food and Drug Administration excluded private firms from offering rapid testing and then bungled the release of its own test kits. Congress and the executive branch (under both Donald Trump and Joe Biden) ran massive fiscal deficits to fund massive expansions of cash relief, unemployment insurance, business subsidies, Medicaid and aid to state and local governments.

    While some fraction of this largesse might have been justified if judiciously spent, that’s not how things worked out. Billions of dollars flowed to households and businesses that were never at significant financial risk. A large share of UI payments, as much as half in some places, turned out to be fraudulent.
    Many states and localities exited the pandemic with piles of (borrowed) federal money they wouldn’t or couldn’t spend on the originally stated purpose of keeping schools open and avoiding mass layoffs. Indeed, a new study by Jeffrey Clemmens and Philip Hoxie of UC-San Diego and Stan Veuger of the American Enterprise Institute estimated that the federal aid amounted to a mindboggling $855,000 per job saved in state and local government.

    Speaking of school closures, public officials in North Carolina and most other places got that policy wrong, too. Perhaps there was a justification for shutting down schools and other critical services during the first weeks of the pandemic in the spring of 2020. Much was then unknown about the severity and transmissibility of the coronavirus. But by the start of the 2020-21 school year, it was obvious that the costs of closure, in both educational and economic terms, far outweighed any health and safety benefits.

    As a longtime advocate of restoring the constraints of the federal constitution on Washington and devolving power and responsibility to states and localities, I will freely admit that the greatest public-policy success during the pandemic was a federal one: Operation Warp Speed, which used a combination of financial rewards and regulatory relief to encourage the rapid development of effective vaccines by private companies. To the extent states and localities facilitated the rapid deployment of the vaccines, they also deserve credit.

    If you look at COVID death rates adjusted for age, obesity and other risk factors — and you should only be looking at the data that way — the statistical relationship between vaccination rates and mortality is unambiguously negative. That is, the vaccines clearly reduced the severity of the illness and somewhat reduced the chance of getting it.

    On the other hand, when researchers study state and local policies such as school closures, shutdowns and limits on public gatherings, they typically find little-to-no relationship between the stringency of state and local restrictions and health outcomes. What they do tend to find is that places with more stringent regulations had larger job losses during the height of the COVID recession.
    While North Carolina and other states have largely recovered from the economic costs of the shutdowns of 2020 and 2021, the same can’t be said for the economic costs of the federal government’s policy errors during the pandemic. By adding trillions of dollars to the federal debt while vastly expanding the money supply, Washington set the stage for our current inflation crisis as well as the recession that may well follow it.
    Government coercion is a blunt instrument, best used sparingly. We’ve just relearned this timeless lesson.

  • 4 Ok, Fayetteville City Municipal elections are fast approaching on July 26. By now, most are aware that voter turnout has been pretty lackluster during the Early Voting period, which began on July 7 and runs through Saturday at 3 p.m. on July 23.

    As I write this, less than 1300 residents have made it down to the Board of Elections on Fountainhead Lane in downtown Fayetteville. Observers say that is disappointing and pathetic, but I say it's engineered and self-inflicted! It makes you wonder what the Cumberland County Board of Elections were thinking when arranging the Early Voting period or if they were thinking at all.
    Many others are speculating such negligence could only be intentional with the intent to design and engineer a voting period that fosters low turnout to shore up and protect the incumbents. This would make a great debate, with plenty of evidence substantiating this notion. Our current nine districts form of city government and the Board of Elections couldn't have made it more difficult for Fayetteville residents to participate in one of America's most cherished rights, the right to vote.

    Voting disincentives are many. There is only one inconvenient Early Voting location in Downtown Fayetteville. Some residents in outlying districts must travel 12 to 15 miles and 30 to 45 minutes to reach the polling location. Voters only get to vote for two out of 10 candidates, not making the journey downtown worthwhile. The only (inconvenient) Early Voting location in downtown Fayetteville closes at 5 p.m. and does not provide those voters who are getting off work at 5 or 5:30 in the evening an opportunity to vote. However, 5 p.m. is when the county election officials get off work.

    There were too few relevant candidate forums and no debates, especially at the district level. Consequently, voter awareness of the candidates and the critical issues that impact the residents of Fayetteville is lacking.
    During the past several weeks, I have fielded many personal calls and requests from friends, family and residents asking me, "Who should I vote for?" Even though many newspapers and media outlets across the country endorse political candidates, Up & Coming Weekly does not.

    However, here are my assessments of all 20 candidates. These are based on their achievements, community involvement, work ethic, integrity and overall willingness and desire to represent all Fayetteville residents of all districts. These candidates know and love this community and have demonstrated their advocacy for doing what's in the best interest of Fayetteville's citizens, businesses and organizations while enhancing our quality of life through better and more efficient government.

    I have bolded the candidates demonstrating the values I feel Fayetteville needs to move successfully into the 21st century.

    Mayor
    • Mitch Colvin - incumbent
    • Freddie de la Cruz
    District 1
    • Kathy Keefe Jensen - incumbent
    • Alex Rodriguez

    District 2
    • Shakeyla Ingram - incumbent
    • Tyrone A. Williams
    District 3
    • Mario (Be) Benavente
    • Antonio B. Jones - incumbent
    District 4
    • Thomas C. Greene
    • D.J. Haire - incumbent
    District 5
    • Johnny Dawkins - incumbent
    • Frederick G. LaChance III

    District 6
    • Peter Pappas
    • Derrick Thompson
    District 7
    • Brenda McNair
    • Larry O. Wright, Sr. - incumbent
    District 8
    • Courtney Banks-McLaughlin - incumbent
    • Michael Pinkston
    District 9
    • Deno Hondros
    • Yvonne Y. Kinston - incumbent

    Most of my preferred candidates, not all, favor term limits and adding four at-large seats to the Fayetteville City Council. This would give Fayetteville citizens six votes when choosing municipal leadership, rather than only two (one for Mayor, four for at-large council members, and one for their district).
    Many pundits are calling this a "friends and family" election, meaning that because of the collective barriers to voting mentioned above, the winning candidates will be determined by how well they turn out the vote. One thing you can count on, and I have said this many times before, is that we will ultimately end up with the Fayetteville leadership we deserve.
    Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • 11 Around 500,000 Americans use American Sign Language to communicate throughout the United States and Canada. Introduced in 1817 by Thomas Galludet, ASL is one of over 300 sign languages used worldwide.
    Interest in ASL has increased with additional available access to tutorials like those found on YouTube and TikTok. Additionally, ASL is often offered as a foreign language in the country's secondary and post-secondary education curricula.

    Deaf visibility has also risen tremendously over the last several decades, with interpreters signing major political events, awards shows and press conferences for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. However, the ASL community is comparatively small, comprising only about 1% of the population, and opportunities for socialization can be difficult.

    One way for both deaf and hearing people to come together for conversation or to practice conversational ASL is through Deaf Coffee Chat. With chapters all over the country, Deaf Coffee Chat is a social event where deaf people, students of ASL, or otherwise affiliated members of the deaf community meet regularly to socialize.

    While these gatherings often occur in local coffee shops, they can also happen in malls, ice cream shops and generally any place serving food and drink. No matter the setting, Deaf Coffee Chats’ chief objective is to offer a safe environment for members of the deaf community to interact in their native tongue.

    After a lengthy hiatus due to COVID-19 precautions, Deaf Coffee Chat Fayetteville is set to return to its regularly scheduled meetings on the first Thursday of every month beginning August 4 on the second floor of The Coffee Scene on Morganton Road from 6 to 9 p.m.

    The free, family-friendly event isn’t exclusive to fluent speakers of ASL. From beginners to interpreters, the door is open to anyone interested in learning more about the language and deaf culture.
    Up & Coming Weekly spoke with Tabby, owner and web developer of DeafCoffee.com, a website that provides an index of social places in the United States where deaf people can “get together, chat, and enjoy!”

    DeafCoffee.Com was first launched in 2003 by Grant Laird, Jr., and has since operated under one goal: to create connections across the United States for members of the Deaf Community no matter where they happen to live or where they happen to visit. The site is designed to be an easy-to-use reference and works diligently to keep meeting places up to date.
    In addition to the Fayetteville chapter, there are at least three active coffee chat meet ups out of North Carolina in Apex, Boiling Springs and Princeton, according to DeafCoffee.com.
    While socializing is at the top of the group’s agenda, Tabby sees great value in the get-togethers outside of sharing a laugh and a cup of coffee.

    “Opportunities for ASL students to further practice their signing by meeting deaf people are quite valuable. They also have a chance to learn things they would not have learned in a classroom setting. Also of value is meeting people in a deaf coffee chat which could lead to friendships and even careers (such as interpreters).”

    Deaf Coffee Chat is free and open to the public. While no purchases are necessary to participate, support of the coffee shop is encouraged.
    Coffee Scene is located at 3818 Morganton Road in Fayetteville.
    For more information on Deaf Coffee Chat Fayetteville, visit https://www.facebook.com/deafcoffeefayetteville.

  • 17 Watermelon is a stand-out fruit in the summer and is easily accessible at roadside markets, grocery stores and pickup trucks selling by the road. This common summertime delight is used for elaborate carvings, salads, drinks and desserts. Rinds are used for pickling, and you can even line dance to The Watermelon Crawl. It is also used in a popular dessert in Italy, consisting of almonds, chocolate and cinnamon.

    The first recorded watermelon was documented about 5000 years ago in Egypt. It has been depicted in ancient wall carvings and was often placed in burial tombs for nourishment in the afterlife. The most repeated account of watermelon is from South Africa, where it was believed to have been domesticated more than 4000 years ago. Watermelon was often used in the desert when water was contaminated or not available.

    Watermelon is a fruit related to cantaloupe, zucchini, pumpkin and cucumber. Watermelon is a summertime favorite and comprises about 90% water and about 85 calories per serving.
    Outside of the refreshing flavor and color combination of the skin, meat and rind, it has many health benefits. The bright red flesh is packed with nutrients that include antioxidants and contain Vitamins A and C. Other nutrients include potassium, fiber, iron, Vitamin B6, calcium and magnesium.

    The fruit also contains other antioxidants such as lycopene, and cucurbitacin E. Studies have suggested that lycopene may help lower cholesterol and blood pressure. The fruit can help with inflammation, eye health, skin and digestion. Who would think this bright and refreshing fruit would read with such a long list of benefits for our health?

    The easiest way to cut watermelon is by cutting off each end to create a flat surface, taking your knife, slicing down the sides and slicing to your liking—types of watermelon available vary.
    There is watermelon with the traditional hard black seeds and the seedless, cultivated with soft and edible seeds. The seeded variety is extra-large and oblong with a green rind, pink flesh and large black seeds. Watermelon seed spitting has been a tradition for decades, and the furthest recorded was 78.6 feet in Georgetown, Texas. Seedless melons were cultivated over 50 years ago with a lengthy process of cross-pollination in a protracted process with male and female flowers. Any seeds the fruit tries to produce remain immature and result in white edible seeds.

    The Japanese have developed ways to grow melons shaped like cubes!

    There is a difference between male and female watermelons. The males are larger, oblong and contain more water, while the female is round and sweeter. Watermelons are produced from plants or seeds, and both male and female flowers can be found on each plant. The difference between males and females is that females have a large bulb at the base for pollination.

    Bees and other pollinators pollinate the female, which grows into a watermelon. It takes about 50 days for full harvest, which means bloom to pick.
    There is an art to choosing a sweet watermelon. If there are white stripes where the melon is laid on the ground, it is not fully ripe. A “field spot,” usually yellow, indicates that it has been ripening for a long time while ripening on the ground. The melon should be heavy, and the stem dry and not green. A low-pitched sound when you thump it should be present.

    Enjoy your melon in the summer in various ways, seeded or seedless!
    Live, love life and watermelon.

  • 7b Fort Bragg may soon go by another name: Fort Liberty.
    In last year’s National Defense Authorization Act, Congress charged the Naming Commission with renaming any military installation whose name commemorates the Confederacy.
    Fort Bragg is named after North Carolina native Braxton Bragg, a Confederate general and slave owner prior to the Civil War.

    The Naming Commission released the potential new name of Fort Bragg, along with eight other military installation names that commemorate the Confederacy, in April.
    In October, the commission will present the new names to Congress for review, after which the U.S. Department of Defense will implement the new names by Jan. 1, 2024, per the federal legislation.

    According to documents from the Naming Commission, Liberty was chosen as a name due to its value being “more essential to the United States of America and the history of its military” than any other.
    Views on name change

    Jimmy Buxton, president of Fayetteville’s NAACP chapter, said that, while growing up in the area, he wasn’t aware that Bragg was named after a Confederate general. But after learning the history in adulthood, he supports the change.

    “If you have a chance to correct it, correct it,” he said, referring to the racist history of Confederate monuments and commemorations.
    Some, however, feel differently about the name change.

    Grilley Mitchell, president of the Cumberland County Veterans Council, said he viewed the name change as erasing history.

    “You should never try to erase history,” he said. “I’m a firm believer that he that (does) not learn from history (is) doomed to repeat it.”
    Mitchell, a Black man who grew up in the Jim Crow south in Georgia, said the name change won’t heal the racist past of that era.

    “Changing the name, it’s not going to heal anything, it’s not going to fix anything,” he said. “To me, it covers it up by putting a coat of paint on something.”
    Mitchell said the history involved with the name of Fort Bragg shouldn’t be ignored.

    “That’s just the truth, this history,” he said. “That’s the ugly part of history in this nation. That is something that we should understand and know that no human being that walks the face of this Earth should be subjected and treated in that manner. Period.”

    Mitchell did say he recognized that some view the name change as stopping the glorification of Confederate figures.

    “Some feel and believe that taking that name away would allow them to move forward with that part of the past behind them,” he said.
    Buxton said, speaking specifically to white people who oppose the renaming, that change is inevitable.

    “Change is something most people don’t know how to take, especially when you do a big change like this,” he said. “I can live with the name change because I can see the reason why, I would say, a lot more because of my color as a Black man.”

    While many may not be ready for the change, regardless of their reason, Buxton said it is for the better.

    “That’s something I think we as a people have to get used to, change for the better,” he said. “In the long run. We shouldn’t have a Confederate general’s name on an Army post, especially one who owned slaves.”
    Even though Mitchell initially opposed the change, he said that many on active duty, as well as veterans, will accept it.

    “The decision was made, and I’m an old soldier,” he said. “Once the leaders make the decision, we adapt to the new decision.”

  • 15 Many in the Fayetteville community have given back to help Ukraine and its citizens as the small country fights Russia. The Gilbert Theater plans to join that growing group of supporters.

    Two summer camps at Gilbert Theater will perform a Ukrainian play called “The Blabbermouth, The Puff Monster and The Wolf.”

    The play comprises three comedic folk tales from Ukraine. In “The Blabbermouth,” a clever woodsman devises an ingenious ruse to keep a buried treasure secret, despite his gossipy wife. The following story is about the goofy, cellar-dwelling “Puff Monster,” who bites off more than it can chew. The last tale, “Sirko and the Wolf,” tells the story of two wolfy cousins who outwit a cranky, noodle-wielding Babushka.
    Tammy Woody, the education director at Gilbert Theater, says they chose this play because the playwright, Patrick Rainville Dorn, and Pioneer Drama Service will donate all of their royalties to the International Red Cross’s Ukraine Emergency Appeal.

    “The Gilbert Theater is very outreach-oriented. As a non-profit, we look to help other people. The situation in Ukraine is sad, and when this came through, it just seemed like something we could be a part of to help the country,” Woody said.

    On top of purchasing the rights to the play, the Gilbert Theater will also be donating a portion of the proceeds from the camps to the Red Cross in support of Ukraine.
    According to Pioneer Drama Service’s website, the Gilbert Theater is one of eight current productions of this Ukrainian play.

    Performers will come from two camps, separated by age. The first camp is for kids 12 to 18 years old. Their performances will be held on July 22 at 7 p.m. and July 23 at 1 p.m.
    The second camp, scheduled for the week of Aug. 8, is for kids aged 7 to 11 years old. Their performances will be held on Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. and Aug. 13 at 1 p.m.

    Woody says the camp will teach the kids all about acting, singing and dancing to prepare them to perform the play within one week.

    “We will have theater games and exercises. They will have a vocal performance to learn the vocals and choreography time to learn the movements. We will be adding some songs to the play,” Woody said. “It takes a lot of time to put a play together and to do it in one week. It’s a pretty fast-paced week.”
    Details on ticketing for productions have not been finalized at the time of Up & Coming Weekly’s interview with Woody. Still, she says more information about the performances will be available on their website and social media pages.

    Camp registration is still open for the younger age group. Registration costs are $150 for one child. Each additional sibling is $125.
    To learn more about the camps, email Woody at education@gilberttheater.com for more information.

  • 9 Cumberland County has a cool solution for beating the heat this summer.
    With daily average temps hovering in the 90s and weekly heat advisories making outside fun exhausting and dangerous, parents with little ones to keep safely entertained need to look no further than their local splash pad and community pool.

    With over twelve locations throughout Cumberland County, splash pads provide a fun, safe alternative for water play. It’s not uncommon to visit a splash pad and see children of all ages playing together amongst the various spouts, nozzles, sprinklers and dumping buckets.
    Up & Coming Weekly spoke with Nacarla Webb, Public Information Specialist for the City of Fayetteville, about the splash pad’s many advantages.

    “Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation splash pads are free to everyone,” she said. “Many splash pads are located near recreation centers or schools which are visible, public sites. These locations are areas where neighbors and families can look out for each other.”

    Another benefit of the popular water feature is that, unlike public pools, splash pads don’t require a lifeguard on duty and are generally much safer for children who are not yet confident swimmers, a relief to parents who may want to relax as their children have fun.

    “The splash pad zero depth entry feature is welcoming because it means the play area is flat,” Webb explained. “Additionally, there may be children in the community who haven’t learned to swim or are afraid of larger bodies of water. A splash pad is a place where they can get wet and then easily step away. Also, a parent can be nearby to watch their child’s movements and join in on the fun with little hassle.”
    The splash pad maintains a detailed seven-day-a-week cleaning schedule, ensuring those spaces stay safe and sanitary.

    Cumberland County offers four public pools and several aquatic programs to develop safe, confident swimmers for children ready to move from splashing to diving.
    For residents aged 12 and under, the pool costs $1, while non-residents in the same age group will pay $2. For residents 13 and up, the cost is $2, and $4 for non-residents.

    Lifeguard certification courses are held throughout the year for those fifteen years of age and older. Registration for weekly swim camp is still open until July 25, with the last camp offered this summer Aug. 5.
    The many aquatic offerings in Cumberland County allow parents to treat their kids to some fun without breaking the bank or a sweat, and many are grateful for the convenience.

    “We’ve been to a few of the splash pads and have thoroughly enjoyed them every time,” local author K.M. Rives shared with Up & Coming Weekly. “We try to go once a week if we can. Our kids love them, and it’s a great way to get them outside during the summer.”

    Cumberland County splash pads are open from May 1 until Labor Day, Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
    For more information on the splash pad and pool locations, visit https://www.fcpr.us/facilities/aquatics.

  • 5 “Things fall apart; the center cannot hold.”
    — William Butler Yeats

    “But things don’t just fall apart, people break them.”
    —Robin Wasserman


    It is increasingly difficult for this American, and perhaps for you too, to feel that our nation is at a pivotal moment in our history, a moment at which we are deciding which direction we want to take as a nation. Harvard
    Historian Jill Lepore’s astounding book, “These Truths,” posits that the United States was founded on two contradictory pillars — the idea of natural rights and liberty and the reality of human slavery. She goes on for 29 hours in the audiobook version to explain how these truths have shaped us since 1619 and continue to shape us today.

    The innate tension between these two pillars has rarely been clearer than today in our divided nation. Two wildly controversial issues make this division crystal clear.
    Since America decided, after the Sandy Hook Elementary School mass murders in 2012, that our guns, especially military-grade assault weapons, are more important to us than our children, mass shootings have become so commonplace that we hardly notice them. The Washington Post reports more than 300 mass shootings in the United States in 2022, about 20 since the Uvalde Elementary School murders in late May. Ask yourself how many of those you are even aware of, much less knowledgeable about.

    Shocking as mass shootings used to be, the numbers of people injured and killed in them pale compared to the everyday gun-related deaths across the country — murders, accidents and suicides. If we define mass shootings as those in which at least four people die, they account for less than 1% of all gun deaths, yet our reaction to this is increasingly “ho hum.” We are the only nation with more guns than people, 393 million to 330 million, according to a 2018 report by the Small Arms Survey. This imbalance will only grow as we Americans have been on a gun-buying spree since COVID began, and we can now manufacture our own, do-it-yourself unregistered weapons at home.

    And then there is the other divisive issue, a woman’s right to control her own body, a right recently rescinded by a highly politicized U.S. Supreme Court decision. No matter what side of the abortion issue one falls on, it is impossible not to acknowledge some of the absurdity of the current situation. Some states ban abortion altogether, recognizing a fetus as a person.

    A pregnant woman in Texas took advantage of this point of view by driving in the High Occupancy Lane of a freeway. When a law enforcement officer pulled her for being the only person in the car, she announced that her unborn child was a person under Texas law, making her HOV driving legal. The officer ticketed her anyway, and her court date falls on her due date.
    Internet memes take this legal head-butting even further by encouraging Americans to call the IRS and demand a tax deduction for their fetus, for pregnant women who are imprisoned to sue for wrongful imprisonment of their fetus, to check with the Fire Marshall on occupancy regulations because pregnant women now count as two people and to demand life and health insurance for their fetuses. In other words, a fetus is either a person, or it isn’t. We cannot have it both ways.

    This American is sad, alarmed and apprehensive about our nation’s future. We must find ways to dial down the heat in our national conversations, respect each other even when we disagree and get out of our silos and actually talk to each other.

    Marianne Williamson, author, spiritual leader, activist and 2020 presidential candidate, said this, “don’t be concerned that things appear to be falling apart: This has to happen for something new and wonderful to emerge.”

    I hope and pray she is right.

  • 8 It's a sunny Sunday morning. The streets of downtown Fayetteville are quiet at 7 a.m., and the urge to tip-toe feels appropriate so as not to wake the sleeping city.

    Plush green lawns sparkle in the early morning sun, the roads are empty ahead of the Sunday morning church rush, and it's the perfect time for a run — or leisurely walk if one feels so inclined.
    For members of the Fayetteville Running Club, it's always a good time for a run.

    A loose group of people, around 12 or so, assemble in the Airborne and Special Operation Museum's deserted parking lot, and it's hard to detect a stranger among them. The club members all squeeze in for a smiley "before" picture snapped by hostess Nichole Jenkins, and then they're off.

    The group immediately falls into threesomes, pairs and singles as everyone sets their pace for the four-mile loop through a shuttered downtown.
    It's a motley crew as some in the group look as if they'll attack the four miles in a single bite, while others have only come to graze. The chatter is light and easy as they wind down Hay Street, around Festival Park and through gardens in riotous bloom.

    There's not a whiff of competition or judgment as everyone finds their rhythm within the group, and it's easy to see the camaraderie and affection between them.
    Long-time members Karen Shotwell and Trina Tellames, who arrived in matching Fourth of July-inspired T-shirts, make it a point to speak to everyone; their energy is nothing short of infectious.
    Angela Crosby, director of operations at Cozy Corner Child Development Center and Jump Start University, who arrived with her 9-month-old granddaughter in tow, has been a member of Fayetteville Running Club for two years and smiles easily when asked about it.

    "It's a great way to stay active," said the newly minted grandmother. "A friend from my gym told me about it, and I originally came just to hang out with her — now here I am."
    The feeling of acceptance is immediate and genuine. No one is left out or left behind, and according to Fayetteville Running Club's President, Shawn Wussow — that's the point.

    "The first hurdle is signing up," he explained. "There's a fear of not fitting in, of thinking you're not a runner or that you won't be able to keep up. We have people in our club who can run a mile in 20 minutes and people who can run it in six. We try to make our meetups inclusive. We try to make them fun. It's more about community and dynamics rather than how fast you can run. We're a socially inclusive club, and we celebrate every milestone."

    A member of the group since 2012, Wussow summed up the Fayetteville Running Club with one word when asked:

    "Awesome!"

    Fayetteville Running Club, established around 2009, is an ongoing active running club that offers weekly runs, social gatherings, training, support and accountability to the people in their community.
    While there is a heavy emphasis on running, Wussow wants people to know that Fayetteville Running Club is much more than just a running club.

    "Fayetteville Running Club is one of the most incredibly diverse groups of people I've ever seen, and that's what drew me to it," he shared. "People think we're a pack of Olympic runners, but there's a lot they don't see —we're much more than a group of runners."

    As a non-profit organization, Fayetteville Running Club dedicates its time to the betterment and support of its community in a number of ways. From monthly donations to local charities to volunteering to run with animals at local shelters, Fayetteville Running Club is an organization committed to an attitude of service.

    With over 10 weekly meetups, and at least one every day, the club takes the running aspect of its reputation very seriously. With runs that suit every fitness level, lifestyle, body type and schedule, the Fayetteville Running Club is first and foremost a club for all people — not just the athletic ones.

    The sign-up is the same for the first-time walker ready to get healthy or the seasoned runner with medals adorning their wall.
    Potential members can look up Fayetteville Running Club on its various social media platforms or register through runsignup.com. While access to meetups is free, a paid membership offers the following incentives: a free T-shirt, a discount at local running store Fleet Feet, access to a private Facebook page, nutrition and fitness advice and discounts on fun activities and races.
    As outlined on runsignup.com, current membership rates are $30 for the year for new members or $45 for a 12-month membership for a family of four (new membership only).
    Wussow, dedicated to "making membership matter," invites anyone interested to check out a meetup, introduce themselves, and get a feel for the group.

    "We have a walking group twice a day. You can find a run at 5:30 in the morning or 5:30 in the evening, and two a day on the weekends. We try to fit into your schedule, so you don't have to work hard to fit us into yours."

    The running club, which also partners with Cool Spring Downtown District, can be seen on the streets of downtown Fayetteville handing out flyers on 4th Friday. They also partner with Black Girls Run, Team Red White and Blue and other organizations supporting health and empowerment.

    Through Fayetteville Running Club, Wussow hopes that walkers, runners and those in-between find a place to belong as they explore their personal goals.

    "This club is my family," Wussow said. "I look at every single person and see them as a person I'm responsible for. I even worry about the new folks. I worry about them feeling welcome because joining something new is hard. I want everyone to have the time they think they should, and I want everyone to have a sense of accomplishment."

    To sign up as a member of the Fayetteville Running Club, visit. https://runsignup.com/Club/NC/FAYETTEVILLE/FayettevilleRunningClub.
    To join them for a walk or run, visit https://www.meetup.com/fayrunclub/.

  • 7a The Chemours chemical company blamed for polluting water supplies in southwestern Cumberland County, the Cape Fear River and points south into Wilmington today filed legal action against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and its health advisory data released in late June.

    In June, Chemours hinted it was considering legal action after EPA and North Carolina released new health advisories for private drinking water wells in the Gray’s Creek Community. Those advisories upgraded what EPA believed were dangers to the public exposed to chemical compounds that leached into local area wells.
    Chemours Fayetteville Works is located along the Cumberland/Bladen County line and was previously known as DuPont.

    Today, the Chemour Company petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit for a review of the June 15 EPA health advisory for hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) and its ammonium salt.
    In a recent statement, Chemours states that it supports government regulation “that is grounded in best available science and follows the law.” It claims that the health advisory issued by EPA in June fails to follow science or the law.

    “When an agency misuses its authority to promulgate a health advisory that is scientifically unsound, in a manner contrary to the agency’s own processes and standards, we have an obligation to challenge it, administratively and in the courts,” according to the statement.

    Chemours argues that nationally recognized toxicologists and other scientists evaluated the EPA’s analysis and determined it “fundamentally flawed.” Chemours also contends that EPA knew its data was flawed, ignored relevant data and used “grossly” incorrect and “overstated” exposure assumptions in determining GenX levels.

    Hexafluoropropylene oxide (HFPO) dimer acid and its ammonium salt are compounds used in manufacturing and referred to by their trade name GenX. Chemours states that its parent company DuPont sought EPA approval to use GenX under the Toxic Substance Control Act and was given the go-ahead by the EPA in January 2009.

    In its June 15 health advisory, the EPA dramatically changed the minimum levels of GenX in drinking water from 140 parts per trillion (ppt) to 10 parts per trillion. The new minimum ppt replaces the state’s provisional safe drinking water goal for GenX, established in 2018.

    The EPA’s final health advisory for GenX affects a current consent order requiring Chemour to provide whole house filtration or connection to public water for any private drinking well that tests above the new health advisory ppt.

    The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality already directed Chemour to revise its drinking water compliance requirements by considering the 10 ppt for GenX. According to the state, the newly released lower GenX ppt levels will make about 1,700 more private wells eligible for whole house filtration systems.
    The concern of GenX contamination of private water wells in area communities is prevalent among County leaders and staff. So far, well water contamination has ranged 10 miles south and 25 miles north of the plant.

    The EPA had also listed interim health advisory levels for several other PFAS chemicals: PFOS at .004 ppt and PFOA at.02 ppt. A third chemical, PFBS, did not have significant concentrations in samples taken to date in North Carolina.

    The NCDEQ scheduled an in-person community information meeting on Tuesday, July 26, at the Crown Theater. Registration is open at 5:30 p.m., and the meeting starts at 6.
    The intent of the meeting is to share information and answer questions about how the EPA’s newly revised lower health advisory for GenX affects drinking water well sampling in Cumberland, Bladen, Sampson and Robeson counties.

  • 4 Publisher's Note:
    Unfortunately, lies and misrepresentations of the Vote Yes initiative are creating a significant injustice for the Black community, by the Black community.
    In essence, this proposal to add four at-large seats on the council with five district seats is not a racial issue by any stretch of the imagination. Approving and passing this proposal will allow every Fayetteville citizen to have a voice in choosing Fayetteville's elected officials.

    Under the current system, citizens get only two votes. Under the proposed plan, each citizen would receive six votes. One for Mayor, one for their district council member, and four at-large council members. Every citizen benefits!

    Much discussion lately has been aimed at low voter turnout at the polls during election time. The presumed blame falling mostly on “apathetic and lazy citizens.” Not so. With 10 elected officials running our city, we ask citizens to leave their homes, families and places of employment and travel to a precinct polling location to cast a ballot for only two out of 10 candidates. Fayetteville residents obviously do not see the value in that, yet those currently on the city council ignore this fact so as not to weaken or jeopardize their position.

    As a result, thousands of residents are being represented (or misrepresented) by unqualified candidates elected by only a few hundred votes or less.
    For our community to move forward into a prosperous 21st century, we need good ethical people with common sense, intelligence and leadership abilities.
    Without it, crime, overall community safety, homelessness, affordable housing, infrastructure and stormwater issues and trash-litter problems will continue to escalate throughout our city.
    — Bill Bowman, Publisher

     

    The term “democracy” comes from two Greek words: "demos" (the people) and “kratia” (power and authority). So, democracy is a form of government that gives power to the people. Lately, America's democracy has been strained at all levels.

    First, there's the U.S. House Jan. 6 committee hearing about an effort to overturn the 2020 elections. Second, the U.S. Supreme Court has issued some controversial opinions this term: upended a 50-year-old precedent on abortion, expanded gun rights for the first time in a decade, bolstered religious rights, notably those of Christians and declared that a violation of Miranda does not necessarily constitute a violation of the Constitution.
    Passionate opinions have caused demonstrations on both sides of the issues. Democracy is a model form of government, but it's not a guarantee.

    Life won't always go the way you want it to sometimes.
    Democracy is supposed to allow all citizens an opportunity to have an equal voice, and it achieves that purpose most of the time. Democracy is imperfect but inherently and highly flexible.

    What happens in Raleigh and Washington, D.C., gets most of the attention, but local government is the most important for several reasons.
    First, municipal governments impact constituents far more frequently and positively than either state or federal legislators. Second, citizens can have far more influence at the local level than they ever will at higher echelons.

    One-stop voting for Fayetteville's municipal election is from July 7 through July 23. The General Election is July 26. Voter turnout is predicted to be very low. The power rests with the people, but that power can't be realized if citizens don't vote. Fayetteville elected officials are presently under a council-manager form of government.
    The council comprises the mayor and nine council representatives elected to single-member districts. Lately, the question has become, as Fayetteville is evolving, should it continue with all single-member districts, or is the time ripe for change? A Vote Yes Fayetteville initiative recently secured 5,007 signatures from city residents to change the Fayetteville City Council from nine single-member districts to a combination of five single-member districts and four at-large districts.

    If the Vote Yes initiative is successful, Fayetteville City voters could cast six votes — one for Mayor, four for at-large council members and a district council member. Fundamental fairness dictates Vote Yes supporters deserve an equal voice, and we expect this matter to be on the November ballot.
    The current council has 10 members — eight are African American, including the mayor. The mayor and several African-American council members have voiced concerns about the proposed change.
    It is rumored heavily in the Black community that racism is behind the call for change since eight out of 10 present members of the council are African American.

    Vote Yes supporters, including two former mayors, two former mayors pro tem and two past Fayetteville City Council members, deny the race allegation. The Vote Yes initiative began the signature collection process a year ago.
    Is the proposed change about race? Thus far, the allegations appear unfounded. I know players on both sides of the issue, and I believe this is more about trust than race.

    I fully understand some members of the Black community holding the white community as suspect, but declaring unfounded fears as racial motivation is unfair to both sides of the process.
    Again, democracy ought to give power to the people and provide an opportunity for an equal voice.

    Pause the racially-charged rhetoric and let the people decide at the polls. Indeed, the ability to raise enough money to run at large is not racial. It's economics.

  • 18 Empowering young girls and women, that is Andréa Williams’ mission in all of her projects.
    Williams is the founder and CEO of the nonprofit organization Blazin Beauty. The nonprofit’s goal is to educate, inform and empower women. Williams is also the owner and operator of Silhouettes Firearms Training, LLC.

    With her organizations, she endeavors to support the community.

    “I wanted to be able to contribute to the community in a different type of way, using Silhouettes and use partnerships within the community. So we’re always inspired by our youth. We do feel that it takes a village to raise a child. We believe in that,” Williams said. “So we just want to do our part to encourage our youth.”

    Williams' team at Blazin Beauty and Sillhouettes Firearm Training, LLC will be partnering with Family Martial Arts Academy to host a one-day seminar for girls aged 11 through 16. Williams says this age is critical.

    “Our girls are dealing with different stresses than what we were dealing with when we were growing up. And so it is critical that they have examples that are in the community that live among them where, one, they’re able to turn to as mentors, but two, they are able to see that ‘these people have kind of been where I was when I was younger,’ even though they may consider us old. These people have been where we are. They can relate,” Williams said.

    The event aims to teach the girls self-confidence, help them practice their social skills and communication, learn self-defense and learn how to use their body and voice as proactive defense tools. The seminar is not a firearms training event.

    “I think that [the girls] will have fun learning those self-defense tactics that Tracy Huff has in place,” Williams told Up & Coming Weekly.

    “But I would hope that they take away having that confidence to use their voices, whether it’s to stand up for themselves or even to stand up for others.”

    This seminar is the first time Williams is putting on this program. The goal is to see if the community responds well. She hopes that by providing a different set of tools to these young girls, they can use those tools again and have the courage to be themselves.

    “Because that’s what it’s about, is really just having the courage to be yourself, understanding that you are enough,” Williams said.

    The event is $15 and tickets can be purchased at www.buy.stripe.com/14k03989D6Di7QccMM. There are 80 spots total.

    The seminar will take place on July 16 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Silhouettes Firearms Training, LLC. at 1165 N Bragg Blvd. in Spring Lake.
    The event will include lunch. Parents and caregivers are welcome to stay during the seminar.

  • 5 Trigger warning: Today, we enter Room 237 at the Overlook Hotel. There is a 100% chance that this column will irritate certain readers. If you think that the Former Guy was the greatest President in American history, tear up this page, mutter some curses and buy a copy of “Guns & Glory.” You ain’t gonna like the rest of the column. I will wait while the room empties out. Tick, tock. Tick, tock. Everybody out of the pool?

    Remember in Stanley Kubrick’s movie version of Stephen King’s “The Shining” when Mr. Halloran is talking with Danny about what happened in the Overlook Hotel? If you don’t recall, not to worry. I will mansplain it to you. Danny is a little boy who has moved to the Overlook Hotel, where his father is going to spend the winter as the caretaker for the empty resort. Danny has the supernatural ability to ‘shine,’ which lets him see events that happened in the past. Danny correctly intuits there is something bad about the Overlook. The hotel cook, Mr. Halloran, tells Danny that a lot of things happened at the Overlook, and not all of them were good. Danny asks, “What happened in Room 237?” Halloran says, “Nothing happened in Room 237. But you ain’t got no business going in there anyway. So, stay out! Stay out!” Naturally, Danny ends up in Room 237.

    The year of our Lord 2022 is the chronological equivalent of Room 237. This year we are all in Room 237. A lot of stuff happened in 2022. As Mr. Halloran said, not all of it was good. Instead of one of my usual ridiculous columns about cheese caves or Putin’s digestive production, today we will stare at mass shootings and the Supreme Court's decision on abortion. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

    These topics have no common ground between opposing parties. They tend to offend. This column was written the same day of the Highland Park mass shooting. Accordingly, I am cranky about gun violence while producing this stain on western literature. By the time this doggerel hits the streets, there will probably have been yet another mass murdering. They seem to be rolling in about every 10 days. It is difficult to keep track of the latest fresh horror without a program. Mass shootings prove once again that crocodile tears, thoughts and prayers are not a defense against a moron with a grudge and an AR-15 style semi-automatic rifle.

    Mass shootings claim elementary students, parade watchers, church goers and grocery shoppers. The mythical good guy with a gun doesn’t stop the slaughters. They keep happening. At Uvalde, a whole passel of good guys with guns stood in a school hallway while a moron with a gun killed kids and their teachers. If the cops are afraid to go against a moron with an AR-15 style semi-automatic rifle, arming Beaver’s teacher Miss Landers at Mayfield Elementary with a pistol ain’t gonna stop said armed moron.

    The argument that “guns don’t kill people; people kill people” is a catchy bumper sticker, but it’s wrong. The slogan’s premise is the gun just lays there and does not hurt anyone. It is not the innocent gun’s fault. Big Tobacco could make the same argument about cigarettes. A pack of cigarettes just lays there and does not hurt anyone. But when someone picks up the pack and starts smoking, the innocent little cigarettes kill people. When a moron picks up a gun and starts shooting, the guns kill people.

    The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, removing abortion as a federal constitutional right. This delighted the anti-abortion folks and angered the pro-choice side. For the foreseeable future, all Supreme Court decisions will be based on simple arithmetic: six is greater than three. The religious beliefs of the Court’s six are that abortion is murder. Other people disagree. We have entered the wonderful world of living in a theocracy. When religion becomes law, there will be a bad moon rising. Trouble is on the way.

    Guy A says: “My religion says I can’t do that.” Guy B responds: “OK.” Then Guy A says: “My religion says you can’t do that.” Guy B replies, “Buzz off.” (Dialogue cleaned up). When Religion A tells nonbelievers in Religion A, they must follow Religion A’s beliefs we are in Shiite versus Sunni territory. Any readers left? Are you mad yet? The six can change any rules to suit their politically and theologically correct thoughts. Math rules. Unlike when Jimi Hendrix sang: “Now if six turned out to be nine/ I don’t mind, I don’t mind.” Lots of people gonna mind while the six change all the rules.

    So, what have we learned today? Math conquers all. Six is more than three. The current Supreme Court can overturn any precedent it chooses. It’s always too soon to talk about gun control. Apologies for this rant. This column tries to avoid doom scrolling. Get your bad news elsewhere. My ability to ignore reality faltered briefly, resulting in today’s fuss. Goodbye to Room 237. A return to ridiculous
    topics next time.

  • 15 One Friday a month, the good people of Fayetteville can make their way down to the Cape Fear River for a truly awesome live music experience. In a sea of canvas camping chairs, people can gather together with beer and burger in hand, united in one goal: to have a good time.

    The Rock'n On The River concert series showcases some of the area’s most talented musicians in a laid-back outdoor venue that’s free for all and family-friendly.
    Located behind Deep Creek Outfitters at Campbellton Landing, the pavilion-like stage has already presented some of Fayetteville’s favorite bands this summer season. From the country music stylings of Dark Horse to 80s hard rock cover band, The Fifth, Rock'n On The River has a band for every taste.

    Next up, on July 22, is rhythm and blues band Autumn Tyde, followed by Foreigner tribute band Rev On.
    Autumn Tyde, created by legendary musician and Fayetteville Music Hall of Famer Doyle Wood, will grace the stage at 6 p.m. and Wood can’t wait.
    As a relatively new band on the scene, Rock'n On The River will be the band’s first concert in Fayetteville, which only adds to the excitement for long-time musician Wood.

    “This is a great band with such great musicians,” he said of the group. “We have four lead singers in the band — it’s not a one-man show at all, and I just really enjoy doing it.”
    Playing a mix of rock, R & B, original music and the beach music suggested by the band’s name, Wood is keen to share a little something for everyone. Concert-goers can expect to hear some Prince, James Brown, Joe Bonamassa and a little Poco.

    “It’ll be a fun show,” he assured. “We’ve got a different setup than most, and I think the crowd will really enjoy it. At the end of the night, I hope they enjoyed our original music and noted the musicianship and professionalism of the band. These guys are good; if not, I wouldn’t be doing it.”

    For those in the audience who “Want to Know What Love Is,” Rev On, featuring Jan Fields, will hit the stage at 8 p.m. and close out the night.
    While guests are encouraged to bring their camping chairs, no outside food, coolers or containers will be allowed. Food and beverages will be for sale courtesy of Deep Creek Grill, and event sponsor Healy Wholesale will provide alcoholic beverages for guests 21 and up.

    Though the concert is free and open to the public, on-site parking will be $10 per vehicle, a departure from last year.
    Rockin’ on the River is located at 1122 Pearson St. East in Fayetteville. For more information about the venue, follow them at www.facebook.com/Rockn-On-The-River-271048666818630.
    For updates, news and show information, follow Autumn Tyde at www.facebook.com/autumntyde.

    To keep up with Rev-On, visit the band at their website https://revonband.com/.

     

  • 12 It all started with a friendship. In 2014, 9-year-old Seth Wofford noticed Mr. Steve, a gentleman he often saw behind his school in downtown Fayetteville. The two felt a connection right away and struck up an unlikely friendship.  A simple wish

    “Steve was really kind,” Seth's mother, Lindsey Wofford, said. “He would also say hello to the parents as they passed by with their kids, and Seth just really liked him.”

    Filled with the curiosity common at that age, Seth asked questions that were difficult to answer.

    “Where does Steve live, and where does he go when it's cold?”

    Through a difficult conversation, Lindsey Wofford tried to help her son understand, Mr. Steve was homeless. Filled with the pure and dauntless intentions of a child, Seth was determined to help Mr. Steve and others in a similar predicament in any way he could. After months of brainstorming, the answer came from a surprising source — a television commercial.

    Capital One was running a campaign called A Wish for Others that asked viewers to submit a wish they had on someone else's behalf, and Seth Wofford had a big one.

    A national problem
    According to the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, over 500,000 Americans currently live in a state of homelessness. Homelessness as a national issue originated in the late 19th century, mostly in dense urban areas, and has been a steadily growing issue across the United States ever since. Due largely to a worsening drug epidemic, a steady increase in housing costs, stagnation of wages, the displacement of LGBTQ+ youth and few resources for those with mental illness, the number of homeless people in America has grown exponentially.

    As of 2019, an estimated 9,314 homeless people live in North Carolina, about 798 of whom are veterans, and just under 500 live in Cumberland County. With the economic fallout of COVID-19 and the highest spike in prices in over 30 years, the rate of homelessness in America isn't likely to slow down anytime soon.

    A wish fulfilled
    Armed with a $1000 gift card from Capitol One, Seth Wofford set about to make his wish a reality.

    “He was so excited,” Lindsey Wofford shared.

    “We picked out stuff for Steve and a couple of others, and we just kept meeting people who wanted to help. We learned as we went, it kept snowballing, and it slowly grew to this,” she said, her arms spread wide to demonstrate the enormity of their work. “Sometimes we look around and say, ‘how did this even happen?’”

    From the joy of that first shopping trip, Lindsey Wofford felt the power of her son's wish and has never looked back. After obtaining 501(c)3 status in 2015, Seth's Wish has created a space where people can get the help they need with dignity and kindness. The organization's mission: “To positively impact lives and bring together the community by providing the necessary resources to those facing food insecurity, homelessness and other poverty-stricken crises in Fayetteville,” is at the heart of all they do.

    Standing at about 5'2", Lindsey Wofford has a smile and a greeting for everyone who walks into the Day Room of Seth's Wish, now headquartered on South Reilly Road in Fayetteville. Warm and funny in cut-offs and a T-shirt, Wofford treats the people who walk into the white house with the blue shutters like guests in her home. The Day Room, open every Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., is well organized and meant to suggest a shopping experience no different than any other. There are no need-based forms to fill out or embarrassing questions to answer before people fill their carts.

    “People come in and say, ‘hey, I need stuff,’” Lindsey Wofford explained, “and if you need it, then you need it. It's yours. We're here to give it, so we're going to give it.”
    And while it might seem an opportunity for unscrupulous individuals to swoop in and take advantage of the generosity on display, Lindsey Wofford doesn't worry about that. “For every one person that takes what they don't need, there are a hundred people that do,” she said.

    Clothing items are hung on racks that line the walls, while baby items, toys, household goods, entertainment and fresh produce from the garden are laid out on tables in the middle. A pantry off to the side holds a wealth of non-perishables donated from food banks and people in the community, and a refrigerator houses essentials such as milk, eggs and deli sandwiches. Seth's Wish also serves food from their kitchen if anyone wants or needs a plate for the road. Meals like lasagna with rolls and a glass of sweet tea might be the only full meal some patrons have all day. Seth's Wish and the items found therein are donated by people of the community, with clothing items — especially those for children, being the largest percentage of donations.

    “Donations are literally how we function,” Lindsey Wofford said. “They're how this room stays full.”

    Seth's Wish also partners with Second Harvest Food Bank and receives donations from outlets all over the city, including Walmart. With help from Sustainable Sandhills, Seth's Wish also grows fresh produce in the house's backyard.

    “Everyone just comes and plants stuff,” Lindsey Wofford joked.

    “I don't even know what's in here.”
    The tomatoes, green beans and cucumbers are easily identified in the carefully tended gardens, and it's clear they're grown by a very green thumb. Fresh vegetables, which are often overlooked due to their cost and fragility in times of food insecurity, are a welcome and necessary addition to the organization's pantry. While the Day Room is a space for patrons to fill a basket with what they need, the front of the house, called Seth's Wish Gift Shop, is a space where they can shop for the things they want. Filled with jewelry, paintings, pottery and wreaths, the little boutique is a project of which Lindsey Wofford is immensely proud.

    “This is our coolest program ever,” she gushed while walking through the shelves of handmade items.

    “People that come in for services who are talented or crafty, we open a file on them and feature their work in the store. When they make a sale, 100% of the money goes back to the artist that created it. It's just a way for them to make some extra money.”

    Many of the items are created through donated crafting materials, which keep costs low for the artists and free up space at Seth's Wish.

    “We have such great stuff here,” Lindsey Wofford said. “There are just so many talented people.”

    A home lost and found

    It's hard to argue with the success of Seth's Wish in the community, but that's not to say there haven't been a few setbacks. Originally operating in a building on South Cool Spring Street, the organization, known for its efforts in the homeless community, suddenly became homeless themselves. About two months after COVID-19 gripped the city and the nation, tragedy struck Seth's Wish literally and figuratively when a van crashed through their building, destroying the Day Room. While no one was injured, the building was officially condemned. It was another two years before the organization found a space they could call home.

    “We're very definite on the fact that the money that comes in or is donated goes toward services. We don't want to pay $1000 monthly to rent a space when that money could go toward helping people.”

    A chance meeting with a gentleman who owned a house used as a food pantry for his church donated the space to Seth's Wish. The rest is history.

    “I never thought we'd be able to find something like this,” she said, the gratitude plain on her face. “It was just meant to be.”

    A request

    Seth's Wish, run by Lindsey Wofford and a smattering of volunteers, is more than grateful for the organization's success and the kindness of the community. And while the Day Room and back room are filled with clothing for people to take home, Lindsey Wofford admits there are at least two things they could always use more of, food donations and time.

    “Groceries are so hard right now,” Lindsey Wofford told Up & Coming Weekly. “We'll take anything, but we really need non-perishable items the most.”

    Another donation Seth's Wish could use is help from the community.

    “We always need volunteers,” she admitted.
    People are always needed in the garden and can sign up for tasks via Seth's Community Garden, found on Facebook. Volunteering to water the plants or flip compost are all small acts that go a long way. Everyone is welcome to show up and lend their time every Tuesday and Thursday.

    Passion in practice

    Seth, now a teenager, often helps his mom in the little house founded on his selfless wish.

    “He loves it,” his mom said, beaming with pride.
    The new space, with its wide front lawn and big backyard, offers many opportunities for Seth's Wish to engage with its community in meaningful and heartfelt ways. With a back room stocked and ready for the next batch of people in need through Seth's Wish, now in operation for the past seven and a half years, Lindsey Wofford hopes to continue what her son started for as long as they're needed. When asked why she does it, Lindsey Wofford had a simple answer:

    “I just like it.”

    Seth's Wish is located at 204 South Reilly Road in Fayetteville.

    For more information regarding donations, volunteer opportunities, and events, visit www.facebook.com/sethswish/ or call 910-476-6613.

  • 11 Ron Dahle shouldered his PVC-constructed potato gun and fired yet another shot of compressed air over the limb of a tall North Carolina pine tree. His shot propelled a plastic projectile attached to a fishing line. A fishing reel mounted atop the launcher fed the line out like a well-practiced angler. The goal was to get the projectile to thread the fishing line up, over and down the other side of the limb. Reaching the right limb enabled him and his fellow radio enthusiasts to hoist antenna wire high into the tree. It was the first part of creating a loop antenna. To finish the project, the process had to be repeated at another tall nearby tree.

    Dahle is president of the Cape Fear Amateur Radio Society, a 130-member-strong amateur ham radio organization in Cumberland County. The CFARS routinely steps up to help local emergency responders with radio communication services during hurricanes, blizzards or any other community crisis. When the call comes, members set up in local disaster shelters and provide communication via ham radios, while other forms of communication may have been affected by outages.

    Dahle and his compatriots recently spent a hot Friday afternoon setting up antennas to prepare for the following day’s Field Day, an annual event testing the club’s ability to set up and communicate with other amateur radio organizations throughout the United States and Canada.

    “This was a readiness exercise to determine the ability of CFARS to provide communication support to the community in emergency operations and disasters,” Dahle said. He emphasized this was not a contest to see how many radio contacts were made, although contacts are tracked and tabulated. “There are numerous varied contests throughout the year in different disciplines of communication where the main goal is purely a number count.”

    CFARS held its annual Field Day on Saturday through Sunday, June 25 to 26, at the Hope Mills Golfview Greenway Walking Trail. The field day spans a continuous 24 hours, from 2 p.m. Saturday through 2 p.m. Sunday. The event is held under the auspices of the American Radio Relay League, the national association for amateur radio in the United States founded in 1914.
    This was the first year CFARS held the event at the Hope Mills Walking Trail. In the past, CFARS’ Field Day took place at Methodist University, which also housed the group’s repeater. The previous chancellor of the University was a CFARS member.

    Among ARRL’s missions is promoting and recruiting people into the amateur radio hobby. But another key job of ARRL is to protect radio frequencies used by amateur radio organizations and ensure they remain available to the public. Radio frequencies are limited, and someone always vies for Federal Communications Commission-controlled radio frequencies.

    The annual readiness exercise and Field Day occur in the United States, Canada and even some worldwide locations may participate. It is held on the fourth full weekend in June. Along with testing their ability to function properly in the event of an emergency, amateur radio operators try to make voice or Morse code contact with as many other amateur radio operators as possible.

    The CFARS’s setup at the Golfview Greenway site included a Morse code station, a Get-On-The-Air station, and a voice communications station. A GOTA station allows people without a radio license or newly licensed individuals to speak and connect with someone on ham radio. It gives someone a chance to experience first-hand radio communication.

    The ARRL website provided 2022 Field Day locations throughout the United States for interested citizens or news media. In North Carolina alone, there were dozens of sites, including Dublin, Calabash, New Bern, Jacksonville, Robbins, Albemarle atop Morrow Mountain and in the mountains of West Jefferson, among many others.
    Local radio enthusiasts established CFARS as a non-profit organization in 1976 with 31 members, according to George Davenport, current vice-president and event coordinator. Davenport joined CFARS in 2016 after getting his FCC-required license. A year later, the club asked him to help coordinate its Field Day. He’s been coordinating the event ever since.

    “I became interested in amateur radio after joining a Special Forces Facebook page,” Davenport said.

    The page identified friends and Special Forces colleagues who were amateur radio operators. “I did a little research and found CFARS,” he said.
    Both Davenport and Dahle are retired from the military and were initially introduced to radio communications during their time as Green Berets. Davenport’s introduction to communications came when he was cross-trained on a Special Forces team. Dahle, a retired command sergeant major, says the first part of his career was dedicated to communications but lessened as he was promoted through the ranks into leadership positions.

    But when Dahle was in his mid-70s, he needed an outlet for what he describes as “his creative juices.”
    He joined CFARS in 2018 after getting his FCC license.

    “Ham radio and Morse code was a natural path for me,” he said.
    Dahle, who describes himself as process-driven and regimented, says a successful field is knowing the club performed to expected standards. He defined these standards by noting whether the equipment held up

    throughout the exercise, whether the club adequately handled unforeseen issues, if any, and whether the club left the grounds in the same condition as they found it.
    To Davenport, a successful field day has many faces.

    “It should be a learning experience for all involved,” he said.

    It needs to have a wide range of tasks and activities that encourages member participation, and the event should meet all of its operational goals.
    But, since one of its other goals is to foster greater interest and participation in the hobby, Davenport believes a successful field day should be a “fun activity.”

  • fayetteville nc logo Foot traffic was slow around noon Thursday, July 7 on the first day of early voting at the Cumberland County Board of Elections. There were more candidates and their supporters outside the elections office than there were early voters.
    At 12:18 p.m. — more than four hours after early voting began — 123 people had cast their votes, according to Angie Amaro, the interim director for the Cumberland County Board of Elections.

    “It’s about what we expected,” she said. “It will pick up probably the last week.”
    Early voting continues through July 23 for the July 26 municipal election. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Hours on July 23, a Saturday, are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Early voting is only available at the Board of Elections Office at 227 Fountainhead Lane. Fayetteville voters will select a mayor and nine City Council district representatives. Fayetteville has 126,989 registered voters, Amaro said.

    “They’ve got to live in the city limits of Fayetteville,” Amaro said of the residents eligible to vote.

    She estimated that the overall turnout for this off-year election would be roughly 16%.

    “Because every race is contested, which is unusual for Fayetteville,” she said.
    She said the May primary drew 16.25% of the voters. Amaro, who has served as the Board of Election’s interim director since Jan. 1, said a lot of people tend to vote early.

    “It’s picked up over the years,” she said, “as more and more people have heard about it.”

    Wesley McIntyre El, 26, of Fayetteville, was outside the Board of Elections Office to support Brenda McNair, who is running against incumbent Larry Wright for the District 7 seat on the City Council. He said he voted Thursday morning.

    “You always prepare for a storm,” he said. “Anything in life — you prepare for. You don’t want to wait until the last minute.”

    McIntyre said he wasn’t surprised that turnout was slow on the first day of early voting.

    “It’s a polarized climate,” he said. “There’s no love in the air.”

    Several candidates — including Mayor Mitch Colvin and his mayoral opponent Freddie Delacruz — were mostly trying to brave the stifling heat and humidity by sitting under tents and standing in the shade of a tree.
    Maria Cantu, 28, was working for candidate Mario Benavente, who is campaigning for the right to represent District 3. District 3 Councilman Antonio Jones, who was appointed to the seat and is running to keep it, was also among the candidates outside the Board of Elections Office. Cantu said she cast her vote earlier in the day.

    “I feel that not enough young people are engaged. Both parties want to engage the millennial voter and the GenZer voters," she said of the Republicans and Democrats. “Basically, everyone wants to see young voters.

    “It’s important to vote and make my voice heard,” Cantu said. “Even one vote can make a difference.”

    On the ballot
    In Fayetteville, voters will choose between the following candidates in 10 contests.

    Mayor:
    Mitch Colvin, Freddie Delacruz
    City Council District 1:
    Kathy Keefe Jensen, Alex Rodriguez
    City Council District 2:
    Shakeyla Ingram, Tyrone A. Williams
    City Council District 3:
    Mario Benavente, Antonio Jones
    City Council District 4:
    Thomas Greene, D.J. Haire
    City Council District 5:
    Johnny Dawkins, Fred Lachance
    City Council District 6:
    Peter Pappas, Derrick Thompson
    City Council District 7:
    Brenda McNair, Larry Wright
    City Council District 8:
    Courtney Banks-McLaughlin, Michael Pinkston
    City Council District 9:
    Deno Hondros, Yvonne Kinston

  • 17 Local nonprofit Grace Helping Others is hosting its inaugural Mother & Son Date Night on July 16, at the Kiwanis Recreation Center.
    The event will offer a unique opportunity to celebrate the bond between young men and the special women in their lives.

    While it is advertised as a “Mother & Son” event, grandmothers, aunts, sisters or any other notable women are invited to attend and honor the important relationships they share with the young men in their lives.
    Grace Helping Others was established in January 2021 by Carmen Jones as a nonprofit tasked with offering support to surrounding communities. The volunteer organization commits to at least five fundraisers per year to assist a minimum of 200 individuals or families per year, empowering them to become more self-sufficient.

    The idea for a mother and son event came to Jones when she noticed how often the area offered organized outings for fathers and daughters.

    “I saw lots of father/daughter dinners and such, but nothing for mothers and sons,” Jones said.

    This sparked an idea.
    While it is quite common for young ladies to have the chance to try on fancy attire, the same is not always true for young men. Mother & Son Date Night offers time together and time for which attendees are encouraged to pull out their best attire, from semi-formal to dress-to-impress. There will even be prizes for Best Dressed Duo.

    As this will be the first year for Mother & Son Date Night, Jones is hoping that it will be the stepping stone to bigger events in the years to come.

    “We hope to have more participants each year as word spreads and excitement builds,” Jones said.

    Mother & Son Date Night is the perfect opportunity to create magical memories while letting Grace Helping Others handle all the details, including endless hors-d’oeuvres, dancing and a 360 photo booth. All participants will be emailed a link to the photos taken in the 360 photo booth, a video platform that captures 120 frames per second as users stand within a revolving camera while it captures slow-motion video.

    Couples’ tickets start at $30 for general admission ($10 for each additional child), or a VIP option is available for $45 ($15 for each additional child).

    Individual tickets are also available for $20 per person.
    Mother & Son Date Night will be held July 16 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Kiwanis Recreation Center and Honeycutt Park, 352 Devers St.

    For tickets, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/mother-and-son-date-night-tickets-314025457597.

  • 14 Knowledge is power, and the United Negro College Fund said it best: “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”
    Education is learning what you didn’t know that you didn’t know, and becoming a lifelong learner striving to become the best version of oneself is imperative.
    Cumberland County Schools currently have 470 students who dropped out of school, and that is why they are presenting their Back-to-School Launch Party Thursday, July 21 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Alger B. Wilkins High School.

    “The purpose of our Back-to-School Launch Party is to reengage students who have gotten out of school for various reasons such as lack of engagement, being unmotivated, having to work during COVID-19, experiencing a sickness, missed a lot of days of school and more,” explained Candice Revels, a school social worker for the Office of Indian Education with Cumberland County Schools.

    “And this was a part of that lack of engagement, and they just felt like they were overwhelmed, so we really want to reengage them and give them the best option for their circumstances now.”
    The event will discuss the options for students returning to school, if a student qualifies to attend the online academy and what kinds of community resources the student may need.

    “There will be tables set up so that students can rotate and receive the information that they need,” said Revels. “For example, Miller-Motte College will be there to assist with information on how to obtain your truck driver certification.”

    The party will feature a Speak On It Teen Health Awareness Fair. “They will talk about some of those health aspects to include mental health awareness, safe sex practices, navigating life after COVID-19, self-care, financial literacy, resources and next steps,” Revels said. “They will also discuss what life after high school will look like for the individual.”

    There will be many future options presented to potential returning students. “The discussion will center around if the student wants to go into the workforce, join the military or
    attend a two-year or four-year college, Revels said.

    The event is free and open to the public. Organizers will have door prizes and swag bags will be given to each student who attends the event and reenrolls in school.
    Alger B. Wilkins High School is located at 1429 Skibo Road.

  • 9 The Bragg ‘N Barn on Fort Bragg is making room to better serve the families that serve their country. The main post thrift store is currently undergoing renovations to bring positive logistical changes to the beloved second-hand shop. Conceived in large part by the Bragg ‘N Barn's manager of three months, Monica Allen, the World War II-era building will undergo a remodel that focuses on enhancing the experience of both shoppers and workers.

    “The end goal is a clean, safe shopping environment for our community, as well as a good proper flow of donated and consigned items,” Allen explained to Up & Coming Weekly. “We want to ensure there's a place for everything and that the store is organized so we can increase sales and give back even more through our welfare grants and scholarships to military dependents.”

    The Bragg ‘N Barn is a space nearly bursting at the seams with good intentions and is stocked full of clothing, furniture, household goods, books and toys. Still receiving donations during this time, the store is excited to implement the new plans and get more merchandise out on the floor.

    “We're focused on making more floor space to accommodate more donated items,” Allen said, sharing plans for the store's renovation. “There's a lot of focus on cleanliness in the dressing rooms and the children's play area. The children love the play area, and it's a constant struggle to keep it clean and organized because they're having fun with their shopping. We want to make it safer and easier for employees to keep it clean.”

    Originally a mule barn built during WWII, the Bragg ‘N Barn gets its rustic moniker from its roots. The historic brick building is a slice of the past now serving as the site of so much good. Dawn Miller, president of the Board of Directors for the Bragg ‘N Barn, feels the building's current duty as a thrift shop is more than fitting.

    “It's always good to repurpose,” she said. “It's a great use of the building. By people shopping here, donating here, consigning here, volunteering and working here — it's a wonderful cycle. Our sole mission is to help the

    Fort Bragg community and the greater Fayetteville area; it's the only reason we're here.”
    Apart from their service as a place for families across Fort Bragg to shop for needed items at affordable prices, the Bragg ‘N Barn has fingers that reach far beyond the crowded shelves and overflowing racks in the shop.

    The Bragg ‘N Barn has been a long-time employer of military spouses and dependents. The money received through in-store purchases goes toward the aforementioned welfare grants and scholarships for military high school seniors and those who wish to continue their education.

    As the project progresses, there have been interruptions to daily operations, and a few more are likely to occur before August. As the workers commit to keeping up operations while keeping shut-downs to a minimum, Allen admits, it's been difficult.

    “We've had a lot of obstacles, but our volunteers have been great. We're hoping to get more volunteer teams in to help.”

    Miller also chimed in with the store's need for those willing to give their time and talents to help the Bragg ‘N Barn thrive.

    “We need more people to come in and lend that helping hand. Volunteers have become a precious resource that is disappearing,” she stated. “It's only ‘goodness’ when you volunteer for your community.”

    For those who wish to volunteer, Allen is more than happy to help log those hours into the Volunteer Management Information System for the military. Allen also invites teenagers on school break to come and lend a hand as long as they're registered with Child & Youth Services.

    Additionally, the Bragg ‘N Barn is hunting for a washer and dryer for their warehouse and items to spruce up the employee breakroom.

    The scheduled August grand reopening coincides with National Thrift Store Day, observed on Wednesday, Aug. 17, this year. Allen hopes to make it a full month of celebration.
    The Bragg ‘N Barn is located on Ft. Bragg at 2-2412 Woodruff St.

    Volunteer forms can be found in-store or through the Bragg ‘N Barn Facebook page www.facebook.com/BraggNBarnThriftShop/.

  • 16 A new Association of the U.S. Army event is coming to the Crown Complex this month. The AUSA Warfighter Summit and Exposition is a two-day, in-person summit to teach leadership and professional development.
    The theme this year is “America’s Response Force: Ready Today, Ready Tomorrow.”

    Retired Brig. Gen. Jack Haley is the Vice President, Membership and Meetings for the AUSA. He says they have wanted to host a big event at Fort Bragg for a while and is excited to kick this event off as it’s aimed at the everyday soldier.

    “We wanted to do an event that was focused purely on the soldier, the warfighter,” Haley said. “We have been wanting to do this for a long time, and it’s finally coming together.”

    The summit will feature presentations by Army senior leaders and commands based at Fort Bragg, as well as experts from industry and academia. Topics will span the seven warfighting functions and highlight the way Army operational forces can sharpen their capabilities to win on the future battlefield.

    There also will be discussions on best practices to sustain foundational readiness and modernization and promote installation resilience.
    But it won’t be all lectures and panels. On the other side of the Crown Complex will be an obstacle course called the Battle Challenge Area.

    “We will run soldiers through the obstacle course and reward top male and top female over the two days,” Haley said.
    The keynote speaker on the first day of the summit will be Gen. James C. McConville, the Chief of Staff of the Army. The keynote speaker on the second day of the summit will be Sgt. Maj. of the Army, Michael A. Grinston.

    One speaker Haley thinks will excite people will be former NFL Player and Army Captain Alejandro Villanueva. Villanueva will deliver a PRIME Talk on People, Readiness, Innovation, Modernization and Education.

    “He’s going to talk to soldiers about leadership, morals and ethics that he learned when he was deployed in Afghanistan,” Haley said. “I also think he will run the battle course with a couple of troops and do a physical training session with some of the soldiers at Fort Bragg.”

    Gen. Andrew Poppas, the new commander of United States Army Forces Command, will also have a chance to talk to Fort Bragg soldiers during a town hall on the second day of the summit. Poppas and Grinston will hold a discussion on building readiness through cohesive teams that are highly trained, disciplined and fit.

    In addition, a session dedicated to the spouses and families of servicemembers will be held. That panel called Community Grit: Building Family Support Readiness will take place on the first day of the expo.

    For those who can’t make it to all of the panels, many of them will be live-streamed on AUSA’s website and social media.

    Online registration is open until July 20. The event itself will take place on July 27 and July 28. There is no cost for military and government civilian personnel.
    All attendees, exhibitors and speakers are to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Masks are optional. To register, go to https://meetings.ausa.org/warfighter/index.cfm.

     

  • FPD logo The grandparents of the woman who was fatally shot by Fayetteville police on Friday night dispute the department’s account of the incident.

    "This was bad. It was an egregious murder by the Fayetteville police," said Rick Iwanski, who is the grandfather of the woman killed, Jada Johnson. "Mental illness is not a crime."

    Johnson's family said she was suffering a mental crisis when she was tackled by police trying to get a handgun away from the 22-year-old. Police said the struggle came after officers spent about an hour trying to deescalate the situation and working to persuade Johnson to put down the handgun.

    Police said Johnson was threatening to hurt herself. Her grandmother, Maria Iwanski, and her daughter La’Naya also were in harm’s way, police have said.

    The shooting happened at Rick Iwanski's home in the 2300 block of Colgate Drive.

    The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is reviewing the shooting.

    Two police officers have been placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of the investigation, which is standard procedure, said Officer Jeremy Strickland, a spokesman for the Police Department. He said the officers' names and the amount of time they have been with the Police Department are not being released at this time.

    The department has said its Internal Affairs Unit will conduct an internal investigation to ensure departmental policies and procedures were followed during the incident.

    Strickland said he could not comment further on the case.

    "Pretty much everything else will come from the SBI because we turned everything over to them," Strickland said. "Any further questions should be directed to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation because they have taken the case."

    Events unfold

    Officers were sent to Iwanski’s house just after 9:40 p.m. when an attempted break-in was reported, Assistant Police Chief James Nolette said during a news conference early Saturday.

    Officers were told that four men tried to break into the residence. Officers contacted the occupants, Nolette said. No evidence of a break-in could be determined, he said.
    The Iwanskis, who are married but estranged, were inside the residence along with Johnson and Johnson’s 2 1/2-year-old daughter.

    Nolette said there were inconsistencies with Johnson’s story. She also appeared “as if she were in crisis,’’ he said.

    “And then suddenly, she produced a firearm,’’ Nolette said, adding that she began to threaten to harm herself.

    Nolette said two officers spent about an hour talking with Johnson, trying to get her to put down the gun and discussing getting her help. After about an hour of trying to deescalate the situation, Nolette said, officers tried to secure the weapon and the struggle went to the ground.

    Maria Iwanski described her granddaughter as being tackled, like a football player, by one of the officers who edged closer to her while another one spoke from farther away, apparently in an attempt to distract Johnson.

    “I had the baby with me. I was close to her,” Maria Iwanksi said.

    Maria Iwanski said Johnson felt threatened by police. At one point, Johnson told the officer who continued to draw closer to her to back off, according to her grandmother.

    “'See, Mom, they’re trying to do something,’’’ Iwanski said Johnson told her.

    “She said as long as the baby was with me, they would not shoot her,” Maria Iwanski said.

    After her granddaughter was restrained, the 64-year-old Iwanski said, “she hit the edge of the table and fell flat on the floor. Her eyes were wide open, but nothing in her eyes.”

    Iwanski said she heard two shots and the baby screaming.

    She said Johnson was shot multiple times in the back "when she was largely unconscious already.”

    Strickland referred questions about the shooting, including how many times Johnson was shot, to the SBI.

    “They shot her like a freaking horse, like an animal,’’ Maria Iwanski said in an emotional outburst Tuesday.

    Maria Iwanski said Johnson had placed the handgun on the floor for a couple of minutes before being shot. At the time, they were both in the living room with La'Naya and Rick Iwanski.

    "Police never made an attempt to get it," she said.

    Earlier mental health treatment

    Maria Iwanski said her granddaughter was released earlier in the day from Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. She said Johnson had been admitted two days before after experiencing mental problems, including ramped-up anxiety.

    She said doctors told her at the time of Johnson’s release that her granddaughter had "mental problems." She was given pills, Iwanski said, and released.

    Maria Iwanski said her granddaughter was anxious about a toxic situation with her former boyfriend, from whom she had recently split. Johnson got the gun for protection, her grandmother said. She told Iwanski that the only thing her ex-boyfriend respects is a gun.

    Iwanski said she and her husband raised Johnson like a daughter.

    During the Saturday morning news conference, Nolette said two officers spent about an hour talking with Johnson trying to get her to put down the handgun. They also discussed getting her help, he said.

    Johnson agreed to get assistance through Cape Fear Valley, according to Nolette, and police had medical crews ready to respond.

    But Maria Iwanski said police canceled the emergency vehicle while they continued to try to persuade Johnson to give up the gun.

    “They said it was not needed,” she recalled of the EMS vehicle. “She wanted to go back to the hospital. She got more and more anxious.’’

    At one point, Iwanski said, the officers went outside and talked in private. When they returned, Johnson asked what they had been talking about, Iwanski said. She was told that the conversation was private.

    After about an hour, police said they attempted to take the gun from Johnson and secure control of it. Police and the woman struggled and fell to the ground before the officer fired, according to Nolette.

    Maria Iwanski said she saw an officer shoot Johnson in the back.

    Rick Iwanski said he did not hear any shots fired by Johnson.

    "From what I saw, it was the police. I did not hear any shots from her, from when she went down or after she went down," he said.

    Iwanski said the family plans to take some type of legal action, but at this point, "we don't know the route. I believe we have to wait until the SBI's investigation is complete. In the meantime, we'll have some protests, some picketing, some demonstrations. We're working it now," he added.

    "She was a wonderful girl," Maria Iwanski said of her granddaughter. "I have cancer. She helped me. She was here for me during the treatments. She was very helpful."

  • pexels Crime tape A woman was found shot to death Wednesday morning in a street in north Fayetteville.

    Fayetteville police officers were dispatched just after 10:50 a.m. to the 2000 block of Blake Street in reference to a shooting. Blake Street is off Sherman Drive in north Fayetteville.

    A woman with an apparent gunshot wound was found in the street, police said in a release. She was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Her identity is being withheld until her next of kin is notified.

    Members of the department’s Homicide Unit are investigating.

    Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Detective S. Shirey at 910-751-3009 or Crimestoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477).

  • sunny pexels pixabay 301599 Fayetteville will see temperatures above normal for July over the next few days, and Cumberland County officials want to make sure people without air conditioning have a place to stay cool.
    The county announced Wednesday that it has opened select buildings as cooling stations for those residents who do not have access to air conditioning.

    The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory until 7 p.m. Wednesday for Cumberland County with a heat index value up to 109 degrees.
    At 3 p.m. Wednesday, the temperature in Fayetteville was 95 degrees with a heat index of 107, the National Weather Service said.

    “The temperature reported is actually the temperature in the shade,’’ said meteorologist Aaron Swiggett.

    The warm temperatures are expected to continue Thursday with a heat index of 100 to 105 degrees, Swiggett said.
    Fayetteville is seeing temperatures four to five degrees above normal. The normal high for Fayetteville is 91 degrees, Swiggett said.

    Cooling stations

    The county said these buildings are available as cooling stations:

    The auxiliary lobby on the first floor at the Department of Social Services at 1225 Ramsey St. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Masks or face coverings are optional. However, masks and social distancing are encouraged, the county said.

    The first-floor lobby of the Cumberland County Department of Public Health at 1235 Ramsey St. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Anyone entering the Health Department is required to wear a mask and receive a temperature scan.

    All eight Cumberland County public libraries also are open as cooling stations, the county said. Libraries are open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Headquarters Library at 300 Maiden Lane is also open Sundays from 2 to 6 p.m.

    The 18 Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks & Recreation Centers — which are open to the public year-round during normal operating hours — may also be used by residents to escape the heat.

    Extreme heat and humidity will significantly increase the potential for heat-related illnesses, particularly for those working in outdoor activities, the county said.

    Swiggett said people who work outdoors should take breaks often and be aware of heat-related illnesses and symptoms. He also reminded people to:
    Drink plenty of fluids.
    Check on elderly relatives and neighbors and make sure they have adequate ways to stay cool.
    And never leave children or pets unattended in vehicles.

     The area could see relief this weekend. A cold front expected to pass through on Saturday could bring below-normal temperatures Sunday and Monday. The high Sunday is expected to be 83 degrees.

  • North Carolina Leglslature Building by Frank Taylor Carolina Public Press The state’s nearly $2 billion budget for the new fiscal year includes $1.5 million to boost Fayetteville State University’s fledgling training program for sexual assault nurse examiners, or SANE nurses.

    The program, led by Dr. Sheila Cannon, recently received approval from the state Board of Nursing. Late last year, legislators approved $125,000 for a SANE nurse pilot training project in Cumberland County, overseen by Rape Crisis Volunteers of Cumberland County.

    With that initial amount, Cannon told CPP she expected to train 10 students this summer.
    But the legislature’s appropriation, if the state budget is approved by Gov. Roy Cooper, could expand her program over multiple years.
    Fayetteville State University is a historically Black university and may be the first HBCU in the entire nation to become a hub for SANE nurse training, according to Jennifer Pierce-Weeks, chief executive officer for the International Association of Forensic Nurses.

    “Having nurses who provide trauma-informed, evidence-based, patient-centered care who also represent the communities they serve is one of the many ways we can begin to bridge the gap in health disparities,” Pierce-Weeks said.

    Cannon has plans to train SANE nurses who intend to remain in North Carolina. A Carolina Public Press investigation published last year surveyed 130 hospitals and community programs statewide. The responses showed that few SANE nurses work in rural areas, and many urban areas only had a few.
    The investigation showed some rape victims had to travel to multiple hospitals across several days to find a credentialed SANE nurse.

    “This is a big step forward,” said Skye David, an attorney for the N.C. Coalition Against Sexual Assault, of the appropriation for FSU.

    “Your reporting shed some light for folks to see we really need to focus on that. Having a training program at an HBCU and encouraging people to stay in North Carolina is really huge both for survivors and for Fayetteville State.”

    While 18% of white women will face a sexual assault in their lifetimes, nearly 19% of Black women and more than 1-in-3 Native American women will also face sexual assault, according to the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence.
    People of color are “not likely at all” to see someone who resembles them when they seek a SANE nurse, Cannon said in April.

    “Because we are so culturally diverse here at FSU, we can certainly generate more people of color who are SANE-trained and can grow that interest in that way.”
    Cannon said the state needs a sustainable way to train SANE nurses.

    “This is a long-term problem,” Cannon said in April. “This is something that needs to be fixed, and I don’t think people get the magnitude of what this might mean.”
    People arriving in an emergency room after an assault “need the compassion, need the support and care, and need (SANE nurses) to get them through that trauma they are experiencing,” Cannon said. “They are often retraumatized from the lack of compassion.”

    Other legislation related to sexual assaults

    Lawmakers also passed a bill last week to collect DNA from domestic-violence abusers and increase payments to hospitals for sexual assault exams.
    The state reimburses hospitals up to $800 for a physician or SANE nure to conduct a sexual assault exam, and hospitals are required to accept that money as “as payment in full.” However, sometimes victims are billed for the costs anyway, and hospitals have said $800 isn’t enough to pay for a nurse’s time for what can be a multihour examination for forensic evidence and compassionate care to a sexual assault victim.

    State Sen. Natasha Marcus, D-Mecklenburg, filed a bill to increase the cap to $1,500 last year. She said she was pleased Sens. Danny Britt, R-Robeson, and Kathy Harrington, R-Gaston, along with Rep. Billy Richardson, D-Cumberland, were willing to roll her bill into HB 674.

    “It’s my understanding that one of the main reasons why providers were billing victims for their forensic exams was because they were not receiving full reimbursement for the exams due to the cap,” Marcus said.

    If signed by the governor, House Bill 674 requires the state to collect DNA from people convicted of assault on a female, a charge typically associated with domestic violence. The bill initially sought to collect DNA when someone was charged with assault on a female.

  • 4Everyone knows I am a huge Chamber of Commerce advocate. So when our newspaper was invited to assist in moderating the June 30 Fayetteville Municipal Candidate's Forum at the Crown Coliseum along with CityView TODAY and the Fayetteville Observer, I was delighted. The Chamber's Government Affairs Committee hosted the forum under the direction of Eva Henderson, and Gary Rogers emceed the event. The event was well attended by all incumbents and challengers seeking city council elected positions for all nine districts and the office of mayor. Only Deno Hondras, District 9 candidate, was absent due to an out-of-town commitment. The attendance of concerned citizens, estimated at 70, was disappointing considering that this was the final forum before early voting beings on July 7.

    I was excited to be a part of this informational exercise. However, I was equally disappointed in the outcome once it was over. It left me with a hollow feeling about the future of our community. Without a doubt, the candidates readily identified and acknowledged the Fayetteville community's needs and its citizens' concerns. Homelessness, the crime and homicide rates, the need for affordable housing, higher-paying jobs, the desire to attract more industry, improve our image and have a cleaner, more beautiful city. But collectively, and with only a few exceptions, after listening to the incumbents' positions, they confirmed what I and many others suspected, they are primarily about maintaining their roles within their districts and have little knowledge or concern for the needs of the cumulative 210,000 citizens. This became evident when I reviewed my notes, which revealed this sentiment was a pattern among incumbents from the mayor on down. When Mayor Mitch Colvin was asked about Fayetteville's homeless encampments on Gillespie Street and the four city center encampments encompassing three blocks between Rowan and Hay streets, he instinctively punted the problem over to the North Carolina Department of Transportation. Colvin stated that this city council had done more for homelessness over the last term than in 25 years. I don't remember homelessness being an epidemic problem 25 years ago. Truth be known, the situation has only gotten worse under this administration.

    As I listened to the mayor and the nine incumbents responding to questions about homelessness, crime, overall community safety, out-of-control traffic, lack of police accountability and the shameful amount of trash and litter in our city, it became apparent that their main priority was to safeguard and secure their positions. They radiated little concern, empathy or knowledge of the needs of the entire Fayetteville community. Evidence of this surfaced with the incumbent's adverse reactions to the viability of term limits. And again, concerning the pending referendum that will appear on the November ballot for changing Fayetteville's nine district/mayor structure. This structure only allows a resident two votes out of ten in determining Fayetteville's leadership compared to a possible four at large seats and five districts plus the mayor. This change would give all Fayetteville residents six out of ten votes in determining local leadership. Six votes versus two! One would think, “what's not to like about that?”

    I'll close by saying everyone needs to look to the future. Go to the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce website and view the Forum video. It says it all. Fayetteville's future is now! Voting starts on July 7, and I will make this prediction hoping and praying it doesn't turn into a sad and disappointing epitaph. “Fayetteville will ultimately get the kind of leadership it deserves.”
    Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • 27I don’t get to use the word flabbergasted much. It simply means greatly surprised or astonished, but it sounds more striking, so I’m going to use it today.

    Flabbergasted. That’s the state I’d have to say I’ve found myself in more than once in the past couple of years.

    As I see and hear the responses to local, national and international events from people who I’ve worked with, worshiped with, and even shared meals with, I’ve had multiple occasions to realize just how little I know about the people I thought I was close with, and I’m, well, flabbergasted!

    Publicly, I’m a fairly low-key guy, so you’re not likely to trip me up after a reckless social media post or outburst at a gathering somewhere.
    The river runs deep, though. I’ve just learned to listen more than I speak.

    Moreover, other than emergencies, I believe a little thought goes a long way before action.
    So when I see the public outcry and people tearing one another down in response to wars, sanctions, Supreme Court decisions and new legislation, I am often greatly surprised or astonished — especially when it comes from people I’ve locked arms with.

    I take the collective charge to the Church (capital C) seriously. Here’s what the Apostle Paul had to say about us staying on the same page: Ephesians 4:1b-6... I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

    This is clearly a call to unity. It’s a call for us to remain friends and continue working together toward honorable goals no matter how much we may disagree.
    It’s a call to recognize that though many things may attempt to divide us, through humility, gentleness and with patience, there is little that can succeed in doing so.

    There is no doubt that we live in a world and culture that adopts rules and enacts legislation that runs counter to the Truth of who God calls us to be. Yet, we must endure and even flourish.
    I’m with you, friend. I don’t agree with everything I read in all caps on social media the other day, but I understand you better and am still willing to talk it out and work together for a better tomorrow.

     

  • 8Candidates and incumbents for the Fayetteville City Council squared off in brief mayoral and council district debates on June 30, hoping to sway voters to their way of thinking.

    The Greater Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce hosted the candidate forum at the Crown Coliseum Complex. The Fayetteville City Council and Mayoral election are on July 26. The election consists of a mayoral race and nine single-member districts.

    The forum did not allow the approximate 60 audience members to understand how all members felt about any single topic since district candidates were asked different questions. Candidates who served in the military touted their leadership expertise, while those who owned or operated businesses touted their business acumen.

    One emerging theme among those seeking office for the first time was that the current leadership was lacking. Incumbents mostly pointed to current city programs when asked about their accomplishments. Many candidates seeking their first terms promised more of everything, among them enticements to keep those getting out of the military and recent college graduates to stay in Fayetteville.

    Mayor Mitch Colvin said the city is business-friendly and has demonstrated that through supporting small businesses, especially during the height of the pandemic, and forming partnerships to help businesses. He points to the more than 2,500 jobs created and $250 million in new investments.

    Mayoral candidate Freddie de la Cruz said his focus would be on better mass transportation to help people get from their homes to work and back again. He advocated a more efficient way of getting to bus stops from homes, possibly using Lyft or Uber.

    De la Cruz also criticized the city’s leadership response to the riots and the burning of the Market House.

    “I didn’t like the way that was run,” he said. He said removing the “black painted stripe” around the Market House and then paying to repaint the street was an inefficient use of city resources. The Black Lives Matter issue surrounding the Market House was divisive, he said.

    Colvin and de la Cruz also differed on their approach to finding a solution for the growing number of unhoused individuals in the city and the idea of term limits for the mayor and city council. Colvin noted the city is currently working on several programs to mitigate homelessness in the city, citing a proposed homeless shelter and other programs.

    De la Cruz said much of the homelessness is a family matter and should be handled accordingly. He supports using public money for homeless centers for those who, because of mental illness or drug addiction, are not able to function without help. Others, who are capable of working, should be put back into the workforce, and that should be accomplished by bolstering the city’s economy, he said.

    De la Cruz, a retired lieutenant colonel, said the mayor and city council offices should have term limits. He likened it to the Army’s change-of-command, where new leadership is infused often. Colvin, who has served as councilmember and mayor pro tem before becoming the city’s second African-American mayor in 2017, said the current two-year term works best. He was first elected to City Council in 2013.

    “We have the shortest terms in the state, and we all run at the same time,” Colvin said. The city council and mayor all run for two-year terms and are not staggered.

    “At any given time, there can be a complete turnover. Citizens decide every 24 months,” he said.

    District 5 candidate Frederick LaChance, a Navy veteran and a graduate of the original Pine Forest High School, called for the removal of Fayetteville Police Chief Gina Hawkins. LaChance is running against long-time incumbent Johnny Dawkins Jr. LaChance also said his position is based on how the city, in his view, failed to respond to the riots and burning of the Market House. LaChance also endorsed combining city and county services.

    Dawkins said he is a staunch proponent of a well-paid and well-equipped police department. He agreed with LaChance that some services should be combined and noted the Fayetteville Parks and Recreation services currently are a joint city-county venture.

    The issue of race relations emerged in the debate between District 8 incumbent Courtney Banks-McLaughlin and downtown businessman Michael Pinkston. Pinkston previously ran for city council in 2015.

    When asked about race being an issue in Fayetteville, Pinkston replied, “Race disturbs me deeply, but we need to get over ourselves.” He envisions a council that will discuss issues, not race, one that works on problems and votes for whatever is best for Fayetteville.

    Pinkston said he supports the “Yes Fayetteville” initiative, which seeks to have at-large council representation, thus giving city voters more than two candidates to vote for. Currently, city residents can only vote for a mayor and their respective district representative. Adding at-large candidates would give city voters more voting options and, once elected, more council members responsive to that district.
    Banks-McLaughlin told the primarily Black audience she was not in favor of the proposed “Yes Fayetteville” referendum, calling it racist and an attempt by some to achieve power and control over the city. Currently, eight of the 10-member council are Black.

    Pinkston said voting in favor of having at-large council members would put us in league with other North Carolina cities like Raleigh and Durham.

    Pinkston also said he supports the city’s previous pledge of $7.5 million for the proposed Civil War and Reconstruction Museum. Both the city and Cumberland County previously pledged $7.5 million each, with a county proviso that the committee behind the museum get other funding. The state of North Carolina has allocated $60 million for the project.
    Banks-McLaughlin said she does not support the museum. She said there were more important issues in the community that the city could use the money for. Supporters of the museum have repeatedly noted the economic boon to Fayetteville in jobs and recurring tourist dollars once the history center is complete and under state control and operation.
    District 4 incumbent D.J. Haire also supports single-member districts and does not support the proposed “Yes Fayetteville” referendum. Haire said the smaller single-member districts allow him to get to know his constituents better.

    His opponent Thomas Greene asked, “What difference does it make?” Whether all single-member districts or some at-large districts, Greene said the issue is quality.

    “Fayetteville has a leadership problem,” he said, maintaining that having the right people in place will make the difference.

    Asked about the Murchison Road corridor, Greene said making residents along that route safe, enforcing building codes, and creating a better standard of living for those residents would do much to enhance that I-295 gateway into the city. Greene, a bail bondsman, said Fayetteville has a narco economy and a 50% increase in the murder rate. Working on those issues would greatly enhance Fayetteville’s image.

    Haire countered that he had been a “drum major” for Murchison Road, citing the development of Bronco Square across from Fayetteville State University and securing $350,000 for supporting small businesses in the area. Haire so far has served 10 terms on the city council and is the second-generation owner of a real estate firm.

    Others vying for office include incumbent Katherine Jensen and Jose Alex Rodriguez in District 1. Jensen, a small business owner, said people should shop locally and not travel to Raleigh or elsewhere to shop. Jensen listed her strengths as someone who collaborates with others to achieve results.

    Rodriguez said Fayetteville needs to provide incentives to recruit big business to keep exiting military and college graduates to stay and seek careers here.
    In District 2, incumbent Shakeyla Ingram hopes to ward off Tyrone Williams in an effort to keep her seat on the council. Williams is a former city council member. He resigned in May 2018 over ethical concerns. Ingram is looking to serve a second term and is an advocate of affordable housing, police accountability and the inclusion of the community in fighting crime.

    “You can’t arrest your way out of everything,” she said.

    Williams, an investor and developer who served on an economic development board in Norfolk, Va., said his family left their Raeford farm years ago to seek a better life in Fayetteville.

    “It hasn’t turned out that way,” he said. He said development and the use of $40 million in American Rescue Plan money could encourage development in Fayetteville.

    Mario “Be” Benavente and Antonio Jones are vying for the District 3 seat. Jones was appointed to the council in December 2021 to replace Councilwoman Tisha Waddell who resigned from the District 3 seat in November, alleging unethical behavior by several members of City Council.

    Mario Benavente recently earned his law degree from North Carolina Central University and is a graduate of the Fayetteville Police Department’s Citizen Police Academy. Benavente claimed racial profiling by police at traffic stops has increased during the past 10 years. He said a citizen endorsed Civilian Review Board has yet to be established.
    Jones is a certified military relocation realtor and refused to debate Benavente’s claim that he accepted dollars from an out-of-town super PAC.

    “I’m not getting into mud,” he responded.

    Jones also said Fayetteville needs industry to keep young people interested in staying, but they also need better entertainment venues.
    District 6 pits two newcomers to politics: Peter Pappas and Derrick Thompson. District 6 was left vacant after Councilman Chris Davis opted to run for state office. Pappas owns and operates the family’s Baldino Sub Shops. Thompson is a 20-year Army veteran and former U.S. postal carrier.

    District 7 incumbent Larry Wright faces Brenda McNair who trailed Wright by only four votes in the primary. McNair is running on a platform of reconciliation. Third term Wright says his primary concern is reducing crime.
    Finally, Fayetteville native Deno Hondros seeks to replace incumbent Yvonne Kinston. Hondros is a commercial realtor. He did not attend the forum because of a previous out-of-state commitment. Kinston is a telecommunications customer service representative and an officer in the Communications Workers of America Union.

    For more detailed information about each candidate’s position, see Up & Coming Weekly’s 2022 Election Guide at www.upandcomingweekly.com.

  • 4President Ronald Reagan once quipped, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.” Certainly good for a chuckle, but also enormously insulting to public service employees, 76,000 of them in North Carolina, according to the Office of State Human Services.

    If you live in Cumberland County, the chances are good that you, someone in your family or a friend is a state employee. Cumberland County is well within driving distance to the Triangle, home to our state capital and the workforce that supports state operations.

    In addition, various state departments and agencies have offices all over North Carolina, employing workers at all levels, including hundreds in our community.
    Most of them take their job responsibilities seriously while under increasing pressure and enjoying little public support in this era of anti-government sentiment.
    More and more public service employees at the state and local levels are deciding with their feet and taking their skills and experience elsewhere, many enticed by higher pay in the private sector. While the Office of State Human Resources touts 76,000 state employees, the current reality is much different.

    The News and Observer recently reported that the current vacancy rate among state agencies is now 21%, with almost a quarter of all jobs unfilled. Three years ago, that rate was 12%. COVID probably accounts for some of this, but for whatever reasons, the number of state employees has dropped from 61,800 in April 2020 to 57,200 today. Ronnie Condrey of State Human Resources told The News and Observer that unfilled jobs and high turnover are a serious problem for our state.

    “We spend a lot of time training people, and they turn around and use that elsewhere.”

    It is hard to blame them.

    Private sector jobs traditionally pay more. Public sector jobs generally come with more job protections and more generous benefits, although those have waned in recent years. At the end of the day, though, public sector pay has to be enough to live on, and that simply is no longer the case in North Carolina and many local communities.

    The North Carolina General Assembly has enacted a 5% pay raise for most state employees over two years, which is significantly lower than the current inflation rate. Cities and counties are scrambling to give raises as well, but even when there is the will, the way is difficult in poorer communities.

    Other factors affecting the public workforce include aging public employees and a younger population that is more mobile than ever before.
    I cannot speak for you, of course, but I want and expect certain services from my government at the local and state levels.

    From the state, I want the roads my family and I drive to be safe, well-maintained and patrolled. I want the schools my grandchildren attend to have well-trained teachers and administrators and enough of both. I want North Carolina prisons to have enough corrections officers to keep themselves and those in their custody safe. I want adequate numbers of health care professionals at state facilities to provide care to people who need it.

    From local governments, I want law enforcement officers to show up when we need them. I want someone to answer my 911 call in a timely manner. I want safety inspections for buildings, bus drivers for public transit and lifeguards at public pools. I am also grateful for public parks where families can enjoy each other and public libraries we can all explore.
    I will go out on a limb here and speculate that you want those services as well. They are not the “help” Ronald Reagan joked about so cavalierly. They are the services that keep our communities safe and the amenities that make them attractive places to work and live.

    If we want to keep them, we must insist our state and local decision-makers fund them.

  • 16Limitless is the only way to describe the exhibitions at Gallery 208 in Fayetteville. Each exhibition is an opportunity to share experimental contemporary artists, how curiosity has shaped an artist’s style and how material, sometimes the immaterial, can communicate an idea or feeling in a work of art.

    Intersection: Textiles and Printmaking by Martha Sisk is the newest exhibition, opening July 12, and exemplifies an artist who has merged the boundaries of fiber arts and the art of print. The public is invited to meet the artist during the reception of Intersection at Gallery 208 on July 12, between 5:30 to 7 p.m., to view an exhibition of wall hangings and fine art prints. Visitors to the reception will see how effortlessly Sisk moves between fabrics and printmaking — each medium influencing the other, and the ordinary becomes extraordinary!

    Whether it is fabric or printmaking, the core of this artist’s success is being inspired by nature and how fragments, or parts, can result in balanced completeness. Working methodically and intuitively, Sisk responds to pattern, color, shapes and texture to create cohesive designs and compositions.

    Working with fabric since she was a child, as an adult Sisk continues to work with fabrics to create dolls, children’s clothing, quilts and wall hangings.
    Her turning point towards creating nonfunctional fine art with fabrics took place in 2005 when Sisk attended a workshop on a “confetti” embroidery technique. Her piece, “Thank you, Monet,” is the result of the workshop and is being exhibited in Intersection.

    “Thank You, Monet” is an 18” x 24” inch framed work created from an assortment of many, many small pieces of fabric arranged to create an image. Created by the “confetti” technique, Sisk and the other participants were inspired by pictures they took to the workshop. Many small scraps of fabric were arranged to resemble their images, the surface of loose scraps held in place with “tull,” an undetectable netted fabric, then machine sewn on top to keep all the small pieces of fabric in place. (On the label, next to the work, is a small picture by Claude Monet, which inspired her interpretation of his landscape using fabric.)

    In comparison, fast forward to 2014, an 18” x 24” woven silkscreen in the exhibit titled “Borne Along by Dreams” is an example of how Sisk was influenced by her experiences in fiber arts to create an original type of fine art print. Rhythmic patterns of shapes of color and the surprising ways of creating a recognizable image by the unexpected placement of various textures are the results of her fiber arts experiences.

    Since the 1970s, due to the Women’s Movement, there has been a growing interest in fiber arts as fine art. During the last thirty years, a true renaissance in fiber arts has taken place by contemporary artists — nationally and globally. Gallery 208 is exhibiting Sisk to share a regional artist’s response to fabrics by displaying her wall hangings and original prints as a way for visitors can compare the ways two different mediums have influenced each other.

    Intersection is also an exhibition that exemplifies the ways in which artists respond to materials and the endless possibilities of any medium to express an idea. Sisk has been influenced in many ways to continue to work in fabrics and eventually printmaking.

    “I am a collector of materials and tools, machines, patterns, books, paper and thread; I have a willingness to try something new, and a fascination with nature,” she said.

    “In any work I create, I am always trying to share my love of nature — especially trees. Trees are so beautiful and fantastic no matter the shape, condition, size or type. I have an appreciation for forms and colors; I notice textures and see beauty in places and things many people might not. I see color most of all. I would like for the viewer to see what I see — beauty in the way I have used colors and shapes. Hopefully, the viewer will be transported to their own memory of places in nature.”

    The progression from fabric to screen prints as a material for her work has been natural.

    “After so many years of cutting up fabrics, it seemed natural to cut up unsuccessful silkscreen prints and use the colorfully inked paper surface in some way. What began as an experiment, cutting the silkscreen into long bands of color, then weaving them into an abstracted image, became an exciting way to work with the printed image.”
    When asked about the pleasures of working with fabrics or printmaking, Sisk shared the importance of enjoying the process and working towards a finished product.

    “Sometimes, solving a problem is a joy because the problem allows you to think in a different way — occasionally even allowing collaboration with a family member. It is satisfying to hear the solutions and work together.

    For both, just being creative is a positive activity that makes me happy.

    With fabrics, the art form includes so many variations that it is impossible to ‘get tired of it.’ Plus, it is a ‘clean’ art — requiring no water or solvents — nothing to clean up after I am through — except little threads on the floor and other little messes made from scissors and fabric. In printmaking, you have the advantage of multiples. But I like the monotype printmaking approach — weaving together parts to make one unique print.”
    Since all mediums have their advantages and disadvantages, Sisk explained, “Since I don’t use plain fabric, it’s difficult to find fabric with the colors and pattern I like. I love tools, but scissors and needles can get blunt and thread breaks. Unfortunately, sewing machines themselves can break. Quite differently, the tools for printmaking are simpler — almost primitive — and not inclined to break. However, the supplies used in printmaking, like ink, can be difficult to get consistent for an edition. For me, printmaking requires more patience than sewing. In silkscreen printmaking, drying time prevails; after pulling one color, the screen must be cleaned, then areas blocked out and have to dry before the next color; drying time is required before one layer can be added to the older layer.”

    Working with fabrics has always been an enjoyable hobby throughout her life, yet Sisk did not become a professional artist until after a non-art career. With the many responsibilities as a military spouse, Sisk earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and a Master of Arts degree for Exceptional Children in the late 90s and became an educator. It wasn’t until she went back to school in 2013 to take some art classes at Fayetteville State University that she decided to complete the FSU Visual Arts degree. While working on the arts degree, Sisk began exhibiting her work; as a professional artist, her works are in many private collections.
    Intersection is more than an exhibit of works by Martha Sisk; the exhibit is a tribute to ways in which an artist explores the potential of material, alternate surfaces, shapes, color and texture.

    Hopefully, visitors will leave the exhibit excited about the possibilities of any collection of supplies, crafts or art and see the potential to express and share something beautiful, an idea or a feeling with unexpected materials.

    The public is invited to attend the opening reception for Intersection: Textiles and Printmaking by Martha Sisk on July 12, between 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
    The exhibit will stay in the Gallery until Sept. 30. Gallery 208 is located at 208 Rowan St.

    Hours of operation are Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information, call 910-484-6200.

  • As the dog days of summer approach, families are scrambling to complete their activity bucket lists before the new school year beckons.

    While getting it all done in one day may seem like a tall order, Prime Movers of Hope Mills aims to try on July 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
    After a successful initial run last year, Family Fun Day returns with even more in store for those with an epic summer wish list to check off.

    The Prime Movers is an organization dedicated to bridging the gap between millenials and the Board of Commissioners. Their primary goal is to increase millennial engagement within the community and the town of Hope Mills. Events like Family Fun Day align with the organization’s goal to create opportunities to unite people.

    “We had a great turnout last year,” said Monika Cotter, Hope Mills Prime Movers president. “This year, we wanted to make it bigger and better and change a few things. It’s a good way to get everybody to the Greenway

    Walking Trail, get outside, get active and let families have fun together.”
    Though “better” remains to be seen, a valiant attempt at “bigger” is apparent. This year’s itinerary is crammed with activities that appeal to every summer wish, dream and appetite.

    “Everybody should come to this event,” Cotter said. “It’s even dog friendly, and if your cat walks on a leash — you can bring them too,” she joked.

    Building on the success of last year’s Family Fun Day, this year will be packed with even more vendors and food trucks for people to enjoy. As a bonus, guests over 21 can take a stroll through Dirtbag Ales’ Beer Garden.

    For those under 21, there’s still fun to be had. Guests can enjoy some yoga, I-95 muscle cars, a craft table, a bounce house and a kid zone. And if that’s not enough, those who dare can step into the ring and test their mettle in a sumo competition, complete with a padded suit.

    The event will also feature an on-site photographer ready to snap an updated family photo in front of a fun background for just $5.
    Family Fun Day is a free event open to everyone, but Cotter is most excited to see kids enjoying the day with their loved ones.

    “I love seeing all the kids and their parents or grandparents taking part in what Hope Mills has to offer,” Cotter said.

    Though the primary goal of Family Fun Day is to bring people together for a good time, it’s also an excellent opportunity to serve the community.

    Prime Movers has organized a school supply drive to run concurrently with the day’s festivities as the school year approaches. Donations of notebooks, pencils, loose-leaf paper, disinfectant wipes, tissues, glue sticks, dry erase markers, water bottles and hand sanitizer will be collected on-site.

    At the end of the day, Cotter hopes people leave with a smile on their faces.

    “I hope to hear that people had a lot of fun with their families,” she said.
    Family Fun Day will be held at Hope Mills Golf Course, located at 3625 Golfview Road in Hope Mills.

    For more information about the event, visit www.facebook.com/hopemillsprimemovers2020.

  • 15Supporting local businesses and nonprofits is important to Gaston Brewing Company Founder and CEO Troy Rassmussen.
    After speaking to his team, they decided to create an event this summer that would be fun for the whole family while also supporting the community.

    “We wanted to do an event that would feature local vendors, local food, obviously local beverage, which was provided by us. And most of all, we wanted to partner with a local nonprofit organization to bring awareness to their cause and to help potentially raise some funds in support of what they're doing,” Rassmussen told Up & Coming Weekly.

    The nonprofit they chose was the Fayetteville Animal Protection Society — Cumberland County's only no-kill nonprofit animal shelter.

    The FAPS mission is "to provide a licensed, no-kill shelter for homeless animals until adopted into a loving and caring lifetime environment; to reduce the population of stray animals and to promote responsible pet ownership. FAPS receives no government funding and relies solely on the generosity of individuals and businesses to fund its lifesaving work,” according to their website.

    All profits from the multiple raffle drawings at the event will be donated to the FAPS.
    Some prizes for the raffle include gas gift cards, an indoor climbing package, local businesses' items and dancing lessons at Roland's Dance Studio.

    Rassmussen says there will be all types of vendors, boutiques, food and kid-friendly activities at the event. Some of the food trucks that have been named for the event include Big Chiefs Food Truck and Pelican Snowballs. Local musician Ethan Hanson will be performing at the event.

    For kids, Rassmussen says they are working on getting a kids zone section that will be a safe place for kids to play.
    Some planned activities include a possible petting zoo, a splash pad and various games.

    “It's going to be primarily an outdoor event," Rassmussen said. "So we'll have plenty for people to do and see and hopefully raise money for a good cause.”
    FAPS will be out at Shops N' Hops and bringing some of the animals they have available for adoption. While it won't be same-day adoption, Rassmussen hopes that the people who will come and see the animals will hopefully think about adopting.

    “So it'll be a great opportunity for people to come and meet the fine folks at FAPS, and hopefully, maybe one of the pups that they bring will find a new home,” Rassmussen said.
    Rassmussen hopes these Shops N' Hops events will continue as a regular event at Gaston's.

    “I think the idea is we would like to do this, you know, quarterly or maybe seasonally and choose a different nonprofit each time,”- Rassmussen said.
    Shops N' Hops will take place on July 15 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Gaston Brewing Taproom. The event is free and is geared toward people of all ages.

  • 23Passing the older generation's stories to the next generation is the goal of the Lumbee Women, who are putting on a production of their stories at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke this month.

    The play tells the story of six women, no one younger than the age of 65, and how they grew up in the close-knit Lumbee tribal community during the time of the Jim Crow South.
    Each woman will tell her own story. Some are humorous, others heartbreaking — most are a mixture of both. Accompanying each tale will be music performed by a group of Lumbee musicians. The music will range from American Indian flute to gospel.

    Darlene Holmes Ransom is one of the founders, producers and one of the women performing in the play. She helped create “lumBEES: Women of the Dark Water” here in Fayetteville. Ransom was inspired by the play,

    “The Dames You Thought You Knew" at Cape Fear Regional Theatre.

    “So after the show was over, we went backstage, and I talked to Bo Thorpe, who was the director," Ransom said. “I said, ‘I want to do this with Lumbee women.’ And she said, ‘You bring me the women, we'll do the show.’”

    The six “Bees” are Roberta Bullard Brown, Dolores Jones, Jinnie Lowery, Dr. Jo Ann Chavis Lowery, Della Maynor and Ransom herself. Ransom told Up & Coming Weekly that over the five years of creating, producing and finalizing the show, the women formed a sisterhood.

    “It was a very long process. A lot of hours. Thousands of hours. If the chairs and the walls and the tables could talk in Bo's home, the stories they would tell. Some of the stories were too raw to be on stage. Some of the ladies shared things they never shared before because every time, it would become a safe place to share your story, to say things and tell things about experiences that happened. Growing up brown in a Black and white world. Because our experiences were so different then, you know, than the norm.”

    The play debuted at CFRT in 2019. It was sold out — something Ransom never expected.

    “I get chills when I think about it. We're still in awe that somebody wants to hear our story," Ransom said. “And so after it was over, I mean, everybody loved it. There were so many demands for us to travel with it. We've been asked to go to theaters all over. Even to travel with it out West.”

    However, as with most things in early 2020, everything shut down due to the pandemic. There were talks and even plans of having the production occur again last year, but then COVID-19 numbers rose, and for the safety of everyone, they canceled it.

    But now, after three years, the Lumbee women will be telling their stories — this time at UNC Pembroke.
    But this upcoming performance won't be the end of this group.

    “So we're doing bumper stickers, we're doing a book, and we want to do a coloring book, and we want this to grow, you know, because we are seasoned. We know that we can't travel across the country and all the venues, but this needs to grow another generation. They have to tell their story,” Ransom said. “So that is our hope to start mentoring the next Lumbee Women of the Dark Water.”

    The production of “lumBEES: Women of the Dark Water" will be held at the Givens Performing Arts Center. The play begins at 7:30 p.m. on July 8 and 9 and at 3 p.m. on July 10. Tickets are $20. For more information about the show or to purchase tickets, go to www.uncp.edu/gpac.

  • 11Walking into Pan from the oppressive Fayetteville heat is a literal breath of fresh air. The interior is small and cool, nearly as cool as the maps and botanical prints that grace just about every wall. Framed prints of far-off places, and few pictures more than two hundred years old, give the charming sandwich shop a little something special.

    The celery green paint and neat green trim connote freshness, while the wooden tables and metal chairs seem effortlessly hip. A mix of high-top tables and family-style seating makes it a convenient lunch spot for downtown professionals or a place to grab a bite with friends.

    A handwritten chalk menu bears exotic sandwich names such as “Waiting on the Train” and “The Lafayette,” while a keen eye might notice some familiar local names such as “The Gilbert” and the “The Dogwood.” It's clear behind each name is a story waiting to be told.

    Open for two weeks at the time of this article, Pan is enjoying the rush that comes with being the new kid on the block.

    “We made five pounds of fresh pesto two days ago, and it's gone!” Brian Graybill, owner of Pan, laughed in disbelief. “That's a lot of basil — it's going very well.”

    Recently featured in the Fayetteville Observer's Forty Under Forty, Graybill, CEO of Graybill Hospitality and owner of local favorite, Napkins, is no stranger to the pace and intensity of the restaurant industry.

    “I'm used to Napkins,” he shared with Up & Coming Weekly. “I'm used to the speed paired with quality. We're very prep-intensive here, so customer service can be quick. But it's been great; we're learning things every day.”

    Graybill, a former air traffic controller with the U.S. military, found his way into the restaurant industry by chance. Making a transition to civilian life, Graybill had a difficult time finding work during the financial crisis of 2008.

    “I needed a job, and no one was hiring, so I got a job at a restaurant,” he explained. “I like being on my feet, I like being creative and I like food.”

    A folksy sort of charm weaves its way through Graybill's words as he speaks, and he gives the impression of a small-town guy with a great work ethic and a knack for people.
    After nine years at Pierro's Italian Bistro, picking up tips and taking notes — cooking for people became not just a way to earn a living but Graybill's personal philosophy.

    “Most people just want to eat and enjoy themselves when you see them at a restaurant. You can make a nice bright spot in everybody's day with food. In all the major events of our lives — there's always food involved. That's what people do," he continued, “they eat.”

    Switching roles from chef to chef/owner, Graybill knew he wanted to get back to an era of fresh ingredients, original recipes and housemade everything.

    “I think restaurants have gotten away from making their own recipes,” Graybill admitted. “When we opened Napkins, I made a commitment to make everything we can in-house. Every ingredient has an intent behind it. We want to make the food you can't get anywhere else.”

    For what the restaurant doesn't or can't make in-house, a serious effort is made to order it locally or within the state.

    “I am NOT a baker," he admitted, chuckling. “God bless them. We get bread from a local lady, Bead & Sugar, by Dali. We also get bread from Nick, a legend over at Superior Bakery.”

    Most of the delicious meats piled on Pan's thick deli sandwiches come from San Giuseppe Salami Co, based in Elon, North Carolina. Graybill loves to support unique small businesses, particularly those local to North Carolina.

    A local himself, graduating from Jack Britt High School, Graybill feels the city is poised for greatness, and his dream is to be a part of the changing cultural landscape of downtown Fayetteville.

    “Gosh, nothing too grandiose,” Graybill answered almost shyly when asked about his overall mission. “‘Fay’ is the next city aching for a food renaissance," he continued. “We've seen it all over North Carolina with Raleigh, Charlotte, and we're kind of there. I want to be a part of the movement — to get back to good chef-driven food. I want to raise the bar on the food scene here in Fayetteville and elevate the food and beverage culture.”

    Pan, whose mascot and symbol is a satyr bearing the same name, is Graybill's way of sharing his love of food with a city and community he appreciates so much.

    “Everybody involved in our restaurant cares about what we're serving,” he said. “Everything is from scratch — It's fresh, light and, as a result, flavorful. We really care, and while everyone says that, we're doing the things that show that we do. We support the local economy by sourcing from people we know by name that we can call up on the phone, and it's awesome to be able to do that. It's amazing to be a part of this community.”

    So much of Graybill's gratitude shows up in his food. The menu is filled with sandwiches named for the people who made the notion of Pan a reality.

    The most popular sandwich on the board is “The Leclair,” named for Patrick Leclair, owner of Leclair's General Store, whose influence helped craft Pan's signature look. The sandwich showcases local greens, smoked chicken, fresh mozzarella, and the restaurant's signature pesto.

    A self-proclaimed "pepper head," Graybill has his favorites narrowed down to two: “The Giuseppe” and “The Icarus.” Both feature the spicy soppressata provided by San Giuseppe Salami Co.
    Though the days are long and there are more basil emergencies than he'd like, Graybill is living the dream.

    “I enjoy the atmosphere and range of people I get to meet,” Graybill said. "You have to love it — somedays you don't, but it's a great place to be.”

    Pan is located at 105 Hay St. in downtown Fayetteville. The restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

    For menu, prices, and news, follow Pan at www.facebook.com/panfaync/.

  • 14For those still looking for a summer camp for their kids, try looking to the past.

    The Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex will be taking campers back to the Victorian Era and teaching them what it was like during that period.
    Leslie Leonard, the curator of education for the museum, tells Up & Coming Weekly that this camp will be educational and fun.

    “So we’re going to be doing games and activities that children would have done 120 years ago. We’re going to learn about what life was like, what art was like, what architecture, food, what children did for work, whether it be chores at home if they were in middle-class or upper-class families or even doing no work if they were in a lower-income family,” Leonard said.

    This museum’s historical artifacts and even parts of the museum itself will be incorporated.
    The camp will focus on life locally and not just, in general, Victorian times. This camp will have a direct focus on Fayetteville and the surrounding area.

    “We just kind of wanted to do a new thing every year and thought that this one would be fun and appropriate. It’s easy to use what we already have on hand since we have the 1897 house decorated as a Victorian-era home. So we’re able to use that as a backdrop for many of our activities,” Leonard said.
    There will be direct learning objectives every day, but Leonard says they just want the kids to have fun while also understanding that we have come a long way over the years.

    “We want kids to be able to understand what life was like 100 years ago and how far we’ve come in that time, whether it be through technology, through society and politics or just our everyday way of living,” Leonard said.

    The museum will be holding its second camp session in July. The camp will start on July 25 and end on July 29. The camp is only half-days, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The camp is for kids ages 9 to 12 years old.

    There is a limit of 15 campers total for the session.

    “We’re doing it a little bit different this year and maxing out the number of campers at 15 where we did 30 before, in the past, because we wanted to make sure that there would be no reason to cancel it this summer,” Leonard said.

    In order to register for the camp, parents must come in person to the museum.

    They must have the proper paperwork and proof of age for the camper and pay the registration fee.
    The registration paperwork can be found at https://museumofthecapefear.ncdcr.gov/events/summer-history-camp-2022-victorian-carolina-0. The museum has received grant funding to run the camp from the Cumberland Community Foundation. So the fee for the camp is only $30 for the whole week.

    The CCF is a charitable organization that helps donors make life better in our community.

    There are limited spots for the camp, and it is first-come, first-serve. For more registration information, call the museum at 910-500-4243.

  • 21bCarolina Drag Brunch is bringing the sass back to Saturdays. With live music, mimosas and plenty of laughs — it’s brunch, only fabulous.

    Drag Me To Dirtbag-Draft Queens, hosted by Tatianna Matthews, will take place at Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom on July 9.

    Two showtimes are available for guests to enjoy the show. The 11 a.m. option includes brunch, while the 1 p.m. show will be a “brews only” event.

    The taproom’s airy interior and light-filled floor-to-ceiling windows provide a perfect stage for lip-synching, posing and eye-popping looks. Guests can expect a little bit of everything and should come fully prepared to be entertained. Tap Room Manager, Michelle Bruening, expressed her delight with the show.

    “Drag Brunch has been here as long as I have, and I’d never seen a drag show before I worked here. I really enjoy the energy everyone brings. Everyone is just so excited to be here. A lot of people come just to have the most fun. It’s such a welcoming environment — everyone is in a great mood.”

    DJ Alan will get the party going as three charismatic queens take the stage. Ticketholders will be treated to the many talents of Amanda LaRouxx, Ebony Addams and Ravion Starr Alexandria St. James.

    The interactive show runs about two hours, and every minute is packed as the ladies work to put on a show.

    “I love the costumes they come out in,” Bruening admitted, “they’re just so glamorous.”

    Carolina Drag Brunch brings queens from all over the state to perform at different venues throughout the Carolinas. According to their mission statement, “our goal for our events are to enjoy the company of fabulous queens and have a good time.”

    Tipping is encouraged as the stunning performers sing and dance their way through the taproom. The crowd should also be prepared for some light heckling from the stage — all in good fun, of course.

    No good brunch is complete with mimosas, and Dirtbag, true to its brand, has more than the standard recipe on offer.

    Mimosa buckets (a whole bottle of champagne), Glittered Sangria and an enticing Dirtbag special called a Brewmosa all make for a truly unique brunching experience.

    True, the family-friendly show offers exciting entertainment options for locals looking for something different, but what’s unsaid speaks louder than any DJ turntable: Dirtbag Ales is a safe space — and within its walls, you are welcome.

    “I think everyone should come,” Breuning told Up & Coming Weekly. “As long as you’re comfortable, you’re invited. We include everyone here.”

    To put action to sentiment, the money raised during Drag Brunch goes right back into serving the LGBTQ community, most notably displaced queer youth. The brunch’s affiliation with organizations like Free Mom Hugs ensures the inclusivity and acceptance experienced during a Drag Brunch are both felt and shared once the show is over.

    Tickets for brunch and a show are $30; show-only tickets are $15. Tickets for children under 16 cost $10 for both options.

    For tickets, visit www.simpletix.com/e/drag-me-to-dirtbag-draft-queens-july-drag-tickets-106806.

  • 25Exercising on the beach comes naturally. Many people jog, walk, walk their dogs, play in the surf, dig holes, build sand art, look for shells, fish and hunt for shells at night.
    I recently visited my cousin, who has a sixth-floor condo in North Myrtle Beach. My 83-year-old cousin spends most of her day walking the beach, looking for shells in the surf, and if you met her, you would see the benefits from walks, jogs, hunting for shells and walks in the water and think she was much younger!

    Morning coffee on the balcony gave me a bird’s eye view of the many ways the beach is enjoyed for exercise and relaxation, which are both therapeutic. A great view of the ocean and people-watching are added benefits! Each morning I took my mat out and did my barre workout. There is something about stepping off the mat and digging those toes in the sand.

    The rewards of beach exercise are subliminal because you do not realize how many muscles you use, and there is beautiful sunshine and sand. Digging holes and making sand art involves all the movement patterns and use of muscle groups.

    Playing in the surf or hunting for shells requires a test of balance and strength with the force of the rolling waves. Walking seems to be effortless, and before you know it, you have walked a long distance and going back turns into a headwind or vice versa.

    There are many benefits to walking and jogging on the beach, and walking in sand is one of them, whether you are barefoot or have shoes on, and it is less stressful than walking on a hard surface. Your calf muscles work harder to push along the surface.

    By walking at a slower pace, the uneven variation in the sand requires more effort and about three times more energy than walking on a hard surface. Jogging also requires more energy, and the movement pattern is less stressful on your joints because the sand acts as a cushion.

    Jogging on the beach can build your strength while stabilizing your muscles and coordination. It takes more effort to stabilize your core on uneven surfaces. Your body begins to develop a natural and very efficient running form while adjusting to the instability. Running on sand has a long history of training benefits for sports. Top runners have made the beach a part of training for race preparations.
    Going into the surf to swim, board or hunt for shells is a good core and balanced workout. Looking for shells in the lapping waves improves your balance and core strength as you brace to stand up or stoop down to find that perfect shell or shark’s tooth.

    There are guidelines for walking or jogging on the beach, especially if you do it frequently. Injuries can occur because of the increased demand on your soles, hamstrings and calves. Walking in the sand with bare feet is fine for shorter distances, but longer distances should be undertaken with proper walking shoes to avoid shin splints.

    The slope of the beach can provide a challenge for stabilizing muscles, leading to pain or soreness. If you run or frequently walk, change the direction that you are going and go at either high or low tide.
    The sun can cause you to underestimate the impact of the temperature and sun rays on your skin. Walking with a water bottle and wearing sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses are always advisable.
    Live, love life and enjoy the beach!

  • 13Toys are part of our culture reflecting the values and trends in society. The temporary exhibit “Let’s Play! A Time Warp to Toys of the Past” at the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex chronicles the development of toys and play as they accompanied the emergence of modern childhood.

    Toys can tell an interesting story about how kids grew up in America. Megan Maxwell, the exhibit curator, says that the exhibit will show that despite differences in economic background, race, ethnicity and culture — things all children have in common are toys and play.

    “The concept for this exhibit began with just a small group of toys that I found in the Museum collections room,” Maxwell said. “We thought it would be fun to do a toy exhibit for the summer since so many families visit the Museum during summer break. While there are toys representing many decades, I think kids of the ‘60s, 70s and 80s will be the most excited to see what we have on display. Toys are a universal language, and this exhibit will appeal to people of all ages and all walks of life.”

    Maxwell says the key to play is imagination.

    Highlights of the exhibit include rare tin lithograph mechanical toys, original Kenner Star Wars figures and handmade Black dolls that reflect the journey of Black Americans from enslavement through reconstruction and beyond.

    Many of the toys in the exhibit were donated by several local individuals.
    One of the stories told in the exhibit tells of Cassandra McMillion. There is a picture of 3-year-old McMillion holding her favorite toy, Sally. The picture was taken sometime around 1945. Sally was a sawdust/bisque porcelain doll. McMillion’s story is displayed next to the Handmade Black Dolls section of the exhibit.

    The exhibit is also interactive for kids and adults who are “kids at heart.” Visitors can play along as they travel through the exhibit by giving the color wheel a spin and moving to the matching game circles on the floor.

    Visitors can pose in a life-size Barbie box or stand in front of the Star Wars galaxy backdrop for a fun photo souvenir.

    The exhibit is currently open at the Museum and will run through Sept. 4. This exhibit was funded by the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex Foundation. The museum is run under the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. They work with a vision to build the social, cultural, educational and economic future of North Carolina. NCDNCR's mission is to improve the quality of life in the state by creating opportunities to experience excellence in the arts, history, libraries and nature in North Carolina.

    In creating the exhibit, the North Carolina Museum of History staff assisted our local museum with technical and design assistance.

    The Museum of the Cape Fear is located on the corner of Bradford and Arsenal Avenues in Fayetteville.
    Admission to the Museum and the exhibit is free. Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. through 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. through 5 p.m.

  • 24Summertime for young people should offer fun, friendship and great memories, and what can be more fun than a cool, refreshing swim? Sadly, every summer brings the news that someone in our community, usually a young person, has drowned. Why is this the case, and what do we need to know before heading to the water?

    According to the World Health Organization, drowning is the third leading cause of accidental death worldwide, largely affecting children and teenagers. Males are especially at risk, with twice the mortality rate of females.

    The male brain certainly bears examining. Young males, in particular, are more likely to take risks, such as swimming alone or in secluded waters not authorized for recreational activity. Males of all ages succumb to predictable notions of invincibility and bravado.

    The point here is not to assign blame to drowning victims or their families but rather to spark a discussion. It is not they who are tragically tone-deaf. It is society at large for not giving drowning the urgency it demands.
    Adults, this is where you come in. First of all, we need to know what drowning looks like. Contrary to the popular notion of someone flailing madly in the water, experts agree it usually happens in silence. It can occur quickly, in as little as a minute.

    A swimmer with his mouth open, gasping for air, his head bobbing in and out of the water, needs immediate help. Hair blocking the eyes or forehead and trying to swim in a specific direction but with no progress are other danger signs.

    Safety experts agree on a few key suggestions: don't go swimming alone, learn CPR, avoid alcohol before swimming and boating, add fences, alarms and cameras to home swimming pools and swim only in designated waters (secluded spots pose such risks as rocks, debris, currents and extreme depths not always anticipated). Most importantly, encourage swimming lessons. The YMCA, Boys & Girls Clubs and municipal pools are the best places to start.

    In a nutshell, supervise. Supervise the inexperienced swimmers, and supervise the experienced. In addition to adult supervision, encourage young swimmers to look out for each other.
    Fifty years ago this month, I lost a dear family member to drowning. Surviving family members tend to torture themselves, wondering what they could have done differently. We endlessly ponder how far our best efforts go before fate takes over, but, as mere humans, our best efforts are all we have.

    News reports alone can't convey the loss felt by families and communities touched by drowning. Individual stories are, in fact, chapters in a national tragedy, but we as a society reflexively write them all off as an unfortunate offshoot of an otherwise carefree season.

    My wish is that young people enjoy their summers and let go, if only temporarily, of care and worry while still looking out for themselves and each other. Our job as adults is to foster the perfect balance between having fun and exercising caution. Youth is fleeting enough; let us hold onto its energy and innocence for as long as we can.

     

  • 21aIn the heart of Harnett County, just about forty-five minutes from "everywhere," fields of gold, yellow, orange and red await those looking to shoot some beautiful photos amongst the sunflowers on Cathis Farm.

    The second annual Sunflower Days at Cathis Farm is a fun summer outing for the entire family, open Saturday and Sunday from July 9 to July 24.
    Sunflower Days bring the vibrancy of summer, and ticket holders have access to two acres of land dotted with over twenty varieties of sunflowers.
    Though most people are more than familiar with the lemon-yellow flower with a chocolate brown center, co-owner Stephanie Freas, loves to see people discover just how versatile the ubiquitous blooms can be.

    "Some of these sunflowers are around 10-feet-tall and bigger than your head. There are fluffy ones and some that come in purple, orange and red. Sunflowers come in such wide varieties; it's a lot of fun to go through and discover all these flowers you just weren't expecting."

    With a pivot toward events and seasonal activities in 2018, Cathis Farms teamed up with Freas, who brought her haunted attractions to the business. Their partnership proved a fertile environment for ideas, and the seed for Sunflower Days was planted.

    When we first started this event, we noticed there weren't a lot of sunflowers around," Freas said. "We wanted to create a fun experience; it's really nice out here, and people are looking for outdoor activities to do.

    People love sunflowers, and it's an opportunity to create great photos — it's just a fun summer event."
    Single-day admission tickets grant access to the sunflower fields for as long as the visitor cares to stay. Each person gets a sunflower on the house, but they're also free to pick their own. To complete the pastoral aesthetic, they can even collect them in lovely galvanized buckets.

    With a keen eye toward social media trends, Cathis knows its audience and offers Sunflower Days first and foremost as a prime destination for photographers and selfie-lovers alike. Friday, July 15 and 22, guests can access the farm in the evening to capture the beautiful sunset and some gorgeous late afternoon light.

    "This is a big photography event," Freas explained. "We're sprinkling photo-ops all around the farm. There are a lot of antique bicycles, tractors and benches, just mixed in with the flowers. It's perfect for maternity shoots or engagement photos. Most people run around and take these cool selfies because it's such a great background."

    Though not a totally kid-oriented event, Freas assured Up & Coming Weekly there will be plenty to do and see. The Cathis Farm concession stand will be open during Sunflower Days, and there is a hot dog cart featuring meat from the farm's own animals.

    Guests can also pop in and take a look at the little market on-site stocked with local and regional goodies.

    "It's a nice getaway to the country," Freas said thoughtfully. "We try to do things a little bit different here — something fun enough to bring the whole family. We try to provide a wide variety of things to do throughout the year."

    Tickets are $15 for ages 11 and up and $10 for ages 3 to 10. To purchase tickets, visit https://cathisfarm.ticketspice.com/sunflower-days-2022.
    Cathis Farm is located at 544 Falcon Road in Lillington.

     

  • fayetteville nc logo Two men who have been champions of downtown Fayetteville were honored as visionaries at a luncheon Wednesday at Segra Stadium.
    Menno Pennink and the late Harry Shaw received the 2022 CityView Downtown Visionaries awards in recognition of their longtime commitment to revitalizing and improving the downtown district.

    The awards are sponsored by CityView Magazine.

    Pennink, a retired neurosurgeon, recruited 17 businessmen in 1992 to purchase and renovate the Prince Charles Hotel. Over the years, he has restored numerous other buildings downtown, including the Pemberton building, McKeithan lawyers building and Point News.
    Perhaps his most well-known project is the $15 million residential and commercial building known as 300 Hay.
    Shaw worked for more than 12 years to develop Cross Creek Linear Park not far from his childhood home on Hawley Lane.

    The 2.7-mile park begins at Festival Park and runs through historic sections of downtown. Shaw, who died in May 2018, lived to see the 2017 ribbon-cutting to mark Linear Park’s completion.
    Pennink and his wife, Suzanne, accepted his award. Shaw’s daughters, Faison Covington and Sally Schmitz, accepted the award on his behalf.

    "It is always exciting to celebrate our downtown and the economic opportunities around the corner, but even more rewarding when we take a moment to recognize the visionary leaders that helped make it happen," said Tony Chavonne, publisher of CityView Magazine.

    As part of Wednesday’s luncheon, a video tribute to Pennink and Shaw, narrated by city historian Bruce Daws, was played.
    The ceremony also featured representatives of several downtown and Haymount projects that are now underway.
    Mary Kate Burke, artistic director of Cape Fear Regional Theatre, described plans for a $16 million renovation and expansion of the building. The theater opened in 1962.

    Mac Healy, co-chair of the N.C. Civil War and Reconstruction History Center Foundation, discussed progress on the $80 million building that will be off Arsenal Avenue and become part of the state-supported Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex.
    Assistant Cumberland County Manager Brian Haney spoke about plans for a new special-events center, including efforts to solicit public input about where it should be located.

    Bianca Shoneman, president and chief executive officer of Cool Spring Downtown District, delivered the State of the District report on business and economic activity downtown.

  • pexels max vakhtbovych 7393980 An owner of apartment communities in 19 states has purchased two more in Fayetteville with plans to make $7 million in improvements to the properties.
    Morgan Properties, regarded as one of the nation’s top three multifamily housing companies, has acquired Westlake at Morganton and The Preserve at Grande Oaks, which have a total of 642 units, according to a news release.

    The apartment communities were purchased from Morganton Management and Development of Fayetteville. The purchase price was not disclosed, said a representative of Morgan Properties on Thursday.

    The deal means Morgan Properties now owns five local apartment communities with a total of 1,530 units. The company purchased the Village at Cliffdale, Chason Ridge and Morganton Place in November 2021.

    “As relatively long-term holders with apartment communities in 19 states, we routinely seek to strengthen the geographic diversity of our overall apartment portfolio,” said Greg Curci, executive vice president of operations for Morgan Properties, said by email. “Likewise, when attainable, we prefer to have a mix of asset classes within a given market to provide rental options at various price points. Our recent acquisitions in the Fayetteville market satisfy both of those objectives by providing us with three 1990s-built assets and two assets developed in 2007 in the stable and enduring Fayetteville market.”

    The acquisition brings the company’s total portfolio to more than 93,000 units across the nation, the news release said.
    Morgan Properties cited Fayetteville’s access to Interstate 95, the presence of Fort Bragg and its proximity to the three largest cities in North Carolina as reasons why Fayetteville is attractive for economic development.

    “We look forward to growing our presence in this attractive market and continuing to build our experience in Class A multifamily across the country,” said Jason Morgan, president of Morgan Properties, in the news release.

    Westlake at Morganton and The Preserve at Grande Oaks are pet-friendly communities with amenities that include a pool; fitness center with an on-site trainer; business center; entertainment lounge; and movie room.

    The one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments offer updated kitchens and bathrooms, in-unit laundry rooms, new appliances, walk-in closets and patios, the news release said.

    Westlake at Morganton has direct access to parking garages.

    Morgan Properties plans to invest $7 million for interior upgrades and smart-home technology at the apartments, the release said. Other amenities planned include a new clubhouse, dog parks, patios for grilling and a bike-share program.

  • pexels Crime tape A man has been arrested in South Carolina and charged in the May 13 shooting death of a Fayetteville teenager on Yadkin Road, the Fayetteville Police Department said.

    Lamon Isaiah Townsend, 21, has been charged with first-degree murder, the department said in a release. His address was not immediately available. Townsend was arrested Wednesday, June 29, in Bennettsville, South Carolina, by members of the U.S.Marshals Service Task Force.

    Townsend is in jail in South Carolina pending extradition to Fayetteville.

    Townsend is charged in the death of a 17-year-old who was shot along the 5700 block of Yadkin Road. The Police Department has not released the teenager’s name, citing his age.

    Officers responded to a reported shooting in the parking lot on the 5700 block of Yadkin Road around 7:40 p.m. They found the male teen, who had been shot multiple times. He was taken to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center but died as a result of his injuries, police said.

  • downloadIn a partnership touted as the first of its kind, Fayetteville’s economic development agency is teaming with the Army Reserve Command to help reservists and their spouses find civilian jobs.

    The Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corp. signed the agreement with the Army Reserve Command’s Private Public Partnership Office on June 16, according to EDC officials.

    “We’re the first economic development organization to have this kind of partnership. I’m sure we will not be the last,” EDC President and CEO Robert Van Geons said Thursday.

    “I can’t think of a more fitting partnership,” Van Geons said in a news release. “This will enable us to continue to build, bridge and create an ongoing collaborative conversation here. I think we can do incredible things together, positively impacting the lives of our reservists and their families.”

    The EDC said the agreement will help soldiers and their families overcome barriers to getting a job or having access to education in ways that support mission-readiness goals and build community connections.

    The Private Public Partnership Office of the Army Reserve Command works to ensure that reserve soldiers succeed in civilian careers, the release stated.
    Van Geons said the partnership “shows how we're trying to position Fayetteville and Cumberland County to be innovative leaders in areas like this and in new technology (and) creative ways we can do more together in collaboration."

    “It is about retaining talent,” Van Geons said Thursday. “And so a survey we've done involving those who are engaged with our military -- full-time service or reservist or even folks in the (National) Guard – (shows) their future employment ultimately impacts where they eventually reside. The military makes investments in training and skills development, and we want to keep those skilled folks who serve our country here in Fayetteville and Cumberland County.

    "Conversely, those skills and talent help us retain quality employers,” he added. “It's a win-win for everybody involved."

    Rob Patton, executive vice president of the Economic Development Corp., said that even though the partnership is a first, it is certain to lead to future partnerships with other economic development organizations.
    Patton is a retired Army colonel.

    “This is a big day for all of us,” he said in the news release. “We're very honored to be a part of this, but also, I'm humbled to know that we are the first EDO to be an official partner with the Army Reserve."

    More than 87% of reservists integrate military service with civilian careers, providing the Army with professional skills, education and expertise acquired in the private sector, the release said. But many reservists are either unemployed or underemployed.

    Many hiring programs are geared toward veterans who are leaving the military.
    But in this case, the reservists who are currently serving also need civilian jobs, the release said.

    “Some of the unsung heroes in the United States are the reservists," Patton said in the release. “That is an extremely tough job -- balancing family life, personal life, work life and then that other thing called the Army."

  • pexels Crime tape The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office is investigating a fatal hit-and-run that occurred May 21 in Stedman.

    Rose Zolman, 28, was found in the middle of Sandy Creek Road near Page Road, the Sheriff’s Office said in a release. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol initially looked into the case, and the Sheriff’s Office has assumed control of the investigation, the agency said in a release.

    Zolman was killed during the early hours of May 21. No other information was immediately available.

    The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information about Zolman’s death to contact detective Senior Sgt. C. Zwan at 910-677-5503 or Fayetteville / Cumberland County CrimeStoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477).

  • pexels rovenimagescom 949592 As people gather over the next few days to celebrate the July 4th holiday, firefighters and law enforcement officers are reminding the public to make safety a priority.

    “We hope that everyone is able to safely enjoy the July Fourth holiday by spending time with family and friends,” Fayetteville police Lt. Lori Holloway said in a release. “Be careful with fireworks and firearms, look out for your neighbor, be aware of your surroundings and consider celebrating with others at one of the local professional shows.”

    The assistant Fayetteville fire chief agreed that professional community fireworks shows are the best option.

    “Our area has only seen a small amount of rainfall this summer and conditions continue to remain dry,” said T.J. McLamb, who also is the city fire marshal.

    Igniting explosives in dry conditions can have dangerous consequences. Flames can spark unexpectedly and spread, the city said in a release.

    On July 4, 2021, the majority of fires in Fayetteville occurred after 10 p.m., many of the fires were in dumpsters, outside trash cans or rubbish, the release said.

    According to the U.S. Consumer Product and Safety Commission, nearly 13,000 emergency room-treated injuries are associated with fireworks annually, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office said in a release.

    The Sheriff’s Office offered these safety tips:
    Never give fireworks to small children, and always follow the instructions on the packaging.
    Keep a supply of water close by as a precaution.
    Make sure the person lighting the fireworks always wears eye protection.
    Light fireworks one at a time and never attempt to relight "a dud."
    Store fireworks in a cool, dry place away from children and pets.
    Never throw or point fireworks toward people, animals, vehicles, structures or flammable materials.
    Stay at least 500 feet away from professional fireworks displays.
    Leave any area immediately where untrained amateurs are using fireworks.

    According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, North Carolina residents averaged 197 emergency department visits per year for firework-related injuries between 2017-2021, the city said in its release.

    A person can be charged with up to a Class 2 misdemeanor for a violation of North Carolina General Statute Chapter 14, Article 54 concerning pyrotechnics.

    Sheriff Ennis Wright also urged residents to use caution when swimming at the beach or a pool. He also urged motorists to be alert when traveling on the busy holiday weekend.

    Pet safety

    Cumberland County Animal Services also reminds residents to keep their pets safe on July 4th.

    Meredith Garringer, a veterinarian with Animal Services, said residents may want to keep their pets indoors the night of July 4 when fireworks may frighten them.

    “Being in the Fort Bragg area, a lot of our pets are acclimated to loud noises,” Garringer said in a release. “However, with fireworks, you’re also going to see flashes in the sky. To us, it may be neat, but to them, it’s very scary.”

    Garringer said that when animals are outside, they should have shade and cool water to help prevent heat stroke. If a pet is showing signs of distress, the owner should immediately call a veterinarian, the release said.

    Animal Services will be closed Monday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. Regular hours are Monday through Friday 11 a.m.– 5 p.m. and Saturday 1-5 p.m.

  • FPD logo A woman who appeared to be "in crisis'' was killed Friday night in an officer-involved shooting on Colgate Drive, the Fayetteville Police Department said.

    Officers were dispatched just after 9:40 p.m. to a residence on the 2300 block of Colgate Drive in reference to an attempted break-in, Assistant Chief James Nolette said during a news conference early Saturday.

    Officers were told that four men tried to break into the residence. Officers made contact with the occupants, a mother, a daughter, a grandmother and a grandfather, Nolette said.

    No evidence of a break-in could be determined, he said.
    While talking with the mother, Nolette said, there were some inconsistencies with her story. She also appeared “as if she were in crisis,’’ he said.

    “And then suddenly, she produced a firearm,’’ Nolette said, adding that she began to threaten to harm herself.

    Nolette said two officers spent about an hour talking with the woman, trying to get her to put down the gun and discussing getting her help.
    The woman agreed to get assistance through Cape Fear Valley, and police had EMS ready to respond, Nolette said.
    The woman continued to have the handgun, he said.
    Several times during the talks, the grandmother and the woman’s child were around her, in front of her and “are in harm’s way,’’ Nolette said.

    “After about an hour of de-escalating, the officers attempted to secure the weapon and gain control of the handgun,’’ Nolette said. “At that point, the struggle went to the ground and tragically, officers discharged their firearm. The female is deceased at this time.’’

    The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation has been contacted to investigate the officer-involved shooting, the department said.
    The officer will be placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of the investigation, which is standard procedure, the department said in a release.
    The Police Department’s Internal Affairs Unit will conduct an internal investigation to ensure departmental policies and procedures were followed during the incident, the release said.

    The names of the woman and the officers are currently being withheld.
    There is body camera footage, which will be turned over to the SBI, Nolette said.
    The department “reviewed it preliminary just to get an idea of the true facts that occurred there and not just perception,’’ Nolette said.

    “This is a tragic situation,’’ he said.

    “For almost an hour, the officers pled with this young lady, tried to get this young lady to put this weapon down. Tried to get the help that she wanted,’’ Nolette said. “... But it just escalated very quickly.’’

  • 16 N2107P34005HJane Fonda made the motto “No Pain No Gain” famous in the 1980’s with her exercise videos that became widely used in marketing fitness campaigns. Even though Jane Fonda received the credit, the term “No Pain No Gain” was coined by Benjamin Franklin when he wrote “There are no gains without pain.”

    Over three hundred years ago he might be considered the first fitness guru. He felt that exercise was the reason for continued health and should be done forty minutes a day.

    Pain is not an indication in exercise that you are pushing to the max and achieving your goals. Mild discomfort is acceptable but when pain occurs your body is telling you to stop before an injury occurs.

    As exercise science has progressed many of the ways we approached fitness are now different. Still, some of the beliefs are now myths, here are a few.

    Can you target specific areas for fat reduction? The answer is no. If you do countless sit ups for your abs you will gain muscle in that area, but the fat area remains. Our genetics play a role in how we store fat, and we lose it in the reverse order that it was accumulated. Weight loss and muscle gain result from diet and exercise. You cannot out exercise an improper diet.

    If women lift weights, they will get bulky. Very few women can gain the same bulk as men do because they are smaller and have lower levels of testosterone.

    Weight and resistance training are good for women and have proven effective for many health gains including bone density, strength and risk of injury. In other words, you will not bulk up if you pick up!

    Muscle weighs more than fat. A pound of muscle and a pound of fat weigh the same. A pound of lean muscle however takes up less space in your body than a pound of fat because of density. The way your clothes fit tells you a lot about your weight loss. It is a nice feeling that your clothes are fitting differently!

    The scale can be encouraging and discouraging with weight loss. Try to resist that continual checking of the scales. Weight can fluctuate because of many factors and the scale is not a true picture of your health. Weight loss of one to two pounds per week is a sustainable goal and healthier than rapid weight loss.

    I am too old to exercise. Exercising has many health benefits at any age. People may think they are to out of shape, too old to start or cannot start because of an injury.

    There are people in their seventies, eighties and nineties that run marathons and are body builders. That may seem a lofty goal to a beginner but is not one that could be out of reach. Observing a group fitness class in an exercise facility or on the gym floor with older participants can quickly debunk that myth because many are rock stars pumping out that fitness level that could rival a younger participant!

    Who would have thought the science of exercise would have evolved to the level it is today and we have the pioneers in industry to thank including Benjamin Franklin and Jane Fonda.

    The industry is evolving with new studies and techniques, but exercise is only one component in fitness.

    A healthy lifestyle is followed by diet, sustainability and a balance in life for emotional and spiritual health.

  • 15 Nursing StudentThe U.S. Department of Health Resources and Services Administration has awarded a grant of more than $499,000 to the Nursing Department at Methodist University. The funds target specific training for pre-licensure public health nursing students and faculty to recognize and respond to opioid use and strengthen the professional development of public health nurses across North Carolina.

    The investment in MU by HRSA to equip tomorrow’s nursing health care professionals is a solid investment and a step in the right direction to combat North Carolina’s opioid crisis.

    MU’s was the only program in the Carolinas, public or private, to receive the grant and only 10 other nursing programs in the country received the award (including Ohio State University, Texas A&M, University of Tennessee, Emory University and the University of Cincinnati).

    “During the early days of the pandemic shut-down last spring, everyone became acutely aware of the need for highly qualified public health nurses,” said Shannon Matthews, director of Nursing at MU.

    “In addition to community strain on the public health system due to COVID-19, opioid overdose and substance misuse have reached all-time highs in Cumberland County and surrounding communities," Matthews said.

    The Methodist University Nursing Program graduated its first Bachelor of Science in Nursing class in 2014. Since then, the program has awarded nursing degrees to more than 170 graduates, many of whom have remained in North Carolina and the greater Fayetteville and Cumberland County areas. The program provides future nurses with a hands-on education using state-of-the-art simulation technology — including the MU General Simulation Hospital — as well as simulated patients of all ages. Cameras are equipped throughout the hospital to observe and guide students through their studies.

    “Nursing is one of the jewels in the crown at Methodist University — a university that is becoming rapidly known for its excellent health care programs,” said MU President Dr. Stanley Wearden. “This investment from the U.S. Department of Health Resources and Services Administration will not only help educate our students but prepare them for the hard work ahead in combatting North Carolina’s opioid crisis as health care professionals.”

    Methodist University’s Simulation Education Training-Recovery Now (SET-RN) is led by highly qualified and experienced public health nurse educators and prepares public health nursing students to directly impact objectives in the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

    For the next two-years, the goal of MU’s nursing program is to prepare 75 unique pre-licensure nursing students with enhanced public nursing competencies to recognize and respond to substance and opioid misuse by creating enhanced interprofessional education simulation exercises in their state-of-the-art facilities.

    “Simulation scenarios and clinical experiences reflective of substance misuse will be threaded throughout the nursing curriculum to help our graduates recognize and respond to adult, adolescent, and pediatric clients with substance misuse and overdose in a variety of settings,” said Matthews.

    With this new grant, MU will strengthen statewide support and professional development by delivering workshops for nursing faculty and collaborate with state professional nursing organizations.

    Nursing faculty member and Simulation Director, Mitzi Averette, MSN, RN, CNE, CHSE, is a long-time advocate for recovery and will be the project coordinator. Averette has strong connections in the community and is a champion of increasing public awareness and resources to address substance misuse and developing programs to reduce stigma associated with substance use disorder. Averette has already begun work establishing collegiate recovery groups on local campuses and promoting training for faculty and students in recovery strategies.

    “We are excited to begin this project and the positive impact it will have on public health nursing and the care of those struggling with substance use disorders,” Matthews said.

    Methodist University is an independent, four-year institution of higher education with about 2,000 students from across the U.S. and more than 40 countries. MU offers more than 80 undergraduate and graduate degree programs (including doctoral-level options) on campus and online. To learn more about MU visit methodist.edu.

    Pictured: The federal grant Methodist University received targets specific training for pre-licensure public health nursing students and faculty to recognize and respond to opioid use and strengthen the professional development of public health nurses across North Carolina. (Photo courtesy Methodist University)

     

  • 14 99431256 3072861549424143 3731088603145568256 oDr. Larry Keen, President of Fayetteville Technical Community College, is calling on adults across the greater Fayetteville region to visit BetterSkillsBetterJobs.com as a first step to gain the skills they need to secure the jobs they want.

    “After a year of challenges like no other, we know most adults understand it’s time to skill up, retool, and retrain — either to advance in their current careers or to change careers entirely,” Dr. Keen said. “So we are making an extra push this summer to reach out to and inform as many adults as possible about the variety of fast, flexible and affordable programs we offer.

    “From allied health training, to automotive systems technology, to systems security and analysis, and many more programs, our courses are a direct pipeline to many of our region’s top employers,” Dr. Keen said. “That’s why we hope everyone will visit BetterSkillsBetterJobs.com today to quickly connect with us and explore all of the opportunities we offer that can lead to better skills, a better job, a bigger paycheck and an even brighter future.”

    FTCC is a regional source for education and training in Cumberland County, with campuses in Fayetteville and Spring Lake, and an educational training center on Fort Bragg. The college offers more than 200 job-ready programs.

    The Better Skills. Better Jobs. campaign is a pilot project launched in early 2021 across five North Carolina community colleges to proactively reach out to and attract more adults back to college. Other key funders and partners for the initiative include the John M. Belk Endowment and myFutureNC.

    “The John M. Belk Endowment is pleased to partner with Fayetteville Technical Community College and four other outstanding community colleges to catalyze and supercharge their efforts to recruit and support adult students,” said MC Belk Pilon, President and Board Chair of the John M. Belk Endowment. “In a matter of months on a community college campus, adult learners can acquire skills and credentials that can change their families’ economic trajectory.”

    “The vast majority of higher-wage jobs today require more than a high school diploma, but that is something that less than half of North Carolinians in this age range currently have,” said Cecilia Holden, President and CEO of myFutureNC. “We know better skills lead to better jobs and to a stronger and more economically vibrant North Carolina. We are very pleased to be partnering on this important new initiative.”

    The John M. Belk Endowment is a private family foundation committed to transforming postsecondary educational opportunities to meet North Carolina’s evolving workforce needs. Its mission is aligned with the vision of its founder, the late John M. Belk, who served four terms as mayor of Charlotte and was CEO of the department store company Belk, Inc. Now led by Mr. Belk’s daughter, MC Belk Pilon, the John M. Belk Endowment continues to partner with innovative, results-oriented programs in North Carolina to further Mr. Belk’s values, legacy, and focus on the value of education as a means to personal fulfillment and community vitality. For more information, please visit jmbendowment.org.

    myFutureNC is a statewide nonprofit with the goal to create a stronger, more competitive North Carolina. myFutureNC is working across sectors and in communities throughout the state to close gaps in the education pathway, to promote alignment between educational programming and business/industry needs, and to ultimately improve educational opportunities. For more information, please visit myfuturenc.org.

    For more information about FTCC’s Better Skills. Better Jobs. initiative, visit BetterSkillsBetterJobs.com/FTCC/.

    Pictured: The Better Skills.Better Jobs campaign aims to get adults the instruction and job skills that lead to better employment opportunities. (Photo courtesy FTCC)

  • 13 N1809P02001CThe world has changed dramatically over the past year. We have faced unprecedented challenges that affected every single aspect of life.

    We have adapted, overcome and improvised on a daily basis in order to cope with the new normal of life. From wearing masks in public and keeping a safe distance to complete isolation, people have made major adjustments to their lives in order to cope with the pandemic. And, sadly, for many, the situation created by the pandemic has ultimately led to a desperate struggle for survival.

    Fortunately, we live in an era of technology. We are able to do things now that were impossible for past generations.

    We can telework, order food online, Skype, Facetime and teleconference from our homes or even from the palms of our hands. Even during times of isolation, we are able to stay virtually connected and be productive.

    Throughout the pandemic, a good number of people were able to continue working and feed themselves, thanks to the advances of the last century and especially the last few decades.

    We now take things such as cars, computers, smartphones and the internet for granted, but these items have made coping with the pandemic a completely different experience when compared to the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918.

    We still face challenges, however, and it doesn’t look like things are going to go back to what we remember as normal for a while. To face these challenges, we are going to need fresh new minds to invent new ways of doing things. We now have a generation of young people who grew up in a world of technology and have an innate understanding of how to live in a cyber-connected world.

    Unfortunately, technology can be a two-edged sword, and with so many distractions, many are falling short of their true potential.

    The U.S. education system has been pushing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education and careers for years because of the shortage of people in these degree fields.

    Now that we are faced with new challenges stemming from the pandemic, we need STEM-educated individuals now even more than ever. Who will research new cures, invent new ways to work and communicate, or design the next generation of ventilators?

    An old adage (late 1800s) states, “Everything that can be invented has been invented.” But these words are far from the truth. Think of everything that has been invented since the late 1800s. Had this been true back then, we would still be riding horses for primary transportation and reading by candlelight. Without the technological advances of the last century, our current crisis would have been much more difficult to navigate.

    So, here’s a call for individuals to accept the challenge to become the next generation of scientists, inventors and engineers. You may be the one who invents something new that positively changes
    our world.

    FTCC’s Associate Degree Engineering program can help you begin this exciting journey. Fall classes begin Aug. 16. Apply for Fall classes today and allow FTCC to help you find your way forward. For more information visit https://www.faytechcc.edu/.

  • 08 FAP 9463Fort Bragg is calling out to the military community and public to donate boots for the annual boot display in remembrance of those who have lost their lives since 9/11.

    The boot display is traditionally held in May to align with the Memorial Day observance. This year, the observation will coincide with the “Run, Honor, Remember 5K” memorial run on Aug. 28 and the All American Run on Aug. 30 for the 82nd Airborne Division’s All American Week.

    “We are in need of 1,000 pairs of any and all types of military boots in good condition,” said Elvia Kelly, spokeswoman for the Fort Bragg Garrison Public Affairs Office. “We’re asking the community to donate any of their unwanted or unused military boots to help us honor and remember fallen service members.”

    Each boot displayed at Hedrick Stadium represents an active-duty service member who has fallen since 9/11. Volunteers prep the boots by carefully tying each lace and placing an empty bottle of water inside the boot as a foundation to hold its form.

    The boots are lined up in rows across the field, where volunteers attach a personalized tag with a photo of a fallen service member and includes a unit and date
    of death.

    “In addition to attaching personalized tags, volunteers place an American flag in each boot,” said Kelly. “It takes six to eight hours to setup the boot display on the field.”

    Due to extreme weather in the past years such as rain, there has been a breakdown of the boots and about 4,600 boots were discarded due to damage.

    Currently it takes over 7,500 individual boots to complete the memorial display at Hedrick Stadium and Fort Bragg needs 1,000 more boots to reach their goal of representing all the fallen service members.

    The deadline for the boot donation is on or before Aug. 13, which allows Survivor Outreach Services and volunteers to prep the boots for display.

    “The memorial boot display is open to everyone who has a Department of Defense ID card or those who can obtain a visitor’s access pass from the All American Visitor Center,” Kelly mentioned. “The display setup begins Friday, Aug. 27 and the boots will remain on the field until Monday, Aug. 30.”

    “It’s a powerful sight to see the memorial boot display when doing a run around Hedrick Stadium or walking across the field seeing each individual boot after being carefully prepared by volunteers,” said Kelly.

    “The field is lined up with boots in order beginning from 2001 to 2021 with a photo and identification tag.”

    Fort Bragg began setting up boots as a memorial display in May 2014, marking this year as the 7th anniversary for the display that is hosted and coordinated by Survivor Outreach Services in honor of all fallen service members who were on active duty since 9/11 and service members who died in an incident such as a training accident or illness on Fort Bragg and North Carolina.

    “The event is an opportunity for the community to remember those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice serving our nation by participating in the run or visiting the memorial boot display,” Kelly said.

    The Survivor Outreach Services is part of the Army Casualty Continuum of Care and is designed to provide long-term support to surviving families of fallen soldiers.

    “The program offers assistance such as support coordinators to surviving family members during a time of tremendous grief,” Kelly said. “Our goal is to reassure survivors feel they remain valued members of the Army family.”

    Boots can be donated on Fort Bragg at the following locations:
    -Soldier and Family Readiness Group Center, 236 Interceptor Road, Pope Army Airfield
    -Soldier Support Center Main Lobby in Bldg. 4-2843 on Normandy Drive
    -Survivor Outreach Services, Building 4-2133 on Normandy Drive

    Boots can also be dropped off at the Up & Coming Weekly office located at 208 Rowan St. in Fayetteville no later than Aug. 12.
    For additional information or questions, the community can contact Survivor Outreach Services at 910-396-0384 or visit their website at https://bragg.armymwr.com/programs/sos.

    17 FAP 9465

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Pictured: The annual memorial boot display will be held in August this year and will coincide with the "Run, Honor, Remember 5K" run and the 82nd Airborne Division's All American Week. (Photos courtesy Fort Bragg Garrison PAO)

  • 07 NNO FPD 219293651 4410826818948292 1410943859391408261 nOn Tuesday, Aug. 3, the Fayetteville Police Department will join Community Watch groups throughout the city for National Night Out. It’s an effort to build safer and better neighborhoods through community involvement and provides as opportunity to get to know your neighbors and send a message to criminals that your neighborhood is no place for them.

    Citizens and Community Watch groups can register their events with the police department by visiting FayPD.com and filling out an electronic form.

    Additionally, an interactive map has been placed on the department’s website to help residents locate events near them. The map is updated as NNO events are registered.

    While one night is certainly not a single answer to crime, drugs and violence, National Night Out represents the spirit, energy and determination to help make neighborhoods safer places year-round.

  • 06 N1804P59001CCumberland County’s public library system has re-opened its locations in keeping with its COVID-19 Recovery and Re-opening Plan.

    Public access and customer safety are foremost, county government said. Hours of operation have been expanded to Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at all locations.

    Patrons can browse stacks, use computers and check out laptops for use in the buildings.

    Curbside service continues by appointment only. Those wishing to continue using curbside pickup may contact the branches to arrange the service.

    With the return to in-person programming each library performs one story-time per week with a maximum of 25 attendees. Attendees, ages 5 and up, are encouraged to wear face masks. Virtual programming will also continue.

    For more information concerning in-person and virtual programs, visit the library’s website at cumberlandcountync.gov/library.

  • 05 child care centerTwo dozen members of Congress have asked leaders of the House and Senate budget committees to provide a $15 billion investment in military childcare facilities. “We face a crisis in the quality and capacity of facilities for childcare for military families and housing for unaccompanied military personnel,” wrote Reps. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., and Veronica Escobar, D-Texas in a letter.

    They’re requesting that the money be included in the upcoming budget reconciliation package, saying the annual appropriations process is not enough to deal with the backlog. Speier is chairperson of the House Armed Services Committee’s panel on military personnel.

    The letter said the military has 135 child development centers in “poor” or “failing” condition. DoD reported nearly 9,000 military children on waiting lists for child care, according to the representatives. “We believe the upcoming reconciliation package is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to do right by our military families,” Spier and Escobar added.

  • 04 DSC 0965The 2021 Field of Honor on Fayetteville’s Airborne and Special Operations Museum parade field will be staged this year from Sept. 11 - Nov. 14.

    The museum foundation is taking orders now. Each flag comes with its own story and displays a tag identifying both the person who sponsored the flag and the flag honoree.

    This living display of heroism flies as a patriotic tribute to the strength and unity of Americans, and honors all who are currently serving, those who have served, and the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation’s security and freedom. The 2021 Field of Honor is sponsored by the Airborne and Special Operations Museum Foundation and the Cool Spring Downtown District.

    The price per flag is $45. After the display, flags can be shipped for an additional $10 charge or donated for use in Vietnam veteran pinning ceremonies. For more information or to order online visit www.asomf.org/.

    Pictured above: The Airborne and Special Operations Museum Field of Honor. (Photo by Dylan Hooker)

  • 03 OTQ Q2 2021 smallEach quarter, Cape Fear Valley Health recognizes members of its medical staff. These winners are later considered for an annual award, which is recognized each year on Doctor’s Day.

    For the second quarter of 2021, the winners are Physician of the Quarter Sree Jadapalle, M.D.; Resident of the Quarter Michael Kingberg, DO, MPH; and Advanced Practice Provider (APP) of the Quarter Machelle Burgess, NP.
    The awards were presented July 7, at a Cape Fear Valley Medical staff meeting.

    Dr. Jadapalle was nominated for her impact on the residency and psychiatry programs. She is in the process of creating the health system’s Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Program Fellowship and will be the Program Director and lead the Adolescent Psychiatry Unit when it opens. She is described as a leading example of professionalism.

    Jadapalle received her medical degree from Kurnool Medical College in India. She completed her residency at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, and a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center in Cleveland.

    Dr. Kingberg is a third-year Emergency Medicine resident. He was nominated for his inexhaustible passion for emergency medicine, his care to his patients, and his consistent efforts to help others in the department. Kingberg received his medical degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Georgia.

    Nurse Practitioner Machelle Burgess was nominated because she is diligent, organized and a prized member of the surgery department. Whether she is rounding on patients, creating work schedules, managing medical students, or scrubbing into the operating room, Burgess is considered a valuable member of the team.

    Burgess is a certified Family Nurse Practitioner and a certified Emergency Nurse Practitioner.

    The quarterly and annual Medical Staff recognitions are made possible by The Caduceus Society of Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation, a leadership association of Cape Fear Valley Health Physicians, Emeritus Physicians and affiliated area physicians with a continuing commitment to the ideals of Cape Fear Valley Health and a common mission to provide the highest quality healthcare to the community.

    Pictured above: Dr. Samuel Fleishman (far left) and Dr. Chuck Chima (far right) present Physician of the Quarter Dr. Sree Jadapalle (second from left) Advanced Practice Provider of the Quarter Nurse Practitioner Machelle Burgess, and Resident of the Quarter Dr. Michael Kingberg with their certificates on July 7. (Photo courtesy Cape Fear Valley Health)

     

  • 02 IMG 9789Cumberland County joined RI International and Alliance Health to celebrate the opening of the Cumberland Recovery Response Center, formerly known as the Roxie Center, with an open house
    July 19.

    The Cumberland Recovery Response Center is a crisis facility for behavioral health including mental health stabilization and substance abuse detoxification. The center opened in May 2020 and has already served more than 1,400 individuals.

    The open house was delayed because of COVID-19 restrictions.

    The Cumberland Recovery Response Center features a 23-hour unit with 10 chairs and is awaiting state approval for a 16-bed crisis unit. The center is staffed by mental health and medical professionals as well as peer support staff who have life experiences with crisis situations.

    The center, located at 1724 Roxie Ave. in Fayetteville, operates 24/7 for individuals 18 years or older who are experiencing a crisis. First responders may drop off patients experiencing a mental health or substance abuse crisis directly at the recovery response center instead of a hospital emergency room.

    RI International has contracted with Alliance Health to operate the center. Alliance Health is the managed care organization for publicly funded behavioral health services for Cumberland, Durham, Johnson and Wake counties.

    “This has been a labor of love and something truly needed for our community,” said Glenn Adams, vice chairman of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners and a member of Alliance Health Board of Directors. “It is about collaboration and all of us working together to make sure we meet the needs of the underserved and those in our community.”

    Guest speakers included Victor Armstrong, director of the North Carolina Division of Mental Health.

    “As an advocate for individuals living with mental health challenges, developmental disabilities and who struggle with addiction, I am always pleased to see when we create new and better avenues for access to those who need the services that we all strive to provide,” Armstrong said.

    “I want to thank the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners for their ongoing commitment and funding to behavioral health services,” said Alliance Health CEO Rob Robinson. “The funding they provide is critical to provide service individuals who are uninsured or do not have the means to pay.”

    A video of the open house ceremony can be viewed on the County’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzou0LZs3h4.

    For more information about the Cumberland Recovery Response Center, visit https://riinternational.com/listing/cumberland-recovery-response-center-fayetteville/ or call 910-778-5900.

    To learn more about Alliance Health and services for people who are uninsured or insured by Medicaid, visit https://www.alliancehealthplan.org/.

    Pictured above: Cumberland County Board of Commissioners Vice Chairman Glenn Adams speaks at the open house held July 19. (Photo courtesy Cumberland County Commission)

  • 01 N2011P45008HA recent opinion piece by Tina Sacks for CNN left me riveted to my desk chair.

    Sacks, an associate professor at UC Berkeley’s School of Social Welfare, almost lost her 2-year-old son last year to what was ultimately diagnosed as multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children (MSI-C), even though he tested negative for COVID-19. Somehow the boy, who was on heavy doses of opioids and barbiturates, intubated twice, suffered heart failure, placed on a liver transplant list, and hospitalized for 4 weeks, survived.

    Sack’s opinion piece is entitled, “What antivaxxers sound like to me.” She does not use these words, but others have: Antivaxxers sound selfish and self-centered, all about themselves and their individual rights with little regard for the health and well being of their fellow human beings. They see themselves as very, very special.

    Since the founding of the United States, we have wrestled with the tension inherent between the freedoms guaranteed to us as individual Americans and the collective good of all Americans. This tension manifests itself in countless ways — states’ rights versus federal control, my right to play hard metal rock or use my leaf blower when my entire neighborhood wants to sleep, and on and on. Elections and wars have been fought over these tensions and friendships fractured.

    Vaccination during a worldwide pandemic is neither an academic, legal or political argument nor a mere annoyance. It is literally a matter of health or illness, even life or death. Yes, there are people who cannot take certain vaccines, but most of us can. And, yes, there are people in our nation who are rightly suspicious of the medical establishment that has treated them unfairly, even cruelly, in the past.

    Nearly 190-million Americans are at least partially vaccinated with minimal side effects. Look to your left and look to your right and you will likely see a successfully vaccinated American. The bottom line is that vaccinations, including those for COVID-19, work. People in other nations are literally dying to have what is freely and conveniently available to us.

    The question then becomes why some choose to remain unvaccinated, even though they are clearly putting themselves and others at risk as the highly transmissible Delta variant is spiking COVID cases in all 50 states with attendant hospitalizations and deaths.

    Sacks addresses the question this way.

    “Getting vaccinated against preventable diseases is one way to ensure that all people, especially, BIPOC [Black, Indigenous and People of Color], avoid health care encounters in which implicit and explicit bias lead to worse health outcomes.

    “It doesn’t help that many Republicans have been stoking vaccine skepticism and outright hostility. The Delta variant is already spreading rapidly across the country. Many who choose to forgo the shot may claim they are making a personal decision. But the continued spread of COVID-19 affects us all. And the truth is, the virus doesn’t care about so-called individual liberties. It simply infects whatever host it can find, Republican or Democrat, young or old, disabled, immuno-compromised, and anti-vaxxers alike.

    “If anything, remaining unvaccinated by choice — and not because of lack of access or contraindicated health condition — sounds more to me like shirking an individual responsibility than exercising an individual right.”

    None among us can see the future — where and how long COVID will ultimately exact its toll of human suffering and on how many. We cannot know how history will record the COVID pandemic, but my guess it will involve the usual dichotomy of nations who had access to vaccines and those who did not, those who availed themselves of the medical miracles before them and those who did not.

    The words grief, remorse and shame will also be included.

  • 09 CFRT Untitled design 1Local theaters in Fayetteville are back and ready to entertain the public with their upcoming season schedules full of new and exciting performances. With a mix of comedy, drama, mystery and musicals — there is something for everyone.

    Cape Fear Regional Theatre
    Cape Fear Regional Theatre will kick off their 60th season with six shows, starting with one of the world’s most successful rock ‘n’ roll musicals – “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story” from Oct. 14 until Nov. 7.

    Set in the 1950’s, the show tells the story of a young man from Texas with big glasses and big dreams catapulting to the top of the rock ‘n’ roll charts. The show will feature Holly’s popular songs like “Peggy Sue,” and “That’ll Be The Day,” along with “La Bamba,” and celebrate the man whose music and values were ahead of his time. It will be directed by Suzanne Agins, who also directed CFRT’s productions of “Dreamgirls,” “Memphis” and “Mamma Mia.”

    “We’re super excited about that, it was a part of a previously planned season but we didn’t get to do it until now,” said CFRT Artistic Director Mary Kate Burke.

    Next on their list is the 30th anniversary production of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” BCPE follows a group struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant while faced with casting the Herdman kids who are probably the most inventively awful kids in history. For local theater-goers, this is a traditional holiday fix. CFRT’s Education Director, Marc de la Concha, will direct the show which runs Dec. 3-19.

    The third show in the season will be “The Wizard of Oz,” a must-see for fans of the book, movie or original musical. Audiences will go on the journey with the classic characters of the Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion, Dorothy, and her little dog as well.

    The show will be directed by Tiffany Green, who previously directed “Shrek: The Musical.”

    “Next, a smaller play that’s unfamiliar to a lot of people but is fantastic called ‘Welcome to Arroyo’s,’” said Burke. “It’s like a hip-hop coming of age story that takes place in New York.” Audiences can look forward to DJs/narrators spinning the story in a comic heartfelt piece.

    “Welcome to Arroyo’s” is written by Kristoffer Diaz and runs March 10-27, 2022. The production will be performed with audience seating on stage.

    The fifth show in the line-up is “Clue: On Stage” directed by Burke herself, based on the best-selling board game and movie adaption. Audiences will join Miss Scarlett, Colonel Mustard, Professor Plum, and other colorful guests for this hilarious murder mystery. This show will also be performed with audience seating on stage.

    CFRT will end their season with “The Color Purple,” directed by Brian Harlan Brooks. The show is based on Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. The musical follows a woman named Celie, her heartbreak and despair, until her friend Shug helps her realize her own self-worth. Celie uses her flair for fashion to build a better future. The show features jazz, gospel, blues and African music.

    The musical, like the book and the film adaptation, is a story of resilience and a testament to the healing power of love. The show is being produced with support from The Junior League of Fayetteville and the National Endowment for the Arts.

    “Other than our Christmas show that happens every year, the rest of the shows depend on what’s happening in the world, what we think the community would love,” Burke said. “Sometimes we cast them based on conversations with the creative team that have done the show before.”

    For more information on shows or to purchase individual or season tickets, visit https://www.cfrt.org

    Gilbert Theater
    The first show of Gilbert’s season will be “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels: The Musical,” which runs Oct. 1-17. The story follows two con men, a beautiful woman and the elite of the French Riviera who will collide in a sexy and irreverent farce.

    “It's about con men and money and the upper crust of society and trying to swindle them out of money,” said Gilbert Theater Artistic Director Lawrence Carlisle.

    Next, “The Carols,” a returning crowd favorite. The Christmas themed musical will play weekends Nov. 26 to Dec. 5 and Dec. 17-19. The show features the Carol sisters struggling to put up their annual production of “A Christmas Carol,” but there is a shortage of men due to WWII.

    “We’re excited to be doing this again, it’s a really good show, it’s funny and not enough people got to see it due to COVID,” Carlisle mentioned.

    The third show of the season will be “The Last Days of Judas Iscariot,” a dark comedy and thought-provoking work by Pulitzer-Prize winning playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis. The play follows Judas in purgatory where he is on trial. This show will run Jan. 28 through Feb. 13, 2022.

    Carlisle said he hopes “Judas Iscariot” will be the show everyone talks about because it’s weird and reflects how the intent of theater is to entertain people.

    Following that, the season will present “Othello,” adapted and directed by Montgomery Sutton. The show will run March 25 through April 10, 2022, and will tell the story of a powerful general of the Venetian army, Othello, whose life and marriage
    are ruined by a conniving, deceitful and envious soldier, Iago.

    Gilbert is currently the recipient of the Lilly Endowment Challenge, a grant that will match all donations up to $50,000 for the theater. Donors can contribute to the Gilbert Theater Endowment by visiting https://cumberlandcf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create?funit_id=1389.

    For more information on season tickets and shows, visit https://www.gilberttheater.com.

    Sweet Tea Shakespeare
    “As of spring 2022, we will have been in Fayetteville for 10 years and so with the upcoming season we are looking forward to our 10-year anniversary,” said Jeremy Fiebig, Artistic Director for Sweet Tea Shakespeare.

    Their upcoming season starts in August and the first show will be “HamLIT” directed by Traycie Kuhn-Zapata. It will showcase how the prince of Denmark goes off his rocker on the rocks in this “bLITzed” take on Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy, “Hamlet.” “HamLIT” will play Aug. 13 and 27 at Hugger Mugger in Sanford; Aug. 14 and 28 at The Church at Paddy’s in Fayetteville; and Aug. 20 and 21 at the Arts Council in Fayetteville.

    Next in the season will be “Winter’s Tale by William Shakespeare,” directed by Fiebig, which will run Aug. 19 through Sept. 5. The late Shakespearean romance brings family, fairytale and forgiveness to the stage. The tale follows King Leontes as he wrongfully accuses his wife of adultery and unleashes a storm of tragedy upon the kingdom of Sicilia.

    “The Winter’s Tale” will be staged and performed in Raleigh, and made available in Fayetteville via streaming later in the season.

    “We do a series of Shakespeare plays... we do at bars and craft breweries called LIT,” Fiebig said. “The biggest news for us other than the anniversary is we are expanding to Raleigh as well and we’ll be streaming it so folks from Fayetteville who can’t make the drive can view it as well.”

    “McLIT” will begin in October. Imagine if the writer, director and actors of “Macbeth” get lost at a frat party on their way to the show. It will be full of Shakespeare, drinking games, improv and lively music. This show is for adults only ages 18 and up. “McLit” plays Oct. 1 and 22 at Hugger Mugger in Sanford; Oct. 16 and 22 at The Church at Paddy’s in Fayetteville. Other shows will be added through April, 2022.

    The classic love story “Romeo and Juliet” will be on the stage in Raleigh from Oct. 21 to Nov. 7, followed by Sweet Tea Shakespeare’s annual Christmas show, “Behold” that will play Dec. 2 through Dec. 11 that returns to Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Fayetteville.

    “Richard II” and “Henry IV, Part 1” which will be performed in rep by a single company of actors, constitutes the first half of Shakespeare’s history tetralogy — an epic tale of fathers and sons, loyalty and leadership, politics and power. It is the story of ordinary people weathering the winds of change in a fledgling nation. And it is a visceral reminder that history isn’t past; it’s not even history at all. The plays will run on alternating days in Raleigh from Jan. 13 to Jan. 30, 2022.

    April brings Jane Austen’s “Emma” adapted by Assistant Artistic Director Claire F. Martin who gives Austen’s rom-com a dazzling update. The show
    will run at multiple locations from April 21 to May 15, 2022.

    Tickets for Sweet Tea Shakespeare performances are $20 general admission and $25 at the door, with discounts for seniors, military and students. Guests can also become a Monthly Sustainer of Sweet Tea Shakespeare for special advance ticket rates and other benefits.

    For more information and show schedules, tickets and performance locations, visit https://sweetteashakespeare.com/tickets/.

    Fayetteville Dinner Theatre
    The Fayetteville Dinner Theatre returned to Gates Four Golf & Country Club with two successful shows this year. They opened in April with two sold-out performances of the musical comedy “A Sinister Cabaret: Love Letter/Sleight of Hand,” written and directed by Dr. Gail Morfesis and produced by Up & Coming Weekly community newspaper.

    The second musical show “Beyond Broadway: Music of Our Time,” was produced and directed by Bill Bowman, the publisher of Up & Coming Weekly, and featured local performers Tim Zimmerman and Linda Flynn.

    “We have an excellent feel of the type of dinner theatre entertainment the community wants,” said Bowman. “Gates Four is the perfect venue, and General Manager Kevin Lavertu has been very instrumental in assisting us in creating a theatrical venue that complements the other great live theater offerings we enjoy here in Fayetteville and Cumberland County.”

    Bowman said the intent is for Gates Four to provide local patrons an entertainment experience that is different and uniquely special to Gates Four.

    “It is an experience that would WOW the audiences and give the Gates Four theatre experience a unique brand,” Bowman said.

    FDT accomplishes this by abandoning the traditional buffet-style dinner and show concept for a more fun, yet elegant theater experience. The evening begins with the directors welcome reception and wine tasting featuring a wide selection of local wines and trays of hors d'oeuvres. The dining room welcomes guests with draped tables, cloth napkins, candlelight, a three-course plated dinner with dual entrees, and an elegant dessert buffet at the intermission. There is pre-show entertainment during the dinner hour, and once the show is underway, there are prizes and surprises.

    “The Fayetteville Dinner Theatre’s mission is to bring quality shows to local area theater-goers and provide local actors a venue to showcase their talents,” Bowman said.

    Gates Four and the FDT donate the money raised from the wine tasting to local children's literacy and education organizations or other community nonprofit organizations like the Care Clinic.

    While there are no shows scheduled for the rest of this calendar year, FDT does plan four shows in 2022.

    In the works is “Miss Congeniality,” a musical comedy written by Bowman and being produced and directed in collaboration with Dr. Gail Morfesis.

    Another planned show is “Mark Twain Himself” staring Richard Garey. This show was scheduled in May of 2020, but was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Garey is a student of history and has performed all over the world, entertaining audiences with the genuine wit and wisdom of Mark Twain.

    For the latest FDT schedule, visit www.fayettevilledinnertheatre.com/.

    11 love letter ladies

    10 JH 09125 12 Midsoummer and Much Ado

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Photos courtesy Cape Fear Regional Theatre, Gilbert Theater, Sweet Tea Shakespeare and Fayetteville Dinner Theatrewith special thanks to Jonathan Hornby Productions and Tony Wooten.

  • 04 wild dust bunnyDust Bunnies. What are they? Where do they come from? What do they want? Where do they go? What if they aren’t stopped? These are the eternal questions that even in our enlightened 21st Century have no definitive answers.

    Today, Mr. Science will attempt to shed some light on our dusty friends. This column was triggered by the energetic efforts of Mrs. Science who recently took on the Herculean Task of cleaning out under our bed. We have a tall bed that has been the home and storage location of many quaint and curious objects of forgotten lore over the last 40 years. Once something was stored under the bed, it tended to remain there per Newton’s First Law of physics which says an object at rest stays at rest unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.

    It turned out there was quite a Metaverse of objects under the bed. The most impressive object was Mr. Science’s Father’s World War 2 steel footlocker belonging to Lt. E.H. Dickey. Although the foot locker remains unopened, many people are saying it contains the original lyrics to the song “Louie, Louie”.

    Other subterranean inhabitants included two giant airtight plastic clothes bags containing at least 80 ancient T-shirts carefully sealed against the elements. Surrounding all the objects was a vast civilization of Dust Bunnies.

    According to Mr. Google, Dust Bunnies are "small clumps of dust that form under furniture and in corners that are not cleaned regularly. They are made of hair, lint, dead skin, spider webs, dust, and sometimes light rubbish and debris that are held together by static electricity and felt-like entanglements.”

    Now that we know what Dust Bunnies are and from whence they come, it turns out they are pretty disgusting.

    Next up is the question what do Dust Bunnies want? Dust Bunnies are silent. They do not make verbal demands. They just lie there, quietly proliferating. If left to their own devices, Dust Bunnies will take over the world, one unswept location at a time. They want world domination and must be stopped.

    Pondering the Dust Bunny Kingdom reminded me of the discussion in “Animal House” between Larry Kroger and Professor Jennings after they had smoked marijuana. Larry: “Okay, that means that our whole solar system could be like one tiny atom in the finger nail of some other giant being. This is too much! That means that one tiny atom in my finger nail could be. “Professor Jennings: “Could be one little tiny universe.” Larry: “Could I buy some pot from you?”

    Dust Bunny Metaverses are the inert cousins of Kudzu which also desires to take over the world. Kudzu can only be stopped by freezing weather in February. Dust Bunnies are even more dangerous than Kudzu as they can only be stopped by cleaning forgotten areas.

    Where do Dust Bunnies go? Everywhere, unless they are swept up and disposed of properly. Mrs. Science saved the Earth by sweeping up 40 years of Dust Bunny Kingdoms. Thanks be to Mrs. Science.

    Having seen the Dust Bunny Civilization swept away, it got Mr. Science thinking about other lost civilizations which fell victim to the silent tragedy of Dust Bunnies. Ponder the fate of the Mayan civilization. It flourished almost 3000 years from 2000 BC until about 900 AD when it collapsed. It is likely the Mayans neglected to sweep out their cities and pyramids leading to Dust Bunnies collapse. There were still Mayans around when Cortez showed up in 1525. However, the Dust Bunnies had already hollowed out their civilization making the Mayans easy pickings for Cortez.

    The Aztecs were a similar lost civilization which allegedly was wiped out by a nasty pestilence called the “cocoliztli” which may have killed up to 17 million people in the 16th century. The Aztecs where more into cutting the hearts out of their enemies than tiding up. It seems likely that Dust Bunnies were the cause of the pestilence.

    The prevailing theory about the extinction of dinosaurs 66 million years ago is that they were wiped out by an asteroid hitting the Earth creating the Chicxulub Crater in Yucatan. Nothing could be further from the truth. Uncontrolled Dust Bunnies conquered the dinosaurs. Have you ever seen the tiny arms of a Tyrannosaurus Rex? No way that a T Rex could have held a broom to sweep out the Dust Bunnies before they reached critical mass. Clearly Dust Bunnies then ruled the Earth.

    A final example of the perfidiousness of Dust Bunnies is the Lost Colony on Roanoke Island. John White’s band of plucky colonists landed on the beach in August 1587. Things got a bit dicey. John headed back to England for supplies which would have included brooms. He wasn’t able to get back to Roanoke until three years later in 1590. On his return, the Lost Colony was gone leaving only the word Croatan carved on a post. No one knows for sure what happened to the Colony.

    However, it turns out that Croatan means Dust Bunnies. The rest is history.

    One final note, Dust Bunnies are responsible for where the lost socks go. Only you can prevent Dust Bunny take over. Sweep under your bed. Be the unbalanced force. The civilization you save may be your own.

     

  • 05 Emergency Rental Assistance Program LogoLocal government’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program is distributing money received through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 to eligible residents who are unable to pay rent and utilities because of economic hardships from the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The program is for current costs or those occurring no earlier than March 13, 2020. A total of $10,119,409 has been allocated to the city and county. The program will operate through the end of this year.

    “COVID-19 changed our lives and people are trying to survive financial struggles brought on by the pandemic,” Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin said.

    Landlords may work with their tenants to complete applications for the funding.

    Renters in Fayetteville and Cumberland County needing assistance to cover past, current, or upcoming rent or utility payments may apply online at fayettevillecumberlandRAP.com or by phone at 888-495-7710.

  • 03 N1809P43007H Twin TowersSome events in American history engrave our minds so deeply that we remember where we were and what we were doing when they occurred. We mark our lives as BE and AE, before the event and after the event.

    November 22, 1963. It was a Friday and I was at school in my after-lunch class when the intercom interrupted to tell both teachers and students that President Kennedy had been shot in Dallas.

    July 16, 1969. American astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first human being to set foot on the moon, calling it “a small step for man but a giant leap for mankind.” I was taking my shift waiting tables at a resort restaurant as my summer job.

    September 11, 2001. I was in the Cannon Office Building next door to the U.S. Capitol with a delegation from the Fayetteville-Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce awaiting a briefing from the U.S. Secretary of Commence who never showed up because he, like every other American, was torn from his prior life by planes flying into the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers.

    January 6, 2021. The insurrection directed by a losing presidential candidate erupted around and eventually inside the U.S. Capitol, leaving 5 dead and many others wounded, including law enforcement officers. Arrests continue as rioters are identified and charged. I was at home watching an attempted coup unfold on television with tears streaming down my cheeks and my heart hammering.

    It has been just over 6 months since that dreadful day, and Americans are still absorbing an event that saw Americans engaging in military-style hand-to-hand combat with each other. The insurrectionists were mightily upset that their candidate was the clear loser of the 2020 presidential race, with more than 7 million fewer popular votes and 74 electoral votes behind.

    The election was not close, and the rioters failed to force Congress not to certify the election results. The rioters claimed to support democracy at the same time they attempted to overturn a presidential election.

    Six months ago, even the loser’s party officials condemned the mob actions, but memories are apparently short or political courage in short supply or both. Today, the loser’s supporters cry “voter fraud,” with virtually no evidence of it. The idea is to restrict minority voting, a replay of what happened during the Jim Crow era in our nation. Déjà vu of the early 20th century in the early 21st.

    Our country is also closing in on gerrymandering season, the time when legislatures and some independent commissions redraw legislative and Congressional districts to reflect the findings of the most recent U.S. Census. Fierce battles are expected, including in North Carolina, as one party tries to win more seats by gerrymandering even though it has fewer voters. This tactic has been used by both parties since the birth of our nation, and we will see it again later this year. Déjà vu 2011 in 2021.

    The really shocking aspect of the insurrections “after event” reality is that so many Americans have simply moved on, something that did not happen after the Kennedy assassination or 9/11. Maybe it is because life moves so quickly in our technological age or because they no longer want to think about Americans in combat with other Americans or because they want others to forget the deadly rioting. Whatever the motivation, pretending an insurrection did not happen in and around the grounds of the U.S. Capitol is profoundly dangerous, as it the belief that the losing candidate will be reinstated, a sort of political resurrection. As the writer and philosopher George Santayana reportedly said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

    The terrifying reality is that they just might succeed next time.

  • 09 this one N2104P25003HThe Cumberland County School system hosted a Back-to-School Launch Party to show students that with the right support in place, they can get back on track and graduate from high school. The virtual event took place on July 15. Students received incentives for attending.

    Interested students and families can still learn about opportunities for getting back to school by calling the hotline at 910-475-1145 or by visiting the CCS website www.ccs.k12.nc.us/. Registration is required.

    The hotline is operational Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. through July 24.

    “We hope to help students re-engage and get back on track with their education,” said Sheral Raines, dropout prevention supervisor. “We want to be able to cheer them across the graduation stage and into the lives that they’ve always dreamed they could have.”

  • 15 1Boxing is a sport that takes a lot of practice, determination and heart. Amateur boxing is a lot like checkers - you never know who you will be competing against, says local boxing coach Juan Verdejo. Professional boxing is like chess because the boxers have time to plan and strategize for their competitors.

    When he trains young boxers at Burgess Boxing & Fitness in Spring Lake, Verdejo said he focuses on speed and endurance. With growth and experience comes control. Verdejo said that speed and control are important because throwing random punches might not land any hits. But endurance helps carry you through the fight.

    “Throw a combo and get out, don’t stick around for the other guy to learn your moves and get hits in,” Verdejo said.

    This is a training focus Coach Verdejo uses when preparing boxers for bouts, like the upcoming Christy Martin Title Belt Tournament scheduled for July 23-25.

    Burgess Boxing & Fitness owner Tony Burgess said he only likes his fighters to fight twice a month because the sport takes a toll on the body. He wants to make sure that his boxers get plenty of rest and recovery. COVID restricted several boxing tournaments and training schedules in the last year, and some gyms shut down. Burgess and Verdejo are glad to see competitions restarting as more pandemic restrictions are being lifted.

    “My favorite fights to see are little kids and the girls because they really get in there and fight. There isn’t a lot of dancing around,” said Burgess.

    His gym offers training to all interested in learning the sport of boxing. Participating in tournaments in not required, but many do. Verdejo said he enjoys helping young boxers learn and participate. For many, boxing is an outlet that gives them purpose and a positive outlet.

    The Christy Martin Title Belt Tournament will take place July 23-25 at Freedom Courts Sportsplex located at 3126 Gillespie St. in Fayetteville. Local boxers will have the opportunity to compete against other amateur boxers from across the state.

    The public is invited to attend the tournament. For more information call 910-890-5534.

    The tournament is named for Christy Martin, a worldwide sensation in the boxing ring. Martin is often credited with legitimizing women’s boxing. Martin had 49 wins (31 by knockout) when her then-husband and trainer, Jim, put her in the fight of her life. In 2010, he attacked Christy in their home when she tried to leave him. Jim stabbed Christy several times and shot her. Christy was able to get out of the house and flag down a passing motorist who took her to the hospital. Christy survived and was able to testify against Jim, helping to convict him. Jim remains in prison in Florida.

    Christy Martin will be in Fayetteville this week and is scheduled to speak at Rape Crisis of Cumberland County. The public is invited to hear her story of survival at 6 p.m. on July 22. Rape Crisis of Cumberland County is located at 519 Ramsey St.

    Pictured above: (Left) Gym owner Tony Burgess, far right, poses with a fighter and training team after a bout.

    Pictured Below: (Right) Coach Juan Verdejo, on right, trains boxers of all ages to compete in the ring.

     

    16 8

  • 06 FAST Coach 2Federal grants totaling more than $4.6 million will be used to purchase five new electric buses for the Fayetteville Area System of Transit.

    The buses are expected to arrive in Fayetteville in the summer of 2023. The projected date reflects a manufacturing backlog.

    “We want to replace all of our diesel buses with electric vehicles,” said Transit Director Randy Hume. “I believe that can happen over the next 15 years.”

    The grant awards also cover costs of bus charging equipment which will be used overnight during off-peak hours.

    The federal funds will also cover costs of workforce training to help FAST staff members transition from diesel to electric buses.

    Fayetteville’s Public Works Commission will assist FAST in the selection of bus charging equipment and development of strategies to reduce electricity costs.

    Hume said he believes the new buses will reduce emissions, improve air quality, upgrade the quality of life and reduce FAST operating expenses.

  • 01 pub penThere are countless numbers of people, businesses and organizations in Fayetteville and Cumberland County that we could celebrate, showcase and write about. All of them are engaged in doing things that make this community a great place to live.

    In every case these benefactors of humanity work tirelessly and silently throughout the community seeking no compensation or recognition with their satisfaction coming only from knowing they are lifting a burden from someone's troubled shoulders or easing the pain of an ailing heart caused by a terminal diagnosis, a personal tragedy, a sudden loss of a loved one or an unfortunate turn of ill fate.

    The world would be a kinder and gentler place if it were inhabited with more people like Holly Whitley of Legends Pub and her like-minded supporters affectionately known as the Gypsy Women.

    Together from the quaint confines of one of Fayetteville's and Bragg Boulevard’s oldest and most renown and respected "biker bars" comes an outpouring of charity and compassion that has identified both as paragons of humanity.

    My affinity toward Holly and her bar came naturally exactly 25 years ago in 1996, the year we both started our businesses.

    Incidentally, I have yet to put aside my penchant for fast motorcycles, pool playing and wine-drinking (all traits of my ill-spent childhood).

    Since then, we both have set our sights on building successful local businesses that contribute value to the community.

    Well, after a quarter-century, hundreds of charitable events and over a million dollars in charitable donations and contributions, Holly, and her band of Gypsy Women, have truly become legendary.

    In celebration, Up & Coming Weekly, Jay Dowdy, Gates Four Country Club and Piedmont Natural Gas recently had a '80s music concert where Holly hosted a party for the Gypsy Women and friends of Legends Pub.

    Holly, we salute you and thank you for 25 years of unconditional love and service to the Fayetteville community. You are the standard-bearer of generosity and compassion. Few will accomplish in a lifetime what you have done in 25 years. Congratulations!

    My 25 years, my achievements? I'm now the oldest paperboy in Fayetteville, and I’m still working on it. Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

    02 UAC06022101

  • 10 Wading In the Water Alvin AileyThe possibilities of painting and mixed media is the underlying theme of the new exhibit opening at the Arts Council of Fayetteville and Cumberland County during 4th Friday on July 23.
    Revelation: 50 Years of Painting: Works by Dwight Smith is the Art Council’s first 50-year retrospect exhibition by a living artist, working in an abstract style.

    The public is invited to attend the opening or visit the Arts Council during the last week in July and through September 11.

    Visitors to the gallery will have the chance to see the progression of Smith’s work and experience the joyfulness he brings to an abstract style of painting and working in mixed media.

    To see Smith’s work is to become more familiar with a different way of looking at the possibilities of image making. Visitors will hopefully leave the gallery having greater insight in “how” the work of Smith conveys meaning in his style and ways he works with materials.

    To understand the “how” everyone visiting the exhibit should allow themselves to experience the art “as it is.” If you are an individual who prefers figurative or narrative works of art, take the time to see or try to see what the artist has been exploring for the last 50 years to express meaning in his work.

    Not required to enjoy Smith’s work, but understanding he comes from the tenets of the modernist school of abstract expressionism, is a doorway you should enter and immerse yourself in the style of abstraction.
    Smith has been always driven by the early abstract expressionist’s principles in painting: the sensation of immediacy, a painting is not a picture, but an object that has the same capabilities as sculpture to occupy space, possess thickness, density, and weight.

    In lieu of descriptive subject matter in a painting to evoke meaning, Smith focuses on form to conjure meaning. Although he started off predominantly in watercolors, he later moved to oil and acrylic.

    In the latter mediums, he does not use layers of transparent colors to create the immaterial; instead, the opacity of the ever-present paint surface, or the collage surface, leads us to materiality — the physicality of the work.

    The opacity of Smith’s color palette is not an elusive approach to painting; it invites us to know the physical sensation of touch. Combined with texture, we can begin to understand his painting is not about arrested or metaphorical touch, but the immediacy of touch.

    Being open to abstraction as a style, visitors will be able to study and experience how this artist embeds meaning in materials. For Smith, the sources of his lifetime pursuit in painting are combining iconic symbols with the exploration of surface quality and the power of abstraction to communicate an idea or a feeling, and collage as a significant 20th century method.

    This search stayed with him after his graduation from Wayne State with a Bachelor of Fine Art in Painting in 1976, during his return to Wayne State to earn a Master of Art in Painting in 1992, and the highest studio degree, a Master of Fine Art in

    Painting at the Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University, Cambridge, Massachusetts in 2012.

    Knowing the artist’s statement, we can follow the timeline of his pursuit of “integrating opposites into a state of harmony and balance. Each work is a commitment to intimate concerns about painting and the language of abstraction. Research and investigations into contemporary painting involve mixed media painting and drawings that are influenced by material surfaces, textures and scale.”

    Seeing the timeline of the paintings in the exhibit, it is easy to identify when the use of symbols emerged and the significance of the symbol. Smith’s artists statement explains the purpose of symbolism in his work: “Elements of design referenced in African, African American, or multi-cultural imagery create a catalyst to begin a visual language that informs the work. Through the work, I am responding to the tension generated by a resounding past and an insistent present.”

    The artist’s commitment to the abstract form and the use of specific symbols guides us to understanding personal meaning in his most recent work. Smith explains: “The works celebrate life, family histories and tributes to artists. I express certain social realities concerning the world while exploring aesthetic qualities of being black in America and addressing the literal symbology of contemporary blackness within the legacy of Abstract Expressionism, creating a pliable structure for intuition, improvisation, and chance.”

    Building on 20th century modernism, contemporary art is even more varied and complex. Personal expression can include beauty, but most often works can be highly political, globalization has influenced styles, the digital age continues to impact everyone, and themes of identity and social unrest is prevalent. Yet, Smith has remained focused on the formal problems of painting and the expressive power of material.

    His style is a way to express his personal narrative about states of being — specifically his experiences of being an African American male in America. Even though growing up Black in America continues to have serious challenges and obstacles in American culture, we leave Revelation: 50 Years of Painting understanding how joyfulness, spirituality, love of music, love of dance, and love of life are the core of Dwight Smith’s beingness: and it is this feeling, or state of being, which is communicated throughout his work.

    It is important to understand why an artist has the impulse to create, but it is also important to know what choices an artist’s makes that encourage or support their efforts to remain an artist.

    For Smith, a key influence was an African American art organization which was established in the 1950s, the National Conference of Artists, Michigan Chapter.

    While galleries and the “artworld” were not promoting African American artists up until the 1990s, the NCA was an important meeting place for artists to work together, encourage each other, have exhibits, travel to other countries, and network.

    As a very young and emerging artist, Smith was able to interface with a network of seasoned African American artists, many historically important in American Art. Mentored by John A. Lockart, knowing David Driskell, Howandena Pindell, Romare Bearden, Shirley Woodson and Al Loving had the greatest influence on his personal development of style.

    After retiring from a career as the advertising and display coordinator for the Automobile Club of Michigan in 2007 (and remaining an exhibiting artist), Smith, and his immediate family (partner Calvin Mims and Shirley Mims) moved to Fayetteville.

    Besides being an artist, the move to North Carolina began a new chapter in his life when he became an educator. Currently Smith is a tenured Associate Professor of Art at Fayetteville State University in the Department of Performing and Fine Art.

    While teaching at Fayetteville State University with a master’s degree, another important influence on Smith was when he decided to go back to graduate school to earn a Master of Fine Art at the Art Institute of Boston.

    He stated, “Everyone needs something or someone to solidify the legitimacy of your work during different phases. While earning my MFA the comments from the visiting artists helped to do that. As well, it was a period when I could revisit and analyze my work up to that point.”

    Smith’s accomplishments as an artist are way too extensive to start listing in this editorial. It suffices to say he is an artist who continues to show regionally, nationally and internationally, his works continues to be purchased by collectors, his paintings are in many private and public collections, including museums, and he has received many national honors and awards.

    Dwight Smith (and his partner Calvin Mims) have had a significant impact on the arts in Fayetteville by owning and operating Ellington White Contemporary Gallery on Gillespie Street.

    In addition, Smith has significantly contributed to the cultural landscape of Fayetteville and nationally by exhibiting, his continued participation in NCA, scholarly presentations, curating significant exhibits, and his community/professional service.

    Revelation: 50 Years of Painting at the Art Council is well worth the time to visit. But it is not an exhibit to rush through. One will have to spend quiet time with the work to see how a consummate artist gives evidence to a well-known statement:

    By knowing your craft, you spend less time in thinking about the process and can focus on the “why” of painting.”

    The exhibition opens during 4th Friday on July 23. The public is invited to the free event, and the exhibition will remain up until September 11.

    For information on the exhibition call the Arts Council at 910-323-1776 or visit www.theartscouncil.com/.

    The Arts Council is located at 301 Hay St. in Fayetteville. Hours of operation are Monday – Thursday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. until noon.

    Pictured above: "Wading in the Water Alvin Ailey" by Dwight Smith

    Pictured Below:

    (Left) "Homage to Al Loving" by Dwight Smith

    (Middle) "A Conversation with Norman Lewis" by Dwight Smith

    (Right) "Girl in the Yellow Raincoat" by Dwight Smith

    11 11

    12 5 13 Girl in the Yellow Raincoat

     

     

  • 07 USE this Fowler picTwo area restauranteurs have been honored by inclusion in USA Today’s top 10 central North Carolina barbecue spots.

    Former Fayetteville City Councilman Wade Fowler who now serves as chairman of the Public Works Commission has been involved in many walks of life since retiring as an Air force jet fighter pilot. He owns Fowlers’ Southern Gourmet on W. Rowan Street near downtown. It opened in February 2018, and has already gained a reputation for delicious ribs, pork barbecue and smoked brisket.

    Whole hog barbecue is something of a dying art, but Fayetteville native Wyatt Dickson didn't get the memo. He and co-owner Ryan Butler opened Picnic in Durham five years ago.

    Dickson is one of the sons of Up & Coming Weekly columnist Margaret Dickson. His barbecue mixes old-school technique with a new-school mindset.

  • 14 PXL 20210626 152041971Fayetteville fencers at the All-American Fencing Academy earned national competitor ratings and national referee ratings during the Academy’s one and only sanctioned event during the 2020-2021 season.

    During most of the 2020-2021 season, sanctioned fencing tournaments had been cancelled. Recent policy changes with USA Fencing has now allowed national and local sanctioned tournaments.

    In June, Fayetteville hosted fencers from Greensboro, Charlotte, Apex, Greenville, Wilmington and the state of Alabama.

    In the men’s events Holden Moorefield was after his first national rating and came out of pools undefeated and seeded number 1. He defeated top seed teammate Bruce McRae, dropping Bruce down to 5th seed in the elimination rounds.

    In the elimination rounds, All-American Fencing Academy’s oldest fencer, Steve Cage, at age 65, upset the 4th seed to place in the top 8.

    Moorefield and McRae once again met in the semi-final round where McRae had trailed for most of the bout, but was able to squeeze in a victory winning against Moorefield 15-13. McRae and Moorefield will both be attending UNC-Chapel Hill where they will also be roommates.

    McRae continued on to win the men’s event against Leo Hinds from Greensboro. McRae re-earns his national E rating for Men’s Foil.

    Women’s foil saw a stronger pool of fencers with 5 already nationally rated fencers in the tournament.

    Megan Patterson seeded 1st coming out of the pools, followed by Isabelle Guevarra in 5th, Sabrina Krupenko in 7th, and Elinor Morkos in 12th.

    Unfortuantely, teammates Guevarra and Morkos faced each other in the first elimination round where Guevarra won 15-3 to advance. Patterson and Krupenko also advanced into the second round.

    Guevarra aged up in 2020 and was hoping to earn her first rating last fall, but had not had the opportunity to fence in any sanctioned events since the pandemic. This was her first tournament in the age 13+ (Seniors) category. A close victory against Greenville’s Lynn Harris put her in the semi-final rounds against teammate Patterson, guaranteeing Guevarra her first national E rating.

    Patterson defeated Guevarra but was defeated in the finals by Apex Fencing Academy’s Datla Medha. Patterson also renews her E rating.

    The sport of fencing is growing world-wide. In a historically European dominated sport, U.S. teams have consistently been in the top places on the world stage for several years. In the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo, fencing, for the first time, will have a full medal count. There will be 6 individual medals and 6 team medals in this next Olympics.

    The All-American Fencing Academy also hosts a Walk-In Class for fencers that want to give it a try without making a full month commitment. The Walk-In Classes occur during Downtown Fayetteville’s Fourth Friday events.

    The All-American Fencing Academy is located in Downtown Fayetteville at 207 B Donaldson St. It instructs and trains recreational and competitive fencers starting at age 7, teens, adults and veterans ages 40+. Its fencers compete regionally and nationally. Their coaches include former World Cup and NCAA fencers.

    For more information about the All-American Fencing Academy and its classes, please call 910-644-0137, e-mail info@allamericanfencing.com or visit www.allamericanfencing.com.

    Pictured above: Two fencers in a recent bout. (Photo courtesy All-American Fencing Academy).

  • 06 Markus McCormickMarkus Odon McCormick, 36, was sentenced to serve at least 24 years in state prison following his conviction this month on human trafficking charges. In 2018, police officers conducted a traffic stop which led to an interview with a victim of human trafficking. Fayetteville Police detectives spent three years gathering evidence that resulted in McCormick’s trial. Det. D. Graham had arrested the accused for trafficking two victims for the purpose of sexual servitude. McCormick was found guilty by a jury on two counts of human trafficking, five counts of felony promotion of prostitution, and one count of possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine.

  • 05 Recycling carts 3Bi-weekly recycling has been delayed until August. City officials say material unavailability and production issues caused the delay. Every other week recycling was scheduled to begin this month and was heavily promoted. The delay wasn’t announced until July 1. Recycling customers who have not yet received their new, blue 96-gallon recycling carts should continue using the small carts.

    Residents who haven’t received the new ones by Aug. 1 should call 910-433-1329. City crews will eventually collect the old carts which should be left at the curb. “We appreciate your patience as we work to deliver new carts,” Public Services Director Sheila Thomas-Ambat said. “This is a change, but the new schedule will be in line with the industry standard, and we will see cost savings in the future.” She didn’t explain what industry standards govern the use of bigger recycling implements.

  • 01 N1809P30001HWe Americans are proud of our First Amendment — a guarantee that government at any level cannot restrict freedom of speech in the United States — and we should be. It safeguards our own individual speech and that of the “press.” Originally the press was defined by our primary news and opinion medium — newspapers — but today translates to “media,” encompassing print and digital platforms, ones common to me and those I have never heard of and will likely never use.

    But I am nervous about our First Amendment and particularly, the freedom of the press. As you and I speak with millions of different voices and opinions, local media is speaking less and less. That means we know less and less about what is happening in our own communities.

    The press, which began with relatively few voices, has long since morphed into millions of voices with a versatile range. From television networks with distinct points of view and unrestricted social media comments to individual blogs and podcasts representing every viewpoint and experience under the sun, a lot is being said. We are all free to partake of as much or as little of this as we please. We can and do read, watch and listen to voices that agree with ours, relaxing with our own choir in an echo chamber that preaches only to us and those like us. Successful politicians of all stripes know to keep their friends close and their enemies closer. Otherwise, we have no clue what others are thinking and doing. It is as if we are living in the tower of Babel, an existence dangerous indeed.

    Dangerous as well is the consolidation of media throughout our nation. Gone from most places, including Fayetteville and Cumberland County, are locally owned and operated news outlets, including newspapers and radio and television stations. Cape Fear Broadcasting, a local media company that carried local news and broadcast editorials, was sold to a publicly traded corporation 20 years ago. The Fayetteville Observer is now owned by a national newspaper chain. With such consolidation have come “synergies,” which translate into fewer local jobs and much less local news.

    Estimates vary, but The New York Times reports that 1 in 5 newspapers in the U.S. have shut down. Researcher Penny Abernathy at UNC-CH’s School of Journalism and Media puts the number at about 1,800 since 2004, roughly 100 a year. Actual closure of local broadcasting outlets is not as dramatic, but the existence of fewer newsrooms and reporters is taking a toll. Local news media are shadows of their former selves, and many U.S. communities are now local news deserts.

    So why should we care that news outlet voices are decreasing and that less local, state and regional news coverage exists? We should care because how else will we know what our local and state elected officials are up to? What is Fayetteville City Council doing with downtown development? How are our law enforcement agencies handling diversity issues? What is the Cumberland County Board of Education doing to help students recover from a year away from in-person classes? How is the General Assembly going to fund the UNC and community college systems? Unless you plan to attend every meeting of every elected body, you will be unaware that local media coverage is absent. Don’t even think about trusting random social media posts for accurate local news. To read more on this, see the Brookings Institute 2019 report “Local Journalism in Crisis: Why America Must Revive Its Local Newsrooms.”

    Thomas Jefferson, Frederick Douglas, Patrick Henry and other earlier Americans who saw a need for eternal vigilance to preserve liberty could not have imagined today’s cacophony of voices. That we struggle to agree on basic facts about our nation would astound them, but that is our present state. We do not have to agree with much less like the views of other people and news outlets, but we ignore them at our own and our nation’s peril.

    It is up to us to protect our precious First Amendment by keeping ourselves informed as best we can, even about events, ideas and points of view with which we disagree.

    Especially about those with which we disagree.

    Editor's Note: This Essay on Liberty by Dickson first appeared in the July issue of Women's View magazine.

  • 23 Picture1Over the past year, many owners have been working hard to keep their businesses afloat. Now, as things are turning around, some are asking “Should I sell my business?” Here are some steps to follow to achieve the best price and experience.

    Step 1: Get a business valuation
    Once you know the value of your business, you’ll have the opportunity to increase its worth before listing to achieve a higher selling price. In today’s climate, business valuation experts will be assessing your 2021 revenue and earnings. Meanwhile, ignoring your 2020 profits. That’s why it’s crucial to get your business to where it was pre-COVID or better.

    Step 2: Organize your financials
    Buyers are shifting their focus to businesses that not only survived the pandemic but will provide long-term viability. Before choosing to make an offer, they’ll want to know everything about your business — from your financial statements and taxes to your inventory and equipment. This is the time to take care of any outstanding orders, like tax liens or PPP loan forgiveness, that can prevent any sale from going through. For a smooth transaction, meet with a business advisor to review your financials before you begin the sales process.

    Step 3: Prepare your exit strategy
    You shouldn’t wait until the next downturn to sell your business— it’s always good to sell when things are getting better.
    Putting a sound plan in place will help facilitate a faster exit. It can also help you achieve a higher return on investment. Baby boomer business owners will be looking to retire in the upcoming years, overwhelming the market. This is the perfect time to maximize your value and ensure your business stands out from the pack.
    There are many exit strategies to consider — selling to friends or family, selling to an internal party, or selling on the open market. Each plan of action has its advantages and disadvantages.

    Step 4: Find a business broker
    The most important thing an owner can do while selling their business is focusing on running their business. A broker uses their expertise and aggressive marketing program to create competition for you, manage prospects and help you achieve the best price. No matter the size of your business or industry, a business advisor is going to be an expert. With the right guidance and advice, you’ll be able to seamlessly sell your business to the right buyer.

    Step 5: Qualify potential buyers and negotiate
    One of the main reasons a transaction will fall apart is because buyers fail to secure loans after entering into a sales agreement. When you work with a broker, buyers are qualified for financial ability to meet the offer.

    A business broker can approach and continue to track potential buyers without weakening your position. The best part is brokers will control the information being released, and pre-qualified buyers are required to execute a confidentiality agreement. This will protect you and your company from someone prying through your financials without proper supervision.

    When you’re selling a business, especially in a hot market, it’s crucial to negotiate to achieve the best price and terms. With the help of a professional, you’ll be able to avoid confusion during your sales transaction. They’ll be able to identify when a buyer is asking for too little and have your best interest at heart.

  • 04 Proposed Day CenterThe city of Fayetteville is purchasing a warehouse at 128 King St. off Person Street (formerly the Rock Shop) for conversion to a homeless day center. The design contract was awarded to Raleigh-based architectural firm IBI Group which designed Oak City Cares, the Raleigh day center that’s being used as a model for Fayetteville's day center. The building is a 12,800-square-foot warehouse that was built in 2006. $4 million has been provided by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s disaster recovery program. The money will be used to purchase the property, construction, design and equipment. Windows will be installed in the front of the building.
    The center will also function as an emergency shelter when needed. Chris Cauley, the city's director of economic and community development said preliminary plans for the day center include shower and laundry facilities, a large community room for people to use computers and charge their devices, plus a warming kitchen and offices.

  • 02 N1307P21005H 1Students have many options to explore concerning careers related to Computer Information Technology at FTCC — from programs that teach building mobile applications to creating digital art and everything in-between.

    Advertising & Graphic Design. FTCC’s Advertising and Graphic Design associate program equips students with the skills necessary to illustrate and design logos, advertisements and an array of other printed and digital visual communication to express ideas through typography, imagery, color and layouts. Students are equipped with industry-standard software, such as Adobe Creative Suite, Webflow and Figma. Students also have an opportunity to obtain certification in Adobe Applications.

    Digital Media Technology and User Interface/User Experience (UI/UX). This Digital Media program prepares students for professional opportunities involving digital design and multimedia. Coursework includes 2D & 3D animation, interactive technologies, website design, programming and audio/video editing. Graduates of this program should qualify for employment as animators, UI/UX developers, multimedia specialists and many other emerging professional opportunities in this expanding field. The UI/UX degree is new for fall 2021 and includes coursework in coding and design, selected to enhance the user experience for websites and mobile applications.

    Simulation & Game Development. Students interested in FTCC’s game development associate program gain the skills to develop videogames, such as 3D modeling and animation, creative writing and game programming. Graduates of this program are also qualified to work for health and government agencies.

    Computer Programming & Development and Mobile Application Development. In order to be an effective and successful programmer, one must be able to logically and creatively solve business-related problems for prospective clients or employers using the appropriate software and programming languages. Programming languages taught to students include Java, C#, C++, Python and more.
    The Mobile Application Development associate degree program is for those interested in becoming a developer for mobile applications. Coursework includes instruction in both Android and iOS programming languages, including Swift.

    Network Management and Administration and Cloud Management. Networking Management and Networking Administration programs prepare students to install and support networks and develop strong analytical skills and extensive networking knowledge. Course work includes hands-on experience with both Cisco, Windows and Linux operating systems. FTCC is part of the Cisco Networking Academy Program and offers coursework to prepare students for the Cisco CCNA exam. The Cloud Management program is new for fall 2021 and includes coursework in AWS, Google and Microsoft Azure.

    System Security & Analysis. FTCC’s Cyber Education Center has been designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. This program provides students with the skills required to evaluate and implement effective and comprehensive information security controls. Security analysts monitor, prevent and halt attacks on private data.

    FTCC also offers an Intelligence Studies curriculum designed to provide students with skills necessary to work in the intelligence profession with an emphasis in Geospatial Intelligence. The program emphasizes cyber defense with industry partners, such as Cisco, RedHat, Palo Alto and EC-Council. The program prepares students for numerous industry certifications, including CompTIA Security+, several EC-Council certifications (CE|H and CND), and Palo Alto Certified Network Defender and many others.

    PC Support & Services. IT/PC Support & Services is a program for those interested in more traditional information technology technician work, including PC maintenance and repair. The curriculum will prepare students to install, operate and manage various operating systems ranging from industry standards like Windows to more niche operating systems like Linux. Course work includes hands-on experience with troubleshooting PC hardware/software, mobile devices and various peripherals. Students will build customer-service, problem-solving, communication and writing skills. Certifications to enhance the associate degree include CompTIA A+ & Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE). Graduates are qualified for entry-level positions in technical support services.

    Join us for Fall semester. Classes begin August 16. Let FTCC help you find your way forward.

  • 07 SSGT Logan MelgarA court martial panel found Marine Gunnery Sgt. Mario Madera-Rodriguez guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the 2017 death of Green Beret Staff Sgt. Logan Melgar. Madera-Rodriguez was also found guilty of hazing, making false official statements and conspiracy.

    The incident took place in Melgar’s bedroom at off-site housing that he shared with other special operators in Bamako, Mali. The jury came to its verdict after a day’s deliberations in a three-week trial at Norfolk Naval Station, Virginia. Madera-Rodriguez was the last of four co-defendants charged in Melgar’s death by strangulation. Madera-Rodriguez’ sentencing is pending.

  • 10 rockn logo jpegThe Rock’n On The River concert series continues in July with two bands that are sure to keep the audience singing and dancing along. The July 16 show will feature Joyner, Young & Marie at 6 p.m. and Heart Breaker at 8:15 p.m. Both groups are known for vocal powerhouse performances of rock ‘n’ roll hits.

    Bill Joyner, Dan Young and Marie Grimsley make up Joyner, Young & Marie, a local band that has been performing for more than 30 years. No stranger to area festivals and events, Joyner, Young & Marie performs their own music and covers of rock ‘n’ roll hits from the likes of Janis Joplin, Eric Clapton and Aretha Franklin, among many.

    “My favorite memory with the band was when our song ‘Live the Blues’ from our first CD ‘Full Circle’ made number one in the beach charts and got to perform at the Cammy Awards [Carolina Beach Music Awards],” said lead singer Marie Grimsley. The band is currently working on releasing another CD in the near future. Grimsley said the band enjoys performing together and bringing back the rock hits that everyone knows and enjoys.

    Also performing will be Heart Breaker, a Heart tribute band, featuring Staci McBeth and Joan Burton, backed by a talented band of musicians. Although based in North Carolina, Heart Breaker tours nationally with the goal of playing each song with respect and true passion for the original. They not only perform the Heart classics such as “Alone,” “What About Love,” and crowd favorite “Barracuda,” but they also give the audience a taste of Led Zeppelin hits that Heart often played on tour as well.
    The Rock’n On The River concert series was created in 2015 starting with three shows. The popularity of the series and demand for live entertainment helped increase the number of shows each season. This year, the series has been hosting a concert each month from May until October.

    Each concert this season showcases a different genre of music, bringing together different crowds of people for a good time with friends and family. Rock’n On The River is located at 1122 Person St. in Fayetteville, (behind Deep Creek Grill).

    Parking for the event opens at 5 p.m. and the show begins at 6 p.m. Parking costs $5 per person in each vehicle. Outside food and beverages are prohibited, but can be purchases on site. Pets are also not allowed onto the concert grounds.

    Rock’n On The River is a free event sponsored by Healy Wholesale, Bob 96.5 FM radio, and Up & Coming Weekly.

    For more information visit www.facebook.com/Rockn-On-The-River-271048666818630/

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  • 22 Max Greene faces Greensboros Emery AlexanderFencing is not a sport targeted toward any particular age, gender or social status, and Coach Gerhard Guevarra believes it offers a place for everyone.

    The All-American Fencing Academy of Fayetteville offers great opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to learn the sport of fencing.

    “Our academy is not some big sports program, this is a place for people of all different athletic backgrounds,” said Coach Guevarra, also the owner of the Academy. “Most people come to us because their child or themselves wanted to do fencing and didn’t know there was a spot in Fayetteville to do that. All we can say for those who don’t know fencing or are skeptical about it, ‘hey come try it out,’” he said.

    The All-American Fencing Academy is an official registered school of USA Fencing and the North Carolina Division of USA Fencing.

    Guevarra has been coaching since 1999, and brought fencing to Fayetteville through the Pine Forrest Recreational Center. In 2008, he moved the program downtown to open his fencing studio, the All-American Fencing Academy. Guevarra continues to compete nationally and internationally. He competed in the 2006 Vancouver World Cup and has won several North Carolina Division Championships.

    Students at the Academy can compete locally, regionally and nationally. Some have qualified for National Championships and some have qualified for Junior Olympics. Some fencers have been recruited and continue to fence for Division I, II, and III university fencing teams.

    The All-American Fencing Academy currently has between 30 to 40 students ranging from the lowest age of 7 up to students in their 60s. The beginner classes start on the first week of the month and are for those who have never fenced before. This class teaches the basics, history and proper blade work for fencing. There is a membership option for students who want to continue to pursue fencing, which offers one scheduled class and additional open fencing nights.

    The Academy also offers a class for adult learners too — the 40+ class — for those who are interested in the art of fencing but didn’t realize it until later in life.
    Private lessons are available based on coach availability.

    For those who are just looking for something new and fun to do in Fayetteville, or maybe want to learn more about fencing before committing to a class, the Academy offers a Fourth Friday walk-in class every month, except July. Anyone ages 7 and older can participate for just $10 a student.

    All-American Fencing is located at 207B Donaldson St. in downtown Fayetteville. For more information call 910-644-0137, email info@allamericanfencing.com or visit www.allamericanfencing.com/#welcome.

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  • 15 DSC 0515Fayetteville Cumberland County Parks & Recreation offers a number of activities to get out and enjoy nature. Clark Park & Nature Center is located at 631 Sherman Drive. For more information call 910-433-1579.

    Bug Safari at StoryWalk® Clark Park
    Explore reading along a stretch of trail near the playground. Stands tell the story of “Bug Safari” by Bob Barner. Funded by the Women’s Giving Circle of Cumberland County, a fund of Cumberland Community Foundation, Inc. Available Monday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to sunset. Free and suitable for ages 3-6.

    Small Wonders From the Mountains to the Sea: A Diorama of Miniatures by Wildlife Artist Joe Morgan
    Find all the tiny critters nestled in this work of art and take home a prize. Available during Center Hours: Available Monday through Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free and suitable for all ages.

    Animal Feedings
    Alligators chomping, snakes swallowing, and turtles snapping, come see what is for dinner at the nature center. Call to register. Wednesdays on July 21, 28 and Aug. 4, 11 from 3-4 p.m. Free and suitable for all ages.

    Marvels of Moths
    While butterflies may be better known, after the sun goes down the night belongs to their relatives, the moths. There are far more species of moths than butterflies and they live fascinating lives. Learn about the importance of moths in the environment, how they survive, and about some of the many different kinds that call North Carolina home. Part of National Moth Week and Moth Night. Call to register. Saturday, July 24 from 7-8 p.m. Free and suitable for all ages.

    Moth Night!
    Clark Park’s woods often yield giant silkworm moths like the Luna and Polyphemus. Come hear about how moths differ from butterflies, how to attract and trap moths for identification and study, and see what we can catch at Clark on this night. Moth Night is part of National Moth Week, a celebration of moth diversity, beauty, life cycles and habitats. Call to register. Saturday, July 24 from 8-10 p.m. Free and suitable for all ages.

    Homeschool Discovery Series: Reptiles and Amphibians
    These free programs are designed with homeschoolers in mind to help supplement their curriculum. Call to register. On Aug. 5 from 10-11:30 a.m. discover what makes reptiles different from amphibians through this hands-on experience.

    For more information on what programs and events are available at parks throughout Fayetteville and Cumberland County visit www.fcpr.us/

  • 09 The Struggle by Angela StoutBecoming a professional artist can be a personal goal early in life, or it can be the result of a series of unexpected events and influences. Due to the latter reason, I thought it was particularly important to write an editorial about the artist Angela Stout; but also, to write about her notable exhibition titled Evoke at the Cape Fear Studios in Fayetteville.

    First and foremost, Angela Stout is an extraordinary artist who is able to successfully cross disciplines and be exceptional in whatever medium she undertakes. Anyone who visits the Cape Fear Studios, to see her recent body of work, will be pleasantly surprised at the artists’ approach and method to painting, sculpting the figure, and printmaking.

    The challenge for any artist who focuses on the portrait is how the subject, an important genre in the history of art, fits into the rage and complexity of contemporary art styles. For Stout, the subject is just the starting point to reveal more than a likeness, but an essence that transcends the individual, an ascension to a state of being that is our humanity. For this artist, it is our humanity that connects us -not gender, sex or race.

    Visitors to Evoke will see a body of work which reflects this artist’s vision about the place of portraiture in contemporary art. For Stout, portraiture is not just about a likeness, but her intent is to evoke emotion and transcend the focus from the individual to the many. What she may not realize is that she creates a context that is inclusive and illusive at the same time; we sense the precipice, we sense the humanity in the room – and it is everyone.

    All the paintings in the exhibit are 30” x 40” on stretched canvas, the scale of the figure, larger than life-size, invites our attention. On close inspection you can see the marks of color from Stout’s paint brush being dragged across the surface or the blending of layers of color - she moves seamlessly between opacity and translucency as needed. The painting titled “O” is an example of her exactitude and pursuit to move past the individual to a human condition, using only the warm and cool colors of indigo, phthalo blue, and a hint of magenta.

    As in all her paintings, Stout has a clear understanding of the potential of color and its complexity to create meaning on different levels - all at the same time. For example, she is keenly aware of the characteristics of color and ways to exploit its complexity: the symbolism of a color, the temperature and weight of color, tone, tint, shade, and saturation are all possible means for Stout to create a feeling, an emotion, a moment, or even a state of beingness.

    Visitors to the Cape Fear Studio will see how Stout moves easily between mediums. Not only are their nine new paintings, but she is also exhibiting 4 portrait heads in clay, and over eighteen monoprints. What becomes relevant is why and how she moves effortlessly between mediums. In order to get to the significance of an artist successfully working in different mediums, I need to go back to the beginning of the article: “becoming a professional artist can be the result
    of a series of unexpected events and
    influences.”

    Stout, raised in Ohio, the city of Warren, has drawn since she was three years old. At the age of 16, she asked her mother for a Bob Ross kit as a Christmas gift, and her mother surprised her with the Master Bob Ross kit (complete with supplies and a video). In high school she focused on playing drums instead of art lessons and was told upon graduation that she was not prepared or good enough, as an
    artist, to apply to art school.

    Those negative words and lack of encouragement from a teacher changed the direction of her life for the next twenty years. After serving in the military, married with three children, almost completing a degree in radiology before she became ill, now married again with 2 additional children (for a total of 5): Stout was out of the army and painting portraits as a self-taught artist in Broadway, North Carolina. With encouragement from family and friends, she enrolled in and completed a two-year Associate of Arts degree from Fayetteville Technical Community College, which included four art classes.
    Stout had the experiences of painting murals for dayrooms when she was in the military, but it was the beginning painting and drawing classes at FTCC where she received her first formal instruction in the mechanics of drawing and painting. Katey Morrill, her painting instructor, identified her preferences in painting and introduced her to significant artists for her to study, those artists who focused on using light to create dramatic effects. Equally important, Stout was encouraged by the art faculty to become a professional artist and continue into a 4-year art program.

    Confident in her achievements at FTCC, Stout entered Fayetteville State University in the Department of Performing and Fine art and was affectionately told “you have a lot of talent” and “you have a long way to go.” Only working in black, white and greys, her solid education from FTCC was the beginning of her personal journey in the arts.
    Stout worked with five different instructors at FSU, each bringing their own influence. After taking fifteen hours in art history and art criticism, painting classes, printmaking classes, and various sculpture classes she graduated from FSU with a 4.0 average. Because of Stout’s ambition to know as much as she could and her work ethics, she worked tirelessly at the challenges each course would demand but was always open to new ways of seeing and working.

    Stout explains it like this: “Painting classes improved my understanding of color theory and composition, printmaking classes challenged the way I viewed the process of painting and image-making, from painting I could create volume in clay modeling, and clay modeling helped me to see spatially and that helped my painting. Art criticism and contemporary art class challenged everything I thought I knew, I was then able to refine the direction of my work, I become open to new possibilities in ways I had never considered before.”

    Stout was not only a student of art who wanted to know all that she could learn in a short period of time, but she was always taking advantage of any situation where she could exhibit her work. She participated in local and national exhibitions, put her artworks in coffee house and any place that would showcase her works.

    By the time she graduated from FSU in 2019, and soon after, she had created and was facilitating a Facebook page called “acrylicpaintingforeveryone” (link at the end of the article) which has 106,000 vetted members. A website created as a positive social media platform to encourage anyone who paints, includes an exchange of ideas, videos, tips, and critiques.

    Stout has been in many exhibitions, local and regional. Due to her social media persistence, a curator contacted her to exhibit one of her paintings in an online exhibition in Milan, Italy during COVID. As an advocate of the arts, Stout is a member of the Cape Fear Studios and regularly gives classes to any age interested in painting. She participates in community outreach projects and continues to do portrait commissions.

    Anyone who has visited the exhibit, and those who have plans to see Evoke at the Cape Fear Studios might be interested to know what influenced the direction of her work. Stout was asked how her work has evolved over the last ten years. She began by saying: “In the beginning it was important to learn and practice technique. I was self-taught so I did not understand the philosophy behind art, and the ways in which my work needed to be developing. Studying art and art movements, understanding the evolution of art gave me the courage to evolve in my own way.”

    She continued, “Initially I just wanted to develop technically and portray the subject as accurate as possible. Now I want to convey an emotion. Every aspect of the painting is important to the overall meaning, the subject, color, abstraction, and techniques are used to evoke an emotion.”

    “I never would have thought that courses in printmaking could have had such a dramatic effect on how I see painting, but it did? I am a perfectionist, but in the printmaking studio any number of things can happen, often accidents, that made me understand how process is relevant. I didn’t have the expectations I was going to be a professional printmaker at the time, so I felt I was free to fail and to explore. All good lessons, I moved from mimicry to intent in my work - possibilities in printmaking translated into possibilities in painting.”

    After working six months towards her first-person exhibition, I was interested to know what the experience meant to her after the opening and what her future plans are as a professional, free lance artist. Stout was resolute in her response, “I feel as if my intent for the exhibit was met, and I hope the works communicate the emotional connections to anyone who see the exhibit in the painting, the sculpture or a print. During the process, I had to make choices during the making, I felt a sense of relief that, as a whole, there is a continuity in the body of work.”

    “My plans at this time are to continue to explore image making and intent, continue teaching, network for opportunities to exhibit. It would be nice to have a gallery outside of North Carolina carry my work, and I love being involved in community projects. At this time, I have written a grant for disabled veterans to take my workshop in acrylic painting and healing; and I have a written a grant to be able to work with Gold Star Children. One big goal is to write an extensive grant for underprivileged children to have art lessons and artkits. Afterall, it was a Bob Ross Master Kit, given to me when I was 16 years old, that made a big impact on the direction my life would eventually take in the arts!”

    Visitors to the Cape Fear Studios at 148 Maxwell Street in Fayetteville, North Carolina will be able to see Angela Stouts’ exhibit titled Evoke until July 20th, 2021. The hours of the studios are Tuesday-Friday, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Email the gallery at artgallery@capefearstudios.com or call 910-433-2986.

    To join Angela Stouts Facebook page for “acrylicpaintingforeveryone” the link is www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=acrylicpaintingforeveryone.
    For information in taking classes with Angela Stout, call 910-433-2986 for information on times and cost.

    08 O by Angela Stout

  • 03 banner C2G major updates 2Fort Bragg commissaries are now offering their ‘CLICK2GO’ curbside grocery pick up services to all Department of Defense ID card holders.

    Both the North and South post commissaries will offer the service and allow customers to order up to 6 days in advance, with the option to make changes to their order for up to 6 hours before pickup time.

    You can find this service at the local commissary website as well as commissaries.com or go to shopcommisaries.com, where customers can order and pay online, and pick a time for curbside pickup.

    “With the system, we have signage to identify designated parking spaces,” said Tanya Cooksey, business analyst/product coordinator for Defense Commissary Agency.

    “When the customer pulls up into a designated parking space, there’s a phone number on the sign, and the sign rings inside and alerts the commissary team member who will dispatch someone to retrieve
    the order.”

    The ‘CLICK2GO’ service provides contactless delivery to the customers, where, after showing them your ID, the team member will place the items in the backseat or trunk of the car, Cooksey said.

    “The hours vary by store but the average operating hours by store is Tuesday through Friday and the operating hours are usually between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.,” Cooksey said. “For the past year or so there was a $4.95 service fee but as of recently waived so customers no longer have to pay the service fee.”

    The curbside pickup is a part of DeCa’s e-commerce initiative which began in 2013 as an incentive to attract millennials with commissary privileges to use the services.

    “But we are finding that everyone loves this service, retirees, new enlistees, everyone,” Cooksey said. “It’s just convenient.”

    Last year the service added eight stores in the program but are now aiming at adding all 236 stores to the service by the end of the year, she said.

    For more information on the program or to check store hours visit www.commissaries.com/shopping/click-2-go.

  • 17 IMGL0435The National Day of the Cowboy is one where people can remember and celebrate America’s cowboy culture and pioneer heritage. Recognized on the fourth Saturday in July, National Day of the Cowboy honors the American cowboy, often a symbol of freedom and adventure. Created in 2005 by the National Day of the Cowboy Organization, the day celebrates cowboy culture in the American West associated with the years following the Civil War.

    One of the important jobs performed by 19th-century cowboys was to drive cattle from Texas northward to Kansas, Nebraska and Wyoming. At the time there wasn’t a direct railway line that connected Texas with the Northern and Eastern portions of the U.S. Cowboys often used cattle trails to move up to 3,000 heads of cattle at a time.

    Cowboys would move cattle along the cattle trails to the towns known as cow towns in Kansas. They would also use the Chisholm Trail to move cattle north of the Mexican border to Abilene. Other trails included the Shawnee Trail that led to St. Louis, and the Great Western Trail that led to Dodge City.

    National Day of the Cowboy recognizes that cowboys were more than just cattle herders. They were people who truly loved adventure and the land. Cowboys were often seen as loyal and willing to work hard.

    The folks at 7 Branch Farm in Lumber Bridge continue to celebrate the American cowboy each year. The public is invited to join 7 Branch’s seventh annual National Day of the Cowboy event on July 23 and 24. The 7 Branch Arena hosts the only sanctioned professional rodeo close to the Fayetteville area. The event will show what it truly means to be a cowboy/cowgirl and to live by the code.

    The rodeo will recreate events from the Old American West including bucking horses, calf roping, mounted shooting and more. This year the rodeo is bringing back barrel races where professionally skilled horseback riders attempt to run a cloverleaf pattern around preset barrels in the fastest time. There are estimated to be about 100 competitors in this year’s rodeo. The preshow event will take place at 5:30 p.m. with live entertainment from country singer/ songwriter Tyler Tew. There will also be bounce houses, pony rides and more from the kids. The main show will start at 8:00 p.m.

    This year, like others in the past, tickets are selling fast. “We encourage rodeo fans, and those wanting to come out to purchase tickets online and get here early,” said Buddy Blackman. The rodeo will have bleachers but will fill up quickly, so people are more than welcome to pull up a chair in the lawn seating area. This event is family-friendly, so no alcohol will be sold or permitted on the property.

    7 Branch was started by Blackman’s father, Ron Payne. The family-run farm started with only eight acres. Today, 7 Branch has 30-plus acres and hosts several rodeos and training events every year. When approached by the National Day of the Cowboy Organization to start a rodeo in North Carolina, there was no hesitation for 7 Branch. Part of the rodeo’s proceeds benefits Cape Fear Valley’s Friends of the Cancer Center, which 7 Branch has supported for several years.

    Tickets can be purchased online at www.dayofthecowboync.com or at the gate. Tickets are $15 per person, and kids 3 years old and under get in free. 7 Branch Arena is located just outside Hope Mills at 62 McGougan Road in Lumber Bridge. For more information, call 910-813-7881.

    19 2T9A2781

  • 24 N1602P66021HWe are inundated with countless creative marketing efforts on packages with buzz words that appeal to our quest to make healthy purchases. Reading the ingredient label of a product is often ignored because of the packaging that suggests a healthy choice.

    An article caught my eye that talked about how reading food labels can help you lose weight. That is a rather pronounced statement, but reading food labels can help with a better-informed decision for your purchase.

    Food manufacturers are in competition to entice you to purchase their products with targeted marketing tactics. When packaging catches your attention, ignore the buzz words! A little investigation on the back tells you the real story.

    I decided to look at some packaging claims and found that many were vague. Here are a few.

    “Free Range” is applicable to chicken. I envisioned happy chickens outside pecking around! “Free Range “can be anything from an outside chicken or a chicken that is in an enclosure with windows open.

    The wording “All Natural” means little and is not currently regulated by the FDA and can be misleading to consumers that think they are purchasing a healthy product.

    “Sugar Free“ is captivating but does not mean that it contains less calories or is healthy.

    “Real fruit juice” can be misleading because it may not say how much is real.

    “Beef Flavor,” the word flavor in anything means that the product has been enhanced with spices to replicate a flavor in a product. Meat origins do not go in the category of flavor and are identified on the label.

    “Vitamin C or D added” is another one that can be misleading to how much is added.

    The word “Organic” has been regulated by the FDA and carries three levels of Organic criteria to qualify.

    “Gluten Free” is a term that the FDA has regulated for grains.

    You would need to be a certified nutritionist or dietician to fully understand the complexity of labeling and food ingredients, but reading a food label is relatively easy and a good summary of what is contained in the product you are purchasing.

    I begin with the first line that reads the number of servings in the package and how many calories are per serving. As an example, if the package says 4 servings and each serving is 250 calories and you eat the entire package you have just consumed 1,000 calories.

    Sodium is my next go to on the label line for amount in the product and is a key factor in health illness. The recommended allowance per day based on an industry standard 2,000-calorie diet is 2,500 to 3,000 mg. Fast food and sodas can easily mount to the recommendation.

    The next items for review are carbohydrates and fat followed by sugar.

    Trans Fat is a product you should try to avoid all together because it is used in product packaging to sustain the shelf life of food.

    The bottom part of the label list includes the ingredients in descending order in relation to the amount in the product. Many ingredients can sometimes be an indication of how much was added, and many times the fewer the better.

    Take the time to read the story behind the packaging — it can help you make informed food choices.

  • 08 N2108P21008HEducation is a powerful investment and the key to future success. Every morning during the announcements at my school, I talk to my elementary babies and my staff members about the importance of obtaining a quality education, becoming lifelong learners and to not live from hand to mouth which is better known as living from paycheck to paycheck.

    As of May 21, there are 286 students who withdrew or dropped out of a Cumberland County Comprehensive High School and that is why Cumberland County Schools is hosting their annual “Get Back-To-School Launch Party” for high school dropouts July 15 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

    “The purpose of the virtual event is exposure and we want to connect with students and families that withdrew from school, dropped out of school or in some way disengaged from school,” said Sheral Raines, dropout prevention supervisor of Cumberland County Schools.

    “We want to make certain that those students and their families know all of the resources that are available to them to complete their high school diploma requirements and to advance into the next stage of their life.”

    Raines added the next stage of life includes going directly into the workforce, pursuing military engagement or some type of postsecondary training or college preparation.

    “A lot of times we find that students and their families don’t know that there are other options than just the traditional high school track,” said Raines. “We also want to make certain that they understand there are nontraditional high school tracks, one of which is Alger B. Wilkins High School, and we also have connections with Fayetteville Technical Community College that provides high school diploma programs and adult General Educational Development programs.”

    “We also have connections with Miller-Motte Technical College and Penn Foster College who can help these students obtain their high school diploma at no additional cost,” said Raines. “There are several options that we want to make certain that students and their families are able to benefit from all of the resources that Cumberland County Schools directly provides.”

    The National Dropout Prevention Center cites some of the reasons why students drop out of high school that include missing too many days, lack of childcare, became a caregiver, boredom, failing too many classes, obtained a job, did not like school, become pregnant and more.

    “It is not just that we reach current dropouts but we are also casting our net for any dropouts even if they disenrolled in previous years,” said Raines. “Community advocacy is key and we want to be able to help all of the students that we can under the
    age of 21.”

    The link for the virtual event can be found on Cumberland County Schools’ website at www.ccs.k12.nc.us and their social media platforms. Families who want to receive personalized attention can call the hotline at 910-475-1145. The hotline will be open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. through July 24.

  • 15 JMF Band picWarm weather and sunshine invite us to venture outdoors to enjoy friends, good food, a favorite beverage and great music. With the easing of COVID restrictions, we are seeing the local summer concert scene flourish with opportunities to entertain fans of all kinds of music – from classic rock to jazz. On July 17, local audiences can venture over to the Gates Four Golf & Country Club Pavilion and enjoy a Rockin’ in the 80s party with the Jan Michael Fields Band.

    Fields is a charismatic performer known as one of the top vocalists in the southeast. His stellar voice and ability to work the stage are just as relevant today as in the 80s when he was the frontman for the international touring act, Sidewinder. A consummate professional, Fields’ dedication to his craft earned him a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016 for outstanding contributions and support of the North Carolina music industry.

    “I started beating around on pots and pans when I was about 6 years old. That’s where my love for music started,” Fields said. “I started with the drums as my first musical instrument and played in the high school band. Then, I joined the school chorus, because I always loved singing and performing. I remember when MTV played ‘Video Killed the Radio Star’ by The Buggles, and it made me want to be in a band even more,” said Fields Band.

    Since he was 18 years old, Fields knew that music was something he wanted to pursue as a career. In 1985, he joined the band Sidewinder, which toured up and down the east coast, as well as parts of the Midwest and Canada. The COVID pandemic put a halt to live performances, but the band is ready to hit the stage and entertain audiences.

    After the Fayetteville show at Gates Four, the band will perform at the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh later this year. The Jan Michael Fields Band has been performing hits of the 70s and 80s for 7 years, completing several hundreds of shows across the region.

    “We really enjoy bringing music to people and watching them sing along, smile and unwind. I have a great group of guys behind me that make what I do possible,” said Fields.

    Tickets for Rockin’ in the 80s with the Jan Michael Fiends Band all concert dates are available for purchase online at www.fayettevilledinnertheatre.com. Tickets are $60 per person and include the concert, food and lawn seating (bring your chairs).

    Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. with food served from 6-7:30 p.m. A complete line of beverages will be available at three convenient full-service cash bars serving Healy Wholesale beer, wine products and mixed drinks. Concierge table service will be provided for VIP tables inside the Pavilion. Fayetteville's own Mash House Brewery will also have a large selection of their custom craft beers available.

    For VIP Tables, group rates or more information, call 910-391-3859. Tickets are limited in order to keep the concert attendees comfortable and socially distanced.

  • 06 Child Nutrition MealCumberland County Schools want to keep children healthy over the summer break. The Child Nutrition Services is providing free meals to children. The meals are being served at various locations throughout the county Monday through Friday through July 30. There are no income requirements or registration, and anyone 18 or younger can receive free meals from 11 a.m. until noon at the following locations: Douglas Byrd High School, 1624 Ireland Drive; Cape Fear High School, 4762 Clinton Road; Jack Britt High School, 7403 Rockfish Road; Seventy-First High School, 6764 Raeford Road; and W.T. Brown Elementary School, 2522 Andrews Church Rd.
    Parents may call any of the 14 recreation centers in Fayetteville, Hope Mills and Stedman to request meals. They must do so by 9 a.m. and pick up the meals at the front desks the same day between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Meals must be reserved by phone. For more information visit the CCS website at www.ccs.k12.nc.us. or call 910-678-2502.

  • 07 N1306P14003HThe Cumberland County Animal Services Department has been recognized with the Transformational Change Award from Best Friends Animal Society, a national animal welfare organization dedicated to ending the killing of dogs and cats in America's shelters. The department received the honor for having the largest improvement in their “live release rate” (the number of animals leaving the shelter in a positive outcome) for shelters intaking 2,000 to 10,000 animals per year.
    “This award recognizes the hard work on the part of our department, rescue groups and other partners. We are proud that over 80% of the shelter animals we received left and went to forever homes or to other organizations that help find new owners. We will continue to work to maintain a low euthanasia rate,” said Animal Services Director Elaine Smith.

    Animal Services is a member of the Best Friends Network, which comprises more than 3,300 animal shelters, spay/neuter organizations and other 501(c)(3) public charity rescue groups across the country working to save the lives of dogs and cats in their communities.
    "It's incredible to see so many shelters around the nation taking dramatic steps to increase lifesaving,” said Brent Toellner, senior director, national programs for Best Friends Animal Society. “Whether it be through new programming, progressive leadership or better collaborative partnerships, these groups are showing that lifesaving success is possible regardless of a shelter’s size or location.”

  • 14 Mountain FOlk by JOhn Hood cvoerI see you’ve written another book. What’s this one about?”

    “It’s called 'Mountain Folk.' It’s a historical-fantasy novel set partly in North Carolina during the Revolutionary War.”

    “It’s a what?”

    I’ve had some version of this conversation many times in recent months. Having spent most of my journalism career writing about government and politics, and authoring books of economic and political history, people assume any new project of mine would fall into the same category.

    When they learn I’ve written a novel — and particularly when they discover it doesn’t just have an historical theme but also includes dwarfs, elves, magic, and monsters — they grow concerned. Am I having a midlife crisis, or indulging some childhood whim?

    Not at all. While I greatly enjoyed writing "Mountain Folk," and hope that my readers will enjoy it as a rollicking tale of frontier life and high adventure, I admit there is more than just simple escapism going on. Perhaps it’s just because I was in the 4-H Club growing up, but I believe I can summarize my reasons for writing the novel in four words: History, Heroes, Heritage, and Humanity.

    First, I hope to encourage a greater understanding of and appreciation for our country’s history. According to one recent survey, only a third of Americans possess enough historical knowledge to pass the U.S. citizenship test. Most can’t say which countries were on which sides in World War II, or why Americans declared their independence from the British empire.

    Second, I want to rescue, refresh, and expand the concept of American heroism. Yes, historical figures such as George Washington, Daniel Boone, and Abraham Lincoln were imperfect in real life. We should come to know as much as we can about them, warts and all.

    But we can and should still admire the important contributions these old-school folk heroes made to the growth and development of our country, even as we properly integrate a broader variety of tales into the story of America. In "Mountain Folk," one of the main characters is a Cherokee heroine named Nanyehi who as a young woman led her people to victory in battle but later in life became a legendary peacemaker.

    Third, I use elements of history and folklore to explore what it really means to be an American. Our country is different from most others in a key respect: we do not share a common ethnic heritage. During centuries of migration — some voluntary, in search of a better life, and some involuntary, the consequences of removal or the slave trade — America has become a dynamic, sprawling, sometimes-brawling society encompassing many different peoples, religions, values, and cultures.

    The resulting diversity can be vibrant and powerful. But Americans still require a common creed to unify us, and a common set of institutions to convert abstract principles into practical governance. Freedom is central to that common creed, or so I argue in the pages of "Mountain Folk."

    Finally, although my novel has many non-human characters, I actually use them to illustrate the inescapable realities of human nature. We are all fallen creatures. We yield to temptation. We make mistakes. Even the best of us, if entrusted with great power, may end up abusing it, insisting all along that our noble ends justify ignoble means.

    “We always have a choice — a choice whether truly to live according to our principles, or simply to survive by abandoning them,” one of my fairy characters says towards the end of the book. “With that freedom to choose comes the responsibility to accept the consequences. I accept mine. I will not submit. I will not be complicit to tyranny. If that robs me of my home forever, so be it.”

    Now, "Mountain Folk" is hardly a history textbook or a philosophical treatise. There are heroes, villains, thrilling rescues and epic battles. Daniel Boone even fights a giant, fire-spitting salamander! But there’s a serious purpose underneath — a fact that should come as no surprise to longtime readers of my column.

  • 04 IMG 7711Do things seem a bit odd to you lately? Do you find yourself being a chip off the old blockchain? Confused? Puzzled by the latest developments?

    Well, Bunky, you have come to the right place. Mr. Science is here today to explain life to you. After both of my faithful readers finish this column, all will be understood. As Alex said in “A Clockwork Orange,” the meaning of life will be “As clear as an unmuddied lake. As clear as an azure sky of deepest summer. You can rely on me, friend.”

    Let us begin by noting a couple of recent curious art world events which in the first blue light of morning seem unrelated and hard to understand. Life is controlled by the Prime Directive that there are no coincidences, everything is related to everything else. The Prime Directive, like gravity, is not just a good idea, it’s the law.

    Herein lies the tale of when Beeple met MetaKovan. An artist named Beeple sold an NFT for $69 million. This was good news for Beeple and the Christie Auction House which handled the sale. Right now you are probably asking yourself, “Self, who is Beeple, what is an NFT, and who paid $69 million for a JPEG computer image?”

    As Samuel L. Jackson said in "Pulp Fiction," “Allow me to retort.” Beeple turns out to be the nom de plume of Mike Winkelmann who lives just down the road from us in Charleston, South Carolina, which incidentally is also the home of the world-famous Purple Buffalo night club. Beeple is a computer geek who is also an artist.

    He created the digital artwork called “Everydays: The First 5000 Years” as a Non Fungible Token, which abbreviates into NFT. An NFT is essentially a picture on the internet similar to cats playing the piano on Facebook. But unlike the musical cats which anyone can copy, an NFT original only shows up in one place on the owner’s computer screen. The original digital image uses the same magic that Bitcoin’s block chain uses to keep track of who owns which Bitcoin. Mr. Science does not understand how Bitcoin works. It just is, at least for the time being until it vanishes into the digital ether.

    The new proud owner of Beeple’s masterpiece is an art patron named Vignesh Sundaresan who also goes by the superhero name of MetaKovan.

    MetaKovan made his money in the crypto currency market which is where “Everydays” was born. MetaKovan explained he would have paid even more for the “Everydays” JPEG as it represents the first digital art asset which will become a part of art history. So now you know about NFTs. Aren’t you glad you stuck around? But wait, there is more in the bonus round below.

    Also, from the Art Desk comes the news that over 15,000 people have signed a petition on Change.org urging Amazon’s Jeff Bezos to buy and eat the "Mona Lisa."

    The petition is quite simple: It says “Nobody has eaten the 'Mona Lisa' and we feel Jeff Bezos needs to take a stand and make this happen.” Why you might ask, should Jeff Bezos purchase and devour the "Mona Lisa?"

    Signers of the petition have offered a number of reasons: “Who else is gonna eat it?," “I’m signing to draw attention to how ridiculous and dangerous this level of capital accumulation is. No one should be that rich," “It should be rolled up like a froot roll up and swallowed whole”, “There are billionaires in Asia who can’t even afford to eat a de Kooning, and here is the richest man in the world refusing to eat a perfectly good da Vinci," “Come on Jeff, you know you want to," “Mona Lisa is just the appetizer before the Sistine Chapel," "I believe this will truly help the world."

    This list goes on and on. There is a ground swell of support for Jeff to eat the "Mona Lisa." The USA Today article estimated Jeff has a net worth of $201 billion and the estimated worth of the "Mona Lisa" today is about $850 million. Mere pocket change for Jeff. It is definitely doable if the French government will cooperate. If France won’t sell, Jeff can just buy France, allowing him to own the "Mona Lisa." Then it’s break out the Texas Pete hot sauce and chow down on the
    "Mona Lisa."

    To the untrained eye, these events may seem insane. However, consider what Deputy Barney Fife said when Andy and Helen got trapped in a cave. Barney told Thelma Lou the reason he didn’t like caves is because of bats.

    Barney: “Bats. Do you know what they do? They fly in your hair and get tangled up in there and lay their eggs and you go crazy. You want a head full of bat eggs? Well, I don’t.”

    Clearly what has happened is too many people have been going into caves. They have gotten their hair full of bat eggs. Barney was right all along. The world has gone crazy.

    Today’s lesson: Wear a hat. Avoid bat eggs in your hair. Remain calm and save the "Mona Lisa."

  • 02 women arguingI don’t know about you, but I find our national politics more confusing than ever. We tend to pigeonhole people by what we think they believe and by their political registrations, but in reality, human beings and our politics are much more nuanced. The venerable Pew Research Center, which bills itself as “a non-partisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, trends, and attitudes shaping the world,” has come up with 9 political categories to describe Americans in 2021.

    These classifications range from “Solid Liberals” on the left to “Core Conservatives” on the right with lots of diversity in between, including “Disaffected Democrats,” “Market Skeptic Republicans,” “Devout and Diverse,” and not surprisingly, “Bystanders.” Both ends of the spectrum, liberals and conservatives, are mostly white, even though the diverse progressive wing of the Democratic Party gets the most press. Liberals are the most educated of the nine groups, while conservatives are the whitest.
     
    In between, the lines are more blurred. Minority Americans tend to be less liberal than the solid liberals, favoring border security and skeptical about free trade. They are also religious and worry about crime. They reject the racism of the far right. The same can be said of working-class Americans of all races and backgrounds. Hence, devout and diverse category. The Pew Research Center, with all its polls, research and analysis, is saying what we all know in our hearts — that most Americans are moderate, caring people who want only good for our nation and for each other. The screaming, name-calling, and — yes, violent behavior, comes from the extremes of each end of the spectrum, not the broad middle.
     
    The recent mayoral contest in New York City has rocketed ranked choice voting to the national consciousness. Ranked choice voting is new-ish, having been used by overseas voters in some states for federal elections. It is also used in non-governmental elections, including student government and Academy Award elections. It is gaining increasing acceptance for city and state contests, largely in the western part of the United States. 
     
    There are various versions of RCV, and all involve marking a first-choice candidate and then ranking others. Gradually, some candidates fall away, and someone eventually prevails. North Carolina experimented with the system in 2010 in elections for Superior Court and Court of Appeals judges. The Republican controlled General Assembly repealed RCV in 2013 as part of a sweeping Voter ID bill, later struck down by the courts. 
     
    While RCV would be a learning curve for most of us, it makes sense. In today’s highly contested elections with prolonged recounts and charges of fraud, RCV would ultimately result in an elected official most voters selected, if not first, then somewhere down the line and would go a long way toward eliminating elections with crowing winners and bitter losers and their like-minded supporters.
     
    As we emerge from pandemic restrictions, it is clear that people are ready to return to “normal life,” whatever that means to each of us. It is also clear that our COVID year-plus has changed some things forever. Some of us will continue to work remotely. We will likely continue to meet via Zoom or something like it both professionally and in our personal lives. Restaurants may be less sit-down and more casual. And, after months in yoga pants and sweats, relaxed dressing seems here to stay, making business casual the new everyday norm.
     
    It all makes me wonder what about pre-pandemic life I really do want to bring back…
  • 01 BOF LOGOThis year, as Up & Coming Weekly is celebrating our 25th anniversary, I am incredibly proud that 2021 also marks our 24th Best of Fayetteville celebration of the Best of the Best people, businesses and organizations in Fayetteville, Fort Bragg and Cumberland County. For a quarter of a century, we have showcased this community and told its stories. We have championed its successes, supported its causes and celebrated our diverse community's quality of life and uniqueness. 

    We’ve all heard the saying “Choose a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.” Well, that’s exactly how I feel about working here at the Up & Coming Weekly community newspaper. And, it is this time of year that I like the most. This is the time for the Best of Fayetteville readership survey - a time when we reach out to our readers and ask them what and who they love and appreciate most about this community. Do they have a favorite restaurant? Who has the best car wash? What is your favorite theater, nonprofit organization, entertainment venue or veterinarian?
     
    This is your chance to tell us who is the Best of the Best in Fayetteville. The voting takes place during July. So please pick up a copy of the Up & Coming Weekly, fill out a ballot, mail it to us, or visit our website, www.upandcomingweekly.com and vote online. Either way, make sure you VOTE! 
     
    After all the votes are in, verified and counted, we publish a Special Best of Fayetteville Edition of Up & Coming Weekly showcasing the winners. The Special Edition will be presented at the Best of Fayetteville Party, where we congratulate and celebrate the winners. This Special Edition will be on our website for the entire year.
     
    The ballots are out, so make sure you VOTE! And on September 29th, you can pick up the Special Edition announcing the winners — the people, organizations and businesses that YOU have designated "Best of the Best." 
     
    About Best of Fayetteville: Best of Fayetteville is sanctioned and audited. We do not use nominations, and Up & Coming Weekly does not pre-sell advertising ads to nominate, promote or influence specific businesses or organizations for Best of Fayetteville. However, we encourage businesses to promote themselves and encourage their customers, friends and family to cast a ballot on their behalf. Up & Coming Weekly does no pre-ballot advertising sales. Nor do we sell or require businesses or organizations to participate with advertising purchases for pre-contest special sections to get their business officially printed on the ballot. 
     
    After the ballots are verified and tallied, there is only ONE winner in each category. At this time, winners are allowed to purchase advertising and marketing packages in the Best of Fayetteville Special Edition to thank their customers and supporters. The Best of Fayetteville Special Edition is a valuable component of the program because it is used all year long to promote the Fayetteville community to visitors, guests and newcomers to Fort Bragg and Cumberland County. This is the most effective way for the winners to capitalize on their Best of Fayetteville achievement. Also, in recognition, these unique marketing programs are significantly discounted so winners can take full marketing advantage of the honor. Winners have only one opportunity to participate in these advertising programs — and it's only after they've won. 
     
    In addition to a beautiful wall plaque awarded to each Best of Fayetteville winner, they are authorized to use the official Best of Fayetteville logo in all their advertising and marketing. Best of Fayetteville is an exclusive designation. The way we implement and manage the program is what has made it credible and sustainable. Is the survey perfect? No. However, the survey results speak for itself, recognizing the Best of Fayetteville as one of this community's most respected and prestigious achievements and awards. 
     
    We launch the Best of Fayetteville readership survey during July to avoid conflicting with The Fayetteville Observer's Reader's Choice Awards, their annual advertising sales promotion. The Reader's Choice advertising-based program should not be confused with the Best of Fayetteville Awards program. If you have any questions about whether you're participating in the Best of Fayetteville readership survey or someone else's advertising program, take a good, long look at the ballot. If it refers to nominations, names and ads pre-printed on the ballot, it is NOT the Best of Fayetteville.
     
    So, what are you waiting for? Cast your vote and let your voice be heard! Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.
  • 05 pay parking downtownDowntown Fayetteville streets are no longer free for parking. For the first time in more than 20 years, parking kiosks, which replaced meters, have been positioned around town. All on-street parking in the downtown area, including handicap parking spots, will follow standard 2-hour or 3-hour limits and are in effect from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays. On weekends those parking spots are free including baseball game days and other downtown events. Rates are $1.00 per hour, with a $5.00 daily maximum in the two parking decks and lots. All "Park Fayetteville" parking locations are free on Saturdays and Sundays unless there is a Special Event taking place. In addition, parking is free before 9:00 a.m. and after 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. More information, including how to acquire an app, is available at Parkfayettevillenc.com

  • 12 VON DThe Sandhills Jazz Society is back after more than a year on a COVID hiatus. The Come Together City Music Festival will take place July 10 at J.P. Riddle Stadium in Fayetteville featuring some of North Carolina's finest jazz and rhythm and blues artists.

    Scheduled to appear are Reggie Codrington, Von Demetriz, George Freeman, Dez Humphrey and Buddy Mcleod.

    The Sandhills Jazz Society shares a musical vision that encompasses a wide spectrum of jazz, blues, world, creative and improvised music, including evolving forms of jazz and the technologies and media that influence jazz as an art form. The result is an entertaining evening for audiences who enjoy jazz, blues, funk and soul, and everything that falls in between.

    Founded in 2018, the Sandhills Jazz Society is a community-based nonprofit arts education organization in Fayetteville. Members strive to promote interest in jazz music across multiple generations. The goal is to bring awareness to jazz and other music genres and strengthen the arts community by offering performances, collaborations, workshops and other educational opportunities.

    Tickets for the Come Together City Music Festival can be purchased on the website for $25 dollars or $35 on the day of the event. The gates will open at 4 p.m. will performances scheduled to begin
    at 6 p.m.

    This event will happen rain or shine and all ticket sales are final. Outside food and drink are not permitted but there will be several food vendors at the festiv al.

    J.P. Riddle Stadium is located at 2823 Legion Road. For more information about this event and future events visit the website at www.sandhillsjazz.com/ or call 910-987-2426.

    Pictured Above : Von Demetriz

  • 10 DragonThe World-Famous Harlem Globetrotters are bringing their newly reimagined Spread Game Tour to the Crown Coliseum on Aug. 4, at 7 p.m. This new tour is a basketball event like no other. Ankle-breaking moves, jaw-dropping swag, and rim-rattling dunks are only some of the thrills you can expect from this fully modernized show. Part streetball from the players who defined it, part interactive family entertainment, the new tour will show off the best of the Globetrotters in a dazzling exhibition of talent and game.

    The Spread Game Tour is the rescheduled event from the March 2020 game that was cancelled due to COVID. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at CapeFearTix.com, at the Crown Complex Box Office and at Leisure Travel Services on Fort Bragg.

    This tour introduces new premium fan experiences with unprecedented access and interaction, including celebrity court passes, meets and greets with players, and in select markets, the #SQUADZONE, where fans have the opportunity to feel like part of the show.

    For over 95 years, the Harlem Globetrotters organization has been committed to spreading joy through their artful athleticism and unparalleled basketball skill. The Globetrotters have always been global ambassadors of goodwill. The reimagined team is even more committed to bringing their voice to social justice conversations while inviting communities all over the U.S. to come together and recognize the power of our commonalities and celebrate our differences. The Globetrotters’ mission, to spread game and bring family entertainment to the world, continues to drive them today.

    The originators of basketball style, influencers on today’s game, and skilled athletes of the highest order, the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters have showcased their iconic talents in 124 countries and territories on six continents since their founding in 1926. Proud inductees into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, their mission to spread game and bring entertainment to the world continues to drive them today. The Globetrotters are innovators of the game who popularized the jump shot, slam dunk, and invented the half-court hook shot.

    For nearly a century, the Globetrotters have exhibited Black excellence on and off the court, entertaining, inspiring and advancing the racial progress of today. The Harlem Globetrotters International, Inc. is a subsidiary of Herschend Enterprises, the largest family-owned themed entertainment company in the U.S.

    For more information about the Harlem Globetrotters, visit the Globetrotters' official website  www.harlemglobetrotters.com  and follow them on social media.

  • This year, as Up & Coming Weekly is celebrating our 25th anniversary, I am incredibly proud that 2021 also marks our 24th Best of Fayetteville celebration of the Best of the Best people, businesses and organizations in Fayetteville, Fort Bragg and Cumberland County. For a quarter of a century, we have showcased this community and told its stories. We have championed its successes, supported its causes and celebrated our diverse community's quality of life and uniqueness.

    We’ve all heard the saying “Choose a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.” Well, that’s exactly how I feel about working here at the Up & Coming Weekly community newspaper. And, it is this time of year that I like the most. This is the time for the Best of Fayetteville readership survey - a time when we reach out to our readers and ask them what and who they love and appreciate most about this community. Do they have a favorite restaurant? Who has the best car wash? What is your favorite theater, nonprofit organization, entertainment venue or veterinarian?

    This is your chance to tell us who is the Best of the Best in Fayetteville. The voting takes place during July. So please pick up a copy of the Up & Coming Weekly, fill out a ballot, mail it to us, or visit our website, www.upandcomingweekly.com and vote online. Either way, make sure you VOTE!

    After all the votes are in, verified and counted, we publish a Special Best of Fayetteville Edition of Up & Coming Weekly showcasing the winners. The Special Edition will be presented at the Best of Fayetteville Party, where we congratulate and celebrate the winners. This Special Edition will be on our website for the entire year.

    The ballots are out, so make sure you VOTE! And on September 29th, you can pick up the Special Edition announcing the winners — the people, organizations and businesses that YOU have designated "Best of the Best."

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    About Best of Fayetteville: Best of Fayetteville is sanctioned and audited. We do not use nominations, and Up & Coming Weekly does not pre-sell advertising ads to nominate, promote or influence specific businesses or organizations for Best of Fayetteville. However, we encourage businesses to promote themselves and encourage their customers, friends and family to cast a ballot on their behalf. Up & Coming Weekly does no pre-ballot advertising sales. Nor do we sell or require businesses or organizations to participate with advertising purchases for pre-contest special sections to get their business officially printed on the ballot.

    After the ballots are verified and tallied, there is only ONE winner in each category. At this time, winners are allowed to purchase advertising and marketing packages in the Best of Fayetteville Special Edition to thank their customers and supporters. The Best of Fayetteville Special Edition is a valuable component of the program because it is used all year long to promote the Fayetteville community to visitors, guests and newcomers to Fort Bragg and Cumberland County. This is the most effective way for the winners to capitalize on their Best of Fayetteville achievement. Also, in recognition, these unique marketing programs are significantly discounted so winners can take full marketing advantage of the honor. Winners have only one opportunity to participate in these advertising programs – and it's only after they've won.

    In addition to a beautiful wall plaque awarded to each Best of Fayetteville winner, they are authorized to use the official Best of Fayetteville logo in all their advertising and marketing. Best of Fayetteville is an exclusive designation. The way we implement and manage the program is what has made it credible and sustainable. Is the survey perfect? No. However, the survey results speak for itself, recognizing the Best of Fayetteville as one of this community's most respected and prestigious achievements and awards.

    We launch the Best of Fayetteville readership survey during July to avoid conflicting with The Fayetteville Observer's Reader's Choice Awards, their annual advertising sales promotion. The Reader's Choice advertising-based program should not be confused with the Best of Fayetteville Awards program. If you have any questions about whether you're participating in the Best of Fayetteville readership survey or someone else's advertising program, take a good, long look at the ballot. If it refers to nominations, names and ads pre-printed on the ballot, it is NOT the Best of Fayetteville.

    So, what are you waiting for? Cast your vote and let your voice be heard! Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

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  • The local artist community has no greater advocates than the Fayetteville Public Works Commission and the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County. Each year, the organizations celebrate artists of all mediums, ages and levels of expertise with the “Public Works” exhibition. This year marks the 15th Annual “Public Works” exhibition. Usually beginning on Fourth Friday in May, this year’s event runs Aug. 28-Oct. 17, due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

    In the past, the event opening coincided with Fourth Friday and included of live music by local bands, a variety of vendors in front of the Arts Council downtown and more. The gallery inside the Arts Council was also open on the occasions.

    “We have an immensely talented city,” said Metoya Scott, public relations manager at the Arts Council, “(including) active galleries that display the talent of our neighbors.” She listed local businesses and studios like Greg’s Pottery, Cape Fear Studios, Winterbloom Tea, The Sweet Palette and City Center Gallery & Books, all of which stayed open for the in-person Fourth Friday night events.

    Each community member can vote for his or her favorite piece — or shop, as some submissions will be for sale,” said Public Works Commission representative Carolyn Justice-Hinson. “People can publish their public vote online, and that will be another way we can hear how the word is traveling.”

    Every submission has a chance to win. During the “Public Works” exhibit, the community is invited to submit votes on their favorite works of art for a “People’s Choice.” There will also be an online app for virtual voting.

    A variety of mediums is accepted. “It can be any kind of artistic expression that you want to exhibit, including photographs, paintings, drawings and more,” said Hinson. “One lady even had a wedding dress made from toilet paper.”

    Residents from Bladen, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson and Scotland counties, as well as Fort Bragg or Pope Field can submit art. Bring artwork submissions to The Arts Council at 301 Hay St. between 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14,  or Saturday, Aug. 15, between noon and 4 p.m. To find out how and when to enter, visit https://www.theartscouncil.com/opportunity/call-art-public-works-exhibition

    For updated information regarding the Arts Council’s exhibitions, visit Facebook at www.facebook.com/artscouncilFAY.

  • 18 01 susanbradyNormally at this time of year, fall sports coaches would be working with their athletes to get them in condition for the official start of practice on Aug. 1.

    But the COVID-19 pandemic has put everyone into a holding pattern as news about the spread of the disease changes daily. Instead of firm dates, coaches for schools in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association have had to deal with multiple changes in when fall sports will resume, if at all. Most recently, they learned the earliest they will be allowed to begin 18 02 brianrandolphfall practice will be Sept. 1.

    Jesse Autry, who is beginning his 29th season as cross country coach at South View, voiced the situation best for all of his fellow coaches.
    Autry talked at length about being separated from his athletes for much of the summer until coaches were given permission 18 03toddedgeto contact them via computer.

    “We communicate at least once a week by way of Zoom or Google Meeting or something like that,’’ Autry said. He talks with his athletes online and invites their parents to join in.

    The first time he did it, Autry said things got a little emotional. “For all of them to see each other’s faces on the screen I was 18 04 IMG 7183really surprised,’’ he said. “I’m worried about the long-term impact of this, social isolation, kids seeing each other. Not being able to play team sports, to learn from camaraderie and friendship that comes from getting in the trenches together.’’

    Autry said he knows COVID-19 is a serious matter and he supports the decisions of his superiors, but he’s hopeful there will be some kind of return to sports soon.

    18 05 jalestywashington“I want us to compete,’’ he said. “I want us to be able to practice. I can see on my kids faces and hear in their voices what they are going through.’’

    Todd Edge, golf coach at Cape Fear, saw the same thing when it came to his athletes being separated. “When we were finishing up our schooling on Google Classroom, when we stopped the teaching and recording part of it, the kids wanted 18 05 IMG 1865to stay online and talk to the teacher and their peers because they aren’t seeing anyone,’’ he said. “They’re not socializing with one another.’’

    Jack Britt football coach Brian Randolph said the key issue remains the safety of the athletes, athletic trainers, coaches and all the sideline personnel involved in his sport.

    “I don’t think we can create the bubble as the NBA and other higher level sports are doing,’’ Randolph said. “The first thing we have to worry about is the school aspect and getting kids back into school safely.’’

    Terry Sanford tennis coach Susan Brady is confident most coaches would be willing to accept any form of abbreviated schedule just to be able to have competition this fall. Her main concern, which is shared by other coaches, is how much time the athletes need to get in competition shape.

    For tennis, she thinks two or three weeks of practice while doing some cardio conditioning on the side would be enough to get in condition for matches. “The nice thing about tennis is when you’re on the court playing it’s constant movement,’’ she said.

    Gray’s Creek volleyball coach Jalesty Washington feels that if people can go out and shop and interact in other ways in public, there has to be a way to figure out a safe method to return to athletic competition. “I feel like everybody is going out and doing normal stuff,’’ she said. “I don’t know what’s different with the school and getting in the gym.’’

    Pine Forest soccer coach Isaac Rancour is trying to stay as positive as possible and not focus on the frustration of repeated delays and no definite word on when or if the fall season will begin.

    “I’m just kind of going with the flow and passing information along as I get it,’’ Rancour said. “I don’t think it does any good to get frustrated about it.’’

    He knows his players have worked hard and the seniors are worried if they will get the chance to play this year.

    Whatever is done, Rancour wants it to be safe for everyone. “We are going to need more time to make sure we are able to social distance the kids and get everything checked before we get everything started,’’ he said. “If we have everyone doing their part it should all work out.’’

  • President Donald Trump says he might veto a congressional bill to change the names of military bases in the South named after Confederate generals.

    “I don’t care what the military says. I’m supposed to make the decision,” Trump told Fox News about plans to change the names of bases that have stood for decades. “Fort Bragg is a big deal. We won two world wars — nobody even knows General Bragg. We won two World Wars,” Trump said in a contentious interview with Chris Wallace.

    Trump mocked Wallace, asking him what he was going to rename Fort Bragg. “Are you going to name it after the Rev. Al Sharpton?” arbitrarily suggesting the name of the Black civil rights leader. “There’s a whole thing here. We won two World Wars, two World Wars, beautiful World Wars that were vicious and horrible, and we won them out of Fort Bragg,” Trump declared.

  • 15 sharon mccutcheon bEDh PxXZ0c unsplashThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that people wear cloth face coverings in public settings where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. Even as the world begins to unpause, wearing masks seems likely to continue.

    According to Penni Watts, Ph.D., RN, an assistant professor of nursing at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing, masks are designed not to prevent the wearer from getting ill, but to protect other people from getting the virus. Masks protect others from your germs when you cough or sneeze. They're also an effective way to help people to avoid touching their faces.

    Masks are exposed to the elements and germs each time they are worn, meaning they will require cleaning. Even though Harvard Health suggests COVID-19 may live more readily on hard surfaces than fabric, the CDC urges people to give cloth face masks the same level of care as regular laundry. Masks should be washed and dried often. The CDC offers these tips on how to clean most cloth and fabric masks.

    Fabric face masks should be washed depending on the frequency of use. More frequent use necessitates more frequent washing.

    A washing machine should be adequate for properly washing a face covering. Choose a warm setting for water temperature. Place masks in the dryer afterward.

    More delicate, hand-sewn masks may be washed by hand, suggests The Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab. Lather masks with soap and scrub them for at least 20 seconds with warm or hot water before placing in the dryer.

    For additional sanitation, iron masks on the cotton or linen setting for a few minutes to kill remaining germs.

    If masks are fortified with a filter, such as a coffee or HVAC filter, keep in mind that these filters are designed for single use. Paper filters should be replaced after each use. HVAC filters are washable, but manufacturers warn that their effectiveness decreases with each wash. Medium weight nonwoven interface used as filter material is typically washable.

    Various health agencies do not condone using steam or microwaves to clean cloth face masks, as these sanitizing techniques are not as effective as regular laundering. Also, never microwave non-fabric dust or N95 respirator masks if you are using them. They can catch fire or be rendered useless.

    Cloth face masks can help safeguard against germs like the novel coronavirus. However, they need to be cleaned regularly to remain sanitary.

  • 17 01 IMG 0260The potential for growth in the area near the recently-opened Golfview Greenway in Hope Mills is drawing a lot of attention, some of it not for good reasons.

    That’s especially true for residents of Crampton Road, a quiet neighborhood street near Golfview that dead ends into the old golf course that is now the new Greenway.

    What’s causing concern is the old golf course area is currently shared by three different groups. The town of Hope Mills controls about 90 acres, while two developers have plots of 30 acres and 20 acres respectively.

    One of the developers has put forward plans to build some housing on his share of 17 02 greenway1the land, with access to the property coming from a road that would connect through what is now the dead end on Crampton.

    Not surprisingly, many people in the neighborhood are not excited about the prospect of a dramatic increase in both population and
    traffic.

    “Most of the people have lived there 40 years or more,’’ Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner said of the residents of Crampton Road.

    The town had two chances in 2019 to have more of a direct voice in the future of the area when the YMCA approached the town about purchasing or developing the 20 acres of land it owned. A committee was formed to look into the possibility of developing the land and maybe constructing a swimming facility there. But the committee was disbanded by the Board of Commissioners after one meeting, and the town declined to discuss purchasing the land from the YMCA.

    When the YMCA eventually found a buyer, it made one final offer to the town to purchase it first, but the board again said no.

    So the YMCA sold the land, and now with three different groups in the mix, Warner is trying to put together a plan to get everyone involved at the same table so a plan can be put together that will take into account everything going on in the Golfview Greenway area so both the future growth of the town and the concerns of the residents of Crampton Road will be respected while the town looks ahead to future growth.
    Representing the town on the committee will be Warner, Chancer McLaughlin of the town’s Development and Planning office and town manager Melissa Adams.

    Also on the committee will be the developers of the other two pieces of property, a representative from the Department of Transportation, and former Hope Mills commissioner Eddie Maynor, who was added to the committee at last week’s meeting of the Board of Commissioners.
    Warner said it was important to get the Department of Transportation involved because they already have plans in the works for developing the area around Golfview Greenway since it’s in proximity to the future addition of the Interstate 295 bypass that will be eventually built near the outskirts of Hope Mills.

    “We know we need to get DOT on board so we don’t have to redo anything,’’ Warner said. “If they’ve got a plan we can start working on that plan sooner.’’

    The other key for the committee, Warner said, is to have face-to-face meetings with the two developers and hopefully get them to coordinate their plans with both the needs of the families that already live on Crampton Road and in the rest of the area, while at the same time getting everyone on the same page with whatever DOT has in the works.

    Warner thinks an ideal solution would be for the town and the two other property owners in the Golfview area to come to a mutual agreement on a shared entry way into the Golfview property so that the residents on Crampton Road can continue to enjoy the privacy of their neighborhood without a dramatic influx of traffic and neighbors.

    “We want to have a way of coming up with an entrance off of Golfview that would be safe,’’ Warner said, “whether you have a pedestrian crosswalk, signal lights, whatever is needed. There would be one entrance to the main road and not go through the neighborhood. “By setting up this committee, we know everybody is on board.’’

    Warner said the good news so far is that a decision on what is going to happen in the Golfview area has been deferred until after the committee meets and hopefully is able to come to a workable consensus.

    Once Maynor’s addition to the committee was approved by the Board of Commissioners, Warner was hopeful the committee would have held its first meeting sometime last week.

    Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the public will not be able to attend the committee meetings, but Warner said the town will likely share the committee meetings on its Facebook page and the town website, both live and via tape delay for those unable to watch the meetings while they are in progress.

    “We are trying to have a vision for what it (the Golfview area) will look like 10 years from now when there will be even more reasons for people to be there and visit Hope Mills.’’

  • The Cumberland County Board of Education accepted the recommendation of Dr. Marvin Connelly Jr., superintendent of Cumberland County Schools and voted unanimously to start the school year with classes meeting online. The traditional school year is scheduled to begin Aug. 17. Under the plan approved by the school board, classes will operate remotely through at least Sept. 25.

    Connelly said he had discussed local COVID-19 trends with county health director Jennifer Green. “The number of COVID-19 cases is trending upward at an alarming rate in North Carolina, including Cumberland County and surrounding areas,” he said.

    A highly contagious coronavirus causes the disease. Forty-seven people have died in Cumberland County. The plan approved by the school board calls for the schools to transition to a blended learning environment beginning Sept. 28 if conditions locally have improved.

  • 04 01 IMG 2486In case you haven’t noticed, it is a bit warm outside. Not just a wee bit toasty. We are talking second circle of hell toasty. Have you been wondering why the heat? Are you tired of saying, “It’s not the heat. It’s the humidity.” Go ahead, say it again. It won’t cool the temperature, but it will make you sound wise to whomever you are trapped inside with during Corona time. Trigger warning: Be careful how often you say it, as you may irritate your housemates into murdering you in your sleep. As only about five people read this column, the loss of even one of my gentle readers would cut my audience by 20%. Please say it sparingly.

    If you have gotten this far without throwing up a little bit in your mouth or falling asleep, stick around. The reason for the unseasonably seasonable heat will be laid beneath your feet like a cloak across a mud puddle placed by a gentleman for his lady love. You may have seen the pictures of the sun from NASA’s Parker Solar Probe. The images are spectacular. Kindly absorb some facts: The Solar Probe 04 02 IMG 2487was launched way back in 2018 B.C. — Before Corona. It is flying at 430,000 miles an hour, which is faster than someone grabbing the last piece of bacon at a Weight Watchers breakfast buffet. The Solar Probe will fly within 4 million miles of the sun. This is the closest a satellite has photographed the sun. The Solar Probe sling shots around Venus and the sun 21 times while getting closer with each orbit. The Solar Probe will fly into the sun’s corona to take a gander at the solar wind and find out what is doing inside the corona.

    The reason the sun is so hot is that it is on fire. Fire is hot. The sun is a flaming gasbag of fire, not to be confused with Mitch McConnell speaking in the Senate. The sun is 109 times bigger than the earth. That is enough heat to cook a whole passel of s’mores if you could get close enough. Mr. Science says the sun has been hanging around about 4.6 billion years. It is used to being alone. The sun is getting up in years. Sol is cranky like an old man yelling at the kids, “Get off my lawn!” The Solar Probe is now messing with the sun’s corona.

    Some readers may remember the old ad in which Mother Nature is fooled into thinking that Chiffon margarine is actually butter. When Mother Nature finds out it is margarine, she becomes wrathful. She brings on a violent storm yelling, “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature!” Same thing applies to the sun. Unhappy at having his solar corona disturbed by the Solar Probe, old Sol sent the coronavirus to Earth to smite us mere mortals with COVID and excessive heat. It is not an accident. The ancient Egyptians foretold this eventuality with their story of the sun god Ra.
    Give me that old-time religion. Ra showed up in the 25th century B.C. as the King of the Egyptian gods. He created humans from his sweat and tears. Egyptians viewed the sky as a giant celestial cow, calling themselves the cattle of Ra. The celestial cow was not a carnation-contented cow. Ra crossed the sky each day on the morning boat the Mandjet and then left at night on the good ship Meseket to travel through the Underworld, only to pop up in the East the next morning. Each night, a giant snake named Apophis would try and fail to stop Ra from showing up the following day. As usual, humankind tried to overthrow Ra. You would not like Ra when he is angry. Feeling betrayed, Ra sent his psychotic daughter Sekhmet in the form of a lion to clamp down on man’s rebellion. Similar to the storm troopers in Portland putting down protesters.

    Sekhmet was really good at killing humans. Like eating peanuts, it was hard to stop once she got going. She was the COVID-19 of the 25th century B.C. She was so good at wiping out humankind that Ra became concerned that she might do in all of humanity. Ra was confronted with the existential question, “What good is being a god if all of your worshippers are dead?” This was a conundrum. Ra was upset that man had strayed from his straight and narrow. But it would be pretty boring being a God if there is no one to kiss your feet and offer up a human sacrifice to make sure the Nile flooded on time and the sun came up tomorrow.

    What to do?

    Ra concluded he didn’t want all of humanity wiped out. So Ra ordered all the beer in Egypt to turn red. Ra had the red beer poured out all over Egypt. Sekhmet, in her killing rage, thought the red beer was blood. She tried to drink it all. She drank so much red beer she got drunk and passed out. The killing stopped. The Egyptians lived happily ever after, at least until the Arab Israeli war of 1967.

    So what have we learned today? NASA has its version of the sun’s story. The ancient Egyptians have their version. Teach the controversy. Wear a mask. Wash your hands. Ra is watching. He may have sent the coronavirus with his vengeful daughter Sekhmet to get us.

  • In 2014, I had the pleasure of interviewing Civil Rights icon Congressman John R. Lewis. I remember having a busy day at work, and on my way home, my cellphone rang. On the other end of the phone was the former chancellor of Fayetteville State University, James A. Anderson. He told me that Lewis was visiting FSU and asked if I would like to interview him on my TV show, “Let’s Talk with Shanessa Fenner.” I immediately agreed and hung up the phone, thinking about the carefully constructed questions I would ask him. I wanted to have an informative interview that would serve as a rich history lesson for everyone to learn and reflect upon. I knew that I wanted to discuss the tragic events surrounding the demonstration known as “Bloody Sunday,” as well as the plight of the Black male, the Civil Rights movement and the reason why the Black race has always been disliked.

    The day of the interview, I was a bit nervous. I arrived at the TV studio to prepare and got my emotions together. He walked into the studio and introduced himself. We began to talk a little before the interview. I immediately took notice that he was a very humble man with a forgiving spirit. His mere presence was captivating, and during the 30-minute interview, I was in awe the entire time. I looked in his eyes as he talked and hung on to every word. When he talked, he took you back to the time and the place of the event, and it made you feel like you were there experiencing it with him.

    When the interview was over, I felt like I had been sitting in a history class because he shared many things that had happened to him, including the many times he was beaten nearly to death. He spent his entire life fighting for equality.

    I feel this is the perfect time for the interview to circulate, during this time of tragic events in our country. One disheartening thing is that our younger generation does not know who John Lewis is, so we have to do a better job of educating them about this great man and his powerful journey — even though they have the ability to conduct research on their own. They need to know about these historical events because history has a way of repeating itself, and it sets the tone for the path to move forward. My favorite quote from him is, “There comes a time when you have to say something. You have to make a little noise. You have to move your feet. This is the time.”

    I have had people tell me that after they watched the interview, they cried. They shared their experiences of racism and the utter disdain of being mistreated because of the color of their skin.

    Some shared that the interview made them ask themselves if are they doing all that they can to make a difference in the lives of others.
    I am elated that I was given the honor of a lifetime to interview a Civil Rights icon on my TV show.


    My thoughts and prayers are with the Lewis Family. You are blessed to have had a strong icon in your family. He is a rich part of history. We will continue to ensure his legacy lives on. May he rest in peace.

    Search “Let’s Talk with Shanessa Fenner” episode 7 on Youtube to see the interview.

  • The Heritage Square Historical Society presents its annual “Christmas in July” event Thursday, July 30 –Saturday, Aug. 1, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., at 225 Dick St.

    “This is an annual event, and we normally don’t have it until October or November,” said Elaine Kennebeck, president of Heritage Square Historical Society. “However, having to postpone or cancel all of our wedding rentals and events, we have not been able to have any kind of fundraiser.”


    Kennebeck added that the organization is running dangerously low on money to pay monthly expenses. The members are committed to keeping the doors open, which is why they pushed the Christmas event up to July. The purpose of the event is to help maintain a historical property and also to allow people to tour the houses to make the public aware they are open for business.


    The event takes place in The Sandford House, which is one of three houses the organization owns. The other two houses are The Oval Ballroom and The Baker-Haigh-Nimocks House.

    “One of our longtime members, Judy Dorman, passed away,” said Kennebeck. “Her family decided to donate all of her Christmas decorations to Heritage Square because she loved Heritage Square so much. They have brought decorations by the carload, and it’s been unbelievable because it is thousands and thousands of things.”

    “It is going to be quite a big sale, and everything is priced from 25 cents and up,” Kennebeck added.

    “People love this event, and I think this year it is going to be more uplifting because we have all been caged in our homes looking for something to do and places to go.”

    Kennebeck noted the sale consists of about 24 huge tables that are packed with everything Christmas and that it is beautifully displayed. “We have everything on display — if it is animated, makes noise or moves, we plug it up and show you that it’s going.”

    The decorations include figurines, Christmas tree ornaments, candle holders, candlesticks, animated collectibles from the ‘70s, unique one-of-a-kind items and so much more. Christmas music will play as customers enjoy this fun experience.

    “We accept donations and Christmas decorations for our Christmas Bazaar and Silent Auction throughout the year,” said Kennebeck. “This event is a favorite of a lot of people in Fayetteville, and this year, it’s going to be even bigger and better.”

    Admission is free. If you would like to attend the event the day before for a sneak peak, the cost is $10. For more information about this event, call 910-483-6009.

  • 03 N2004P64024CLet me start by saying I really, really do not like wearing a mask.

    It is more difficult to breathe. I get lipstick on the inside. It is hot and sticky, especially during the heat wave we have just experienced. I have trouble recognizing masked friends and neighbors. As Dr. Seuss said in “The Cat and the Hat,” “No, I do not like it! Not one little bit.” More than once, I have wondered how medical professionals, construction workers and others wear the darn things all day, every day.

    Whining aside, I have a variety of masks — the first handmade by a dear friend, and others I have purchased. I keep masks in my pocketbook, in my car, in my waistband when I walk the new puppy by myself, and on my face if someone is walking with me. As uncomfortable as I find wearing them, I do so both for my own health and for the health of my family and close friends and the people I come into contact with but will never actually know. It is the very least I can do for my larger community during the worst pandemic in a century.

    The New York Times reported last week on mask-wearing throughout our nation, complete with a map colored darker to show where masks are commonly worn and lighter where they are worn less often. As we might expect, the darker colors are in higher population areas along the east and west coasts and the Gulf of Mexico. The lightest concentrations are in our nation’s midsection with its vast plains and fewer people and in the South where several states have attempted — an apparently failed at — widespread re-openings.

    Social scientists tell the Times that other factors beyond population density are at work. Elizabeth Dorrance, an assistant professor of communications at Michigan State University, says mask-wearing responds to peer pressure. If our family and friends regularly wear masks and value that behavior, we probably will as well, and vice versa. And while the goal is 100% masking, that is unrealistic. Harvard Medical School’s Julia Marcus notes that not everyone buckles a seatbelt, wears a bike helmet, gets vaccinated, has stopped smoking or practices safe sex — no matter what the law says or how often they hear admonitions.

    All of that said, it will probably not surprise you to learn that political partisanship is the major predictor of masking or not masking. Generally speaking, more Democrats wear masks and cite protecting others as a reason, and more Republicans go barefaced, citing a right to individual decisions. Shana Gadarian of Syracuse University is blunt. “The big takeaway of all the data is partisanship is the big determinant of all the behavior. It is not age. It is not where you live.”

    Really?

    Tension between community wellbeing and individual rights has been with us since the birth of our nation. Our Founding Fathers argued — and never resolved — federalism versus states’ rights, and we struggle with those same issues today. I get that regarding political issues and am grateful that North Carolina and the other 49 make our own decisions about public education, voting issues and other important aspects of life in a democratic republic.

    But when it comes to public health?

    Viruses, including COVID-19, are neither Democrats or Republicans, nor do they care whether they infect members of one or both parties. Sick is sick and dead is dead, no matter what one’s party affliction. Various versions of this saying exist, and it often attributed to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes. “The right to swing my fist ends where the other man’s nose begins.” It means that, yes, I am free to make my own decisions, but I am not free to hurt you or to infringe on your rights.

    In other words, I am not free to spew my germs on you just because I do not like wearing a mask, and neither are you.

    For the health of our nation, Democrats, Republicans and everyone else should just put on a darn mask and quit whining about it.

  • 16 bookSome North Carolina old-timers still talk about the disastrous 1943 train wreck south of Fayetteville. It killed 74 people, including the father of one of the central characters of beloved author Jill McCorkle’s new novel, “Hieroglyphics.”

    McCorkle, who grew up in nearby Lumberton, says she remembers her dad talking about visiting the site right after the crash and seeing all the scattered debris.

    The late Joe Oxendine, who was featured in my recent column dealing with Indian sports nicknames, told me that he and other boys from Pembroke drove over to see the wreck and collect some of the stunning remnants scattered over the site.

    McCorkle lived in Boston for a number of years. There, she heard about a 1942 nightclub fire that took more than 492 lives, including the mother of another character in “Hieroglyphics.”

    When Lil, whose mother died in the fire, and Frank, whose father died in the train wreck, first met, they discovered their common bond, a bond that held them through 60 years of marriage.

    As the story begins, they have retired to Southern Pines, which, coincidently, is not far from the site of the tragic train wreck. Close by the wreck site is the modest home where Frank lived for several years after his dad’s death.

    Frank and Lil have driven to the old house, now occupied by Shelley, a single mother, and her young son, Harvey.

    Shelley has seen Frank driving by before and is nervous. “It doesn’t help that that old man rides by so often now, his green Toyota slowing in front of the house and then circling the block.”

    When Shelley meets Frank at the door, he explains, “I grew up here. I would love to see inside if convenient. My wife, too.”

    Shelley resists, but at the end of the book Frank is in the backyard of the old house finding some closure.

    In the 300 pages between its opening and closing at the old house, McCorkle takes us deep into the lives of the characters we met on the first pages: Frank, Lil, Shelley and Harvey.

    Frank carries the consequences of the train wreck throughout his life. Both his father and mother were on the train, coming from Florida to their home in Massachusetts, where Frank and his grandmother waited for them. Frank’s seriously injured mother remained in North Carolina to recuperate. She was sure she heard Frank’s father calling, “Don’t leave me.” So she stayed and ultimately married a local man.

    She and Frank lived in his house, and Frank grew up there. Ultimately, he went to college and graduate school, married Lil and became a college professor specializing in ancient history and archeological relics. Along the railroad tracks he collected relics from the wreck, including a toy decoder that he imagined his parents were bringing him for Christmas.

    Lil cannot get over the loss of her mother, a ballroom dance instructor, who had not told her husband and Lil that she was going to the nightclub. The questions of who her mother was with and why still haunted her as an adult. She is also a collector. McCorkle uses Lil’s collected newspaper clippings and copious notes to help tell a story that include her agonizing experience of Frank’s misadventures with a younger academic.

    Shelley is a court reporter in a Robeson County courtroom during the trial of a brutal doctor who murdered one of his many girlfriends, not unlike a similar murdering doctor in McCorkle’s previous novel, “Life After Life.”

    Shelley’s son, Harvey, is a collector of horror stories about the Beast of Bladenboro, the Glencoe Munchkins and other scary tales that kept him awake at night and he used to frighten his schoolmates.

    That McCorkle builds these complex characters together into a complex, layered, and gripping novel is just another example of her great storytelling genius.

  • The grandson of retired Cumberland County Schools Superintendent John Griffin drowned earlier this month while swimming at the Lake Pines Swim Club. Fayetteville Police identified the victim as Taylin Mack, 20, of Fayetteville. He was found underwater near a diving board. CPR was performed until emergency personnel arrived. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. Police said Mack had been swimming at the lake with friends.

    “I will be conducting a thorough investigation into the events of this case,” said swim club owner Frank Lay on Facebook.

  • For inveterate optimists, the past several months have been excruciating. A global pandemic has produced great suffering and death. A protest movement that began with righteous anger about the death of George Floyd has devolved in all too many locations into vandalism, looting and violence. Reeling from these blows, economies sank into recession as businesses bled money, shed jobs and, in some cases, shut down for good. Families struggled. Social ties frayed. Partisan divides widened.

    To be an inveterate optimist, however, is to reject despair as unhelpful and, in the end, unrealistic. You champion context. You look for unforeseen opportunities. You counsel patience. And you spotlight outcomes that aren’t as bad as worse-case scenarios had predicted.
    Consider the latest economic and fiscal trends here in North Carolina. After a combination of consumer behavior and government mandates shoved the state into recession, tens of thousands of North Carolinians lost their jobs in March, followed by hundreds of thousands in April.
    Something comparable happened across our region, as well. But during the month of May, most labor markets in the Southeast rebounded more strongly than North Carolina’s did. Indeed, our state’s headline unemployment rate barely changed from April (12.9%) to May (12.8%).
    In June, though, North Carolina began to catch up. Employers added back some 173,000 jobs last month — one of the largest monthly gains in employment in state history. Sectors with notably large increases included accommodation and food service (56,000), retail trade (18,000), entertainment and recreation (13,000), health care (11,000) and local government (26,000, including employees of summer camps and other local offerings).

    Does Gov. Roy Cooper’s slower approach to phased reopening explain these events? Surely to some extent. In many cases, jobs that other state economies recovered in May, North Carolina’s recovered in June.

    But that’s not the whole story. Individuals are also making their own decisions, quite apart from what public officials are doing. In a study just posted by the National Bureau of Economic Research, two University of Notre Dame economists found that the relative importance of the two factors — government regulation and private choice — differ by type and sector. Using GPS tracking, they discovered that stay-at-home orders had a surprisingly small effect on overall mobility, for example, while restrictions on restaurants and retail matter a great deal.

    To be sure, one good monthly jobs report does not a recovery make. North Carolina has still lost a net 377,000 jobs since the beginning of the crisis. And while our headline jobless rate for June (7.6%) now compares more favorably with our regional peers, some of the decline in measured unemployment occurred not because jobless North Carolinians found jobs but because they stopped looking. Our labor-force participation rate was 57.4% in June, compared to 61.6% in February. Among the 12 Southeastern states, only Kentucky has experienced a worse decline.

    Still, as more North Carolinians manage to get and stay employed, our immediate economic future becomes less gloomy. The same could be said for the fiscal outlook of state and local government.

    Another piece of relative good news, to my mind, was that state government’s General Fund revenue for the first 11 months of the 2019-20 fiscal year came in $973 million below what was originally projected. Given the economic devastation of March, April and May, I had expected a larger revenue hit. If the positive economic momentum of June can be sustained into the fall, state and local budget deficits will become more manageable.

    The headwinds are daunting, admittedly. People continue to be worried, understandably, about daily reports of COVID-19 cases and deaths. And Cooper’s decision to limit access to public schools, and subsequent decisions by many districts to deliver only online education this semester, will put a substantial strain on parents — potentially forcing some to cut back hours or exit their jobs entirely to care for their children.
    North Carolinians will need all their resilience and inventiveness to get through this. As an inveterate optimist, I wouldn’t bet against them.

  • Defense Secretary Mark Esper has issued guidance for flags allowed on military installations. It does not explicitly ban the Confederate battle flag but provides criteria for allowable flags.

    “Flags are powerful symbols, particularly in the military community for whom flags embody common mission, common histories, and the special, timeless bond of warriors,” Esper wrote in a memo, adding “The flags we fly must accord with the military imperatives of good order and discipline, treating all our people with dignity and respect, and rejecting divisive symbols.”

    Esper’s guidance narrows down the types of flags that can be displayed. They include flags or banners of U.S. states, territories and the District of Columbia, flags of the military services, as well as those of generals or admirals and civilian political appointees, plus flags representing the positions of Senior Executive Service employees, the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action flag, flags of countries that are allies or partners of the United States — but only when displayed for official purposes — flags of organizations the U.S. belongs to, including NATO, the United Nations and ceremonial flags representing units or branches.

  • 02 jessica radanavong 0ZkAINlmtOs unsplashThis week, our publisher, Bill Bowman, yields his space to Congressman Richard Hudson.

    Friends,
    As Fort Bragg’s Congressman, it’s an honor to represent so many active-duty soldiers, their families and our veterans. We owe a debt to everyone who has served in our nation’s military, as well as their families, for the sacrifices they have made to protect our country. We also owe it to them to make sure they have all the available tools and resources they deserve.

    Congress returned this week to pass the latest National Defense Authorization Act. This annual defense bill lays out all of the priorities to keep our military strong and support military families and veterans. This year, I was proud to work with my colleagues to include a record-setting number of provisions in the bill.

    These provisions included a 10% increase in hazardous duty pay for those serving in eligible locations. This increase will support our warfighters who put their lives on the line and is in addition to an overall 11% pay raise for our troops since President Trump entered office.
    For members of the Special Operations Community, I secured improvements to the Preservation of the Force and Family program established to create a holistic approach to address pressures on the force and increased stress on operator’s families.

    Military families make sacrifices for our country, too. That’s why I secured language in the bill that will help improve future Impact Aid funding for schools in military communities. I also secured improvements to strengthen the Exceptional Family Member Program that supports special needs education for military families.

    Finally, for veterans, I worked across the aisle to ensure the Department of Veterans Affairs burn pit registry is expanded to include veterans who served in Syria. Our community has one of the fastest growing veteran populations in the country and we owe it to these heroes to take care of them both during and after they have served our country. After years of fighting in the Middle East, many of our servicemembers were exposed to toxic chemicals through the use of burn pits which have been linked to serious health conditions, including cancer.

    Together, these provisions in the NDAA will further support our troops, their families and our veterans.

    Also, as part of my commitment to our military, earlier this year I helped secure a President Unit Citation for the 30th Infantry Division for its service in World War II.

    Made up in part of National Guard soldiers from North Carolina and nicknamed the “Old Hickory Division” after President Andrew Jackson, the division landed on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day and became a vital part of the Allied effort to defeat Nazi Germany.

    Among their accomplishments, the division of 13,000 soldiers held off an advance of 80,000 German troops at Mortain, France in August 1944. Historical records indicate that general, and later president, Dwight D. Eisenhower intended for the 30th Infantry Division to be recognized with the Presidential Unit Citation. However, the designation went overlooked for nearly 70 years.

    Former Congressman Larry Kissell fought for the 30th Infantry Division’s recognition and when I came into office, he asked me to carry on the fight. I worked for more than seven years throughout the Obama and Trump administrations to have the 30th recognized. Finally, nearly 75 years after their heroic stand at Mortain, in March President Donald Trump directed the U.S. Army to award the Presidential Unit Citation and ensure these veterans get the credit they deserve.

    This week, the citation was presented to the 30th Infantry Division at a ceremony at the North Carolina National Guard. This ceremony was a culmination of years of hard work and I have been proud to work with so many veterans, the North Carolina National Guard and President Trump to make it happen.

    You can rest assured that as long as I am your Congressman, I will continue to do everything I can to support our troops, their families and our veterans.

    Richard Hudson

    Member of Congress

     

  • City Council may be eager to reform policing in Fayetteville. Still, the head of the Police Accountability Community Task Force, Shaun McMillan, said consideration “might be messy and uncomfortable” for council members. The group is proposing the creation of a Civilian Police Oversight Authority. Demands to increase the power of police oversight has gained traction as protests in North Carolina against police brutality continue since the death of George Floyd, a Black man, at the hands of Minneapolis police. The Raleigh City Council voted unanimously this month to ask the state to grant more power to that city’s new police advisory board, which was formed in February. Fayetteville City Council has agreed to establish a police advisory board, but the Fay PACT wants a Civilian Police Oversight Authority to have jurisdiction over the review board.

    “I need to see (current) data,” Councilman Johnny Dawkins said. “It’s disappointing to me, you come in here with demands.” Dawkins has been outspoken in his criticism of anything more than a review board.

  • The Cumberland County area, particularly Fayetteville, has seen its fair share of torrential storms. Every hurricane season, we glue our eyes to the TVs for a week or two and listen intently to our radios to hear predictions of strong wind gusts and heavy rains. With hurricane season in full swing now, and being that it occurs every year, now is a perfect time to make sure you, your family and your property are prepared for a coming storm.

    Although hurricanes hit the coast hardest, many locals can still recall the effects of Hurricane Hazel in 1954, Hurricane Fran in September 1996 and, in more recent years, Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Matthew, to name a few. Aside from the damage done by the storms, being close to the Cape Fear River has been a concern in the past because of flooding. When Florence hit, many people were evacuated from their neighborhoods, and the Person Street Bridge had to close temporarily for the first time ever because the waters rose so dangerously high.

    Hurricane season started June 1 and continues through early September. Rather than living in fear of a potential storm, citizens can find peace in knowing that there are simple precautions that can keep them and their property safe in the event of a natural disaster.

    Firstly, it’s important to establish a communication plan. If a storm hit Fayetteville hard and your family was separated from each other, a contact out of town would be crucial. It is not uncommon for family members to be separated during natural disasters. Plan a spot to meet with loved ones in a more dire instance. Although it would be ideal to keep accessibility in mind, a hurricane can quickly change the convenience of travel, and having a central meeting place might be all you can count on.

    Having that spot to meet will not mean much without a plan of how to evacuate and get there. While a GPS device on a cellphone might be helpful usually, in the case that there is no cell coverage, consider keeping an updated map on hand. Don’t wait until there is a crisis to practice your plan. When you have your map and a route in mind, consider driving it and coming up with backup plans for traveling to your designated evacuation location, in case the roads you initially planned on are inaccessible. You’ll also want to make sure your gas tank is full before the storm hits.

    Having an escape plan will help keep you and your family safe and together, but don’t forget to take precautions in bracing your home for strong winds and heavy rains.

    Check to see if your roof needs repairs. If shingles are damaged or loose, you’re going to be more at risk for property damage. Check your shingles and unclog gutters and downspouts.

    Trimming greenery in the areas surrounding structure on the property is a must, and if there are any loose items in the front or backyard, pick them up.

    Make sure you and everyone dwelling at your residence know how to turn off the electricity, water and gas.

    When possible, secure breakable and heavy objects in cabinets and drawers; additionally secure water heaters and other major appliances.
    Installing a smoke detector on each floor of your house is a good precaution year-round — also keep a fire extinguisher on hand.
    In addition to the safeguards for your home, here are some tips for a survival kit.

    Many people are familiar, when any bad weather sweeps in, with the rush at the grocery store to stock up on bottled water. When the water is cleared from the shelves, the search can feel desperate. One way to accomplish this, even if you have an unsuccessful trip to the store, is to fill up reusable water bottles, tupperware containers or zipper storage bags that are on hand before the storm moves further inland. It’s a good idea to keep a gallon of water per person in the household for three-seven days. Nonperishable foods, including canned goods, snacks, special foods for infants or the elderly and utensils and a can opener are all critical for a survival kit. Although it is better to be overprepared than underprepared, remember that many stores will have to throw out bottled water and food if you buy more than what you’ll need and try to return it after the threat has passed.

    A first-aid kit might sound like a no-brainer to some, but be sure to include prescription medications in your supply. Having all medical supplies in the same, easy-to-access place might save you trouble later.

    For your furry friends — or nonhuman family members — include food, medications, a leash, cage, a tag with their ID, etc. in the survival kit.
    Other items like toiletries, clothing items, blankets and pillows are helpful. Think about what you would use in a typical day or week. Of those items, what would you need most? And, in the case of emergency, which items would you want that you might not need daily? A phone and charger, cash/cards, keys for vehicles/buildings/safety deposit boxes, insurance policies, a driver’s license, Social Security cards and tools might come to mind. Secure paperwork in a waterproof container. A flashlight and radio aside from what is in your car or phone may come in handy.

    To keep up with what’s happening locally before, during and after storms, and to find helpful resources, visit https://www.fayettevillenc.gov/city-services/corporate-communications/public-information/storm-information-center for the City of Fayetteville’s storm information center, https://www.co.cumberland.nc.us/emergencyservices/hurricane-florence-information for Cumberland County’s resources and https://www.faypwc.com/storm-central/ for Fayetteville’s Public Works Commission’s resources.

  • As I helped a man load lumber onto his truck, I couldn't help but wonder what he was going to build and if he had help lined up to build it. He appeared to be several years older than me, and somewhat frail. If he were to place any one of the massive 4x4s on the other end of a seesaw, I'm fairly certain he'd be stuck in the air until help arrived. He was grumbling a bit about how it took me so long to get there, obviously unaware that I was a passing customer and not a store employee. I just smiled and asked if he wanted a flag for the wood extending beyond the tailgate of his truck.

    As I moved on to the load I was buying for my own project, I was a little saddened by what had transpired. Not for the grumbling, not for the lifting and loading, but for the realization that in the era we both live in, we take too much for granted.

    The man had been waiting for assistance the store offered, and yet was struggling to load it himself when I happened to walk out the door with a huge load of wood, easily twice the length of the bed of my truck. Several men, younger and stronger looking than me had passed him by as they were coming or going, yet none stopped to offer assistance. Maybe, like the man himself, they thought a store employee would be along soon.

    Whatever the case, the only right thing to do was help. The only choice for me was to do good. In Galatians 6:9 it says, "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." In other words, what goes around comes around. Be kind, be patient and do good in the world. God will make sure you are rewarded.

    The words of the Apostle Paul in that Bible passage aren't meant to reduce doing good to the cause and effect of karma, but rather to encourage and remind us that God sees us. He knows our thoughts and actions and promises he will take care of us beyond any of the good we do.

    Here's some truth for your day: Things won't always fall into place. Every kindness will not be returned. Even so, the attitude we develop as we persevere on the worst of days will buoy us well above the water line on all the others. As we learn to live and love the way we were meant to, we easily begin to recognize the good in others, and respond with the best of ourselves.

     

  • 11 image3Publisher’s note: The turmoil gripping downtownFayetteville is infuriating as well as heartbreaking. This edition of U&CW is a nod to those frustrated by a lack of resolve from city leaders in recent weeks and a lack of respect from those who chose to deface and destroy our downtown, damaging personal property and ruining the lives and businesses of so many. We could write pages about it. Instead, we’ve chosen to let the community members speak for themselves. The pages that follow include just a few of the letters and postings about recent events, as well as uplifting photos and a chilling piece of history dating back to1963 and taken directly from the Congressional record. It is a 1963 prediction on how the Socialists and Communists will take control of America. It is a shocking reality of a 21st century America. The Communist/Socialist plan to take over America, conceived in the 1950s and ‘60s, is definitely working. See for yourself on page 15.  Unfortunately, law-abiding citizens who believe in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are the only ones who can save Fayetteville and our country.  Caving in, being silent, ignoring the situation and not wanting to get involved has only gotten us where we are today. Below are just a few who choose to not be silent.

     — Bill Bowman

     
    “an-ar-chy – a state of disorder due to absence or nonrecognition of authority” 
    — from Oxford Dictionary on Lexico
    We had grown accustomed to the loud noises emerging from the Market House and the frequent motorcycles that visit. But we were startled on Sunday night to see 4-wheeler ATVS cruising up and down the Person Street sidewalks. These were on the actual sidewalks, not the streets. But our surprise was minor compared to the disappointment we experienced as we once again had to sit and watch as not so much as one police officer arrived to address the growing infractions.

    In some ways, it seems like the wild west down here. The boarded-up stores with their painted plywood fronts seem somewhat quaint in the daylight. But our downtown takes on a more sinister and threatening look at night as large crowds grow and are joined by motorcycles and ATVs. You see far fewer people and cars as people secure themselves behind locked doors and peer through the curtains in anticipation of what happens next. 

    A state of disorder exists today in our downtown. What we do, or opt not to do, is going to have implications for this entire city for years to come. 

    I have heard far too many people say they are sorry for what is happening in our downtown, but they will not be visiting downtown as long as all this anarchy exists. Imagine the impact this is having on the small businesses in our downtown following so closely to the COVID closings. Several have already incurred thousands of dollars of repair bills from last month’s unmanaged demonstrations. Many likely will not survive the financial impact. This situation has set back the economic development of our downtown for decades. 

    This is not a failure that arose from any party’s legitimate right to demonstrate. In fact, many of the demands of the protesters seem reasonable as we all seek ways to challenge our traditional thinking about race relations, to ensure that all people are treated fairly and to take all steps necessary to ensure our police department is well-trained, respectful and professional to every citizen. 

    This is not a failure of the police officers. I have heard from far too many police officers and firemen who want to fulfill their responsibility to protect and to serve but are held back by our city’s elected and/or professional leadership. The tactical decision to sit by and allow this situation to grow to this point is unacceptable. Someone should be held accountable. 
     
    This is a failure on many fronts — a failure of communication that prevents citizens from knowing what is happening, a failure of the free press perhaps too understaffed to ask the hard questions and a failure of our reluctance to get involved until it is too late. 

    But mostly it is a failure of leadership. 

    The City of Fayetteville FY2020 Strategic Plan reports that a core value of our city is to “safeguard and enhance the public trust in City Government.” Our elected leaders and our City’s professional staff are failing us in this basic responsibility of every local government everywhere. There has been far too little communication, far too few creative solutions identified and far too much willingness to allow the situation to grow unchecked to the unacceptable place we find ourselves today.

    In the absence of real corrective action, in the absence of real leadership demonstrated by those we elect and those we employ to lead us, we could likely see this state of anarchy reach even higher levels with devastating impact to property and people. 

    Our downtown does not belong to any one of us — not to our elected officials, the protestors, the residents, the business owners or our police department leadership. They have merely been temporarily charged with its stewardship. 

    Our downtown belongs to all of us — each of those that came before us in the 250-plus years of our history and to the thousands that will come after.

    It is time we acted like it.
     
    Tony Chavonne, 
    Former Fayetteville Mayor
     
     
     
     
     
    Dear editor, 

    Here is a quote to consider: “Find the good. It’s all around you. Find it, showcase it, and you’ll start believing in it.” The author is Jesse Owens.

    For those of you who unfamiliar with Jesse, he was the greatest Olympian of his day. He was a black man born in Alabama during the “Jim Crow” era of the south. He was a track star who earned the right to represent the United States in the 1936 Olympic Games held in Berlin, Germany. This was no ordinary Olympiad. It was the showcase event for the Nazi government of Adolph Hitler. He was going to show that white Aryan Germans were superior to all races of the world. Well, Jesse would have none of it. He won four gold medals in track and field, as well as setting a few world records. All this was filmed for the world to see.

    For those of you who are protesting the perceived racism of white Americans, the Founding Fathers, and the Constitution of the United States, I have a few words for you to consider. I cannot speak for all white Americans, nor can any black man speak for all African Americans. So, let us talk of the Founding Fathers and the Constitution.

    The Founding Fathers, those all-white male gentries, gave the world the greatest governing document ever conceived. It gave to the people the right as to how they are to be governed, and people retained rights that had never been granted in the history of the world.
    That document gave you the rights of freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of worship, freedom to bear arms, protection from unlawful search and seizure and, as amended, the right of all citizens — male and female, regardless of race — the right to vote. This document established a representative Republic — a totally new way to represent all citizens and states.

    This is the legacy of our Founding Fathers. Sure, they had faults, and some were slave owners, but they designed a government structure that ultimately gave freedom to all citizens. If Jesse Owens could find the good the United States offered in his time, maybe you will look for the good as well.

    PS: Here is the difference in protesting/demonstrating in the U.S. versus Communist/Marxist country. The Chinese government has taken over the policing and criminal systems of Hong Kong, which has been self­ governed since Britain turn it over to China. The government was concerned about Hong Kong citizens demonstrating for democracy and the right to be self-governed. Now the Communist government has banned a series of words, including freedom, democracy, and other similar words. People are protesting by handing out blank papers with no words on them to protest the restrictions. They are being arrested for doing so. That is a prime example of total control being the hands of the government rather than the people.
     
    - Warren L. Hahn
     
     To the Editor, 

    We wanted to write a review of the events surrounding The Citizen Cares Project Walk of Support that we planned solely to support our local police department. We want to be transparent as to what we have heard from our local police officers and also share how we feel about what we have witnessed firsthand. To be clear, our interpretation of these events are our feelings only. 

    A group of citizens felt the need to show support for our local PD. This idea came from conversations we had with officers, who felt unsupported — specifically, after being told to stand down during a time when active gunfire was taking place and mayhem was occurring. They shared that the emphasis was on not upsetting the rioters rather than allowing the police officers to uphold law and order. When making decisions regarding our peaceful walk of support, we created our mission statement, which is: “We believe in Police Officers who do good work and lay their lives on the line every day to protect all people and property. We believe in encouraging them and lifting them up in prayer along with their families. We believe in showing them gratitude and love.” 

    The intent of the walk was solely to show support for our local law enforcement and leaders. The day of the walk, the Fayetteville PD requested we alter our route. After discussing it, we decided modifying the route was the best way to fulfill our mission, which was showing our local PD that they are respected, appreciated and loved. We also did not want to create more stress for them; they are under a tremendous amount already. 

    Why did none of our city leaders come out and support our police department? Is it because they are trying to cater to those who want us all to be intimidated? These are questions you need to ask yourselves. The general public does not see them working tirelessly behind the scenes, trying to find solutions. We are running out of time and are worried that one more day might be too late. It is only getting worse by the minute, and rumors are flying everywhere. Call in the National Guard — do whatever you have to do to ensure total chaos doesn’t ensue and to make sure nobody gets hurt. Do what you must, I guarantee the rest of the country will follow suit. 

    Our little walk in Fayetteville, North Carolina, has received national attention — attention is not what we were after. Still, we have had people from other states reach out to us and ask for our action plan and timeline. They want to replicate what we did. 

    People want a place to share their beliefs and principles peacefully without being attacked. When I say we, I mean our city that we all so dearly love. People came out in any way they could to support this cause. The silent majority feels the way we all do. We — you and I — support and want law and order. 

    After our walk started, they (the Market House group) realized we were not going to walk by, and this infuriated them. Our CCP walk had nothing to do with them, as it was scheduled long before they ever camped out. They ran down Hay Street to engage with us when we turned onto Ray Avenue. They locked arms and blocked the road, thus breaking the law. We were then asked to change our route, yet again, to come into the backside of the PD. Our group refused, as we felt we had the right to be there and walked on. When we reached the PD, the Market House group was yelling and chanting at us. 

    As far as I know, there was not a cross word from our group. In fact, statements were made that these individuals may want to rethink some spaces they entered — personal spaces. As for me, I was not going to engage with them in any way or respond to the statements they were screaming at me. I kept repeating, “Jesus loves everybody,” drowning out the hateful comments they were spewing. The hateful things they were screaming at us and about our Police Chief were unacceptable. We all have a right to freedom of speech. We don’t have the right to disturb the peace, and they were disturbing ours. 

    They continue to disturb the peace in downtown Fayetteville. When you allow people to violate little laws, they then break bigger laws. This is exactly how chaos starts. When people are allowed to break little rules, they will continue to test the limits, and those little laws they were breaking will turn into bigger and bigger offenses. This is what concerns us now, as law-abiding citizens, and we should not be discounted just because we are law-abiding citizens. Where is the reward for us? What is the reason for following the law if everyone is not held accountable in the same way? Why did we have to remain on the sidewalk as instructed by police on the CCP march while the protesters were allowed to block a street and disturb the peace — even after we attempted to avoid them? 

    I am begging you to do something now. You see what painting the lane around the Market House has done — nothing good. It has empowered people to incite racism rather than bring about equality. The proof is right before our eyes. We are all on the same team. We all want better for everyone. 

    At the end of the day, I do not think most people give much thought to someone’s skin color. Good people are good and bad people are bad, and this has no color.

     Respectfully, Lisa G.
     Co-Organizer of Citizen Cares Project
     
     
     Fayetteville leaders,

    I want to thank each of you (community leaders) for stepping up and serving our community as public servants. You are “in the arena” and all credit goes to those of you who have the guts to get into the arena. 

    As co-organizer of the Citizen Cares Project’s Walk of Support, I want to share with you a few of my thoughts, and my motivation for getting involved with this project. I hope you’ll take the time to read my words. 

    I’m a recently retired (2016) Army Veteran of 26 years, my wife served 30 years before retiring in 2017. We are both children of immigrants that fled their countries of Cuba and El Salvador due to civil unrest and revolution. While serving in uniform, we had the good fortune of having support from all  America. I was proud to wear the uniform, and our citizens showed their gratitude and appreciation routinely. The way our Vietnam veterans were treated is a deep scar to our nation. Our nation has gone out of its way to heal that wound by treating the military generations after Vietnam with respect and appreciation. 

    When I see (across the country) the way that our law enforcement officers have been disrespected, assaulted and even killed recently, it causes me great concern and fear. I fear that cops are leaving the force. I fear that cops are scared to do their jobs. I fear that when we don’t have law enforcement, anarchy presents itself and revolutions bubble up very quickly, as happened to the countries from which our parent’s fled. It was my hope that our show of support to our  police officers would give them an extra boost and reassurance that the public is behind them. Unfortunately, with the appearance of the “Market House Group” on Wednesday eve, many folks stayed at home. I very much believe the “Market House Group” reduced the attendance for our walk of support by half. 

    I’m a Buckeye by birth and a Tarheel by choice.

    I love Fayetteville. So much so that when my wife and I retired from the Army, we chose to stay here. I’m a real estate agent that has been selling the heck out of Fayetteville over the past few years. I have been promoting the tremendous downtown revitalization efforts. I have been singing the praises of the leadership of this city as well as the private investors that have poured money into our town. I can’t count the number of folks that were looking in Moore, Harnett and Hoke county that have bought homes through me in Fayetteville over the past few years. I am selling Fayetteville because I believed in it. With the apparent lawlessness, anarchy and civil unrest that appears to be condoned by the leadership of this city, in good conscience I don’t know if I can continue to sell Fayetteville to my clients. 

    If you want your legacy to be the leadership of this city that lost this city, then keep allowing this ugly behavior downtown. I have read the demands of the group downtown — some of them really don’t seem unreasonable. But they all take funding. If you lose this city, you will lose so much tax revenue that the programs they are requesting will be impossible to fund. If you lose this city, recruiting, training and retaining the best police force in the state will be impossible to fund. Do not let your legacy be that of losing this city. Businesses don’t want to be downtown anymore, investors don’t want to invest in downtown any more, and families don’t want to go downtown any more — all of those people/groups are good. Please, for the sake of the city, don’t let this go on a day longer. I want to stay in Fayetteville and contribute to this city the best way that I can. I’m afraid that all of this has caused me and my wife to reconsider whether or not we want to stay here — and I am 100% confident that this same discussion is happening around this city, even by folks who have much deeper roots in this town than I do. 

    I know how difficult leadership is, and you have a lot of constituents to satisfy. We pray for you and our nation’s leaders. When making decisions about which side you are going to choose, ask yourself who’s contributing to this city and who’s hurting it. You can no longer play peacemaker to everybody. The constituents that are doing the most for this city hang in the balance of your decisions.
    This happened in our city on Saturday night into the morning hours of Sunday. 

    Respectfully, Tony D.
    Co-Organizer of Citizen Cares Project
     
     
     
     
  • 10 fort bragg 1200The U.S. military’s top commander has described Confederate leaders as traitors and said he is taking a “hard look” at renaming 10 Army installations that honor them, despite President Trump’s opposition. “The Confederacy was an act of treason at the time, against the Union, against the Stars and Stripes, against the U.S. Constitution and those officers turned their backs on their oath,” the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley, told members of the House Armed Services Committee. 

    “For the young soldiers that go onto a base — a Fort Hood or Fort Bragg... or a fort wherever named after a Confederate general — they can be reminded that that general fought for the institution of slavery that may have enslaved their ancestors,” he said. 

    Last month, Trump rejected calls to rename installations after Defense Secretary Mark Esper signaled a willingness to do so, saying his administration will not even consider that plan.

    Milley stopped short of offering a policy prescription for how to handle the installation names, which has become a flashpoint at the Pentagon, as the nation grapples with the history of racism in the wake of George Floyd’s death by police in May. The installations, all in southern states, were named with input from influential residents during the Jim Crow era following reconstruction. The Army agreed because it needed large swaths of land to build bases during the military buildup of World War I. That decision was political, Milley told lawmakers, and renaming the installations would also be a political move.

    Two of the Army’s biggest installations are named after Confederate commanders and avowed white supremacists. Fort Bragg, the headquarters of Army Airborne and Special Forces troops, bears the name of Gen. Braxton Bragg, a commander often assailed as one of the most bumbling Confederate commanders in the war. He was a native of North Carolina. Fort Benning, Georgia, the home of Army infantry and airborne training, is named after Brig. Gen. Henry Benning, who laid out the protection of slavery as the motivation for secession in a speech in 1861.

    Gen. Milley served as Forces Command’s Commanding General before being named Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Forces Command has been headquartered at Fort Bragg since 2011, when it and the Army Reserve Command moved to Fort Bragg from Fort MacPherson, Georgia, which was closed under Federal Base Realignment and Closure legislation.

    FORSCOM’s subordinate units include five headquarters led by lieutenant generals — the Army Reserve Command, 1st Army, I Corps, III Corps and XVIII Airborne Corps — and nine division headquarters, led by major generals. FORSCOM prepares conventional forces to provide a sustained flow of trained and ready capabilities available to combatant commanders in defense of the nation at home and abroad. It has direct authority over all continental United States conventional units of the active Army, and oversight of much of Army Reserve and Army National Guard units. 
     
  • 12 N1604P37012CThe pandemic has taught us the importance of maintaining our skills and learning new technologies, processes and software. Fayetteville Technical Community College is the perfect place to help you stay connected to something positive while pursuing your dreams through education.

    You can begin a path to a new or enhanced career in office administration. FTCC’s office administration program is designed to teach you skills, such as office procedures, customer service, text entry and computer applications, including word processing. Employers today are looking for individuals who can effectively and efficiently manage an office with professionalism. Learning and improving these skills can help you acquire the best opportunities.

    FTCC's office administration program has three tracks — general office administration, legal office and office finance. Each track has classes specific to its area and is designed to ensure the best preparation for your desired employment. You will learn both technical and soft skills. To view the office programs offered, go to faytechcc.edu and enter “office administration” as a search term. 

    FTCC offers a variety of methods and schedules for classes — seated, online and virtual. Virtual classes are a great alternative to coming to campus. The classes meet online during the week, and you are able to communicate face-to-face with your instructor and classmates in real time. Virtual classes are a perfect alternative for learning if you need to stay home, travel, balance work schedules or just prefer your own location while enjoying the interaction of a live class. Additionally, the office administration program offers a work-based learning option that allows you to earn college credit while gaining work experience. 

    Remote and virtual office workers proved to be extremely valuable during the recent pandemic. They were able to maintain employment by completing their work from home while taking care of their families. Companies were able to count on these remote workers to keep businesses operating.

    Graduates of the office administration program can expect employment opportunities in a wide variety of businesses. The possibilities for employment are endless, and your skills are marketable anywhere. You can take them with you if you relocate. As an added bonus, many of the jobs available in these areas provide paths for advancement. You can become a vital part of a business team and use the professional skills you learn. Enroll in the office administration program at FTCC today.
    Financial aid, scholarships and loan options are available if you are qualified. If you have been thinking about starting or returning to school, now is the perfect time. FTCC will assist you every step of the way, from submitting your application to applying for graduation. Fall semester begins Aug. 17. 

    Applying is fast, easy and can be completed online: https://www.faytechcc.edu/apply-now/ftcc-admissions/.

    If you are interested in a career in office administration, or if you have questions, please contact me at faganl@faytechcc.edu or  910-678-8361. Start plans today for your new career in office administration!
     
  • 17 nchsaaThe North Carolina High School Athletic Association will delay the start of the fall sports season until at least Sept. 1.

    The first five days of the 2020-21 student school year will be a dead period for all sports. Phase One of the NCHSAA’s summer conditioning and workouts will continue until further notice.

    “For now, we believe these steps provide hope for our student athletes and the possibility for playing fall sports,’’ said NCHSAA commissioner Que Tucker. “We know that many decisions are being made relative to the reopening plan your schools will follow.’’

    Tucker said the NCHSAA will conduct a survey of its members to determine what is possible as far as sports this fall is concerned, adding the current delay is not in cement and could be changed.

    Tucker said the NCHSAA’s Sports Medicine Advisory Committee believes sports can and should be offered, at least in a modified format.

    “In the coming weeks, we will continue working with the SMAC as we plan our next steps for the fall,’’ Tucker said.

  • 06 criminal justice reformGov. Roy Cooper has created a statewide task force to address racial issues in North Carolina’s criminal justice system. It is cochaired by Supreme Court Associate Justice Anita Earls and Attorney General Josh Stein. Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin was selected as a representative of locally elected officials. Colvin was elected in 2017 and previously served on the Fayetteville City Council. Colvin was instrumental in assisting former Mayor Nat Robertson in bringing a minor league baseball team to the city and authorizing the construction of Segra Stadium. Colvin also serves on the governor’s Crime Commission. 

    “I am grateful to the people willing to serve on this task force to help our state acknowledge racial inequities in our systems of law enforcement and criminal justice, and then work to eliminate them,” said Cooper. 

    “The North Carolinians Gov. Cooper has appointed to this task force are public-spirited and committed to achieving racial equity in our criminal justice system,” said Attorney General Josh Stein.
     
  • 07 Market House in Fayetteville NCThe mayor has said the protest in area of the downtown Market House has gone on long enough and that it is no longer safe for the demonstrators or the motoring public. 

    “They’re in the middle of a four-way intersection in a traffic circle, which is definitely not safe for them or others,” he said. Colvin has offered the demonstrators several alternative locations where they could continue to exercise their right to protest. “The police chief and the city attorney’s office basically know what the law is and... it’s just like any other matter with the police department.” 

    As of this writing in a rapidly developing issue, protestors have agreed with the mayor, that enough is enough for now. Leaders of the movement disbanded the encampment on the Green Street side of the Market House, and demonstrators have left. They say they will continue monitoring demands they have made of the city police department but are grateful that city council has taken them seriously. 
     
  • 04 N1607P49005CIf you were to inherit a large sum of money, what would you do with it?

    The question may not be hypothetical, especially if you are in the millennial, Gen X or Gen Z demographic groups.

    That’s because the baby boomers — often referred to as the richest generation in history —  are poised to transfer some $30 trillion in assets over the next few decades, according to the consultingfirm Accenture.

    Of course, this is a “macro” figure, and everyone’s situation is different. Furthermore, since baby boomers are living longer, more active lives, the total amount passed on may end up being considerably less than the estimate. Nonetheless, you may well receive a medium-to-large inheritance someday, and when that day arrives, you’ll need to decide how best touse your newfound wealth.

    Your first move may be to do nothing at all. Generally speaking, you have enough time to decide how to handle the various elements of an inheritance, although if you are inheriting an investment vehicle such as an IRA or a 401(k) plan, you will eventually have to make some decisions about liquidation or withdrawals. And since these accounts may carry tax obligations, it’s a good idea to consult with your tax advisor fairly soon after you receive your inheritance. But if a big part of your inheritance simply consists of cash parked in a bank account, there’s nothing wrong with moving the money into a cash management account at a financial services company until you decide what to do with it.

    However, after some time has passed, you may want to put your inheritance to good use. If you’re already working with a financial advisor, you might want to get some guidance on how to use your new assets to strengthen your existing investment strategy. Do you have any gaps in certain areas? Can you use the money to help diversify your holdings? Diversification can’t guarantee profits or protect against all losses, but it can help reduce the impact of volatility on your portfolio.

    And, of course, if your inheritance is large enough, it may permit you to “max out” on your IRA for years to come, and possibly free you to have even more of your salary deferred into your 401(k) or similar employer-sponsored retirement account. Plus, you could use the money for other long-term goals, such as funding a tax-advantaged 529 college savings plan for your children.

    You also might use part of your inheritance to donate to the charitable organizations you support. Due to recent changes in tax laws that caused many people to stop itemizing their deductions, charitable groups are in more need of support than ever.

    And last, but certainly not least, take this opportunity to review your goals. Is your inheritance large enough for you to adjust your planned retirement age? And if that age may indeed change, what about your other plans for retirement? Will you now be free to travel more or pursue other hobbies? Will you even need to modify the way you invest for your new reality, possibly by taking a less aggressive approach? Again, a financial professional can helpyou answer these questions.

    Someone thought enough of you toleave you a valuable inheritance —   so use it wisely.
     
  • 05 N1909P34008CThe COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in uncertainty, leaving many of us feeling confused, frustrated and fearful. Daily we face threats to our physical safety and financial security. An accumulation of these macro-level stressors makes it more difficult for us to handle the mundane, daily stresses of living. Our traditional methods of coping are challenged and we are forced to reimagine a new “normal.” 

    During times of crisis, it is more important than ever to practice self-care. Self-care is a popular term that brings to mind visions of bubble baths, expensive shopping sprees and decadent foods. The ugly truth is that self-care is often not glamorous. It is a daily practice of building healthy habits for a strong body and mind. Said another way, self-care is deliberately taking care of your well-being through restorative activities. 

    About seven months ago, I would have defined self-care as simply making sure to eat and sleep. At the time, I was working as a clinical assistant professor and staff psychologist at a top 10 university. I started every day darting out the door with no breakfast in my belly and haphazardly putting makeup on while I drove to work. I went to work and had few breaks and finished my day only to crash on the couch to watch Netflix and scroll social media. I was in complete denial about what I needed to do to take care of myself. Ultimately, I burned out, and I quit my job. I decided to pursue my passions of entrepreneurship and family by moving closer to home (Fayetteville) to start my private therapy practice. As a licensed psychologist, a large part of my job is to support people who are suffering from stress and mental health-related concerns. I learned quickly that to serve my clients successfully in a sustainable way, I needed to be a relaxing presence, which meant I had to take care of myself. That’s when I discovered how to practice self-care. My foundation began with a healthy diet, proper hydration, physical activity and adequate rest. I added three other restorative activities to this foundation, which were: moments of stillness in silence, practicing spirituality and belonging to a community. 

    Self-care involves attention and intention. Moments of stillness in silence can draw our attention from external noise to our inner voice. When we meditate, it brings awareness to that internal voice. When we have awareness, that’s when we can choose thoughts and feelings we’re holding onto and those we want to let go. The intention is to observe compassionately and nonjudgmentally those places inside yourself that need care. 

    In conclusion, I have one recommendation for you. I encourage you to try waking up one hour earlier in the morning to carve out some self-care time. My self-care daily ritual consists of: 10 minutes of meditation, 10 minutes of journaling, 10 minutes of affirmations, 10 minutes of visualization, 10 minutes of gratitude and 10 minutes of physical activity. You are so worth it. Start small, and remember, this is a practice and is not something you have to get perfect. 
     
  • 03 N1301P58005CMillions of Americans of various skin colors and ethnicities profoundly sympathize with the Black Lives Matter movement and the distress that has come from the murder of George Floyd. Many participate in protests all over our nation and around the world. It seems that our nation may have reached a tipping point regarding race and the inequities that have plagued the United States even before we were the United States.

    Despite the very real pain in our nation, people of goodwill are trying hard to find new paths and avenues of healing. That said, many of us are learning about implicit bias, also called unconscious bias, and the more clinical implicit social cognition. However it is labeled, it is deep-seated prejudice so much a part of us that we are not conscious of it. It often contradicts the views we openly express and think we hold.

    Psychologists from Harvard, Stanford and the University of Virginia have developed Project Implicit, which is not without controversy. Easily available online, I took its test seeking to expose implicit bias. It revealed pretty much what I thought it would, but not quite. I found it instructive and am glad I made the effort. 

    Like millions of other people, I am also studying and learning more about how and why we find ourselves in the painful situation we face in America in the 21st century. The pandemic has provided many of us with more discretionary time, and I am using some of that to read more and turn to other media for different and often troubling takes on what it means to be black or brown in our country. I know my journey is just beginning and that it is a long one.

    Educational resources abound, and pictured are a few from the July/August 2020 issue of Raleigh magazine. This list seems a good starting point, and there is much more dating from 1619 to right this minute. The bad news is that many of us have a lot to learn, including those of us who believe we have little implicit bias. The good news is that bias is not genetic. It is not part of our DNA. We learned it from our culture, and if we learned it, we can unlearn it. 

    We will not get beyond this as long as we are unable to talk to each other honestly about the pain we are feeling and until we try.
    Here are several resources that may help.

    Movies: 
    “12 Years a Slave”
    “Malcom X”
    “Fruitvale Station”
    “Moonlight”
    “The Hate U Give”

    Series:
    “Dear White People”
    “Seven Seconds”
    “Shots Fired”
    “When They See Us”
    “Watchmen”

    Documentaries:
    “Stay Woke: The Black Lives Matter Movement”
    “Rest In Power: The Trayvon Martin Story”
    “13th”
    “Freedom Riders”
    “Whose Streets?”
    Nonfiction Books
    “Me and White Supremacy” by Layla F. Saad
    “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander
    “So You Want to Talk About Race” by Ijeoma Oluo
    “The Fire Next Time” by James Baldwin
    “Stony the Road” by Henry Louis Gates Jr.

    Fiction Books
    “An American Marriage” by Tayari Jones
    “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston 
    “On Beauty” by Zadie Smith
    “Beloved” by Toni Morrison
    “Middle Passage” by Charles R. Johnson

    Podcasts
    “Code Switch” by NPR
    “Justice in America” hosted by Josie Duffy Rice
    “1619” by The New York Times
    “The Nod” by Gimlet Media
    “United States of Anxiety” by WNYC
  • 09 Maureen Stover2 2Maureen M. Stover, a science teacher at Cumberland International Early College High School has been named the 2020 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year. Stover was selected from a field of nine finalists representing the state’s eight education districts and charter schools. 

    A former intelligence officer in the U.S. Air Force, Stover began her teaching career 11 years ago in Florida through the federal Troops to Teachers program. She said her students understand that her commitment to them extends beyond the 90 minutes of classroom instruction each day. “My role as a classroom teacher is to be part giver of knowledge, part cheerleader, part counselor, part mom, part nurse and part what my kids need me to be that day,” Stover said. 

    “Maureen says that her training and experience in the military ingrained in her the mantra of service before self,” noted State Superintendent Mark Johnson. “She proves that every day for her students, who have her as both an excellent teacher and a great role model.” 

    With an undergraduate degree in biology from the United States Air Force Academy, Stover has also earned two master’s degrees.  
     
  • 02 City of Fayetteville city limit welcome sign 2014Make no mistake about it. I love Fayetteville. I arrived here as a 19-year-old soldier and never left. I was educated here and immersed myself into a successful marketing career. It was here that I met Leonard G. McLeod, who ultimately became my most valued, endearing and closest friend until his death nearly two decades ago. It was here I met my loving and supportive wife of 40 years, Merrilyn. This is where we raised our son — in an atmosphere that embraced and radiated pride, patriotism, love, support and exciting anticipation for the unlimited opportunities awaiting the future of a growing and emerging community.

    It was here in Fayetteville, 25 years ago, that I started the Up & Coming Weekly newspaper. The purpose and premise of this unique local publication was simple and easy to articulate — promote the good news about Fayetteville and Cumberland County. I wanted to share the wonderful stories about the people, events and quality of life of Fayetteville that I knew existed here. During my lifetime, I watched some of the most dynamic civic and government leaders ever assembled as they worked diligently and harmoniously to catch the glimmer and sparkle of the diamond called Fayetteville hidden and stagnant so long in the rough.

    Fayetteville was no longer a hidden jewel nor a diamond in the rough. My city was starting to emerge as a significant North Carolina municipality, proud and economically independent, ready to be a contender and take its rightful place in the hierarchy of other thriving North Carolina cities. Well, that was then and this is now. Now, our community finds itself in a state of confusion bordering between shock and depression.

    What happened? Our leadership collapsed.

    1963 happened. Read about it on pages 14 and 15. We, as Americans in the greatest nation on Earth and under the security blanket of the U.S. Constitution, have taken our Founding Fathers’ freedoms for granted. We have ignored and forgotten the evil, cynical entities and diabolical governments that have been methodically and patiently plotting to take away our freedoms and our country.

    Fayetteville is only one microcosm of that malicious movement, and it boils down to our leadership. Or, in Fayetteville’s case, our lack of leadership. Mayor Mitch Colvin and Police Chief Gina Hawkins have perpetrated a harsh injustice on our community by not implementing and demonstrating leadership that is representative of the safety and well-being of all the citizens of the Fayetteville community. By encouraging, endorsing and siding with the protesting Black community, they left the white, Asian, Hispanic and Native American Fayetteville citizens wondering what happened to their representation and assurance of safety and protection?

    Making matters worse, they were not supporting protesters exercising their constitutional rights; they were supporting criminals, gangbangers and lowlifes whose only objective was to rob, steal, destroy personal property and cause mayhem. Colvin and Hawkins gave them a pass while laying bare to the community that “standing down” is their new standard-bearer. It is horrible leadership. Now, Fayetteville may be at a point of no return.

    This unfortunate situation will continue as long as good citizens remain on the sidelines and remain silent. We can no longer afford to be victims of our empathy, inaction and lack of involvement. The letters in this edition are a very few of the dozens of letters, emails, texts and phone calls our newspaper has received since the May 30 incident — the devastation of downtown — and since the Citizen Cares Project march on July 9 in support of Fayetteville’s police officers. Many others are afraid to speak up for fear of the cancel culture retribution. The fear is real. Fear they will be called a racist. Fear their families will be harmed. Fear their property will be damaged. Fear their businesses will be destroyed. Fear their good works and good names will be tarnished beyond repair.

    Thirty years of hard work was destroyed within days, and our leadership displayed little if no remorse, justification or accountability for their actions. That brings me to my closing point: We have brought this upon ourselves. We allowed this level of incompetent leadership to infect our community as apathy moved honest, competent, hardworking dedicated leaders who really cared about Fayetteville to the sidelines, making way for those with little concern about the welfare of city residents or advancing the community and enhancing the well-being of the citizens.

    Well, these fears are real and intentional. Like a deer in headlights, so many in this community feel helpless and distressed. They are thinking, hoping and praying the situation will fix itself. It will not. Read the Socialist/Communist Manifesto written in 1958 and entered into the Congressional Record in 1963. You will see the problem will not fix itself.

    I greatly admire and appreciate the people who have agreed to stand up and speak out and make their voices heard about how they feel about our community and what’s taking place in it at this very moment. Now is the time we must muster our resolve not only for the preservation of our community but for the protection of our rights and freedoms as Americans. Fayetteville needs real leaders. Who will it be? Will it be you? Let’s hope so.

    Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • 15 john schnobrich 2FPjlAyMQTA unsplashEven before she became a member of the Board of Commissioners for the town of Hope Mills, Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Kenjuana McCray said she was often approached by young people, so-called millennials, on how to get involved in local issues.

    Now McCray has helped to create a town committee that will hopefully give members of that generation both access and inspiration to share in the vision of planning for the future of Hope Mills.

    Members of the Board of Commissioners recently gave approval to McCray’s idea of a committee composed of people from the millennial age group to offer advice and direction to the board on a wide variety of subjects.

    McCray has been involved with a variety of organizations at Fayetteville Technical Community College where she works, particularly in the area of social issues. The clubs she worked with there took part in a variety of activities, and as recently as April had planned to do something in conjunction with Earth Day until all events of that nature were ground to a halt by COVID-19.

    McCray thinks it’s especially important during the current situation to hear from millennial voices. “I believe they have something to say and can do good work in the community,’’ McCray said. She also believes they need a stronger connection to government bodies like the Board of Commissioners, which can be created by putting them together on a bona fide town committee.

    “It’s good to take that energy they have,’’ McCray said, “and have their input included.’’

    McCray feels the millennials can become involved in a variety of areas in the town, everything from beautification and culture to organizing food drives for the homeless and underprivileged.

    McCray has tentatively set the age range of candidates for the committee from 18 to 39.

    “We want a variety of people from different areas,’’ she said. “We are also hoping to get people that have different skill sets.’’
    She’s hopeful to get people with backgrounds in the arts, marketing and media along with active duty and retired military.

    All town committees have a member of the Board of Commissioners and a member of town staff as part of the committee. McCray has asked to be the representative from the commissioners and she asked Chancer McLaughlin, the town’s development and planning administrator, to serve as well because of his role with the town’s economic development.

    She thinks it’s possible for the committee to be chosen and begin meeting in as few as three months.

    “I would like to keep our young people here,’’ she said. “We end up losing a lot of our talented young people. I want them to be in this community and invest in this community.’’

    McCray hopes an application for membership on the committee will be available shortly on the town website, www.townofhopemills.com. 
     
  • 14 IMG 7667Some public walking areas in Hope Mills are going to the dogs, and the staff of the Hope Mills Parks and Recreation Department is working quickly to correct the problem.

    Lamarco Morrison, head of the department, said he first got word a couple of weeks ago that there was a growing problem at the recently opened Golfview Greenway of dog owners walking their animals and not properly cleaning up after them.

    If the problem continues to mount, the town could resort to some extreme measures, like fining dog owners observed leaving animal waste at the greenway or the walking track at Hope Mills Municipal Park near Town Hall. A worst-case scenario would be not allowing dog owners to walk their animals at all. 

    But Morrison said the town would prefer not to do that and is implementing some plans that will help dog owners to police the waste their animals produce.

    “At the end of the day, it’s still on the owners to clean up after their dogs,’’ Morrison said.

    The first thing that will be done, especially at the greenway, is to install what are called doggie stations. Two are already in place, and two more have been ordered. The walking trail at Municipal Park already has multiple doggie stations. 

    Each doggie station includes bags for collecting dog waste and a small waste container to put the bags in once the waste has been collected.

    At the greenway, they’ll be located at the four corners of the area.

    For situations when owners and their dogs are on the trail some distance from one of the doggie stations, Morrison and his staff are giving away what he referred to as a doggie keychain. It’s a small plastic receptacle that the owner can easily attach to a belt, keychain or even the dog’s leash.

    The receptacle can carry empty doggie bags and then be used to hold a filled bag until the owner reaches one of the doggie stations and can drop it into the waste container there. 

    There will also be signs along the trail reminding dog owners to clean up after their dogs.

    To further help with the problem, town maintenance workers who are already assigned to working at the greenway and Municipal Park will also be policing the trail for dog waste.

    Aside from the simple nuisance of possibly coming into contact with dog waste left along the trail, Morrison said there’s also a health hazard associated with dog waste being left in a public area.

    “If your dog hasn’t been immunized with all his shots, you could spread things to other animals,’’ Morrison said.

    Although he doesn’t encourage confrontations, Morrison said one of the best ways for the problem to be resolved is for dog owners to police each other and encourage making sure everybody is picking up after their animals. 

    Morrison is hopeful that will prevent the town from having to go to the extreme of banning walkers at the greenway and Municipal Park from bringing their dogs along. 
     
  • 08 N2008P24005COn Aug. 17, the Cumberland County School system is giving parents an opportunity to decide how they would like their children to be educated during the 2020-2021 school year based on what’s best for their families. Gov. Cooper has issued an executive order directing that Plan B be used as guidance for all schools, meaning that school districts may offer a blended system of face-to-face learning or remote learning from home. Parents have the option of selecting remote learning if that is their preference. Cooper also indicated that complete remote learning could be implemented if the COVID-19 situation worsens. Children will have their temperatures checked as they enter school each day. Each school building must have an isolation room designated for anyone who tests positive. And all children, teachers and staff members must wear face coverings in school buildings. Physical distancing and one-way school hallways are also encouraged. 

     
  • 16 N2002P32003CNote: This story was written hours before the announcement of the NCHSAA's delay of the start of fall sports and could not be updated prior to this week's deadline. 

    When I was a teenager I used to enjoy going to unusual gift shops with my parents and seeing what off-the-wall gifts I could find.

    On one such trip, I saw a unique jigsaw puzzle. It was a picture of a single, solid, red ball.

    I couldn’t imagine someone wanting to tackle the challenge of solving it. It would obviously take hours of trying to match the various pieces together since the actual picture was one solid color with no variation in hues or texture.

    I think of that puzzle as I stay in touch with high school athletic leaders and people in education as they ponder if there will be a fall sports season for high schools in North Carolina this year.

    The picture was made a tiny bit clearer this past week when Gov. Roy Cooper of North Carolina announced his plan to return North Carolina to school on Aug. 17 using a blended plan of some classroom teaching with specific safety precautions, while also allowing students and teachers to use virtual classrooms with learning from home via electronic means.

    But there are countless pieces left to this real, giant, red puzzle, and what’s worse, the puzzle pieces keep changing shape from day to day.

    Que Tucker, commissioner of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, held a lengthy virtual press conference with statewide media prior to the governor’s announcement, then issued this statement afterward.

    “We will continue discussing the numerous options and scenarios that have been developed and recommended, identifying the most appropriate scenarios,’’ she said. “The NCHSAA staff will work with the Board of Directors, Sports Medicine Advisory Committee and other stakeholder groups to solidify the details of the best plan for the safety of our student-athletes, coaches, administrators and the communities the Association represents.’’

    Meanwhile, the Cumberland County Schools held a virtual briefing of its own last week after the governor’s announcement to address what it meant for local schools.

    Joe Desormeaux, associate superintendent of auxiliary services for Cumberland County Schools, said everything is on hold locally until the NCHSAA provides specific direction on the next step.

    “We know they are actively discussing many options at this time, to include everything from no sports to reduced seasons, changing seasons and swapping between spring and fall sports,’’ Desormeaux said.

    The one concrete thing Desormeaux shared was that whether county students opt for the blended learning program that the governor said the state will adopt, or chose to enroll in Cumberland County’s all-online virtual learning program, they will be eligible to compete in athletics.

    Students who choose to go with 100 percent virtual learning will be assigned to compete with the school in the district where they maintain a physical residence. “It is very important that if you have changed your address recently you get those new addresses into the system,’’ Desormeaux said.

    Although there are multiple sports waiting for word on what will happen this fall, the most complex one, and the one that has a bearing on income that supports the total athletic program, is high school football.

    Vernon Aldridge, student activities director for the Cumberland County Schools, noted that Aug. 1, the traditional start date for fall sports in North Carolina, is rapidly approaching and decisions must be made soon on when or if the fall season will start.

    This is especially true for football, which has a lot of moving parts and needs to allow ample time to prepare before actually playing games.

    Aldridge said he had consulted with some of the county’s veteran head football coaches, and the consensus among them was they need a minimum of four weeks to work with their teams on the field before they will be able to safely compete in a game.

    Another major issue for football is going to be transporting players to and from road games. While all the county senior high schools have four activity busses that can each hold 72 passengers, social distancing requirements will limit each bus to one person per seat, meaning they can only carry 24 people.

    Aldridge said home teams may be able to share their busses with the visitors from fellow county schools and work out a plan to transport everyone, but that would just account for the football teams.
    Aldridge indicated until there is further direction from the NCHSAA, no plans have been discussed about transporting marching bands or cheerleaders to games.

    “We need some answers pretty quickly so schools and school systems can be making decisions,’’ Aldridge said. “Nothing is off the table right now. Maybe (it's) something we are worrying about we might not have to worry about.’’

    There has been talk about moving a sport like football to the spring, but if that happens, Aldridge is concerned about what you do with other sports. Everything can’t be played in one season, so that could mean moving spring sports like baseball and softball to fall.

    Aldridge is concerned about that because those athletes have already lost a season to COVID-19.

    “We need to make sure those kids don’t lose two years,’’ he said.

    And suddenly, that solid red puzzle is looking like an awfully easier option to tackle.

     

  • 12 cannonIt was during preparations for last year’s Heroes Homecoming observance in Hope Mills that Jim Blevins of the town’s Veterans Affairs Committee made a troubling discovery.

    While working with the flags behind the town’s veterans memorial on Rockfish Road, one of the nylon ropes snapped.

    Blevins said committee members quickly realized they needed to perform regular maintenance and function checks on various aspects of the veterans memorial. As part of that process, one of the things they put on a to-do list was to spruce up the appearance of the 105mm howitzer that is part of the memorial.

    The retired weapon was a staple of American field artillery from the time of World War II all the way through the conflict in Vietnam. According to army.mil, it was the primary field artillery weapon used by the Army during World War II and is still in use in some parts of the world today.
    Blevins said another member of the Veterans Affairs Committee who helped paint the howitzer, Grilley Mitchell, estimated it’s been as long as 15 years since the gun had gotten a fresh coat of paint.

    Blevins and other members of the committee first used sandpaper to remove the old paint that was badly oxidized and peeling.

    They tried to get some traditional OD green Army paint from an official source but were unsuccessful. But another committee member, Bill Greene, was able to secure several spray cans of the official Army shade and it was used to put a new coat on the howitzer.

    “As long as we stuck to OD green, that’s the main thing, just the painting for now,’’ Blevins said.

    Other members of the Veterans Affairs Committee who helped refurbish the howitzer were Joanne Scarola and Jim Morris.

    The next big project for the committee is going to take a little more effort, not to mention more money.

    The monument at the veterans memorial has some cracks in it, and some of the seals are worn as well. Blevins estimates the repair project will run in the neighborhood of $13,000.

    While there is some money in the town budget to pay for the repairs, Blevins said the Veterans Affairs Committee doesn’t want the town to have to foot the entire bill.

    He said the committee hopes to work with the local Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion posts to come up with a variety of fundraising projects to help cover the cost of repairing the monument and other projects the committee may promote in the future.

    Ideas being considered are allowing people to purchase pavers that will be placed somewhere at the veterans memorial, along with building a fence at the memorial and letting people pay to have signs placed along it sponsoring sections of the fence.

    Blevins said the most important thing is to keep the park alive and in good shape to properly honor the veterans from the community.

    “That’s our military heritage to the people that came before us,’’ said Blevins, who is retired Air Force. “It’s to honor them and hopefully pass it on to the next generation.’’

     Photo credit: Elizabeth Blevins

  • 15 CumberlandCountySchoolsNEWlogoBarring any late changes due to the status of COVID-19 cases in Fayetteville and Cumberland County, coaches and athletes from Cumberland County Schools are scheduled to begin off-season workouts on Monday, July 20.

    Originally the date to resume practice was July 6, but that was pushed because of concern over COVID-19 locally.

    The county and the state are waiting for word from both Gov. Roy Cooper and the North Carolina High School Athletic Association on the status of returning to school this fall and the chance of seeing high school sports resume on either a full or limited basis come August and September.
    “Our district is continuing to evaluate when to resume athletic activities,’’ said Vernon Aldridge, student activities director for Cumberland County, in a prepared statement. “Any resumption will be conducted with the health and safety of our student-athletes and staff in mind and in compliance with the NCHSAA’s Reopening of Sports/Activities Summer Guidelines.’’

    The county will also be guided by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Cumberland County Department of Public Health.

  • 11 highschoolWhen I was a student at Fayetteville High School, it was on Robeson Street in downtown Fayetteville where the Highsmith-Rainey Specialty Hospital now stands. I fondly remember being a member of the FHS band that was directed by George Tracey and later by Harvey Bosell.

    When I was in the ninth and 10th grades, the band members wore blue and white uniforms because those were the school colors. Our second band director, Harvey Bosell, composed a marvelous march entitled “The Blue and White Blues.” This song became so popular that we played it at every football game that was held in the large stadium directly behind our spacious school building that occupied an entire city block.
    When I was in the 11th and 12th grades, the band changed from conventional band uniforms to Scottish kilts. Some of the male students did not like the new uniforms because a few of the girls seemed to greatly enjoy pulling the boys' skirts up to see what they were wearing under them. The FHS band was so large that we had to charter two busses when we played for out-of-town football games and other events. We also rode on a chartered train when we played for games in Wilmington. Some of us liked to play popular music as we traveled by rail to other cities, but our band director usually stopped us before we had time to finish playing our music.

    When I was in the ninthth through the 12th grades, I formed and directed the school orchestra. We played for school dances and also at Fort Bragg services clubs and for many other events. We had the honor of playing at the Main Post Officers Club which, at that time, was managed by Leroy Anderson. He was a world-famous composer of many wonderful songs, to include “Sleigh Ride” — a song that is still very popular during the Christmas season.

    Movie about Fayetteville
    While I was a student at Fayetteville High School, one morning, an announcement was made over the school’s public address system that a Hollywood movie crew was coming to town to make a movie about Fayetteville. We were told that, at a certain time that afternoon, they would be filming some of the movie at The Carolina Soda Shop next door to the Carolina Theatre on Hay Street. The soda shop was owned and operated by the late Bill Crawley, who made some of the most delicious hot dogs in town. Students from Fayetteville High School loved to visit The Carolina Soda Shop every day after school. Many of us were featured in that historical movie as we sat at the counter eating hot dogs and drinking Cokes or milkshakes. When many of my friends saw me the following day, they commented about seeing me sitting at the bar enjoying a milk shake from The Carolina Soda Shop. If you happen to know who has a copy of that movie, please email me at weekspjr@infionline.net.

    The FHS Radio Club
    In the center of our school building, there was a lovely coupler where the radio club, of which I was president for three years, had an amateur radio station whose call letters were W4MQW. Our radio club was sponsored by V. R. White, principal of the school. Mr. White often invited club members to visit him in his home at 1414 Old Fort Bragg Road, where he had his own amateur radio station. His call-letters were W4BPQ, and we were thrilled when he allowed us to talk to other stations a far away as Australia through his short-wave radio.

    Name change
    Several years after I graduated from Fayetteville High School, the name was changed to Terry Sanford High School in honor of Terry Sanford, who was the 65th governor of the state of North Carolina. If you have ever been a student at either Fayetteville High School, or at Terry Sanford High School, I am sure you are proud to have been a member of one of the finest schools in the state.

    Fayetteville High School on Robeson Street
    This postcard picture of Fayetteville Senior High School was made when it was located on Robeson Street on the present site of the Highsmith-Rainey Memorial Hospital. The high school building was constructed in 1940 and was used as the senior high school until 1954, when a new building was constructed on Fort Bragg Road. In the fall of 1969, Fayetteville Senior High School became known as Terry Sanford
    High School.

  • A08 01 Confederate generals new funding bill would prevent military construction funds from being used for projects on installations named after Confederate generals from the Civil War, the latest effort by House lawmakers to address the Confederacy’s legacy in the military. The bill would prevent any funds from being “obligated, expended or used to construct a project located on a military installation bearing the name of a Confederate officer, except in the case that a process to replace such names has been initiated,” according to a provision in the fiscal year 2021 appropriations bill from a subpanel of the House Appropriations Committee. The issue of military bases named after Confederate generals reemerged amid antiracism and police brutality protests following the death of George Floyd by Minneapolis, Minnesota, police May 25. Legislation introduced in the House and Senate has sought to create a process and timeline to remove Confederacy-related names from 10 Army bases, as well as other military assets and property, including two Navy ships. Stars and Stripes first reported this event.

  • 03 N1911P30004CFriends,

    As Fort Bragg’s Congressman, I understand the strength of our servicemembers depends on not only the training and resources we provide them, but also the support we provide to their families.

    Our warfighters shouldn’t have to worry about whether their next duty station can support the medical needs of their family or whether they will be able to afford safe, reliable childcare.

    That is why I am proud to have cosponsored the military family readiness legislation recently included in the National Defense Authorization Act that Congress will vote on later this month.

    This legislation directly addresses many of the concerns I’ve heard from Fort Bragg families, including reforms to strengthen the Exceptional Family Member Program which provides access to health care and special needs education, in addition to behavioral health, opioid abuse and child care initiatives.

    I have also remained in close contact with Fort Bragg leadership on other top priorities, including key infrastructure projects that will have a direct and immediate impact on military readiness. While Congress has consistently recognized the importance of funding the Special Operations forces at Fort Bragg, this has often come at the expense of conventional forces at the base. Most notably, this includes the 82nd Airborne Division also known as our nation’s Immediate Response Force (IRF).

    That is why in March, I testified before the Subcommittee on Military Construction to request they fund priorities to support the mission of the 82nd Airborne, as well as Pope Army Airfield.

    As a result, last week the subcommittee released their report, which included both of the provisions I asked for. The first provision urges the Army to prioritize facilities that will support the global mission of the IRF. The second provision urges the Army National Guard (ARNG) to support readiness of ARNG aviation units as they prepare to gain new aircraft platforms. This includes emergency support infrastructure around the airfield to deal with possible fires or mishaps during a deployment. The inclusion of these provisions will bring meaningful investments into our forces and infrastructure at Fort Bragg and Pope Army Airfield.

    While I continue to fight for these resources for our community, I am also continuing my commitment to supporting our servicemembers.
    Last week, I was proud to have my proposal to increase military hazardous duty pay in this year’s national defense bill pass the House Armed Services Committee unanimously. This proposal would increase the monthly pay awarded to some personnel stationed in certain locations and those who work under hazardous conditions as part of their military duties. This increase is a step in the right direction to show our servicemembers who deploy in harm’s way that we support them as they fight in defense of this nation and our allies while separated from their friends and family.

    As Fort Bragg’s Congressman, I’m constantly reminded of the sacrifices of so many of our servicemembers, especially those who have been awarded the Medal of Honor. July 12 marks the 158th anniversary of the creation of the Medal of Honor. Since it was established by Congress and enacted by President Abraham Lincoln, more than 3,500 brave Americans have been awarded the Medal of Honor, including the latest recipient, Fort Bragg’s own Master Sgt. Matthew Williams. I’m honored to represent so many servicemembers, military families and veterans who have all sacrificed for our country. Today and every day, let’s honor their courage and service.

     

  • 04 N1109P39002CWho among us, as a child, was not forced to eat something disgusting because children were starving in China? Return to those thrilling days of yesteryear when you could not leave the table until you cleaned your plate. My sainted mother believed that unless I cleaned my plate, a child in China would starve. After a recent Zoom meeting with my extended family, a common food-related thread emerged when we discussed the merits of okra. My childhood agonies at the dinner table were duplicated in the homes of my relatives. The clean-your-plate theory originated with my grandmother, Araminta, who passed it on to her three daughters, who then passed it on to my brother, my cousins and poor old pitiful me.

    My mother had many fine qualities, but at supper time, she was the Dictator of the Dinner Table. Remember the opening of the “Lone Ranger” TV show? “A fiery plate of okra placed on my dish with the speed of light, and a hearty ‘You can’t leave the table until you clean your plate!’” I spent untold hours alone at the dinner table until I had cleaned my plate of some offending food item. On many nights, I was the Lone Ranger at the table while the other members of the family moved on. I would sit there and stare at a cold turnip, a pile of misshapen okra or sometimes even a cold piece of beef liver. Life would go on all about me as I sat staring at some misbegotten food item mocking me from my plate. Instead of being outside, I was chained to a plate of some hideous food. As Colonel Kurtz said in “Apocalypse Now”: “The horror. The horror.”

    On mercifully rare occasions, she would deliver liver from the kitchen. She didn’t like liver. My father didn’t like liver. My brother didn’t like liver. I didn’t like liver. Even my dog didn’t like liver. When your dog refuses food, it is bigly sad. Mother served liver because “It is good for you.” Her father once told me that when he was a student at UNC-Chapel Hill, class of 1912, he would take one class a semester that he didn’t like because the discipline of taking that class “was good for him.” This character trait, while commendable in the abstract, was soul-crushing in practice when the parsnips hit the plate.

    Okra had a special place in my childhood. There is nothing like the slime of boiled okra to bring back precious memories, how they linger. It is a scientific fact that okra is the only vegetable with mucous. You don’t have to chew it. It will just slither down your throat like water running downhill.

    In the pantheon of regrettable childhood meals, the most common offender was my nemesis — green peas. We had green peas frequently. I hated them. Tiny little balloons of green glop would stare at me from my plate. I tried all the kid tricks with them: spreading them around my plate so it looked like I had eaten some; feeding them to the dog; and stuffing them into a napkin in my pocket to be given a stealthy burial at sea in the toilet. She was on to all my tricks. I couldn’t fool her. Like the time Thomas Jefferson dined alone, I would be left at the table in lofty miserable splendor — just me and a pile of green peas daring me to eat them or spend the rest of my childhood staring at them. Upon chewing a green pea, the nasty bilious contents of the pea explode, triggering a gag reflex in normal human beings. It’s science. Green peas are the devil’s vegetable.

    The only thing worse than hot green peas is cold green peas. I was my own worst enemy as I would sit there watching the peas attain room temperature. I knew the peas would be worse cold, but I could not force myself to eat them while they were hot. I hoped lightning would strike me before I had to consume the peas. In the battle of the dinner table, I was always outmatched by my mother. If she had been at the Alamo, Gen. Santa Anna would have been defeated and made to eat green peas and liver before retreating to Mexico.

    One of the most conflicted things I confronted at the dinner was two-thirds wonderful and one-third abysmal. I refer to something called Rosette. Homemade mashed potatoes were carefully arranged in a circle on a Russel Wright serving dish. The potatoes were artistically sprinkled with shredded cheddar cheese. Yum. If it stopped right there, it would have been my favorite food. But no. Into the hollow center of the circle of mashed potatoes came little green men. Green peas would invade the potatoes’ doughnut hole, turning a celestial food combination into a concoction from hell. The secretions from the green peas would contaminate the mashed potatoes, turning the event horizon between the peas and potatoes green. When servings were scooped, the spoon would upset the equilibrium of the peas and potatoes, allowing aggressive green peas to hide under mashed potatoes. Biting into mashed potatoes only to discover a green pea unexpectedly detonating is enough to require years of psychiatric therapy.

    All mother was saying was give peas a chance. However, peas are not good for children or other living things. As Forrest Gump once said, “And that’s all I have to say about that.”

     

  • 08 05 DrDr. Tiffany Watts has been named Associate Vice President of Curriculum Programs at Fayetteville Technical Community College. Dr. Murtis Worth has been named Dean of Nursing. Watts will assist FTCC’s Senior Vice President for Academic & Student Services and the academic deans in the development, planning, implementation and support of for-credit curricular programs and services.

    Watts received her bachelor’s degree in psychology, with honors, from North Carolina State University and completed her doctorate in school psychology at UNC-Chapel Hill.
    Worth will lead the College’s nursing programs. Previously, Worth was Interim Associate Dean of the School of Nursing at Fayetteville State University. She has also been an assistant professor and clinical coordinator at FSU’s School of Nursing and a nursing and clinical instructor at FTCC. Worth 08 06 Drearned an associate’s degree in nursing from FTCC and her bachelor’s degree in nursing from East Carolina University’s School of Nursing. She also earned a master’s degree at East Carolina University’s School of Nursing and completed her doctorate at the School of Nursing at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro.

  • 14 demetriabookDemetria Washington Davis will be forever remembered as one of the most decorated track and field athletes in Cumberland County history.
    At the 1998 North Carolina High School Athletic Association state indoor track meet, Davis won the 55, 300 and 500 meter dashes, scoring enough points by herself to earn the Terry Sanford team second place in the meet.

    Unfortunately, because she was the only Bulldog entry in the event, she wasn’t allowed to take home the prize for second since she didn’t officially constitute a team.

    Washington also won the NCHSAA outdoor 400 meter title twice, along with single titles in the 100 and 200 meters.

    She continued her brilliance in college at the University of South Carolina, where she made school history by earning NCAA All-American honors 21 times and capturing six NCAA national titles.

    She was the 2002 National Indoor Athlete of the Year, and in 2003 won a gold medal running in the 4x400 meter relay in the World Championships.

    Now Davis has decided to share some of her motivational tips and advice to people of all levels of fitness who want to improve themselves both physically and emotionally.

    Davis recently published her first book, "Parallel Fitness: A Champion’s Mindset." It can be purchased on amazon.com or at Washington’s website, getparallelfit.com. Davis will autograph any book purchased directly from her website.

    “I’ve known for a few years I wanted to write a book,’’ Davis said. Ironically, this wasn’t the book she had in mind.

    Davis leads a busy life and has many interests, from her involvement with fitness to cooking to being a mother and to being a pastor.
    She was looking to the future to put together a work that would deal with some of those areas, but instead she found herself straying from consistent workouts and not staying in the kind of shape she enjoyed when she was in competition.

    Although friends told her she was in great shape, it wasn’t where Davis wanted to be. So she went on Facebook and began posting regular motivational themes to inspire her to do better.

    Those same friends told her she could put together a book using the assorted themes she had shared on Facebook. After looking back from last November until the present, she realized they had a point.

    Davis stressed the book is a good motivational tool for anyone, and it doesn’t deal strictly with physical activity. “It’s motivation for so many different areas of your life,’’ she said.

    The book is laid out for a 21-day period, and Davis uses a play on words for each day to get her point across about what the motivational focus for that day is.

    She recently held a signing for the book that was largely attended by friends and family. She compared the emotions she felt the day of the event to how she used to feel preparing to run a race.

    “The most enjoyable part was seeing my family and friends there,’’ Davis said. “They really came out and were so excited.’’
    Davis is hopeful her second book will be coming out in August or September of this year. She said it will deal with specific workout strategies, nutrition and some of her recipes.

  • 13 legacy insideThere’s something new to cheer about in Hope Mills, both in the literal and figurative sense.

    Tammy Melvin-Carlile, Angela Fitzgerald and Jasmine Lyles have united to open Legacy Athletics at 2824 Legion Rd.

    The trio took over the facility in May and after making some upgrades to the building, opened for regular hours effective Monday, July 6.

    Melvin-Carlile said the goal of Legacy Athletics is to provide an affordable gym experience that will cater to cheerleading, dance, gymnastics and tumbling, along with programs designed for special needs people of all ages who would like to take part in the kind of activities the facility offers.

    All three of the new owners have extensive backgrounds in the various disciplines the gym will offer. In addition to providing instruction in cheer and dance, they plan to include yoga as well as allow the gym to be rented out for birthday parties or by the hour for outside cheer groups and dancers who just need a place to practice their craft.

    Fitzgerald said there will be no limits on the age groups that can utilize the facility. At the same time, they’ll accept people from all levels of experience — from newcomers to people who have been involved in any of the activities for years.

    Fitzgerald said the inside of the building is every little girl’s dream, designed to leave them wide-eyed and open-mouthed.

    The primary workout area features a spring floor with carpet-bonded foam. There is also a 30-foot tumble track along with various types of equipment, including training mats and materials for stretching.

    The special-needs programs aren’t designed for competition but will allow the participants to take part in routines and exhibitions.
    Current hours are Mondays from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m., Tuesday through Friday from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
    For those who want to use the gym just as a workout space or to practice with a team not being trained by one of the gym staffers, the gym can be rented on an hourly basis.

    Lyles said the gym can also be used by home schoolers as a place to earn their physical education credit.

    For further details on rentals, scheduling special events and finding out more about fees, call the gym at 910-229-2762.

  • 09 sharon mccutcheon Vl0KHsz67kE unsplashIn trying times, one consistent and uplifting occurrence across Cumberland County is that people support each other and fill each other’s needs with fervent compassion. For the 11th year, the community will come together through Aug. 1 to support homeless children in the Cumberland County Schools system and fire victims served by the American Red Cross through The Register of Deeds office’s annual school supply drive.

    The deadline to drop off items is July 24. The office hopes to receive enough donations that it can fill 1,000 book bags. Particularly, the office is looking for pencils, pens, notebooks, rules, composition books, folders, notebook paper, pencil sharpeners, erasers, glue sticks, crayons, toothbrushes, toothpaste, hand sanitizer and toothbrush cases.

    The collection would not be a success without the caring hearts of individuals and organizations across the county. The Longleaf Pine Association of Realtors, the Cumberland County Clerk of Court, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, Fayetteville Police Department are some of the key players; but other organizations, churches, civic groups, dental offices and citizens have been supportive of the cause this year and in years past.

    “We would like to thank everyone for their support in the past and thank them for their consideration again this year,” said Register of Deeds Lee Warren.

    When dropping off donations, a face mask or covering will be required to enter into the courthouse. The mandate will be enforced.

    At the end of the collection period, Fayetteville Police Department, Cumberland County Schools, and the American Red Cross will be responsible for distributing the donations.

    Of course, monetary giving is welcomed and appreciated as well, although checks will not be accepted. Cash donations and gift cards are helpful ways to support the cause.

    Donations will be accepted at the Register of Deeds office in Room 114 of the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse, located at 117 Dick St., Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 910-678-7775 upon your arrival to drop off the items or for more information about
    the drive.

  • 10 01 Get Together GuitarJumbo Arts International provides opportunities for arts, culture and performance as well as educational programming for people of all ages and promotes the well-being of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities in southeastern North Carolina. What that looks like in real life is things like The Journal of Creative Arts & Minds, which is a juried project that highlights art and artists. Other JAI projects include virtual art exhibits, benefit concerts and other music-related events. JAI’s most recent project involves a collaboration with one of the group’s community liaisons, 10 02 Get Together Smilesinger/songwriter Morris Cardenas, to create a heartfelt music video recording of the 1960s hit “Get Together.” Known for its refrain, “Come on people now/Smile on your brother/Everybody get together/Try to love one another right now,” “Get Together” is a plea for peace, brotherhood and love. It explores the dynamic of love versus fear and having to choose between them. And the message couldn’t be more timely.

    The project has been an uplifting endeavor for everyone involved. “It’s been an interesting year,” said Jumbo Arts 10 03 Get Together Chorus4International President Margie Labadie. “We haven’t been able to do any in-person programming. With this video, we can contribute something that is really important right now. We are very excited about sponsoring the video and thrilled that Morris brought it to us as a fundraising opportunity. The music is fantastic. They did a fabulous job. We are just really excited to sponsor it.”

    10 04 Get Together congaThe video features North Carolina professional musicians who came together because they believe in the song’s message. They believe it is a positive message and one everyone needs to hear. “COVID-19 wasn’t even on our radar when we started the production,” Cardenas said. Considering how much the world has changed in recent months, “I think we could all use some peace and love to get us through,” he added.

    Participants in the video included Cardenas, acoustic guitar; Danny Young, guitar and vocals; Cliff Bender, guitar; Darrell Collins, bass guitar, filming and production, mixer and audio; Tony Raimondo, drums; Robert Turner, piano and Bob Lawrence, congas, chimes and percussion. The backup singers included Bill Joyner, Marie Grimsley, Danny Young, Allen Diffee, Monique McCleod, Terie Lawrence and Michelle Weaks.

    “Darrell Collins of Sound Images of North Carolina LLC, who did the majority of the audio and camera work, did such a great job,” Cardenas said. “The video represents a statement of peace, love and understanding among us all. It is not to be used as a political statement. And among the musicians in the video, there are several sects of religion and races — we have white, black and brown people in the video, showing we can all come together as one.”

    Cardenas said he got the idea for the video when he was involved in some contentious discussions on social media. “There are all kinds of ‘experts’ on Facebook, and there was all kinds of noise and fighting. I found myself getting involved in it, and I realized I needed to take a step back and take a breath. Then COVID happened and George Floyd. I am not religious, but the song speaks about coming together in more than just getting together. It has to do with spiritually coming together, too.”

    So far, the video, which used the song with permission from Universal Music Publishing Group, has been well-received. “We had only one person put their thumbs down, so far,” said Cardenas of the YouTube rating system. “We’ve been heard in Vietnam and Hong Kong and Spain and France. We’ve been heard in England and in El Salvador. That’s just what I am aware of, and it’s not counting all the states we’ve been heard in in the U.S. The reaction has been very good, in my opinion.”

    While this project is large in scope, this is not the first time Cardenas has worked with JAI. The organization has produced music programs, called Jumbo Jams, for about eight years. Along with Cardenas, JAI has supported multicultural music performances in North Carolina, most recently in the Hispanic community. Working together on this new music video seemed like a natural fit.

    Released on YouTube, the video was directed by Cardenas, who has entertained crowds from Los Angeles to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to El Salvador. The video is also on the Jumbo Arts International Facebook page as well as through its website at JumboArtsInternational.org. Donations in any amount are appreciated to the all-volunteer, federally recognized nonprofit. Tax deductible donations are only used for programming and projects.

    Cardenas has another project n the works called American Dream SOS, which is based on one of his songs.

    While JAI is always looking for opportunities to support art and artists, live events have come to a standstill, at least for now. But the organization found a way to support an entirely new group of artists with its summer 2020 issue of The Journal for Creative Arts & Minds. “We did an all-student publication for the students who didn’t get to have an exhibition because of the virus,” said Labadie. “This is the first time we’ve ever done a student journal. I teach at UNC-Pembroke, and the art students didn’t get to do the capstone project. The journal features 21 students who it is the first time they’ve all published their own works and interviews.” The journal is available online at the JAI website.

    Visit https://jumboartsinternational.org/index.html to view the “Get Together,” video, to learn more about JAI or to view The Journal for Creative Arts & Minds.

  • 05 N2008P69004CIf you are among the minority of North Carolinians who haven’t supported the expansion of parental choice in education over the past two decades — in the form of charter schools, open enrollment among district schools and aid to private-school students who have special needs or modest household incomes — the challenge of COVID-19 presents you with an excellent opportunity to reconsider your position.

    School choice isn’t some scary conspiracy or ideological scheme. It is a basic tool for addressing a practical reality: people are different. One size does not fit all.

    Gov. Roy Cooper and his aides are grappling with this reality right now. Faced with the critically important question of how to reopen North Carolina schools for the fall semester, the administration initially sketched out three options.

    Plan A would have all students return to school with “minimal social distancing,” which, in reality, would involve extensive daily precautions that will consume lots of time and resources. Plan B would limit schools to 50% capacity, in effect requiring students to stay at home for at least half the semester through some kind of alternating-day or alternating-week schedule. Plan C would keep schools closed for the semester.

    Originally, Cooper set July 1 as the date he would announce which option would be the statewide default. School districts were to be allowed to adopt a more-restrictive plan but not a less-restrictive one. When July 1 arrived, however, the governor flinched. No announcement came.

    For many students, parents, educators and employers trying to make plans for August and beyond, Cooper’s delay was infuriating. But it was also unsurprising. North Carolinians have varying needs, perspectives and tolerance for risk. We simply don’t agree on school reopening. According to a recent Elon University poll, about a third of North Carolinians agree with Plan A, just over a third with Plan B, and just under a third with Plan C. The views of parents are distributed similarly.

    Whatever the statewide policy may be, a significant share of the population will disagree with it — passionately in many cases. That is precisely why there should be no statewide policy, at least not in the way state politicians have been thinking about it up to now.

    Based on their comments, it is clear that Cooper and his aides have read the American Academy of Pediatrics guidance on school reopening. They know that, according to the best-available evidence, children face an extremely low risk of suffering serious symptoms from a COVID-19 infection and are very unlikely to transmit the virus to teachers, parents or other adults.

    They also know that if schools do not reopen on a normal schedule, hundreds of thousands of North Carolina children will suffer. Many will fall further behind academically. Some will suffer harm to their physical and mental health. Moreover, many of their parents will be unable to care for them at home without losing income or even their jobs. The state’s economic recovery will stall. And the costs will be disproportionately borne by disadvantaged North Carolinians.

    As you can tell, I remain firmly convinced that the state’s schools would be reopened under a light version of Plan A. But I also know, as do Cooper and his team, that many North Carolinians will disagree. Some parents will refuse to send their children back. They will insist on some other solution. And they have every right to do so.

    Many districts are already planning to offer virtual academies with more-robust offerings than the meager fare the schools came up with during the spring shutdown. Private associations and vendors are doing the same, in response to record interest in homeschooling. Some private schools have long offered hybrid schedules and would welcome new enrollees. The state should expand opportunity scholarships, at least temporarily, to ensure greater access to that option.

    I may not agree with the preferences of the more risk-averse parents, but I support their right to choose the publicly funded option they think best for their children. I always have.

  • 02 01 image013Fayetteville, North Carolina, a once-proud, up and coming, developing urban community, is beginning to resemble a war-torn country. Dirty, trash-littered streets, boarded up storefronts, graffiti-laden walls, shanty tents and makeshift nomad-occupied encampments surround the Market House, a historic building and monument that means so many things to so many people.

    Hopefully, by the time you read this editorial, the mayor and city council will have put their collective intelligence, authority and sensibilities to good use to clean up the blight around the Market House. It is creating a blemish on our community and an ugly public safety hazard on city-owned property.

    02 02 image014However, as in life, the direst of situations often bring out the best in humanity. Last Thursday evening, hundreds of Fayetteville and Cumberland County residents rallied together in front of the Cumberland County Law Enforcement Center downtown to “Back the Blue” in a show of unity and appreciation for the rank-and-file Fayetteville law enforcement officers serving on the Fayetteville Police Force. The Citizen Cares Project was an impromptu citywide tour de force response to the negative narratives being touted about law enforcement and being amplified in Fayetteville and all across the nation. The CCP event was 100% Americana at its best. Hundreds of participants waving flags, cheering, laughing, praying, singing patriot songs and pledging allegiance to our flag demonstrated how much Fayetteville citizens appreciate and support their local police officers and how much they love their community and their country.

    The CCP event was amazing! The outpouring of support was awe-inspiring. In a matter of weeks, a handful of 02 03 image015volunteers rallied the Fayetteville community to raise more than $35,000 to provide gift packages to the 420 police officers who have dedicated their lives to the protection and service of Fayetteville citizens. Each gift pack was a token of appreciation that contained a $60 restaurant dine-out card for them and their family, a personal handwritten note of gratitude and encouragement from a local resident, a prayer for safety and protection, and an assortment of items intended to make their jobs and lives more enjoyable.

    The CCP led a peaceful march to personally deliver these gifts to the Fayetteville Police Department amid Black Lives Matters protesters.
    Police officers and members of the Full Throttle/Full Mag Motorcycle Club, known for their community service and support of law enforcement and first responders, escorted the marchers and the vehicles transporting the gift packets to their final destination at the Fayetteville Police headquarters on Hay Street. Here, the packages were delivered to the Fayetteville Police Foundation for distribution.

    CCP participants remained calm, focused and dignified in the face of the protesters’ shouts and chants.

    In a recent local survey, crime and public safety were two of the biggest concerns of Fayetteville residents. The events taking place in our city since May 30 lend credence to those fears. Defund police? Really? The whole world saw how that model worked out in the CHOP zone in Seattle, Washington.

    Thank you to all the men and women of Fayetteville’s law enforcement community and to all those who organized and participated in the CCP. This action reflects the spirit of boundless determination and renewed enthusiasm that assures us Fayetteville will remain a city known for its hospitality, diversity, tolerance, dignity, history and heroes. The CCP rally participants represented the entire scope of this community: men, women, children and grandparents; Black white, Hispanic and Asian residents; all religions; and active duty and retired military.

    A special thank you to our local Fayetteville police officers and all the volunteers and participants that made the CCP a success.

    Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

     

  • 06 01 coverEditor's note: On Feb. 19, 2018, Up & Coming Weekly published an article called “Eulogy for the Fourth Estate.” We quoted former Fayetteville Observer publisher, Charles Broadwell, in that article. He recently reached out to UCW. Here is a link to the piece in its entirety.
    https://www.upandcomingweekly.com/views/4794-eulogy-for-the-fourth-estate

    With so much going on in the world and with the professional news media being tested in unprecedented ways these days, I wanted to clarify something that was published in Up & Coming Weekly from February 2018.

    Yes, that was a long time and many news cycles ago. But the article, headlined “Eulogy for the Fourth Estate?” has been gnawing at me because of a quote attributed to me as the former publisher of The Fayetteville Observer.

    The article focused on changes to The Observer since our family-owned company sold the newspaper in 2016. It included a lengthy excerpt from a piece published by The American Prospect about the decline of community-based newspapers across the country that quoted me as saying, after the sale of The Observer, that “It was like walking around at my own funeral.”

    The American Prospect writer did his job and quoted me accurately; in fact, he called me back after the interview to double-check things. What somehow got lost in translation, unfortunately, is that my comment was simply about how I felt after the sale. I had just learned that I would no longer be part of The Observer after a transition period. I knew it was likely that any new owner would want to bring in a new publisher, but the reality had hit me hard that my life at the newspaper was over. So that was the reason for my comment that inspired the headline — no more, no less.

    I decided to let it pass instead of stirring up more dust, trusting that my former colleagues would understand, but I regret if this self-focused (if not self-centered) comment may have left the wrong impression.

    In my last column for The Observer four years ago this month, I expressed my faith in the newspaper’s enduring strength, and that’s exactly how I felt. Today, facing even more challenges than we did during my 16-year tenure as publisher, the good people of The Observer continue to work hard to serve the community every day. They are personal heroes to me.

    Thank you for allowing me to clear the air and clear my conscience.

    — Charles Broadwell
    Former publisher of The Fayetteville Observer

  • 08 04 united way copyUnited Way of Cumberland County’s Board of Directors has named Amy Navejas its new Executive Director. Navejas previously served as CEO/Executive Director of Better Health. She replaces Robert Hines, who retired after 16 years leading UWCC. “We are very fortunate to have found an exceptionally qualified person locally to lead the United Way into a changing future,” said Steve Blanchard, UWCC Board Chair.

    Navejas has worked closely with UWCC over the years while at Better Health. “The UWCC is an important pillar in our community,” Navejas stated.

    During her tenure at Better Health, the Spring Lake Diabetes Clinic was added, as was the Fayfit childhood obesity program. Navejas graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with Bachelor of Arts degrees in political science and psychology. She earned her Juris Doctorate from the Norman A. Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University. She has prior experience in nonprofit management, case management, outreach, community events, human resources and professional development.

     

  • 07 N2002P44006CWe have all seen the distracted drivers — missing a light change, drifting out of their lane, slamming into the back of vehicles slowing or stopped for traffic. They are usually deep in conversation or are looking down texting on their phone.

    North Carolina drivers might be more aware of the dangers of texting and driving. Still, studies show that they — and motorists throughout the country — are not only getting distracted in their driving by cellphone calls and texting, but also gaming and social media while they drive.
    In one study by Students Against Destructive Decisions and Liberty Mutual Insurance, people of high school age were asked to rank distracting activities by how dangerous they were. Only 6% chose posting to or looking at social media as the most dangerous. A quarter said that writing a text message was the most dangerous, and 29% named driving under the influence.

    The National Safety Council surveyed 2,400 drivers of all ages and found that nearly three-quarters would use Facebook while driving. Nearly one-third said that they would use Instagram and more than one-third said that they would use YouTube and Twitter while behind the wheel. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that daily, more than 1,000 people are injured, and eight are killed as a result of distracted driving. The National Safety Council says that around a quarter of all crashes happen due to phone-related distractions. However, because the numbers often depend on self-reporting, many experts believe estimates are too low. When someone causes a crash and injuries or death, however, law enforcement will likely check cell phones and vehicle data recorders. Attorneys also regularly subpoena cellphone records in auto injury and death claims and seek downloads from vehicle crash data.

    So, what do we do to protect ourselves? Put your phones away when you are driving — even if you are not one of those folks who text and drive or otherwise. Phones are a distraction from safe driving, period. There is nothing that cannot wait until you get to your destination. Next, protect yourself by having adequate insurance coverage. If you are significantly harmed by a distracted driver who carries minimum limits ($30,000 in liability coverage), you need adequate underinsured coverage on your own policy to protect yourself. I recommend at least $100,000 in uninsured/underinsured protection. The reality is that we have no control over the decisions and actions of other drivers. We can control our own decisions and actions to drive safely and protect ourselves with adequate insurance coverage.

     

  • 08 03 Roman MaryinezThe U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command is offering a reward of $25,000 for credible information leading to the apprehension and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the homicide of Spc. Enrique Roman-Martinez of Fort Bragg. Partial remains of the 82nd Airborne Division paratrooper were found near Cape Lookout National Seashore May 29. Positive identification was made using the soldier’s dental records. Spc. Roman-Martinez, 21, was last seen May 22, at a campsite on South Core Banks, one of the islands that make up Cape Lookout National Seashore. His phone and wallet were found at the campsite. Roman-Martinez entered the Army in September 2016, attended airborne school at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was assigned as a paratrooper at Fort Bragg in March 2017. His awards and decorations include the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon and the Army Parachutist Badge. Anyone with information, contact Army Criminal Investigation Division Special Agents at 910-396-8777.

  • Demand for testing increases
    08 02 N2006P71014CAs cases rise across the country, there has been an increase in demand for COVID-19 testing locally, which has created a backlog for many laboratories and extended the turnaround time to process tests. Individuals tested by Health Department staff may not receive test results for five to seven business days.

    “Testing is a critical part of our strategy to slow the spread of COVID-19,” said Health Director Dr. Jennifer Green. “The demand for testing is unprecedented.”

    The Cumberland County Department of Public Health is offering drive-thru testing on Tuesdays and Thursdays while supplies last and staffing are available. Visit the department’s Testing and Collection page online to schedule an appointment. On Tuesdays, test collection will be conducted at Manna Church, 5117 Cliffdale Rd., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Thursdays, test collection is conducted at the Cumberland County Health Department, 1235 Ramsey St., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

     

  • “Life is uncertain — eat dessert first.”
    — Ernestine Ulmer.

    Does this quote resonate with anyone? Life has not been normal since COVID-19 reared its ugly head, causing massive quarantines and economic instability. Ernestine Ulmer’s advice is timely, and summertime is the best time to enjoy a universally loved dessert — ice cream. I easily persuaded family members to “go glimmering,” our family’s nickname for a spontaneous adventure, and taste test the unique flavors of homemade ice cream in the Cape Fear region.

    There are a plethora of commercial businesses where you can buy ice cream in our region — too many to list in here, so our emphasis was on homemade and hometown entrepreneurs who offer not only delicious ice cream but also a fun destination worth exploring. For this article, I chose three locations, each under an hour’s drive from downtown Fayetteville. Still, I felt guilty leaving out Sweet Frog, Baskin-Robbins, Cold Stone Creamery and the employer of teenage me — Dairy Queen. It was at DQ that I learned how to artistically twist the soft ice cream into a little curlicue on top of the cone and quickly dip it into the chocolate without dumping the whole confectionary treat.
    On the road, our first adventure was to Gillis Hill Farm, which is always a fun family excursion. We visited on a “strawberry Saturday” where, in addition to getting delicious ice cream, we could also pick strawberries and purchase fresh produce, jams, jellies and honey. Before we even sampled the ice cream, we bought two baskets of berries and a round watermelon we tucked into our trunk. Children love visiting Gillis Hill Farm as there are animals and play areas sprinkled throughout the grounds. Farmers in this area since the 1700s, the most recent generation of the Gillis family has expanded into agritourism.

    The ice cream shop was open during the quarantine but operated responsibly by requiring social distancing and allowing only one person at a time to order at the window. Instead of the usual perch on the porch rocking chairs, Gillis Hill Farm encouraged us, and all visitors, to enjoy treats in our cars. The homemade flavors vary — check their Facebook page to see what to expect during your visit. They offer cups, homemade waffle cones and pints you can take home. I sampled the strawberry, having just left the patch, and it was creamy and flavorful. My daughter tried the banana and found it oh so “a-peel-ing.”

    Sunni Sky’s was our next day’s adventure, and it did not disappoint. Described as “ice cream heaven,” there are almost always over 120 flavors to choose from and a larger-than-life hot-pink ice cream cone statue to take a selfie by. In the past, they even had “hot” flavors — one famously named “cold sweat” that would cause partakers to break into one. Cheers to the employees, aka “inspectors” — per the stenciled titles on every worker’s shirt, who managed a two-car line up to keep fans fed and moving efficiently. My choice was a butterscotch bliss, my daughter had blue nerd, and my husband tried a double scoop of coffee. Bits of butterscotch provided extra sweetness, and the coffee choice smelled as good as it tasted. The blue nerd was colorful but excessively filled with nerds and a little too sugary.

    We decided to “double-dip” our Sunday adventure and head to the nearby town of Coats to try the ice cream at Smith Farm. Unfortunately, it was closed due to the quarantine. We were excited to try their fresh fruit flavors and creamy ice cream but will have to plan another date to experience their offerings firsthand (and mouth). Their Facebook page promises wood churned ice cream, delicious shakes and root beer floats.

    During the “shelter-at-home” days, some families invested in ice cream makers to make recipes from scratch. From low-cost hand-cranked models to speedier high-tech machines, anyone can create homemade cold and creamy treats. The magical transformation of the simple ingredients of fresh fruit, cream and sugar into ice cream enthralls both the young and the young at heart.

    Make time to celebrate summer by making a batch of homemade ice cream or setting out on an excursion to one of these locally owned venues. The unique flavors, fresh ingredients and pride in craftsmanship will be your reward.

    More homemade ice cream shops in and around Fayetteville

    Gillis Hill Farm
    2701 Gillis Hill Road
    Fayetteville, N.C. 28306
    910-867-2350
    http://www.gillishillfarm.com/

    Sunny Sky’s Homemade Ice Cream Inc.
    8617 NC-55
    Angier, N.C. 27501
    919-427-7118
    http://www.sunniskys.com/

    Smith Farm
    NC-55, Coats, N.C. 27521
    910-897-4269

    Smallcakes: Cupcakery & Creamery
    2132 Skibo Rd #114
    Fayetteville, N.C. 28314
    910-835-1074

    The Sweet Palette
    101 Person St.
    Fayetteville, N.C. 28301
    910-489-7342

    The Coffee Scene
    3818 Morganton Rd.
    910-864-0555

     

  • 12 SAACE.J. McArthur and Colin Baumgartner are both students and athletes at Jack Britt High School who have been directly impacted by the statewide shutdown of sports for all athletes at member schools of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.

    But McArthur, who plays basketball, and Baumgartner, a cross country, track and field and swimming competitor, have a little different perspective on the effect the COVID-19 pandemic is having on their peers. McArthur and Baumgartner are the Region IV representatives to the NCHSAA’s Student Advisory Athletic Committee.

    The SAAC is made up of 16 athletes representing each of the eight geographical regions of the NCHSAA. In normal times, they travel to the NCHSAA office in Chapel Hill one Sunday each month to discuss topics of importance to the state’s high school athletes.

    Though the pandemic has forced McArthur and Baumgartner and their fellow committee members to hold their meetings virtually over the last couple of months, they are still doing the business of the committee while also discussing the challenges of trying to reopen the state to practice and competitive sports by the time the fall season begins.
    Barring a late change by the NCHSAA, many of the state’s school systems were scheduled to begin off-season summer workouts on July 6.

    As a basketball player, McArthur was among the athletes who was able to complete play for the 2019-20 season, but he empathizes with those who weren’t as fortunate as he was.

    “Most people were really devastated when their season ended,’’ he said.

    Baumgartner said one of the biggest challenges of not being able to hold structured practices with teammates is developing the discipline to work out alone. “You’ve got to make the best of what you’ve got,’’ he said.

    McArthur said many athletes he knows are speaking together daily to encourage each other. Some are holding small group workout sessions, either together or in some cases virtually.

    His biggest concern remains that his peers make sure any workouts they are holding are being done with precautions against spreading the virus. “Some kids are just being kids while others are taking precautions,’’ McArthur said.

    While no one is happy with not being able to practice or play, Baumgartner thinks most of the people he’s been in contact with are doing the best they can to observe the COVID-19 restrictions in hopes of returning to a more normal order of things as quickly as possible.

    "I'm very understanding of what's going on," he said. 

    Looking to the fall and hoping for a return to normal competition, McArthur said he agrees with what most people in education have said about a return to athletics. If the students aren’t able to be in the school building on a daily basis, the consensus is that athletic competition shouldn’t be allowed either.

    “If we aren’t safe enough to be around each other, what makes sports different?’’ McArthur said. “It’s risk and reward. If we risk it now and things happen, then everything is shut back down. Right now it’s the safety of the kids, coaches and officials.’’

    McArthur noted the complicated nature of COVID-19 as a concern, adding
    that even people who survive the disease are being diagnosed with various complications. “Kids should take precautions,’’ he said, “if not for themselves,
    for their loved ones, the people in their house and everybody else.’’

    There has been some discussion of moving some or all fall sports to the spring season, if needed, to allow the COVID-19 curve more time to flatten. Baumgartner sees some benefit in doing that, but added it could also create problems, especially for those athletes who play multiple sports and might have to choose between sports if their favorites were played at the same time.

    Baumgartner doesn’t think it would be a good idea to allow some sports where it is easier to practice social distancing to resume while preventing other athletes in sports with greater contact from resuming practice and play.

    “I feel that would create a lot of friction between contact and noncontact sports,’’ he said. “We could catch a lot of flak for promoting something like that.’’

     

  • 05 01 Mitch Colvin 2Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin has created two City Council-led committees to review policies related to the city’s healing and reconciliation movement. “It’s my intent that we take a hard look at what we do from both an internal and external perspective at the city level,” said Colvin.

    Councilwoman Tisha Waddell will lead an internal review committee, and Councilman Larry Wright will lead the external review committee as they relate to racial inequality. Colvin and Mayor pro tem Kathy Jensen will serve as co-chairs of both committees, which will propose mission statements during the Aug. 3 City Council work session. With more than 1,600 city employees, Colvin said there are a lot of personal interactions among them and the citizens they serve. “It is important that we ensure that our policies, and most importantly, our actions, reflect equality and fairness for all,” Colvin stated.

    05 02 PWC logo 2Open letter from PWC executive

    Public Works Commission CEO David Trego posted a message this month on the utility’s website, encouraging customers to keep their accounts under control. Trego noted that state government issued orders during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic providing utility customers certain protections. The order has allowed residential customers not to pay their utility bills in full without fear of having service turned off. The idea was to provide short-term economic relief for customers. Two weeks before the order was issued, on March 16, PWC had already stopped cutoffs for past due bills. Then in late May, the protections were extended.

    “We want to help customers manage overdue balances,” Trego said. “If you are unable to pay your PWC bill in full, we encourage customers, who are able, to make partial payments... so that the total amount due is manageable when the protection period expires. I want to thank our customers for how you’ve helped our community and thank you in advance for staying diligent in the coming weeks as we all work together to get through these trying times,” Trego added.

    05 03 Fort Bragg HeadquartersFort Bragg’s name will not be changed anytime soon

    The Army has announced several measures to reduce racial bias in the military justice system, but renaming posts bearing the names of Confederate military commanders will have to wait for a Pentagon-wide order. “We are advisers,” said Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville during a recent press conference. “We pass military advice to our civilian leaders, and they are working through that trying to come up with a long-term and enduring policy.”

    In early June, Army leaders and Defense Secretary Mark Esper said they were open to discussing the renaming of Army installations that bear the names of Confederate generals. But President Trump tweeted that his administration “will not even consider” the move. That apparently does not mean the idea is dead. Congress could ultimately push the issue forward. There are at least 10 Army posts named for prominent Confederates, including Fort Bragg. Gen. Braxton Bragg commanded Southern rebel forces during the Civil War.

    Pet adoptions are again available in Cumberland County
    05 04 Pet Adoption 3
    The animal control department is making pet adoptions available by appointment during the COVID-19 situation. Animal control staff members wear face masks and observe physical distancing protocols. They ask members of the public to do the same while in the animal control building on Corporation Drive off Tom Starling Road. Pet adoption fees are $28 through the end of July, thanks to a grant from PetSmart Charities. Hours of operation for pet adoptions, stray animal intakes and owner claims are 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. All services are by appointment only. Call 910-321-6852 to schedule an appointment.

    05 05 Summer VacationIt’s summer vacation time for local government leaders

    City and county elected officials take time off in July every year. Fayetteville City Council and the Board of County Commissioners have not scheduled regular meetings this month. The members try to take their vacations during the month. “If a special or emergency meeting is needed, then one is scheduled,” said Assistant County Manager Sally Shutt. “County management and our department directors coordinate leave time within their offices to ensure sufficient staff coverage.”

    Shutt added that technology allows senor staff members to work remotely if needed, even while on vacation. The same is true in city government. Senior management team members vary their schedules so that at least one of them is on duty weekly.

    05 06 Hannah CogginsImagine not missing a day of school
    Cape Fear High School graduate Hannah Coggins completed her school experience knowing that she had not missed a single day of school in her life. Coggins not only celebrated completing high school, she was proud to have achieved a perfect attendance record, according to CFHS Principal Brian Edkins. “I have completed my entire school experience, from daycare to senior year, with perfect attendance,” Coggins said. “My inspiration for this accomplishment is my father; he pushed me to do my best.”
    Coggins’ family is confident she will continue the same study ethic as she makes plans to attend Fayetteville Technical Community College in the fall to become a physical therapist assistant.

  • 06 Oldest monumentFayetteville has a rich wartime history, much of it memorialized in Cross Creek Cemetery. One familiar story regards the U.S. Armory, which the Confederates appropriated and used to manufacture weapons, including the Fayetteville Rifle. In March 1865, Fayetteville was visited by Union Gen. William T. Sherman, who destroyed the armory building. Fayetteville is also the site of North Carolina’s first Confederate monument. Since 1868, North Carolinians have been building monuments commemorating the people and events of the Civil War.

    The first Civil War monument erected in North Carolina was in Cross Creek Cemetery #1 in Fayetteville. Led by Anna Kyle and Maria Spear, a group of local women raised money to build a monument. Kyle, who served as a nurse in the hospital during the Civil War, established the Confederate Burial Ground soon after Sherman and his army left Fayetteville. She and Fayetteville Mayor Archbald McLean selected a spot to inter the soldiers in the back section of the cemetery overlooking Cross Creek. The Rev. Joseph C. Huske of St. John’s Episcopal Church officiated at a mass burial later in the spring.

    The remains of 30 Confederate soldiers, who had fought Sherman’s army and had been buried in various places around town, were reinterred in the new Confederate section of Cross Creek Cemetery. The ladies pieced together a quilt and sold raffle tickets not only in Fayetteville but also in Chapel Hill, Tarboro and Wilmington. Their goal was to raise $1,000. In a war-ravaged economy, they only managed to raise one-third of that sum. Martha Lewis won the quilt in May 1868 and sent the prize to former Confederate president Jefferson Davis.

    The ladies employed a local stonemason to construct and install the monument. The memorial was the work of George Lauder, the most productive stonecutter in North Carolina during the 19th century. Lauder, a native of Scotland, also worked on the State Capitol in Raleigh and the Fayetteville Arsenal before opening his own marble yard in Fayetteville in 1845. On Dec. 30, 1868, the monument to the Confederate dead at Cross Creek Cemetery, the first in North Carolina, was dedicated. It was taken down by its owners last week.

    This was the fifth Confederate monument raised in the South following the end of the war. The monument consists of a white marble column with a cross at the top. The base of the column contains inscriptions on all four sides. Stanzas from the poem “The Bivouac of the Dead” by Theodore O’Hara appear on the front. Cross Creek Cemetery #1 is the oldest public cemetery in Fayetteville, begun in 1785. The cemetery contains over 1,100 grave markers and is the burial site of many early settlers and notable persons from throughout Fayetteville’s history.

    Among the gravestones is a tall stone monument for Revolutionary War hero Robert Rowan, who was the leading town patriot as well as the organizer and a signer of the Liberty Point Resolves.

    In the late 1860s, John R. Tolar dedicated another memorial in this section. It honored his father and eight uncles who were killed or disabled during the war. In addition to the Confederate dead, many Civil War veterans — both Southern and Northern — are interred in this part of the cemetery.

  • 02 futuregenThese are crazy times. So much upheaval. So many changes. So much anger. So much fear. And not enough love and understanding. There is no escaping the protests, tension, hostility, chanting, hypocrisy and unethical partisan political maneuvering in Fayetteville, Raleigh, our great state of North Carolina and throughout America.
    It feels like the America I’ve lived in and loved for the past seven decades is turning into a country of contradictions where bad means good, illegal has no meaning at all, police are treated as criminals and the criminals are innocent, misunderstood and righteous souls. It’s where shootings and murder are accepted and criminals run rampant. The burning of cities and looting of businesses and destroying personal property are time-tested antidotes to improving humanity.

    I have heard from many of our readers who share the same frustration. I understand their concerns and feel their hurt. These kinds of dire thoughts and worries carry a tremendous amount of parental anguish and guilt. We ask: What kind of America will we be leaving our children and grandchildren?

    So, to all the parents and grandparents out there struggling with these concerns, please know you are not alone. This may help.

    Below, I have reprinted a letter written by a loving father to his child. It contains a message that speaks volumes for many parents in our community who want to provide reassurance to their adult children that they love and support them while reaffirming traditional family values, convictions and lifestyles. As parents, they did the best they could. Now, out of respect, they will not interfere with their child’s family or future. They will remain the same loving and supportive parents they’ve always been.

    Enjoy, and thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

    The Letter

    Names and places have been changed. This could be any city or town in the country.

    Dear child,

    Your mom and I are very concerned for you and your family’s safety in Seattle. With a call for unfunding the police on the horizon, it’s only a matter of time before the outrage, carnage and lawlessness cross into your private neighborhood with no one to protect you and your family. This concerns us very much.
    The “peaceful” CHOP community downtown presents itself as the near-perfect sneak preview of what life will actually be like in an idealistic, lawless, Marxist and socialistic America. At this writing, two more young, black teenagers were shot dead last night.

    You both are young and successful professionals and have worked extremely hard for what you have. You have given us a beautiful grandchild who has their whole joyful and innocent life ahead of them. Please, don’t put your careers on hold or your lives in jeopardy chasing an idealistic utopia that will never come to be. Seattle, New York City, Baltimore and Detroit are all casualties of this madness, and they will not recover any time soon, if ever.

    Your mother and I prepared you for the real world by exposing you to real-life situations and teaching you honorable values — especially those that relate to honesty, decency, integrity and humanity.

    This new idealistic and destructive cancel culture movement aims to stamp out and eliminate the very environment you were brought up in — the same environment that made you a successful and confident adult, a devoted spouse and the caring and loving parent you are today. Once canceled, what will replace it?

    Rest assured, we do not want to run your life or tell you what to do or believe. We raised you to the best of our ability, and we are truly impressed with the person you have become. We are so very proud of you! Our only wish is for you and your family to be happy and safe and to continue to love us.

    However, please do not judge us or fault us for not renouncing our government or our way of life, for not taking a knee during the national anthem and for not apologizing for honoring and loving the only America we have ever known.

    Love you always!

    Dad

     

  • 09 jesse dyer UtiKgdpOmEI unsplashWithout a doubt, the year 2020 has been one to remember. Although things developed so rapidly on so many simultaneous fronts, it's been an easy year to forget, as well. How many things have you adapted so far? Birthdays, holidays, school and vacation — all of us have had to adapt to a continually shifting environment as we try our best to maintain forward momentum, haven't we?

    Personally, I've learned a lot about resilience. This year has been a journey into what it looks like to walk away from any sense of status quo and learn to do the things you've always known in a way they've never been done before. Like you and everyone else, there was no choice but to slow down, regroup and redefine the path — and in many cases, even the goal itself.

    As we've challenged ourselves to rethink everything from work to church to birthday parties, this tired old adage has become more relevant each day: "Change is inevitable. Learning from change is optional." As we continue to learn and grow, we easily offer more challenges to another tired mantra: "We have always done it that way."

    With change being the order of the day, the real question now is where to look for constants in our life. Where is your foundation and what is the source of stability as everything around you is shifting?

    As a former military family, we've long since learned the value of a solid home life. One where meals together at the table, siblings attending each others' dance recitals, ball games and school plays are not in question. We moved around the world and across the country, but we were always a family, and family mattered. As my children now have families of their own, I see that playing out in their homes, too.

    Another constant for many is a strong spiritual life. One where accountability to God and others comes in high on the list. For those who ascribe to Christianity, its namesake himself taught that those commandments (out of the 10) were the greatest, "... to love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, and to love others as you do yourself."
    In all honesty, when we observe those two, most of the rest of life falls into place pretty nicely. It's when we take those commandments into our workplace, into our families and into our social life to heart that we find ourselves more adaptable to changes that come our way — whether they find us in the midst of a pandemic, an economic crisis or civil unrest.

    So, whatever is shaking in your world today, I hope your foundation is firm. If not, the changes going on around us provide the perfect environment for a personal shift toward more solid ground.

  • 04 N1203P32001CThe recent market volatility has affected just about everybody’s financial and investment situations — so, if you were planning to retire soon, will it still be possible?
    Of course, the answer depends somewhat on your employment situation. With so many people’s jobs being affected by the coronavirus pandemic, your retirement plans may also have been thrown into confusion. But assuming your employment is still stable, what adjustments in your financial and investment strategies might you need to make for your retirement?

    Here are a few areas to consider, and some questions to ask yourself:

    Retirement goals Now is a good time to review your retirement goals and assess your progress toward achieving them. You may want to work with a financial professional to determine if the current environment has materially affected your goals or if you need to make modest adjustments to stay on track.

    Retirement lifestyle You probably created your investment strategy with a particular type of retirement lifestyle in mind. Perhaps you had planned to become a world traveler when your working days were over. Of course, in the near term, extensive travel may not be possible, anyway, but once we move past the pandemic, your freedom to roam will likely return. But if your investment portfolio is not where you thought it might be, can you (or do you want to) adapt your lifestyle plans? And can you accept the same flexibility with your other lifestyle goals, such as purchasing a vacation home, pursuing hobbies, and so on?

    Tradeoffs Based on your retirement goals and your willingness to adjust your retirement lifestyle, you’ll want to consider your options and tradeoffs. For example, would you be willing to work more years than you had originally planned in exchange for greater confidence in your ability to enjoy a comfortable retirement lifestyle? By working longer, you can continue adding to your IRA and 401(k) or similar retirement plan, and you may be able to push back the date you start receiving Social Security to receive bigger monthly benefits. You might also review your budget for opportunities to reduce spending today and potentially save more toward your retirement goals.

    Social Security You can file for Social Security benefits as early as 62, but you can get 25% to 30% more if you wait until your full retirement age, which is likely between 66 and 67. As you created your retirement plans, you likely also calculated when you would take Social Security, but you may need to review that choice. If you postpone retirement a few years, what effect will that have on when you choose to take Social Security and, consequently, the size of your benefits? You won’t want to make a hasty decision — once you start taking Social Security, you can’t undo your choice.

    This is certainly a challenging time to be entering retirement, and you’ll have some questions to answer. But even in the midst of uncertainty, you still have many choices.

    Consider them carefully and make the decisions that work for you.

  • 03 morning brew rU0WGGbGg4c unsplashAmerica’s culture wars are on full display in our take-no-prisoners response to wearing masks to protect others from COVID-19. Our nation’s inherent tension between individualism and collective good has pushed us into different corners, even though polls find more of us are in the collective good corner by better than 2 to 1. The smaller but highly visible my-rights-are-more-important-than-your-health crowd stands firm despite warnings from top pandemic officials, some of whom offer different ways to think about the situation. Pretend we were living in London during the Blitz of 1940-41 when Germany bombed the city and other parts of England every night for 11 weeks. During the Blitz, the British government required nightly blackouts to hamper the German bombing effort. What if your next-door-neighbor insisted it was his right to burn lights, and bombers missed his house but destroyed yours? Would that have been a proper assertion of individual rights? Or, how about this excuse offered by mask supporters tired of COVID, “I don’t like wearing a mask.” This cynical rejoinder comes from a mask wearer also tired of COVID. “So, you don’t like wearing a mask in public for whatever reasons? Well, you are really going to hate your ventilator!”

    ********************

    Continuing on COVID-19, no one knows what our situation will be when Nov. 3 rolls around. Will we feel comfortable voting in person, either early or on Election Day, when lines are likely to be long in a presidential election year? Will enough election officials be comfortable enough to oversee the voting process?

    Many Americans, including this one, are opting to vote by mail because of those very uncertainties. I printed my absentee ballot request from the North Carolina Board of Elections website, filled it out and mailed it in last week to the county Board of Elections. According to the website, I will receive an official ballot correct for the candidates in my precinct in September, to be mailed in before Election Day.

    If I decide to vote in person, I will simply tear up the absentee ballot. Voters have many reasons to request absentee ballots — age, illness, travel, incarceration, physical limitations and more, but voters do not have to give any reason for requesting an absentee ballot, nor is an ID required. All that is needed is name, address, N.C. driver’s license number or the last four digits of one’s Social Security number to be checked against Elections Board records. If you are interested, the state Board of Elections website is www.ncsbe.gov

    ********************
    Speaking of elections, campaign season is heating up, and it is not pretty. In the presidential contest, outside entities — those that were legalized by the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling in 2010 — are running all sorts of television ads on behalf of Biden and Trump, both positive and negative. The official campaigns are also running ads, which have the voices of Donald Trump or Joe Biden, acknowledging that they have “approved this ad.” A former candidate myself, I am always interested in political ads — whether they build up their candidate or tear down the other person, and how honestly they do so either way.

    So far, I have seen several official Biden ads touting his experience and patriotism and at least one going after Trump’s record. Trump’s campaign is hitting Biden hard, with less emphasis on Trump’s achievements as president. All of this could — and probably will — evolve over the next few months, but we can all rest assured about one thing.
    It is going to be a long summer and fall.

  • 10 joelA handful of law enforcement officials around the state of North Carolina have announced they have no plans to enforce the latest requirement of Gov. Roy Cooper that people wear masks in public the prevent the spread of COVID-19.

    Hope Mills Police Chief Joel Acciardo isn’t among those who will ask his officers to ignore the provision. At the same time, he said the emphasis won’t be heavy-handed, and based on how the community has reacted to previous restrictions put in place to help curb the spread of the illness, he expects the citizens of Hope Mills to be supportive.
    “The goal is not to go out and write people tickets,’’ Acciardo said. “The goal is to educate people and bring them into compliance. So far we haven’t had any issues in that area.’’

    One of the most popular locations in town for regular large gatherings of people is Hope Mills Lake. While the initial job of getting people to observe the restrictions while at the lake falls on lake attendants, Acciardo said whenever the police have had to be called in so far, intervention and education have usually resolved the situation without complication.

    If someone does refuse to abide by the requirement to wear a mask in public, Acciardo said a charge of criminal trespass could be assessed if the person refuses to wear a mask and won’t leave the premises.

    “Dialogue goes a long way,’’ Acciardo said.

    As long as people are on their own property and not having a gathering in excess of 10 people indoors or 25 people outdoors, they are free to not wear a mask.
    Acciardo said if the police do encounter someone without a mask, the police department currently isn’t able to provide people with them.

    “Our supplies are so limited,’’ he said. “Most of the time we barely have enough to cover our staff.

    “These facemasks are not meant to be used forever. There is a pretty quick turnover. Our supplies are pretty finite.’’

    As long as the officers are inside their cars, Acciardo said they will not be required to wear a mask, only needing to put them on when they have to interact with the public.
    As of this writing, Acciardo said the police department was still developing the policy and when masks would have to be worn inside police headquarters.

    He strongly suggested that everyone familiarize themselves with the latest requirements set down by Gov. Cooper in his most recent official order regarding safety measures required in public.

    Go to www.nc.gov/covid-19/covid-19-executive-orders and click on the link to the June 24 order for complete information.

    If anyone has questions about the enforcement of COVID-19 restrictions in Hope Mills, Acciardo can be reached at 910-425-4103.

     

  • While the Board of Commissioners and the staff at Town Hall do most of the heavy lifting of government for the town of Hope Mills, there’s another important group of volunteers that provide a lot of input to the decisions that are made about the town’s future.

    That group is the people who serve on a variety of official town committees that delve a little deeper than the full board does into various town issues.

    Jane Starling is the Town Clerk, and her job includes getting applications from people who are interested in serving on the various committees.

    In addition to taking a closer look at issues before the town, Starling said the committees also provide valuable exposure to town citizens on how government actually works. She said it's often the beginning of a citizen becoming more active while at the same time getting an education.

    Currently, the town has five committees and one commission. The committees include Parks and Recreation, Veterans Affairs, Zoning Board of Adjustment, Historic Preservation and Mayor’s Youth Leadership.

    The lone commission is Appearance.

    Nearly all the committees regularly meet at least once a month, unless the meeting date for a certain month falls on a major holiday.

    The committees are constructed around the election cycle. The January after an election is held in November, the committees get new members who are each added for a two-year term.

    The major exception to the rules is the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Its members serve a three-year term, and it only meets when a specific zoning issue is brought before it that requires action.

    If someone steps down from one of the committees between election cycles, they can be replaced by someone with an application Starling keeps on file. All applications for committee positions are held for one year.

    11 town hallOne of the reasons most of the Hope Mills bodies are committees and not commissions is the rules for filling the slots on a commission are more stringent.

    Starling said commissions require members who have specific experience or professional training connected with the specific mission of the commission. “It’s really difficult in this small of a municipality to find people to fill those positions,’’ she said.

    The Historic Preservation Commission was recently changed to a committee, and there has been talk of doing the same with the Appearance Commission.

    Most of the committees are made up of seven members. One exception is the Veterans Affairs Committee, which has two additional members who represent local veterans organizations.

    Each committee also has two liaison members, one from town staff and one from the Board of Commissioners.

    To find a complete list of the town committees and a description of their duties, go to townofhopemills.com, click on the Government tab and look for the list of committees.
    Most of the committees have resumed regular meetings in the community room at the Parks and Recreation Department building off Rockfish Road, where they can safely meet while observing social distancing.

    Normally, the public is allowed to attend committee meetings, but under the current COVID-19 restrictions, only committee members are permitted at the meetings.

    If anyone is interested in applying for a committee position for the 2021 election cycle or when an opening comes up, they can get a form from the town website, pick one up at Town Hall or request to have one mailed to them. The number at Town Hall is 910-424-4555.

  • 08 mateus campos felipe zd8px974bC8 unsplashDo you enjoy watching shows like “How to Get Away with Murder,” “Bull” or “All Rise”? Have you ever thought about a career in law? If you answered yes, then perhaps the paralegal profession is the career choice for you.

    Although a paralegal cannot practice law, as a trained professional, they do much of the behind-the-scenes work that ultimately influences the final product. Some of the work involves interviewing clients, drafting legal documents, assisting in trials, conducting legal research and investigating the facts of a case.

    Being a paralegal can also lead to career advancement. Advancement opportunities may exist within a law firm or private business or as a steppingstone to law school.
    There are also career opportunities for paralegals outside the traditional legal field. Businesses recognize the value of employing paralegals. There currently is, and will continue to be, an increase in the need for trained paralegals in such areas as finance, insurance, consulting and health care.

    At present, the U.S. Department of Labor projects the need for paralegals will increase at a minimum yearly rate of 8% through the year 2024.The Bureau of Labor, U.S. Department of Labor, in its “Occupational Outlook Handbook,” reports that as of May 2019, the median annual wage for paralegals and legal assistants was $51,740, an amount $11,930 higher than the median wage total for all occupations of $39,810.

    If you are ready for a rewarding and challenging career as a paralegal, then Fayetteville Technical Community College and its paralegal technology program are for you. FTCC offers two programs in paralegal studies: the associate degree in applied science program and the diploma program. The diploma program is a fast track for those who have already completed a bachelor’s degree. Both programs are approved by the American Bar Association and the North Carolina State Bar Association. Both programs are excellent and will get you to the place you want to go.

    Classes for the 2020 fall semester begin Aug. 17. Register now for fall classes. You can also reach out to an FTCC admissions professional at admissions@faytechcc.edu.
    For a high-quality education at an affordable price, make the smart choice for your education. Also, make the smart choice to register early for your fall classes. FTCC is a place where you can pursue your dream career. FTCC is a military-friendly college and ranked fifth in the nation by Military Times Best for Vets (2020).

    Contact me if you have questions about the paralegal programs. I can be reached by phone at 910-678-7379 or by email at groboskm@faytechcc.edu. You can also visit the FTCC website at www.faytechcc.edu. Enter “paralegal” as a search term using the search tool on the homepage to read about program details for both the associate degree and diploma programs.

  • 07 03 The Lodge Alumni AssociationFayetteville Area Operation Inasmuch has had a strong presence in this community for a long time. The nonprofit organization is set to celebrate two special anniversaries in the coming weeks, and the public is invited to participate. The organization will host a 10th anniversary and 13th anniversary celebration Monday, Aug. 5, through Friday, Aug. 9. 

    “We are celebrating... our 10-year anniversary for our breakfast program, where we serve the homeless and the poor here in the greater Fayetteville area, and we are celebrating our 13th anniversary as an organization,” said Rev. Ronald Rallis, deputy director of Operation Inasmuch. “For example, this morning we had over 105 individuals that we served breakfast to, and we had about 16 volunteers from the Elks Lodge and a church that wanted to come serve and minister to the homeless population.” 

    Thirteen years ago, the founder of Operation Inasmuch, Sue Byrd, started the organization with a couple of people. They had the vision of seeing a ministry on Hillsboro Street that would serve the poor and the homeless in the area.

    “St. Luke AME Church donated the facility that is here at 531 Hillsboro St.,” said Rallis, “and we have been serving breakfast for the last 10 years. It grew from that. When we say serving breakfast, that means we do it restaurant style. 

    “Last year, we served over 23,000 people and had the privilege of having more than 9,000 volunteers from over 100 07 01 Free Haircutschurches, businesses and professional organizations to come and serve every weekday morning.” 

    Rallis noted that the organization added some houses and built a lodge two years ago, across the street from the breakfast program. It is a transitional work program lodge that has 40 beds for men who no longer want to be homeless. 

    “In order to become a part of the program, they have to come to the breakfast first at 7:30 a.m. to register, and (they) become a family member,” said Rallis. “They will meet with our family services coordinator, Sheri Duarte, who will give them an overall briefing as to what services are being offered.”       

    Rallis added that Operation Inasmuch is the only place in Fayetteville that works with the Fayetteville Police Department in providing identification cards for the homeless.   

    “Aug. 5-9 is a weeklong celebration of our 10th anniversary of serving breakfast and our 13th anniversary of the ministry itself,” said Rallis. “This whole ministry is 10:13, which references Romans 10:13 that says, “And all that call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” 

    During the celebration, the following organizations, groups or individuals will serve breakfast as follows: 
    • Monday, Aug. 5: 15 philanthropic organizations — Kiwanis, The Elks, The Rotary  
    • Tuesday, Aug. 6: Civil service members — Judges, Cumberland County Commissioners, City Council                                                                 
    • Wednesday, Aug. 7: Businesses — Pep Boys, Staples, Peaden’s
    07 02 Craft making 1• Thursday, Aug. 8: Professionals — Law firms, dental offices, insurance companies
    • Friday, Aug. 9: 15 churches 

    Aug. 7 is also Operation Inasmuch Baseball Night at Segra Stadium at 7 p.m. “We would love for everyone to come out and support (this event),” said Rallis. “We are giving God the glory of allowing us to be able to serve the community.” Tickets for the baseball game cost $12. 

    Operation Inasmuch offers a variety of other services, including counseling, family services, dental missions of mercy, eye glasses, haircuts, hygiene and grooming products, resume preparation and more. For more information, call 714-309-0814. 

    Fayetteville Area Operation Inasmuch provides a vast array of services to help homeless and low-income people in the area get back on their feet.

  • 04 mike pettiThe recent promotion of Fayetteville Police Major James Nolette to assistant chief gave rise to the question, “What happened to Assistant Chief Michael Petti?” 

    Up & Coming Weekly asked Police Chief Gina Hawkins, who said: “Michael Petti is still with the police department. He is a lieutenant assigned to the Criminal Investigative Division.” 

    City officials, including Mayor Mitch Colvin, Manager Doug Hewett and Attorney Karen MacDonald declined to comment on the change. 

    Up & Coming Weeklylearned Petti recently left the police department but was rehired so he could complete the time required to be eligible for retirement. Former Chief Harold Medlock promoted him. 

    Two-and-a-half years ago, Petti graduated from the FBI National Academy program in Quantico, Virginia. The FBI said less than one-half of 1% of law enforcement officers are selected to attend this training course. It is internationally known for its academic excellence. The National Academy provides 11 weeks of advanced communication, leadership and fitness training for selected officers having proven records as professionals in their agencies. 

    Garbage trucks broken down

    The city of Fayetteville’s Solid Waste Division is still operating with a shortage of garbage trucks. Some city sanitation employees are temporarily off the job. 

    “Those without available equipment are reassigned, if possible,” said City Public Information Specialist Kevin Arata. “If not, they are sent home with the option of using compensatory time if they have it — most do as they have been working a lot of additional hours lately — or vacation time.” 

    Deputy City Manager Kristoff Bauer said 19 of the city’s 44 trucks experienced mechanical problems July 18. Many of them are still out of service as of this writing. The breakdowns initially resulted in next-day yard waste pickup not occurring. Bauer said the mechanical problems included broken seals, gaskets and blades. 

    The city said on its website that “heat has significantly impacted the readiness of our solid waste and yard waste trucks. As a result, we haven’t had enough available trucks to maintain solid waste and yard waste pickup schedules. 60% of the fleet is down.” 

    Other communities have not reported similar problems, nor has Waste Management, which is contracted by the city to provide recycling and apartment complex solid waste pickup. Residents were encouraged to leave their roll-out carts at the curb until they are emptied. 

    History comes alive at the Museum of the Cape Fear 

    The Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex Foundation announces its annual fall/winter program series, “History LIVE!” The local museum was awarded a project support grant for $9,000 from the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County. The “History LIVE!” series offers a live look at the past through historical re-enactments, artist demonstrations, musical performances and live-action theater with four special events. 

    The Museum Foundation will match the grant. “Grant funds and other donations allow us to offer this programming for free or at minimal cost to the public,” said Megan Maxwell, the “History LIVE!” program series coordinator. 

    Colonial life in North Carolina takes center stage at the Festival of Yesteryear: A Celebration of Early America on Sept. 7. 

    Hallowe’en Revels Night Tours of the 1897 Poe House spotlights live theater with a historical Halloween twist Oct. 23-25. 

    Celebrate an old-fashioned Halloween with a free kids concert and costume contest at the Poe House Trick or Treat Oct. 26. 

    Christmas traditions are highlighted Dec. 8 with the Holiday Jubilee, featuring carolers, historic décor and Santa.

    Rare brain disease claims a life in Cumberland County

    A Greensboro area individual has died as the result of contracting a rare disease in Cumberland County July 12. The state Department of Health and Human Services notified the local health department of the death, saying that an individual from Guilford County died after developing primary amebic meningoencephalitis. It is an illness caused by an ameba that is naturally present in warm freshwater during the summer. The individual became ill after swimming in Fantasy Lake Water Park near Hope Mills. 

    The National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the individual’s illness was caused by an amoeba, which apparently was forced up the swimmer’s nose. That is the only known cause of the infection. This amoeba is mostly likely to be present when it is hot for prolonged periods of time, resulting in higher water temperatures and lower water levels. 

    County Interim Health Director Duane Holder expressed condolences to the family of the victim, noting that the case was one of only five known instances in North Carolina between 1962 and 2018. 

    “We encourage everyone to use precaution when swimming, diving or water-skiing in warm freshwater lakes,” he said. Holder suggested limiting the amount of water going up the nose by holding the nose or using nose clips when swimming in warm freshwater lakes. For more information about primary amebic meningoencephalitis, visit www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/. 

    If you have questions or concerns, contact the Cumberland County Department of Public Health at 910-433-3645 or 910-433-3655. 

    FAST survey underway

    The Fayetteville Area System of Transit is conducting a customer feedback survey that allows residents to offer input on service improvements and potential new service areas. Bus riders and nonriders can take the survey. FAST staff and interns are surveying passengers and others at various locations around Fayetteville as well as onboard buses. 

    The FAST survey can be found at ridefast.net or facebook.com/ComeRidewithFAST. 

    Economic development group gains new executive

    The Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation announces Jessica Aspiras as its new vice president of marketing and business development. “Together with our public and private partners, FCEDC continues working to promote the Fayetteville and Cumberland County community as a top business destination,” said Robert Van Geons, president and CEO of FCEDC. “We’re happy to have Jessica on the team and look forward to the tangible results she will help us achieve.” 

    Aspiras holds a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from Syracuse University and a bachelor’s degree in mass media studies from Florida State University. “I am eager to help continue our community’s growth and momentum through strategic marketing and communications initiatives,” she said. 

    Van Geons said Aspiras specializes in strategic planning, integrated tactics, servant leadership, collaborative direction, team building, focused execution and business agility. 

    Pictured: Michael Petti

  • 11 14u Hope MillsRichard Martinez has already taken an all-star team to a Dixie Youth World Series. Next month, he’ll take a second trip as he guides the Hope Mills 14U state Dixie Youth champions to this year’s series in Aiken, South Carolina.

    “It’s a very special group of boys,’’ he said of his 12-member team.

    He told them earlier that he had previously made a World Series bid and there was no reason this team couldn’t do the same. “If you all work together as a team, and everybody believes in the ‘we’ instead of the ‘I,’ there’s nothing to stop you guys from going all the way,’’ he said.

    The strength of this team could be pitching depth. Martinez said all 12 of his players are capable of throwing strikes, and at least nine of them have the ability to dominate when they’re on the mound.

    The top hurler so far has been Dallas Capps. He has a 3-0 record in the postseason that includes 13 innings pitched with 16 strikeouts and only three runs allowed.

    Anthony Spatorico, who normally is a catcher, shut down Columbus County over five innings as Hope Mills rallied from an early four-run deficit to win 5-4. Garret Smith shut out defending state champion Brunswick County through six innings before being relieved.

    At the plate, Capps is the team’s leading hitter with a whopping .777 batting average. Brandon Novy is batting .438.

    “All the boys contributed greatly,’’ Martinez said.

    Unlike the other three Hope Mills teams headed to World Series play, which will be in Louisiana, Martinez and his team only have to drive roughly three hours to get to Aiken.

    The opening ceremonies are on Friday, Aug. 2, and the first game for Hope Mills is Saturday, Aug. 3, vs. Tennessee.

    “These boys are resilient; they never give up,’’ Martinez said.

    In the time remaining until they leave for South Carolina, Martinez said the focus will be on pitching and bunting. “We missed a lot of scoring opportunities because we couldn’t execute our bunts,’’ he said. In the last two games, Hope Mills stranded 22 runners on base.

    Although they don’t have a lot of time — less than a week from the time this story prints — Martinez said the team is going to try to raise as much money as possible to fund the trip.

    The tournament ends with the championship game on Aug. 7. “Our goal is to be there on Aug. 7,’’ Martinez said.

    Players: Nathan Camacho, Dallas Capps, Stephen Kriner, Adrick Murray, Brandon Novy, Jacob Patawaran, Maddox Powers, Garret Smith, William Smith, Anthony Spatorico, Brayden Speis, Jacob Sports

    Coaches: Richard Martinez, Blake Smelcer, Joey Smith, Juan Viera

     

  • 08 walkersWhen Fayetteville Assistant City Manager Jay Reinstein revealed that he had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s last summer, he started a crusade. The city and the community rallied around him and, with less than a month to prepare, fielded one of the largest Walk to End Alzheimer’s teams in the state. The Jay Walkers raised close to $28,000 for Alzheimer’s education, support and research at last September’s Fayetteville Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Reinstein has since gone on to serve on the national Alzheimer’s Association Early Stage Advisory Council, enabling him to educate and raise awareness on a nation-wide level. 

    This year, the Jay Walkers are once again rallying to support Reinstein. Tracey Broyles, budget and evaluation director for the city of Fayetteville, is team captain for the Jay Walkers. “On July 31 last year, Jay bravely shared his diagnosis with his colleagues,” Broyles said. “On that very same day, I received an email with details of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s (scheduled for) the first weekend in September. I also learned that the kickoff meeting for team captains was the very next evening.

    “With the support of City Manager Doug Hewett, and Jay Reinstein and Elizabeth Somerindyke as co-captains, we began our team recruitment and fundraising efforts with a goal of $2,000 in donations. We ended up with a team of over 100 members and raised almost $28,000 by the time we had finished. 

    “It was an easy mission, in large part, due to the relationships that Jay had formed and nurtured over his lifetime. We had so many city employees volunteer to participate, and we also had former coworkers of Jay’s at the city of Durham join us as well. I think it was Jay’s openness with his diagnosis that moved so many people to participate.” 

    In addition to city employees, many private citizens who knew and heard about Reinstein also participated. Fayetteville’s Public Works Department fielded a team and raised $2,000 in Reinstein’s honor.

     Reinstein and the Jay Walkers will be back for this year’s Sept. 7 Walk to End Alzheimer’s after a summer of fundraising. Reinstein reached out to Walmart corporate headquarters and was put in touch with the Ramsey Street Walmart store manager. As a result, the Jay Walkers were invited to fundraise over three weekends at the store. Through this team effort, the generosity of Walmart’s customers and a generous donation from Walmart, the Jay Walkers raised more than $6,500 toward this year’s team fundraising goal. 

    The Fayetteville Woodpeckers also hosted an Alzheimer’s Awareness night July 27 with $2 from the purchase of each ticket donated to the cause.

    “This year,” said Broyles, “Elizabeth and I have been joined by coworker Cynthia Blot in serving as co-captains for the Jay Walkers. And, of course, Jay is hard at work as well. While we are (at) over 30% of our $40,000 goal, we are still hard at work planning other fundraising events. Look for us around town this summer.”

    The Fayetteville Walk to End Alzheimer’s will begin at Festival Park Saturday, Sept. 7, at 9 a.m. It is open to everyone in the community. To sign up to participate and to learn more about Alzheimer’s, visit act.alz.org/fayetteville. 

    The Jay Walkers have raised more than 30% of their $40,000 goal. The group raises money to help end Alzheimer’s disease.

     

  •  03 Smiling ManA smart-aleck friend of mine, who shall remain nameless — Shawn Schultz — recently sent me an email remarking on my personal physical resemblance to the ancient Greek playwright Aeschylus. Aeschylus, or Scully as his buddies called him, was bald. I am bald. My grandfather was bald. I’m aware. 

    Recall what George Costanza said in a memorable exchange with Elaine over George’s new toupee. Elaine, referring to George’s fake hair: “You’re bald!” George: “No I’m not. I was bald!” Elaine then grabs George’s toupee, yelling: “I don’t like this thing. Here’s what I’m doing with it,” and tosses the offending hair piece out the window to the streets below. 

     You might well ask what this has to do with Scully. It turns out Scully’s death is a warning to all the bald persons of Earth. If you are bald, or Follicularly Alternatively Blessed — FAB as we in the bald community prefer to refer to ourselves — consider this column a public service announcement that could save your life. 

    If you are cursed with hair on your head due to an excess of Neanderthal genes, you can skip the rest of this column and go directly to the crossword puzzle. 

    However, if you are FAB, please read carefully and take notes. Your baldness could lead to your premature demise. Like Charlie on the MTA who got caught without an extra nickel when the fare went up, this could happen to you. Now back to the sad tale of our friend Scully. 

    Scully was a very popular dude abiding in ancient Greece. He was born in 523 B.C. Before he started writing plays, he had a distinguished military career. He fought in the battle of Marathon in 490 with the Athenians when they whipped the Persian hordes led by King Darius. This made the world safe and profitable for Nike shoes almost 2,500 years later. 

    When he was 26, Scully had a dream in which the god Dionysus came to him and told him to start writing plays. Scully, not wanting to disobey a Greek god, started writing tragedies and didn’t stop. Scully is credited with writing between 70 to 90 plays. He has been called the Father of Greek tragedies. 

    The Greeks had play-writing contests. Scully won many first-place awards in the ancient Greek version of the Tony Awards. He had the format for writing tragedies down pat. You might say he had the Grecian formula. But if you say that out loud, people will look at you like you lost your mind. So just think it. Don’t say it out loud. 

    But in a case of life imitating art, the tragedies Scully wrote appeared in his own life, or rather in his own death. 

    Long before telephone psychics appeared on the scene, the Greeks had oracles who, for a price, could predict the future using nothing more than smoke and chicken entrails. An oracle told Scully to watch out for falling objects as one of those Unidentified Falling Objects, or UFOs, had his name on it, which could prove fatal. Scully took this prediction seriously. He started spending most of his time outdoors, where chandeliers and walls wouldn’t fall on him. 

     Like Robert Burns wrote: “The best laid schemes o’ mice an’men/ Gang aft a-gley.” Scully’s careful plan to remain outside away from heavy objects wasn’t going to pan out the way he had hoped. 

    If the oracle says you are going to encounter a heavy object, it’s gonna happen. You can’t fool the oracle. Like the old Chiffon margarine commercial said in a slightly different context: “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature. If you think it’s butter/ But it’s not/ It’s Chiffon.” Oracles and Mother Nature always prevail despite the best efforts of mortals. 

     So, here is what happened: One day, Scully was outside warming his bald head in the bright sunshine. An eagle was flying overhead carrying a turtle in its talons. Eagles can’t eat turtles when the turtle is in his shell. But eagles are pretty smart birds. They will pick up a turtle in their claws, fly up into the delirious, burning blue sky and look for a rock to drop the hapless turtle on. The impact cracks the turtle’s shell, and it’s turtle tartar time for the eagle. Yum. 

    On this day, instead of the usual eagle-eyed eagle, the eagle overhead was nearsighted and had lost its bifocals. The eagle mistook Scully’s bald head for a rock. He dropped the turtle on top of old Scully all covered with peach fuzz. As Sancho Panza said in “Man of La Mancha”: “Whether the pitcher hits the stone, or the stone hits the pitcher, it’s going to be bad for the pitcher.” The turtle and Scully both expired from the impact. 

    So what does this mean for the FAB community? If you are outside, wear a hat so a nearsighted eagle does not mistake your head for a rock. I always wear a hat. Jim Morrison of The Doors advised us that “No one gets out of here alive.” There are better ways to leave this mortal coil. Consider the exit strategy of 71-year-old former Vice President Nelson Rockefeller, who had a heart attack while “working” with his attractive 26-year-old female assistant. Rocky died with a smile on his face. And not a turtle in sight. Now, go put on a hat. 

    If you are bald, or Follicularly Alternatively Blessed — FAB as we in the bald community prefer to refer to ourselves — consider this column a public service announcement that could save your life.

  • 14 Vernon Aldridge copyAfter consecutive months of record-setting heat in June and July, high school football players and other outdoor fall sports athletes return to the practice fields in force Aug. 1 for the first official day of North Carolina High School Athletic Association preseason workouts. 

    Heat is always a concern for athletes in Fayetteville and Cumberland County, but the string of triple-digit heat index days that were recorded during the last two months makes the challenge of keeping athletes safe in the heat a major focus heading into August.

    Vernon Aldridge, student activities director for Cumberland County Schools, said heat awareness is always a priority for his office and the coaches and athletes he helps to oversee.

    “Every athletic trainer is equipped with a wet bulb, and there’s a heat protocol for what’s supposed to take place at different temperatures on the wet bulb,’’ Aldridge said.

    The wet bulb Aldridge referred to is a specially designed thermometer that is covered with a water-soaked cloth. Used in conjunction with a standard dry bulb thermometer, it measures the relative humidity of the air. The reading warns when precautions, up to and including suspending outdoor practice, should be taken.

    The NCHSAA Handbook requires constant observation and supervision of all athletes at outdoor practices when the wet bulb temperature reaches 88-89.9 degrees. Once it hits 90 or above, all practice should be suspended. If that happens during an actual game, mandatory breaks are required.

    Aldridge said Cumberland County has long adhered to those policies, while also making sure athletes get frequent water breaks and that water is readily available in all practice situations.

    “We have misters that will be out to help keep the players cool,’’ he said. If a true heat emergency takes place, each school needs to have an immersion pool on-site so they can immediately put a player suffering from any symptoms of heat illness in the pool and cool them off.

    Aldridge said that specifically in the case of football, where all the extra equipment increases the danger of heat illness, teams are discouraged from practicing between the hours of 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.

    “Most of our football teams practice either early in the morning or late in the evening,’’ Aldridge said. “If for some reason the heat does come in earlier, I send out emails to the schools letting them know we are going to extend that time to 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. We keep a close eye on the heat index and try to make those decisions to keep the kids safe.

    “That will be our No. 1 priority.’’

    Pictured: Vernon Aldridge

  • 15 Alex Scruggs copyHere’s a brief recap of how Cumberland County’s players fared in the annual East-West All-Star football and basketball games held earlier this month in Greensboro in conjunction with the annual North Carolina Coaches Association Clinic. 

    Basketball:Wake Forest-bound Alex Scruggs of E.E. Smith High School was named Most Valuable Player for the East girls’ team as she led her squad to an 81-78 victory. The East built a comfortable 48-35 lead at halftime but had to hold off a strong West rally to get the win.

    Scruggs hit nine of 14 shots from the floor and one of three 3-pointers for a game-high 20 points. She led the East in rebounding with eight. East teammate Kendal Moore of Pine Forest, who’s headed for N.C. State, also stood out with 17 points. She made six of 14 shots, two of six from 3-point range, and grabbed three rebounds. Scruggs and Moore both started in the game. 

    Terry Sanford’s Kate Perko, who will attend Meredith, scored two points and had four rebounds. 

    Pine Forest’s David May got the win as head coach, his final game as a head coach as he will be stepping into an assistant’s role next season.

    16 Kyler Davis copyIn the boys basketball game, Brion McLaurin of Seventy-First and his East teammates had a tough night as they lost to the West 119-80. McLaurin was one of four East players in double figures, coming off the bench to score 11 points on four of nine shooting from the field. He made his only 3-point attempt. He was the East’s No. 2 rebounder with six.

    Football:The East’s Kyler Davis of Seventy-First and Dante Bowlding of Terry Sanford both started and contributed to a dominating 20-8 win over the West All-Stars.

    Davis earned a spot in the East-West All-Star game record book when he threw an 81-yard touchdown pass to Lamont Murray of Pamlico County in the first quarter. That broke the record for longest completed pass in game history by two yards.

    Davis finished with five completions in nine attempts and no interceptions for 116 yards.

    Bowlding started in the secondary for an East defense that totally throttled the West. The West team got no first downs in the game and finished with minus 15 total yards, including minus 36 rushing. 

    The only touchdown the West scored came on a fumble return in the first period.

    Also enjoying the win for the East was Seventy-First head coach Duran McLaurin, who served as an assistant coach on the East staff.

    From top to bottom: Alex Scruggs, Kyler Davis

  • 09 01 SIKES Photo 1Every year, the U.S. Army hosts the Best Warrior Competition. This event tests the knowledge and skills of soldiers and noncommissioned officers from 11 Army commands. The Association of the United States Army created the Soldiers of Excellence program to recognize the accomplishments of those who did not win the highest level of the competition but are outstanding and high-performing individuals. The Soldiers of Excellence Luncheon is set for Aug. 7 at the Crown Coliseum Ballroom. 

    The keynote speaker for the event will be United States Sen. Thom Tillis. He is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. Retired Gen. Carter F. Ham is the CEO and president of AUSA and will speak on the local AUSA program as well as those that exist nationwide. Retired Maj. Gen. Al Aycock will speak on the Corporate and Individual Membership Program, AUSA’s new initiative. 

    The AUSA Braxton Bragg Chapter will recognize Sgt. 1st Class Jorden Colby and his wife and son as Family of the Year. Colby, who has a combat tour, is a paratrooper assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division. Colby has volunteered as a Wolf Den leader for Pack 776 and volunteers at Manna Church as a children’s service assistant. His son, Trenton, volunteers at Manna as well, and plants flags and cleans a veterans cemetery with his Cub Scout den. Colby’s wife, Gena, is a classroom assistant at Bowley Elementary School and volunteers for the Parent Teacher Association. They are being recognized for their hard work and willingness to volunteer in the community.

    09 02 MSG Mason ARSOAC AUSA 1Among the soldiers being recognized individually are Staff Sgt. Derek R. Guy, Sgt. Nicholas C. Branch, Spc. Jordan R. Molyneaux, Spc. Darren T. Sikes and Master Sgt. Kayla J. Mason. 

    Guy distinguished himself this year when he won the 2019 82nd Airborne Division Jumpmaster of the Year competition. 

    Branch won the 2019 82nd Airborne Division Non-commissioned Officer of the Year competition. 

    Molyneaux stood out because of his volunteer work in 2017 as part of a recovery team after Hurricane Irma when he assisted the victims.

     Sikes competed in the Best Civil Affairs Team competition and the Best Warrior Competitions up to the First Special Forces Command level. 

    Mason distinguished herself with her leadership skills as she led the financial oversight and audit aspects of the command. 

    “The program recognizes those who have done excellently. It’s an opportunity for the community to be involved and for the soldiers to be seen,” said Jimmie Spencer, the executive vice president of the AUSA Braxton Bragg Chapter. The diligence and leadership of the soldiers have earned their recognition at the luncheon. 

    Community partners that have supported AUSA for more than 40 years will also be recognized at the event. These include the city of Fayetteville, Cashwell Appliance Parts, First Citizens Bank & Trust, Bryan Honda and Eastern Turf Equipment, Inc. 

    The Soldiers of Excellence Luncheon is open to the community with the purchase of a ticket in advance for $30. People who want to attend can search “Soldiers of Excellence Luncheon” on EventBrite and reserve their seat. Tickets are limited. To learn more about the AUSA Braxton Bragg Chapter, visit www.ausa.org/chapters/braxton-bragg-chapter.

    From top to bottom: Spc. Darren T. Sikes, Master Sgt. Kayla J. Mason

  • 13 Milton BardenIs it possible that it’s been 50 years? Am I really that old?

    Even though the years are piling up, that August of 1969 remains vivid in this aging mind. It was my one and only fling with trying to be a member of a real football team. 

    Let me take you back those 50 years to the North Carolina mountain town of Bryson City. I was fresh from reading "Instant Replay," the classic book by Jerry Kramer of the Green Bay Packers. It recounted his personal observations from the last NFL championship season the Packers enjoyed under the great Vince Lombardi.

    I also bought a book by the legendary Frank Gifford that dealt with the basics of the game of football. How to block. How to tackle. All the important stuff.

    I was ready for battle. So I showed up that first day of practice at Swain County High School’s 1950s-era gymnasium, where our locker room was housed in the basement.

    My coach, the late Milton Barden, was far kinder to me than he should have been. I was about 5-feet-8-inches tall on a good day, weighed all of 180 pounds and had never lifted a weight in my life. In spite of all that, he let me go out for the team. 

    Coach Barden wanted to give us the full training camp experience, just like the professionals, so we actually brought cots and mattresses and sleeping bags to our gym and lived there for two weeks. 

    Twice a day, we boarded our ancient activity bus, lovingly called the Meat Wagon, and rode the half-dozen miles or so to our practice field, a gorgeous place that was an abandoned driving range on a nearby hilltop.

    We would take turns slamming into the seven-man blocking sled, tasked with driving it from one end of the practice field to the other. At the end of the field was heaven, a spigot rising out of the ground with the coldest mountain spring water you could imagine. It felt even colder after a hot afternoon of banging the sled. 

    It was not long after those two weeks were over that I came to the conclusion that the body the good Lord put me in on this Earth was not designed for this kind of activity. So, I went to Coach Barden and asked if he needed someone to be a manager. He kindly gave me the job.

    I spent that year mostly on the sidelines, figuring my playing days were over. We put together a 6-2-1 record going into our final game. Unfortunately, the two losses and the tie were against the three teams we had to beat in our split conference to make the state playoffs.

    That left us with a final game against Towns County, Georgia, a team we were told hadn’t won a game and was down to about a dozen players. So Coach Barden decided to let us and them have some fun. He dressed every able-bodied player on the team, including yours truly, the water boy.

    We all played that final night of the season, and we had one of the highest-scoring games in the history of North Carolina football. I played my part in letting the guys from Towns County have their fun. I let a guy whiz by me on an 80-yard kickoff return, and I tackled another guy three yards into the end zone after he scored the conversion.

    The result was an 81-46 Swain County win. That score is still listed in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association record book if you want to look it up.

    Tomorrow we begin another high school football season in North Carolina. My best wishes to all of the young men who will be taking the practice field. I encourage you all to dream big. Every night you play, you could wind up getting into the record book like my team did — even if you’re not a star.

    Pictured: Coach Milton Barden

     

    d: Coach Milton Barden

  • Michelle Hurley attended 12 diff06 School bus and kidserent schools in six states by the time she reached high school graduation. “You just learn to deal with it,” she said. “I was in the third grade before I did a full year of school without moving.” 

    Hurley was on the move often with her family. Her father was on active duty in the Army during her childhood. Each time he was reassigned, his family had to build new relationships and adjust to new surroundings. 

    Hurley remembers the frustration that came with each move and the fear that came with the phone calls in the middle of the night. Usually, the wives of other military men called her mother for late-night support, relying on the solace of sharing their situations with others. 

    According to the Department of Defense, there currently are more than 2 million children of military parents in the United States. Each relocation brings with it the numerous problems associated with transitioning between communities and education systems. These issues add to the emotional distress children face when parents are absent for long periods, often deployed to dangerous destinations. 

    Robert Blum, professor of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, elaborated in an interview with the American Association of School Administrators. “Military families and military children are amongst the most transient of populations,” he said. “With high mobility come issues of engagement, disengagement and reengagement.” 

    The Department of Defense found that children are affected in different ways at different stages of development. Kids ages 3 through 6 were found to exhibit stress including regression, physical complaints and fears of separation. Older children, who understand the reality and potential dangers associated with their parent’s absence, exhibit signs of fear, irritability and sometimes aggression. Teenagers were found to be rebellious and at higher risk of using drugs and engaging in early-age sexual behavior. These emotional responses can have grave implications for their academic performance.

    There are some ways that academic institutions can help ease the burden of transition for these kids. One of the best ways to help military dependent children is to make sure that teachers and support staff know who their army-connected students are. Educators have the resources for how to create a welcoming learning environment for them. 

    The Fort Bragg School District manages nine public schools, serving about 4,162 students on post. The school system is comprised of one primary school, one intermediate school, five elementary schools and two middle schools. Most dependent children in grades 9-12 attend high school in Cumberland County. High school students who live in the Linden Oaks Community off NC 87, north of Spring Lake, go to school in Harnett County. 

    A provision under the new Every Student Succeeds Act signed by President Barack Obama in 2015 represents good news for our nation’s schools. This bipartisan measure reauthorized the 50-year-old Elementary and Secondary Education Act, providing a longstanding commitment to equal opportunity for all students. Today, high school graduation rates are at all-time highs. Dropout rates are at historic lows. And more students are going to college than ever before.

    One of the best ways to help military dependent children is to make sure that teachers and support staff know who their army-connected students are. 

  • 12 Food Truck Rodeo 1After a one-month absence for the observance of the Fourth of July, Hope Mills resumes its monthly Food Truck Rodeos with an extra emphasis on helping the community.

    “A lot of people didn’t realize we didn’t have a rodeo in July because the Fourth of July was the first Thursday of the month,’’ said Chancer McLaughlin, development and planning administrator of the town. “In August we are back, and the theme for this month is Back to School.’’

    The rodeo is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 1, from 5-8 p.m. It will still be at Municipal Park on Rockfish Road but will be held near the outdoor basketball courts and the playground area at the park. 

    All of the vendors who have been invited to take part at this month’s rodeo provide services related to children in the community. Among the organizations that will be represented are the Teen Wellness Clinic, C.H.I.L.D. Incorporated, Partnership for Children, Operation Inasmuch and Fayetteville Urban Ministry.

    As usual, donations of nonperishable food for the Hope Mills ALMS HOUSE will be collected, but in keeping with the Back to School theme, school supplies will also be collected.

    Because the ALMS HOUSE already has a distribution system set up for sending food to the local schools, McLaughlin said the school supplies will be turned over to them for distribution as well. Donations most needed are white loose-leaf notebook paper, pens, pencils and standard composition books. Book bags should be avoided because there are some schools that require all book bags to be made of a clear or mesh material that is see-through. McLaughlin said three-ring binders are also not good items to donate.

    Another group that will be represented at the event is Cut My City, a group of local barbers and others who will provide free services including haircuts to students at an event scheduled at the Crown Coliseum on Aug. 10. McLaughlin said they will be at the rodeo to share information about their project.

    As far as fun activities at this rodeo, there will be a gaming truck with free video games for the children, along with face painting and other activities.

    DJ King James, who has performed previously at Hope Mills events, will have recorded music as well as karaoke.

    The food trucks scheduled to appear include rodeo regulars Chef Glenn and Big T’s. Other trucks scheduled are Nannie’s Famous, Hopkins Barbecue, Coldstone Creamery, Kona Ice, Euasticias Fully Loaded Grill, Cedar Creek Fish Farm and Boss Ross Dogs.

    For updates on late changes to the rodeo, check either the Hope Mills Development or the Town of Hope Mills Administration pages on Facebook.

  • 10 Views of Lake Bulkhead 1The long-awaited bulkhead down the shoreline at Hope Mills Lake is finally complete. Now Public Works Director Don Sisko says it’s up to Mother Nature as to how quickly lake levels return to normal.

    “We have no control over the inflow of water,’’ he said just days after the work on the bulkhead was completed. “The gate is open minimally so we can maintain the flow in the creek downstream.

    “Hopefully we get a couple of days of rain in the next few days and that will take us over the spillway. Once it gets over the spillway to a normal level, we will close the gate completely and be under normal operation condition at the spillway.’’

    While the lake was lowered, Sisko said, people could actually see one of the primary reasons the bulkhead was needed: to deal with erosion of the embankment.

    “There were folks that were of the mindset you could put some soil there, maybe some sod, that would control the erosion,’’ he said. “The erosion would have a safety impact for the general public.’’

    The bulkhead will make the park area near the lake more family-friendly, he said, so people can safely spread out a blanket and watch their children swimming or just enjoy the natural beauty of the lake.

    In addition to the bulkhead, there are now steps down to the water and a beach area for launching kayaks and canoes into the water. “People can put their craft in the water without reaching to get over any riprap, rocks or that
    sort of thing," Sisko said.

    The access ramp is also handicap accessible.

    Sisko sees no major issues as far as maintaining the bulkhead. “It’s made of natural material (Southern yellow pine) and it will shrink in dry periods and swell in wet periods,’’ he said. “We may have to do some sanding here and there if it splinters out.’’

    The wood will be heavily treated with a preservative called chromated copper arsenate, which is used to protect outdoor wooden structures from microbes and insects.

    “I don’t anticipate anything out of the ordinary for years to come, barring a catastrophic event,’’ Sisko said.

    The yellow tape that is in place in areas around the park will likely stay there for awhile as new sod is being installed. “We don’t want any foot traffic on it,’’ Sisko said “We want it irrigated and rooted properly so we have a good standing of grass.’’

    Sisko hopes the end product is a park area the citizens of Hope Mills can enjoy. “They get to come out and create their own memories,’’ he said. “We want to give them an open
    space to enjoy.’’

    Hope Mills town leaders expressed satisfaction that the bulkhead project is done.

    “I know our community is ready to use the lake because of the extreme heat we are experiencing,’’ said Mayor Jackie Warner. “The good news is it won’t be much longer.’’

    Commissioner Pat Edwards said the town will likely look into more plans for erosion control at the lake but added that for now, “The bulkhead looks great.’’

    Commissioner Jessie Bellflowers thanked all the members, past and present, of the town’s Lake Advisory Committee for their work on developing the bulkhead project and the public swimming area.

    He further praised the various companies that worked on the project, along with town staff who were involved. “The Hope Mills Lake park is a great addition to the town’s already impressive parks and recreational programs,’’ he said. “Our lake park is one of the best family parks that directly impacts the quality of life by contributing to the social, economic... and environmental well-being of our community.’’

     

  • 05 CigaretteCigarette smuggling from North Carolina to New York has been going on for decades. State and federal governments charge excise taxes on cigarettes, ranging from 45 cents a pack in the tar heel state to $4.35 per pack in New York State. In New York City, the tax is $5.85 as of July 2019. The difference between tax rates is what makes cigarette trafficking appealing to the criminal element. 

    This month, federal authorities broke up a ring of smugglers based in Fayetteville. Officials said 31 people have been charged with a scheme to defraud the federal government, the states of North Carolina and New York, and the Commonwealth of Virginia of millions of dollars in tax revenue.

    Eastern North Carolina U.S. Attorney Robert Higdon said Justin Brent Freeman’s wholesale business, FreeCo Inc., at 231 Williams St. in downtown Fayetteville, served as the hub for the illegal operation. People would pay cash for large quantities of cigarettes at FreeCo and other retailers in North Carolina, including Sam’s Club stores in Raleigh, Fayetteville and Goldsboro. They would then pack the cigarettes into rental cars or vans for shipment to Virginia, Higdon said. 

    In Richmond or Alexandria, Virginia, the cigarettes would be transferred to other cars and driven to Syracuse, New York. There, the contraband would again be shifted to other vehicles to be dispersed across the state and sold for cash, Higdon said.

    Most of the people alleged to have been involved in the scheme, including Freeman, were arrested in connection with the $12 million cigarette smuggling operation and charged with money laundering and criminal conspiracy. Homeland Security Investigators, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Deputies, U.S. Marshals Service, Robeson County and Johnston County Sheriff’s Office took part in the operations. “This is not the conclusion of our investigation,” Higdon said. “This is simply a very strong first step.”

    The smugglers were making up to $54 profit per carton by selling the cigarettes in New York while avoiding the state and local taxes there, Higdon said. The U.S. Marshals Service and local authorities staged raids in five states, arresting 25 of the 31 defendants after U.S. grand jury indictments were issued the week of July 15. Others were taken into custody over the next several days. The U.S. Attorney said 4,700 cartons of cigarettes, $840,000 in cash, 11 vehicles and five firearms were seized.

    Last week, a federal grand jury indicted Freeman, FreeCo and the following defendants with criminal conspiracy and money laundering: Malek Hamoud Alsaidi, Ibrahim Ahmed Alsaidi, Sadek Dahan Shahbain, Ayed Yahya Ali Alshami, Alshami Yahya Ali Alshami, Mohamed Hafed Abdou, Mohamed E. Ould El Bechir, Akram Ali Amer, Mohamed Yeslem Ould Izid Bir, Mohammed Saaid Darweesh, El Hassen Hamadi, Musheer Mohammed Hazam Al-Naqeb, Ali Mohammed Mashli Al Qadhi, Mohamed Mounir, Aied Awad Shibli, Shibli Abu Issa Shibli, Manar Mohammad Talal-Mustafa, Mohammed N.M. Khalayfa, Saleh Mohammad Abdeljawad, Kaid M.K. Addailam, Amr Mousa Alhalemi, Ahmad Khalayfa, Rawhi Abdel Jabbar Khams Awad, Ali Aied Shibli, Amchad Rawhi Khamis Awad, Wachdi Awad, Abdallahi Mohamed Elhafedh, Ahmed Elhoussein, Dedde Cheikh and Arafat A.I. Abuhammoud. 

    Half a dozen of them were also charged with interstate trafficking in contraband cigarettes.

    This month, federal authorities broke up a ring of cigarette smugglers based in Fayetteville.

  • 02 Meg LarsonHope Mills Commissioner Meg Larson has announced she’s not running for office this time. She also announced she is throwing her full support behind fellow Hope Mills Commissioner Mike Mitchell in his bid to unseat incumbent Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner.

    If you’re wondering why, here is the explanation she gave on the private Facebook page Hope Mills Chatter. I’m not a member of the Chatter, but I have friends in that group who shared screenshots of Larson’s announcement.

    Here’s what she wrote: “I am not running. I appreciate everyone that has supported me. However, the thought of possibly sitting another two years with Jackie Warner or Pat Edwards makes my stomach turn. Two of the most ineffective elected officials.

    “Working with someone vs. seeing them as they give a cheesy speech at a government event, the Chamber or church does not mean they are good for the community.’’ 

    That is the real Meg Larson. No punches pulled there. 

    Larson has repeatedly accused Warner of being a bully, of forcing her agenda on the town and leaving the commissioners in the dark about what’s going on. I guess Larson dumped Edwards in the mix because Edwards has consistently defended Warner, not because Edwards is a poor commissioner, which she isn’t.

    Go back and take a look at town minutes and see how many times this current board voted 4-1, with Edwards usually being the one, to defeat some plan or idea that the mayor supported. And let us remember, the mayor doesn’t get a vote on this board. And she’s the bully? How ridiculous.

    I think one reason Larson and others accuse the mayor of being a bully is because of the way Warner runs town commissioner meetings. Excuse me, folks, but ever hear of parliamentary procedure? A guy named Robert wrote a book about it a long time ago. You can grab a copy on Amazon for $6.99.

    The town also has rules of order, adopted by this board, and when Warner has to gavel a commissioner down, it’s usually because they are trying to speak out of turn against the rules. This isn’t Saturday night poker with the boys. It’s an elected governing body with procedures and protocol.

    But let’s get back to the bullying issue. It’s a skill Larson has mastered. I know because she bullied me.

    In March of this year, I wrote an Up & Coming Weekly story about the town losing artwork donated by students at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke because the commissioners didn’t renew the agreement they had approved the previous year. The whole thing could have been handled with a couple of phone calls to me and my publisher, Bill Bowman. But Larson and company called a special meeting of the board to deal with this red-hot issue.

    What made the issue red-hot was they had egg on their faces for not doing their jobs, and they needed someone to blame. Even Warner herself said in my story that “we,” meaning herself and the full board, dropped the ball on the art project. She repeated that comment at the March 25 special meeting. 

     But pass-the-buck Larson and friends attacked Warner, who was legitimately afraid to bring renewal of the art project to the board because of the clear history they had established of voting against anything she supported. Further, the board blasted me. Larson accused me of manufacturing a quote from UNC-Pembroke professor Adam Walls. Walls told me in a phone interview about Warner’s fear of the board rejecting the art project.

    Walls later spoke to both Larson and town manager Melissa Adams, and at the special meeting, both said that Walls stated he did not recall making that comment. I attempted to reach Walls after the controversy exploded, but he did not return my phone call. 

    “For anyone to assume that and put it in print is irresponsible,’’ Larson said during the meeting. It certainly would have been. 

    There is a difference between not remembering something and denying you said it, and what Walls said and what Adams and Larson repeated was not a denial. It was a memory lapse. Walls made that statement I attributed to him during our interview, whether he recalls it or not. 

    Larson and others on the board chastised me for that “deplorable” article. They ripped me for not talking with any of them and added that the article contained multiple errors. You can hear the whole thing. The audio recording is on the town of Hope Mills website under minutes and agenda for March 25.

    My publisher, Bill Bowman, attended that meeting. The board had the opportunity to ask him to comment and didn’t. 

    Interviewing people is a two-way street. First, they have to agree to talk. I have tried to contact several members of the board for stories before. Larson, in an email I still have in my inbox, told me she would not speak to me because she did not approve of the relationship that the town had approved, and eventually rescinded, with Up & Coming Weekly. By the way, UCW is a legitimate North Carolina Press Associated weekly community newspaper — often referred to as news media.

    Others, including Mitchell and Jessie Bellflowers, replied to previous requests and said they were too busy to speak with me. I have their replies, too. To his credit, Bellflowers reached out to me at the time of the missing art story, and I have quoted him in stories since. Our conversations have been civil and professional. So have interviews I’ve had with citizens and town staff from Hope Mills in the months since I’ve been writing about the town. Larson remains the only person in that time who has questioned the accuracy of my quotes. 

     Not a single member of the board who complained about that story in that special meeting, save Bellflowers, spoke to me about it. And not one person on the board who complained about factual errors or misinformation in the story asked to write a rebuttal or asked me to print a correction or retraction. In addition, UCW’s longstanding policy is to allow anyone to submit a dissenting opinion, feature or article focusing on the community. The only requirement is that they own it. This is why each article and feature appearing in UCW is accompanied by a photo and short bio of the writer. 

     This whole business with Larson and the feud the board has with Warner is about ego and who gets to call the shots. It’s not uncommon in politics, especially for rookie newcomers, who often have trouble figuring out how one builds a base of support and wins the respect of his or her fellow elected while learning how the process of governing works. 

    Before I wrote this piece, I spoke with an acquaintance who is an elected official somewhere else in North Carolina. I explained the situation in Hope Mills to him, and he gave me some sage advice. He said it’s incumbent on people elected to office to do the best they can to work with the people they’re in office with and bury any personal animosity. 

    Judging from her Facebook statement, it’s clear Larson is not capable of that. This being the case, I have a suggestion for her. Resign. Now. If she can’t stomach two more years with Warner and Edwards, she shouldn’t suffer a few more months. She should do it for her health. But mostly for the town’s health. She can then devote the bulk of her energy to slinging more unfounded mud in support of Mitchell’s campaign to unseat the mayor she hates so much. 

    Maybe with Larson off the board, the remaining members can find the way to unity and a better Hope Mills. We can only hope so. 

    Pictured: Hope Mills Commissioner Meg Larson

  • 11 The Gift of MarriageMy wife and I share a date with one of America's most memorable and celebrated events. On July 20, 1969, America claimed its place in history as the Apollo Lunar Module Eagle landed and the first human walked on the face of the moon. We heard those famous words, “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” as they were first spoken. TV news stations large and small worked tirelessly to deliver even the most minute detail of the historic event to a waiting world.

    Ten years later, on July 20, 1979, Dorothy Aafedt and I said “I do” in a remarkably unremarkable ceremony. Unlike the NASA mission, there were no television crews, no microphones or calculated illustrations. There was just a pair of kids surrounded by a couple of friends and family in a courtroom in southern Arizona. At the time it seemed like a small step, but it has proven to be a giant leap as Dorothy and I have continued to mark time since that date.

    This past weekend we celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary, and it's given me cause to reflect on all that's transpired since our historic first steps.

    Time has allowed us several years in Europe with our three children, and a home on both the East and West Coasts of the United States. The small, quiet union of two youngsters from Kansas gave way to an eventual family of 18, counting grandchildren and spouses. All but one now calls North Carolina home.

    As a military family, we share memories of being diverted en route — never once landing at our intended destination at the point of our departure. We've relocated to Germany as our belongings relocated to Okinawa and have lived in hotels and motels on two continents while making new friends time and again.

    Over the course of the last 40 years, one thing has become evident: there is nothing more important in a marriage than the relationship between husband and wife. When other things became more important, such as careers, children and personal pursuits, trouble isn't far behind. Though I've failed miserably at this on occasion, the facts show that when we make the relationship our top priority, the marriage flourishes.

    Just like any other married couple, we've had our share of trials. From the lack or abundance of money to devastating loss and health crises, we've navigated a lot of territory in the past four decades. And honestly, I don't know how we would have fared had we not put our faith in Christ early in the game.

    God has proven trustworthy. When we've faced struggles, we've been able to lean on the promise that there is more to this life than living and dying, or meeting and missing bills. Even death has stared us in the face, but with God in our corner, though our knees have gotten weak at times, we never blinked.

    In the end, there is no secret formula for a long or successful marriage. It is a gift — a gift you get to open anew each waking day.

    Marriage is a gift you get to open anew each waking day.
    Photo by Caroline Veronez on Unsplash

  • 04 Hands on ipadEvents surrounding our state’s current budget process, as of this writing, remind me of the truth in a statement by President Ronald Reagan: “The most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.’”

    In a column titled “People over politics: Local delegation advocates for Fayetteville and Cumberland County’s future,” Bill Bowman and Jeff Thompson addressed the status of North Carolina’s 2020-22 budget. The column appeared in the July 3, 2019, edition of the Up & Coming Weekly. The writers reviewed the benefits to Fayetteville and Cumberland County that are in the budget approved by the General Assembly but vetoed by Gov. Roy Cooper, D-N.C.

    Those benefits were summarized as follows: “The 2020-22 budget presented by the North Carolina Legislature brings more than $132 million in projects that benefit diverse aspects of our community. In a rare show of unity, their vision and ‘people over politics’ leadership style has netted us big and long-lasting benefits, including projects that, once completed, will net Cumberland County $20-$40 million a year in additional revenues.”

    Cooper primarily vetoed this budget because the General Assembly has not agreed to expand Medicaid in North Carolina. Some 37 states, including the District of Columbia, have adopted expansion. By the time this column is published, the General Assembly will likely have acted on overriding the veto.

    No matter how that vote goes, I contend Medicaid expansion is another issue driven by what is popular with citizens, but not based on their exposure to and examination of the facts relative to the matter. As I have contended time and again, the vast majority of politicians specialize in playing to the emotions of people and withholding discussion of information that will allow for informed decision-making by citizens. This condition is exacerbated by far too many entities and personalities in media joining with politicians in this information-denying appeal to emotions.

    Now to look at how this information-denying, while appealing to emotions, plays out in Cooper’s veto due to the Medicaid expansion factor. His basic argument is that Medicaid expansion will provide medical care to a large number of North Carolinians, produce jobs, help struggling small hospitals survive and that the federal government will pay 90% of the cost. That paints a very attractive picture. Extremely relevant is what comes to light when one delves into the facts.

    First, unpack the 90% payment by the federal government. Republicans contend that there is the real possibility that this payment will not continue forever and that the state will have to, at some point, pay all or part of that 90%. My personal experience says this is an extremely reasonable concern. I joined the U.S. Navy in 1969. The promise made to me was that if I stayed to retirement, I would be provided health care for life. I never expected that health care to be free. However, it seemed reasonable to think that the health plan in force at the time of my retirement would remain basically the same for the rest of my life.

    Starting at retirement in 1991, my health care plan had an annual deductible of $150, paid 80% of my outpatient medical expenses and all but a small amount for inpatient care. I carried a supplemental at $35 to $40 a month, with a minimal deductible, to cover what was not supported by TRICARE, the military health insurance program. With me having no means of objecting, the federal government, in 2001, changed the TRICARE plan so that when I reached age 65, I was automatically moved to TRICARE For Life.

    Under this program, TRICARE became my secondary coverage and Medicare became the primary. That shifted me to paying, initially, $104 per month plus the $150 TRICARE deductible. That started seven years ago. Over those seven years, the monthly cost has gone from $104 to $135.50.

    At the bottom line, the government, in my estimation, dramatically changed my health care plan from what had been very reasonably expected based on the initial arrangement. Simply put, I contend Republicans are on solid ground to be concerned that the federal government will do exactly the same kind of thing with regard to the 90%. The likelihood of this happening is compounded by this nation’s growing debt, while absolutely nothing is being done about slowing or reducing it. Even further, there is the total mismanagement of the Social Security program. Should anybody believe the 90% will go on without a major shifting of financial responsibility from the federal government?

    Second, without a sufficient number of doctors, Medicaid expansion suffers or just does not work. Part of the reason I still live in Fayetteville is that I have extremely good doctors. I am afraid that if I move elsewhere, I might not be able to find equally capable doctors who will accept TRICARE For Life. I know firsthand that this program pays doctors pennies on the dollar of what they claim for treating patients. During one of my medical procedures, a friend who is an anesthesiologist oversaw my being put to sleep. TRICARE paid him about 25% of the amount he billed.

    Further, my mother retired after teaching in the public schools of Georgia for more than 30 years. After her retirement, Georgia changed her health insurance from an arrangement that had served her well to a Medicare arrangement that I could never figure out, even after reading many pages of information. My wife and I moved my mother from Georgia to Fayetteville when her cancer made it impossible for her to live alone. In an attempt to find a capable doctor for her in Fayetteville, I asked a friend in the medical field who she would recommend.

    I contacted the office of the doctor she recommended. The lady who answered the phone explained that the doctor was not accepting any new Medicare patients. My mother ended up seeing the physician’s assistant in that office. The PA was very capable. However, the PA realized my mother’s condition was such that she needed to be seen by the doctor and called him in. My mother only got to see the doctor because of the PA’s action. She died six weeks after coming to Fayetteville.

    I had a similar experience finding a doctor for my father in Albany, Georgia. Several years before this search, I had found a very good doctor who saw my father for many years under Medicare. That doctor left the area and I needed to find another. I read reviews on doctors in the area and called the offices of the seven doctors with the best reviews. Not one of them was accepting new Medicare patients. The best I could find was a clinic that did not have a strong reputation.
    I have talked about TRICARE and Medicare. The point is that it is difficult to find doctors who accept patients under these programs because they pay doctors so little. Medicaid has the same low payment problem, and participants experience difficulty finding doctors.

    Another concern is that Medicaid, by state, makes substantial use of managed care plans. The following is from my internet search of “managed health care” and going to “What is a managed care organization example?” under “People also ask.”

    “Managed care plans have arrangements with certain physicians, hospitals and health care providers to serve patients who are plan members at a contracted reduced rate.... However, the choice of physicians, drugs and treatment are restricted.”

    With that background, please read the article by Crystal Ayres titled “12 Advantages and Disadvantages of Managed Care” at https://vittana.org/12-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-managed-care. I contend that the article, with pure reasoning, demonstrates that the disadvantages of managed care far outweigh the advantages. Managed care is becoming more and more present in Medicaid.

    A column by Bill Bowman titled “Budget is not about Medicaid expansion: It is about politics” includes the following quote from Republican Rep. John Szoka as it appeared in his recent newsletter:

    “Medicaid is a separate issue that is very complex and, in all honesty, has been a mess from the beginning. To put money into an already inefficient and broken program would be irresponsible in the least and an absolute travesty to the taxpayers of N.C., at its worst.”

    Szoka is absolutely correct.

    The push for Medicaid expansion is simply another case of politicians employing class warfare and appealing to the pervasive entitlement mentality resident in American society. Essential to this strategy is the element of information-denying. In the end, what looks and feels like a good deal proves to be far from it.

    Medicaid expansion is a case where Ronald Reagan’s warning applies: “The most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.’”
  • 15 Koonce boyette edgeA desire to compete and a love for athletics of all kinds drove Don Koonce to stay immersed in sports from his youth to his final days promoting Cumberland County sports via the radio.

    Koonce, 71, died unexpectedly last week, barely a month out from the start of another high school football season. His radio crews from DKSports, Inc., were preparing to broadcast the games of Terry Sanford and Cape Fear High Schools.

    Like his brothers, the late Calvin Koonce and Charles Koonce, Don was a star athlete at the high school level. Charles Koonce called his brother Don “one of the most outstanding athletes to come out of Cumberland County. He excelled in baseball, basketball, football and golf.

    “He was a true athlete at heart. He always played to win.’’

    Don Koonce once led Cumberland County high school basketball in scoring and qualified for the prestigious North and South Amateur golf tournament at Pinehurst.

    But it was baseball where he made his biggest mark. He earned a scholarship to North Carolina State University and left after one semester to get a rare spring training tryout with the same New York Mets team his brother Calvin played for. Impressed with what they saw, the Mets signed Don.

    He spent six years in the minor leagues, rising as high as the AAA level while playing mostly in the Virginia Tidewater area with teams affiliated with the Mets, Detroit Tigers, Atlanta Braves and Montreal Expos.

    His career record was 27-34 with a solid 2.63 earned run average and 44 saves.

    It was his connection with the Detroit organization that helped lay the groundwork for Don’s successful bid to bring minor league baseball back to Fayetteville. He was a force behind the creation of the Fayetteville Generals and the construction of J.P Riddle Stadium.
    After parting ways with the Generals, Don spent several years as a Major League Baseball scout. He eventually joined his brother Charles, veteran local radio personality Lloyd Foster and his son Dave Foster in creating Mid-South Sports, Inc., in 1990. It focused on broadcasting Friday night high school football and other county sporting events.

    Some years later, Don branched out on his own and created DKSports, Inc., which currently covers Terry Sanford and Cape Fear High School football in the fall. He also created a weekly WFNC Monday night talk show, "The Sports Page," with former Terry Sanford quarterback Trey Edge and veteran high school basketball coach Bill Boyette.

    In recent years, Don has been involved in teaching young baseball players one-on-one, especially those with an interest in pitching. “There are a number of young guys in the ranks right now at various age groups that will pay tribute to the fact that he was the guy that got them started,’’ Charles said.

    Edge has spent countless hours over the last several years traveling with Don to cover games and working with him in the radio booth or at courtside. Edge said he feels the competitive spirit never leaves a serious athlete. He thinks Don enjoyed radio because it gave him a chance to continue experiencing the highs and lows of the game.

    “You experience the game as it’s happening, and you get to know the players and coaches,’’ Edge said. “I think that was attractive to him and kept that sports fire fueled. But then it got to the point where he was doing something for the community. Getting high school athletes publicity for the things they’ve done is a great thing.’’

    Edge said Don was an incredible storyteller and would often tell about star players he’d competed against or scouted. “In the booth, he was always happy, always had a smile,’’ Edge said. “He wanted to put out a good product.’’

    That product provided a valuable service to an important part of the Cumberland County population, the military community. Vernon Aldridge, student activities director for Cumberland County Schools, said the presence of the military in Fayetteville made Don’s coverage of high school games important.

    “Often times parents get sent overseas, and kids may not be from North Carolina,’’ Aldridge said. “Don being on the radio allowed people deployed and family members in other states to keep up with their children (via internet live streaming of games). It’s a great asset for Cumberland County Schools.’’

    Neil Buie, regional supervisor of football officials for the Southeastern Athletic Officials Association, played against Don from the time the two were about 8 years old.

    “There was no greater advocate for sports in Cumberland County than Don,’’ Buie said. “His passing will leave a hole in the sports community and Cumberland County.’’

    Terry Sanford assistant coach Bill Yeager, who has spent 50 years in this county as a high school athlete and coach, said Don always tried to put young athletes first. “He cared about this community,’’ Yeager said. “He was a good man. He’s going to be missed.’’

    Terry Sanford principal Tom Hatch said Don always had positive things to say about the student-athletes both at Terry Sanford and in the community. “He did a great job covering football and baseball here (at Terry Sanford),” Hatch said. “Don was a great man.’’

    Edge said that most of the sponsors for the DKSports, Inc., broadcasts for this fall were already in place before Don’s untimely death. “I would absolutely keep moving it forward under the name DKSports, Inc., to honor Don,’’ Edge said. “Our hope is, come Aug. 23, we’re on the air broadcasting high school football and (that) every Monday night Bill (Boyette) and I are doing 'The Sports Page.'’’

    Left to right: Bill Boyette, Don Koonce and Trey Edge at the July 2017 announcement of the debut of "The Sports Page" weekly talk show.

  • Editor’s note: This is part of a series on Cumberland County high school spring football workouts.

    17 1 Ezemdi UdohTerry Sanford football coach Bruce McClelland lost 52 seniors over the last two seasons. His new team begins fall practice Aug. 1.

    “We’ve got a ton of young guys and new guys,’’ McClelland said. “We’ve got a lot of holes to fill in key positions.’’

    Fortunately, there’s some talent returning at a couple of key spots that should make things easier. Among the biggest returners is an experienced quarterback, Jacob Knight, who’s been waiting in the wings behind past stars Christian Jayne and Davidjohn Herz.

    “He’s been good enough to play the last two years,’’ McClelland said of Knight. The fact that both Jayne and Herz are now playing minor league baseball is a good indication of the level of talent McClelland has enjoyed at the quarterback position.

    Another player who will have to step up his game is running back Dorian Clark, who shared ball-carrying duties with Leonard “Flo” Mosley. 

    Both Clark and Mosley ran for 1,000 yards last season. Clark had 1,662 yards to Mosley’s 1,423. Clark scored 13 touchdowns, Mosley 15.

    “Dorian will have to tote the ball a little bit more with Flo gone,’’ McClelland said. Helping to block for him will be returning lineman Roscoe Blue.

    Two key All-Patriot Athletic Conference players return on defense, lineman Elijah Morris and linebacker Jackson Deaver.

    17 2 Elijah MorrisMorris, a defensive tackle, said spring practice has been about fitting new players into open positions and getting back to the goal of winning the conference title.

    “I think we could really be a good team this year,’’ he said. “There’s a lot of leadership at every position.’’

    He added teamwork is the key. “Instead of depending on one person for the whole team, we can play off each other’s strengths,’’ he said. “Working together. That’s the main thing.’’

    One of the biggest players back is tight end and defensive end Ezemdi Udoh. Honorable mention all-conference at tight end last year, Udoh’s stock rose sharply after the season because he received more than a dozen college scholarship offers. He has orally committed to North Carolina State University.

    It likely didn’t hurt Udoh that his brother Oli from Elon was taken by the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL draft.

    “He’s 6-feet-5 and already up to 240 pounds,’’ McClelland said of Ezemdi Udoh.

    McClelland expects another close race for the Patriot Athletic Conference title. “I think it’s going to be deeper this year,’’ he said. “I really think Douglas Byrd and Westover are making strides. It’s anybody’s conference.’’

    Pictured top to bottom: Ezemdi Udoh, Elijah Morris

  • 07 child medicaidNorth Carolina’s recent budget standoff in Raleigh called into question whether the state could afford Medicaid expansion. Republicans offered a Medicaid expansion compromise bill, but Gov. Roy Cooper, D-N.C., and Democrats wanted full expansion of Medicaid to provide health insurance to an estimated 600,000 poor North Carolinians, many of whom are eligible children.

    CNBC reported this month that North Carolina had built one of the country’s strongest business climates over the past two decades, fueled by low business costs, incentives and a young, educated workforce, many of whom have been trained at the strong universities in the state and Research Triangle Park.

    Three years ago, Forbes ranked North Carolina’s economic development No. 1 in the country. No state’s economy is on more solid ground than the tar heel state. The state attracted $2.6 billion in venture capital in 2018, the sixth highest figure in the nation. It is also attracting skilled workers, who are moving to North Carolina in droves. But the tar heel state is no exception to push for Medicaid eligibility expansion, which is growing at a rapid clip nationwide.

    In Ohio, for example, Medicaid rose 35% from $18.9 billion in fiscal year 2013 to $25.7 billion in 2017. Ohio Medicaid spending has grown 88% over the past decade, more than double the rate of growth in total state spending. Medicaid was already the largest category of state spending a decade ago, and currently the program consumes an even greater share of the state budget. In 2017, Medicaid consumed more than 29% of total state spending, up from 20% in 2008.

    In 2008, North Carolina beneficiaries grew to a grand total of 1,407,257 who were covered by Medicaid — or Health Choice, for children who do not qualify for Medicaid. By 2015, that number had increased to 1,911,918. Over the same time period, the state’s population grew at an annual rate of 1.2%, a rate of growth that’s less than Medicaid eligibility is growing. Matt Salo, head of the National Association of Medicaid Directors, said about one-third of all kids in the country are covered by Medicaid as are more than half of all births.

    Forty-one percent of North Carolina’s kids are covered under Medicaid or Health Choice, which is higher than the national average. Salo said the good news is that kids are less expensive to cover. Analysts like Steve Owen, senior fiscal analyst for the North Carolina General Assembly, have told state legislators several times over the past year that part of North Carolina’s success at holding down Medicaid costs is due in large part to the increase in the number of children enrolled, because their coverage is cheaper than adults and families.

    Thirty-six states and Washington, D.C., have opted to expand Medicaid over the years. North Carolina is one of the 14 states that have not expanded coverage. Medicaid spending is the largest budget category and has grown at a faster rate than all other areas of state spending including education, public safety, and infrastructure. “By restraining spending growth to an average of 3.5% over the two-year budget, North Carolinians get to keep more of their money,” wrote Becki Gray, senior vice president at the conservative John Locke Foundation.

  • 06 Gen Mark MilleyTwo prominent Army generals with ties to Fort Bragg have become the nation’s top military leaders.

    During the Clinton administration, former 18th Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg Commanding Gen. Hugh Shelton was the first airborne officer to become chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Gen. Mark Milley served as commanding general of Army Forces Command at Fort Bragg before being named chief of staff.

    President Donald Trump tapped Milley, 60, to lead the Joint Chiefs. Milley will replace Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, who was named to the post in 2015. Trump nominated Dunford for a second two-year term last year.

    Trump tweeted, “I am pleased to announce my nomination of four-star General Mark Milley, Chief of Staff of the United States Army — as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, replacing Gen. Joe Dunford, who will be retiring.

    “I am thankful to both of these incredible men for their service to our country! Date of transition to be determined.”

    Milley’s military career has spanned numerous commands and staff positions in Special Forces and eight divisions, according to his Defense Department biography. Before being named chief of staff in 2015, Milley served in command and leadership positions in the 82nd Airborne Division and the 5th Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg.

    Highly decorated, his awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and the Army Distinguished Service Medal. A native of Winchester, Massachusetts, Milley graduated and received his commission from Princeton University in 1980.

    In 2018, Milley was involved in deciding whether the Army would publish a controversial report on the Iraq War, a two volume, 1,300-page study. Milley reportedly decided that he wanted to read the entire 500,000-word study before deciding on publication. Milley also directed that an external panel of scholars review the work before he made a decision. The panel returned glowing reviews on the study, including one that described it as “the gold standard in official history.”

    In September 2018, Secretary of the Army Mark Esper and other Army officials decided to distance themselves from the study by casting it as an independent work of the authors, instead of being described as a project by the chief of staff of the Army’s Operation Iraqi Freedom Study Group.

    When confronted by a reporter with The Wall Street Journal in October 2018, Milley reversed the decisions and directed that the report be published officially with a foreword that he would write. He declared the team that wrote the study “did a damn good job,” that the study itself was “a solid work” and noted that he aimed to publish the study by the holidays (2018).

    Within days of this revelation, two members of Congress who sit on the House Armed Services Committee, Reps. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., and Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., sent a letter to Army leadership expressing their anger with the Army’s delay of publication of the report. The study was published in January 2019.

    Pictured: Gen. Mark Milley

  • 08 painted kidFayetteville offers the experience for people to immerse themselves in art and entertainment every month for 4th Friday. The enriching event takes place in the historic downtown area, where people can enjoy food from restaurants, walk through shops and browse local art galleries. The theme for July’s 4th Friday, which falls on July 26, is “Parking Lot Party.”

    “Downtowns are the ‘free throw line’ of any city,” said Greg Weber, president and CEO of The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County. “To win a game, you need to get to the free throw line and hit those buckets.

    “The Arts Council is increasing its investment in bringing people to Fayetteville’s ‘free throw line’ — downtown activity on 4th Friday. We are working to sink more buckets, and our expansion of activities on 4th Friday is an important first step.”

    The Arts Council’s newest 4th Friday Artist’s Program will foster a space for artists to create and show their work and share their passion with others. Artists can visit www.theartscouncil.com/ParkingLotParty to sign up to showcase their work.

    The Parking Lot Party will begin at 6 p.m., but other downtown organizations are getting involved in the fun, too, by providing their own activities.

    The Market House will be open Friday from 6-10 p.m. for a free exhibit called “Vintage Postcards.” The display offers a look into the past, displays of documents like vintage receipts, bills, and letters from businesses past and present in downtown Fayetteville.

    At Cape Fear Studios, attendees can see the creations of visual artists on display as part of the “8 by Exhibit.” The art will reflect the work of visual artists of a variety of mediums, and each piece has to have one dimension that is 8 inches.

    Enjoy a free performance from the local musicians of the Bella Venti Woodwind Quintet at The Wine Café at 6:30 p.m. The professional musicians play the flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and French horn. Cash tips are encouraged.

    The Fayetteville Woodpeckers will be playing against the Carolina Mudcats, and they’re celebrating Christmas in July. The game starts at 7 p.m. and features a Woodpeckers Winter Hat Giveaway for the first 700 fans through the gate. A fireworks show will take place after the game.

    After strolling around and enjoying the art, attendees can catch a show at Gilbert Theater. As a part of its Summer Play Fest, at 7 p.m. there will be performances of “A Ghost Story, Abridged,” “The Devil You Say” and “Grocery Store.” Tickets cost $16.

    The Summer Play Fest starts on July 24. The purchase of one ticket buys access to all of the shows for the week, through July 28. For more information or to buy tickets, call the theater at 910-678-7186.

    Call the Cool Spring Downtown District at 910-223-1089 or visit www.theartscouncil.com to learn more about 4th Friday.

    The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County’s newest 4th Friday Artist’s Program will foster a space for artists to create and show their work and share their passion with others.

     

  • 03 1Ilhan omarFor every American who chanted “send her back” at last week’s Trump rally in Greenville, North Carolina, there are millions who were repulsed, saddened or both.

    Count me among the latter group.

    Various theories are floating around about why Trump supporters started those vile chants. Most suggest chanters were simply trying to show support for the president, not urging deportation of an American citizen serving as an elected member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Perhaps the chanters have never heard of simply clapping or cheering, or perhaps they do not understand our Constitution.

    Video footage does not show Trump chanting, but he does stand quietly by while the audience chants behind him. No video shows him asking for the chants to stop. Various news outlets report some Republican officials, as well as Trump’s wife and daughter, have urged him to tone down the rhetoric, so we shall see how that goes.

    The chanting was instructive, however. It reveals what his re-election campaign will be like for the next year-and-a-half. It will repeat his 2016 maiden voyage — filled with racist language, hateful rants against people he perceives as the “other,” impulsive and hurtful remarks. It will be aimed again at appealing to working-class whites, his core constituency, and designed to whip them into a voting frenzy.

    The handwriting is on the wall for Trump and his party. They are not attracting women, minority or younger voters, so the idea is to turn out every Trump supporter they can corral and suppress the votes of those voters not attracted to Trump or not motivated enough to go vote against him.

    Trump and his campaign strategists may be right. Racist and hateful language designed to bring his voters out may well work as it did in 2016. It is also true that every election is different — no one election can ever be duplicated, as thousands of incumbents tossed out of office every year can attest. Our American landscape is littered with losing candidates who were convinced the formula that elected them the first time would work every time.

    03 2 President TrumpWhat happened in Greenville says a great deal about Donald Trump and how he perceives our nation, but it also says a great deal about the rest of us. North Carolina has long prided herself as being different from other Southern states — more caring about public education, more nurturing of business ventures, more welcoming of social diversity. Since the chants, many among us have comforted themselves by saying things like “this is not who we are” and “we are better than this.”

    But, in fact, this is who some of us are. The Charlotte Observer editorial board put it like this. “… it is, of course, part of who we always have been in America. And in North Carolina. It’s who we were in Wilmington in 1898. … It’s who we were when we redlined blacks out of white neighborhoods decades ago. It’s who we were on a July night in Greenville, and it could be what’s coming to Charlotte next summer.”

    At some point, Trump will no longer be president. It may be by 2021, or it may be in 2025 after a second term. Whenever he fades into history, Americans will have to come to terms with not only his sometimes shameful behavior but our own. Some of us have kept silent when we knew we should speak up. Some of us may have chanted. Some of us may have taken more overt actions.

    All of us should remember the words attributed to philosopher Edmund Burke and made famous by John F. Kennedy. “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”

    From top to bottom: Rep. Ilhan Omar, President Donald Trump. 

  • 16 zyon McEachinEditor’s note: This is part of a series on Cumberland County high school spring football workouts.

    After back-to-back 0-11 seasons, Douglas Byrd finally got in the win column last year with a 4-7 record that included 3-5 in the Patriot Athletic Conference. While head coach Mike Paroli was glad to see some improvement, he’s concerned that building on the positives of last season will be difficult this fall.

    “We really only have eight returners off that team and only four seniors,’’ he said. “We had some great seniors that will be difficult to replace. And we have the production of Earlee Melvin, which is very difficult to replace.’’

    Melvin, who came to Byrd from Cape Fear, sparked the Eagle offense a year ago with a Cumberland County Schools best of 1,713 yards from scrimmage and 20 rushing touchdowns.

    There will be a big load on four-year starter John Carroll, a versatile player who could be at quarterback, running back or wide receiver for the Eagles.

    As a running back last season, he gained 266 yards and scored three touchdowns.

    Alton Simmons, another Cape Fear transfer, will also be counted on at running back. He rushed for 201 yards and three touchdowns for Cape Fear last season.

    Another key returner is Zyon McEachin in the offensive line, who will man the left tackle position.

    “This year we’re trying to continue the legacy Coach Bob Paroli built and trying to give Coach Mike Paroli a legacy to build on,’’ McEachin said. “We want to make our record better than we had last year.’’

    McEachin said the current Byrd football team is committed to growing the program. “We want to try to get connected to the middle schools so we can have some middle schoolers come over and help build the team, make the population better on the team,’’ he said. “We have to replace the players that are moving on, fill in the spots.’’

    McEachin said the goal for this year is to be a better role model for the younger players. “We want to leave a good footprint on the field so they have someone to look up to when we move on,’’ he said.

    Paroli expects the Patriot Athletic Conference to again be a tough league. “You’ve got the 4-A teams (South View and Pine Forest) and then Cape Fear and Terry Sanford, which in reality are still 4-A teams,’’ he said.

    He’s not sure Byrd will be a serious contender for the state playoffs this season. “I don’t think we’re in that conversation yet,’’ he said.

    “Maybe the year after this one, with only four seniors starting, we should return most of the team, if we can get a good ninth grade class in here and keep them with us.’’

    Pictured: Zyon McEachin

     

  • 05 1 I 95The North Carolina Department of Transportation is developing plans to widen almost 19 miles of I-95 between Lumberton and Hope Mills from four lanes to eight lanes. The project’s overall estimated cost is almost $450 million, with construction scheduled to start in 2026. The project will reduce congestion, lower the risk of crashes and enable the interstate to better handle anticipated traffic growth.

    About 63,000 vehicles pass through exit 22 in Lumberton each day. By 2040, that figure is projected to exceed 95,000.
     
    “This is one of the oldest parts of I-95 in our state, and we really need to modernize it and expand it,” said Grady Hunt, a Robeson County resident who represents the area on the North Carolina Board of Transportation.

    Meanwhile, a busy intersection in east Fayetteville has been changed to a four-way stop to reduce the risk of crashes. The change at Clinton Road and North Plymouth Street is intended to reduce collisions. North Carolina DOT crews have added additional signs, converted the overhead flashers to red lenses in all directions and restriped the pavement.
    Interim chancellor named for Fayetteville State University
    Dr. Peggy Valentine, dean of Health Sciences at Winston-Salem State University, has been named interim chancellor of Fayetteville State University, the University of North Carolina System announced this month. She will fill in following former Chancellor James Anderson’s resignation in June. She starts Aug. 7, a news release said.

    Valentine received a doctorate in education from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and a Master of Arts and a Bachelor of Science from Howard University.

    Valentine is listed in Who’s Who of American Women. She has conducted research on homeless and minority issues and has published journals, textbooks and manuals on the subject. She is the founding editor-in-chief of The Journal of Best Practices in Health Professions Diversity.

    She serves on the board of trustees for Novant Health and is secretary/treasurer of the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research.
    PWC Day

    Want to learn more about Fayetteville’s Hometown Utility? Oct. 2 is PWC Day and will include tours of the Butler-Warner Generation Plant and water and wastewater plants. PWC will also provide an up-close look at power restoration, water main rehabilitation, PWC’s customer call center and emergency operations.

    The day begins at the Public Works Commission headquarters at 955 Old Wilmington Rd. at 8 a.m. and runs until 3 p.m. Lunch and transportation to other PWC facilities will be provided. Transportation back to your car will be available should you need to leave at any point during the day. 
     
    School’s out for the summer, but …

    Teachers at Cumberland County School district’s year-round schools returned to their classrooms last week to prepare for the arrival of students this week. CCS Superintendent Marvin Connelly announced that every teacher is receiving $300 from the school system to purchase supplies and materials. This is in addition to any funds that teachers typically receive for classroom resources.

    Providing support to teachers and staff is one of four major priorities in CCS’ Strategic Plan.

    “I know how hard our teachers and staff work to prepare for our students each year,” Connelly said. “Many teachers spend personal funds to make sure their classrooms are just right for the first day of school. This is a small way for us to express our appreciation for all that our teachers do to provide robust learning experiences for every student.”
    Indigo Moon Film Festival approaches

    Fayetteville’s fourth annual Indigo Moon Film Festival is like a nerve center for great films from around the globe. The festival this year is set for Oct. 11-13.

    Of course, film screenings are a major element of the festival. But there is much more. GroundSwell Pictures presents the festival, which takes place in downtown Fayetteville. It also features awards, barbecue, Q&A panels and more. The event organizers are seeking volunteers. Sign up at https://signup.zone/imff-2019.
     
    4-H summer fun programs

    Cumberland County 4-H is taking registrations for the 2019 Summer Fun Program. The 4-H staff has been planning lots of exciting activities for youth ages 5-19. Included in the Summer Fun Program are workshops, programs and field trips.

    Young people will visit exotic animals, learn to knit with their fingers and how milk is processed, participate in a cooking competition and more. There will also be two arts and crafts days — just in time for Cumberland County Fair entries.

    Teens will have an opportunity to spend two days in August exploring the North Carolina Mountains, taking a train ride and mining for gold.

    For more information and to register, contact Jeanie Edwards at 910-321-6864 or via email at jeanie_edwards@ncsu.edu.
  • 12 1 Hope Mills Dam normal conditionsFor a second time, the restored Hope Mills dam has been recognized with a national award for its design and construction. The town recently announced that the dam has been awarded the Envision Bronze Award from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure. Don Sisko, head of public works for the town of Hope Mills, said the award is presented to projects like the Hope Mills dam on the basis of their resilience and sustainability.

    Sisko said the award was based on 64 grading criteria. The dam has already been through two hurricanes since the water was impounded behind it, but Sisko said he’s not sure if that was part of the grading criteria that earned Hope Mills the award.

    In his work with the dam, Sisko said it has been relatively carefree to maintain. “You always anticipate you’re going to find a little glitch here or there,’’ he said. “As far as actual operation of the dam goes, we’ve not had any problems with that.

    “We’ve done our standard maintenance. I haven’t had to do anything out of the ordinary.’’

    Currently, the levels in Hope Mills Lake are low to allow for the installation of a permanent bulkhead along one shoreline, where the will public have access.

    Sisko said there has been no problem during that time with dissolved oxygen levels, nor any reports of fish kills downstream from the lake. It also hasn’t interfered with any downstream work projects.

    12 2 Hope Mills Dam during hurricane“It’s worked as advertised,’’ Sisko said of the dam. “Like I tell folks, it was designed based on good scientific practices and built on good construction practices.’’

    The town’s elected leaders, including Commissioners Jessie Bellflowers and Pat Edwards and Mayor Jackie Warner, all praised the work of Schnabel Engineering and ASI Constructors, builders of the dam.

    “The Schnabel engineering design team collaborated with the town of Hope Mills Lake Advisory Committee, town officials and public involvement,’’ Bellflowers said. “As a community, we are extremely proud of this national award-winning project that serves the quality-of-life needs of our community for years to come.’’

    Edwards praised the members of the previous Board of Commissioners who chose Schnabel and ASI for the building of the new dam. “The people we worked with and the geniality we had with everybody, and a board that worked together as a team, you can get a lot more accomplished,’’ she said. “The dam is beautiful. I love it. Everybody loves it.’’

    While proud of the award, Warner expressed sadness that town leaders like the late Edwin Deaver and Bob Gorman were not alive to see the result of their hard work.

    Warner, Deaver and Gorman were part of the traveling team representing the town that went to Concord, Charlotte and Raleigh during the process of choosing Schnabel and ASI to oversee the dam’s construction.

    “It would have been nice if they had been around for that first ribbon cutting,’’ Warner said of Deaver and Gorman, adding in the names of former mayors Al Brafford and Eddie Dees.

    “It’s a sustainable design, meaning it should last for many years,’’ Warner said. “It has already withstood two hurricanes and a whole bunch of bad weather. I think it has taken the test already (that) you might not have expected it to take for lots of years.’’

    The Hope Mills dam, pictured left under normal conditions, has already withstood two hurricanes, pictured right. It recently won its second national award for its design and construction. 

     

     

  • 10 1 People with plantsThe Vision Resource Center has been around since 1936, but it incorporated in 1939. In 1936, a group of Sunday School teachers got together and decided they were going to become The Association for the Blind. In 1939, they incorporated and worked with the Department of Social Services to become The Center for the Blind. The Vision Resource Center was one of the first four United Way of Cumberland County agencies. Since then, the organization has worked to make life for the visually impaired in the community better.

    “Currently we have 676 blind and visually impaired adults and kids in Cumberland County,” said Terri Thomas, executive director of the VRC. “Right now, we are actually working with 250 of those individuals; 230 of them are adults, and 20 of them are kids.”

    Thomas added that there are a lot of blind and visually impaired individuals in the county that the VRC does not know about as those individuals are not on the blind registry.

    These are exciting times for the VRC, as the organization moves from the Dorothy Gilmore Recreation Center to its new home on Cedar Creek Road. “I would like to thank the city for allowing us to be in the Dorothy Gilmore Recreation Center for 10-plus years,” said Thomas. “Without them, we would not have been able to expand into what we have become now.” 

    VRC was previously housed in a 199-square-foot facility at the Dorothy Gilmore Recreation Center. The new facility is a 2,700-square-foot building on 7 acres of land located at 2736 Cedar Creek Rd.

    “Now we are going to be able to provide more things within our own location,” said Thomas. “We will have assistive technology skills training, our own gym, a kitchen for cooking classes, a conference room and more.”

    10 2 people with horsesThomas added that the benefit of the VRC having its own facility is that the blind and visually impaired will have more opportunity for freedom and independence. They will be able to enjoy a cup of coffee, play games, listen to music, sit in a rocking chair and listen to the birds chirp. They have a place they can come to that’s outside of their homes, where they can stay as long as they want to and go home when they want. Thomas noted that this is one of the benefits of having a house — the therapeutic nature of the space.
    “We now have a conference room area for the National Federation for the Blind to meet in, and we have families with support groups,” said Thomas. “Our blind and visually impaired members have a place that they can come and hang out instead of … sitting at home by themselves.”
    Thomas has been executive director of the VRC for nine years and has fought for many of the things these individuals have needed.

    “I came to the Vision Resource Center in 2010 by way of one of my blind friends at church who told me that she had a job for me working with the blind,” said Thomas. “I ended up at the Vision Resource Center with no (experience working with people who are blind) and just a will to help people.

    “Everything that we do to enhances their lives deals with mind, body and spirit.”

    Thomas added that VRC believes in wellness and in incorporating a lot of physical fitness for those who are physically able to participate. “We do exercise classes, ensure they do their elliptical, treadmill, ride bikes, walk at the John D. Fuller Recreation Center and other activities,” said Thomas.    
     

    “Our next thing is socialization, which is key (for) people who are visually impaired because they don’t really get out, and they are not around people like them,” said Thomas. “They talk about how their family does not get it and (how) being around other blind people is something that they strive to do.”

    10 3 People with GoKartsSome of the activities with VRC include going to plays, eating lunch at various restaurants, visiting the beach, surfing, horseback riding, arts and crafts, making pottery, and visiting the Cape Fear Botanical Garden, Durham Performing Arts Center in Durham, PNC Arena in Raleigh and more.

    “The core of all of it is more about the socialization and camaraderie between people that have a (similar) disability,” said Thomas. “We’ve made the things that seem impossible possible by doing whatever we can to make whatever activity they enjoyed when they had sight, the same way without sight.”

    Some of the assistive technology equipment that blind and visually impaired individuals use includes 20/20 pens, Bump dots, iPhones, iPads, Wi-Fi service, Ruby magnifiers, CC TVs, Penfriend Audio Identifiers and other items. “People can have low vision but can’t see well enough to drive,” said Thomas.

    The VRC will host Out of Sight Night at the Park Saturday, Sept. 21, from 6-10 p.m. at Segra Stadium. It’s the seventh annual “Out of Sight” fundraising event for the organization.

    “We will have heavy hors d’oeuvres, vendors, activities, the Guy Unger Band, and a Game of Chance,” said Thomas. “Cocktail attire will be the attire this year.”
     

    Thomas said there will be a different spin on the silent auction this year called the Game of Chance. Participants will be able to pick their fate with what kinds of gifts they like instead of writing down how much they want to pay for it.

    10 4 People in Auditorium“This year, instead of individuals wearing blindfolds, we are going to purchase glasses that have different levels of visual impairments; a sponsor will be supporting those,” said Thomas.

    “As you walk around with your glasses, you will be able to see what it is like with different visual impairments. We have to educate people on what blind and visually impaired is not,” said Thomas. “It is my duty to make sure the Fayetteville community knows all about it.”
     

    Tickets for Out of Sight Night at the Park cost $75. Segra Stadium is located at 460 Hay St. For more information, visit the website at
    www.visionresourcecentercc.org or
    call 910-483-2719.

  • 02 1Rep Elmer Floyd In Raleigh, our elected scramble to gather the votes needed to override the governor’s veto of the budget. Much hangs in the balance for Fayetteville and Cumberland County as projects that would create thousands of jobs, enhance our community’s economic development and elevate our quality of life all hinge on the governor’s obsession with expanding Medicaid in North Carolina. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper is engaged in partisan politics. He is trying to impress his fellow left-leaning political cronies by demonstrating he’s a team player willing to reject the state budget to bring North Carolina into the fold by implementing Medicaid expansion. And, with support from political opportunists like freshman Sen. Kirk deViere, D-District 19, Cooper has put Fayetteville/Cumberland County’s $132 million infusion into our community in jeopardy. 

    It is obvious in this situation that self-serving politics are taking priority over the governed people. If the budget veto stands, there will be many losers throughout the state.

    The good news is that our Cumberland County delegation has demonstrated a refreshing display of unity, cooperation and communication when it comes to the needs and priorities of the people in our county.

    Republican Rep. John Szoka has been diligent in his efforts to elevate the status of Cumberland County and to support the projects that will have a long-term and meaningful effect on the entire community. But the real soldiers in this fight to bolster our community are Democratic Reps. Elmer Floyd and Billy Richardson.

    Floyd and Richardson have taken a tremendous amount of heat from fellow Democrats who will only side with their party because that is the thing they are expected to do — regardless of logic or ethics. Win or lose this battle over the budget, we can see who the leaders with integrity and character are. Win or lose, the true leaders will wake up every morning knowing they tried to do the right thing for the residents of Fayetteville and Cumberland County.

    Win or lose, F02 2Richardsonloyd and Richardson have earned the respect of their constituents, who will not soon forget these representatives’ fight to remain diligent in their desire to create a stronger, more vibrant, more competitive Cumberland County for residents and future generations.

    We have responsible leadership with vision — leaders who are willing to place people over politics while assuring citizens of Fayetteville and Cumberland County that we will be taking our place alongside the larger and more prosperous cities in our state. It is this delegation that, along with a substantial number of residents, businesses and organizations, has worked for years to improve our community. For too long we have watched while other North Carolina communities received special favors and funding from our state legislature while ignoring the needs of Cumberland County, allowing us to slowly become a Tier 1 county.

    Many of our former legislators worked hard to improve Cumberland County and Fayetteville. Their efforts laid the groundwork for this current delegation to garner support for these much-needed projects — projects that will impact this community’s quality of life for decades.

    This 2020-2022 state budget, if the veto is overruled, would bring a whopping $132 million to our county in projects that will benefit the entire community. These projects could net Cumberland County $20-$40 million a year in additional revenues. Think of what that will mean to this community. This budget is a once-in-a-lifetime win-win for Fayetteville and Cumberland County.

    A special thanks to Republican Rep. Szoka and Democratic Reps. Floyd, Richardson and Marvin Lucas and Democratic Sen. Ben Clark for leading this charge. Again, win or lose, these gentlemen have drawn a line in the sand.
    02 3Szoka

    ·        $12 million for the North Carolina Civil War and Reconstruction History Center; $3 million in year two with anticipation of a total payout of $46 million in the years ahead

    ·        $8 million to fund Cape Fear Valley Medical Center’s physician residency program

    ·        $1.85 million for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park

    ·        $1.5 million for Kingdom Community Development affordable housing construction

    ·        $900,000 for the North Carolina Military Business Center headquartered in Fayetteville, each year for two years

    ·        $750,000 for Airborne & Special Operations Museum’s renovation fund

    ·        $750,000 for the Cumberland County Veterans Healthcare Program

    ·        $16.2 million to Fayetteville State University

    ·        $20 million to Fayetteville Technical Community College

    Opportunities like these don’t just happen. To make projects of this magnitude a reality for any community, it takes hard work, diligent legislative maneuvering and thousands of local residents, businesses and organizations spending time, energy and money. It takes forward-thinking an and understanding of the needs of our community by a dedicated group of hard-working, business-savvy political leaders who care more about their constituents than they do about themselves or their political futures.

    This is why it is vitally important that we support and encourage our local delegation to stay the course and stand up for Fayetteville/Cumberland County by keeping people before politics. Encourage them to pursue the $132 million and reject Cooper’s veto.

    For some Democrats, it will be a bold and challenging move. However, it will demonstrate to everyone in Fayetteville, Cumberland County and the rest of North Carolina that our leadership has the integrity, vision and talent needed to aggressively move our community forward by doing the right thing for the right reasons. No one said it would be easy, but that’s what real leadership is all about. The rewards will be many, and the consequences are few.

    Again, a very special thank you to our hardworking local delegation: Clark, Szoka, Lucas, Floyd and Richardson. Keep up the good work.

    Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

    Photos, top to bottom: Rep. Elmer Floyd, Rep. Billy Richardson, and Rep. John Szoka 

  • 13 8U teamWhen asked to single out the best players on his state championship Hope Mills National 8U Dixie Youth Baseball team, coach Jesse Cox couldn’t come up with an answer. “I love all 12 of them,’’ he said. “Every kid did a job and did it well.’’

    Cox, who has been coaching Dixie Youth baseball for six years, will join his fellow coaches and the national team on a long ride to Ruston, Louisiana, for the Dixie Youth 8U World Series. Opening ceremonies are July 26. Hope Mills will begin pool play at 9 a.m. the next morning against Alabama and then at noon against South Carolina.

    This is Cox’s second year coaching in Hope Mills, after previously coaching in Gray’s Creek. The all-star team he is taking to Louisiana is composed of players from the four teams in the Hope Mills 8U league. There are eight players from Cox’s regular-season team with four more coming from the other teams in the league.

    Cox said he got input from his fellow coaches and their wives when putting the all-star team together.

    The 8U level in Dixie Youth is what’s known as a coach-pitch league. The players from each team don’t pitch in the games. A coach from each team pitches to his own players when they are at bat while the opposing team is in the field playing defense. There is a pitcher on field with the coach who is pitching, but that pitcher only plays the position as a defender.

    Each batter gets five pitches to try and hit the ball. If the batter strikes out normally on three strikes, that’s an out. If the batter fails to put the ball in play in five pitches, he’s declared out.

    Since there’s no way to scout the opposition before going to the World Series in Louisiana, Cox said he’s focusing on the basics with his team along with trying to raise money any way possible to help pay the team’s many expenses for the 13-hour trip.

    “We are preparing for another tournament, the next six innings of baseball,’’ Cox said. “We keep a level-headed focus with these guys so they don’t see any intimidation factor.

    “We make them feel like, mentally, they can play with anybody. That’s how we approach every practice and every game.’’

    Cox said there have been no changes to the way the team practices, just sticking with fundamental baseball.

    The top two teams in each division of pool play at the World Series will advance to the eight-team double elimination championship bracket. The teams that fail to qualify will be placed in a consolation bracket where they will compete separately before heading home.

    L to R: Coach Jonathan Ransom, Hunter Matthews, Dallas Lupo, Tanner Parrish, Joshua Ransom, Colt Burns, Landon Lusignan, Gavin Bowen, Coach Joshua Lusignan, Noah Reivera, Coach Jesse Cox, Ziriyon Campbell, Aiden Petereson-McAlexander, Corey Cox and Jonathan Lupo.

     

     

    Cox’s team has held a number of fundraisers, including seeking corporate sponsors for a banner. If anyone would like to make a last-minute contribution to the team before they leave July 26, contact Cox at 910-308-5524.

  • 09 NCMBCIn 2004, the North Carolina General Assembly created the North Carolina Military Business Center — the only statewide military business center in the United States. The NCMBC is a business development entity of the North Carolina Community College System, headquartered at Fayetteville Technical Community College. The mission of the NCMBC is to leverage military and other federal business opportunities to expand the economy, grow jobs and improve quality of life in North Carolina.

    The Department of Defense has an annual impact of $66 billion and is the second-largest sector of North Carolina’s economy at 12% of gross domestic product. With six major military bases, 116 National Guard facilities and 40 Army Reserve facilities — and the third-highest number of uniformed military personnel in the country — the state of North Carolina created the NCMBC to leverage opportunities with these installations, DoD commands and federal agencies operating worldwide.

    Since its opening in January 2005, NCMBC business development specialists have supported North Carolina businesses in identifying, competing for and winning over 3,256 contracts, worth a minimum value of $12.8 billion. In fiscal year 2018, federal prime contracts executed in North Carolina increased by $1.03 billion to $6.15 billion. Cumberland County topped the county list with $1,319,570,487.78 in federal prime contracts. Durham County came in as a close second with $1,278,139,493.46.

    Throughout the year, the NCMBC hosts multiple strategic, industry-specific major events to help educate North Carolina companies about the upcoming trends and opportunities and current and future needs of the industry. These events also provide the opportunity to network with major defense contractors and Department of Defense buyers. Government and military agencies can also build relationships and learn more about defense procurement processes at these events.

    Major NCMBC events that have already occurred this year include the Camp Lejeune Small Business Outreach Event in May and the Medical, Biomedical and Biodefense: Support to the Warfighter Symposium in June 2019.

    The 18th Annual North Carolina Defense and Economic Development Trade Show, Fort Bragg Business Outreach Event, and Mission and Installation Contracting Command – Fort Bragg Fourth Quarter Forecast is set for Aug. 6 in Fayetteville. This event includes a one-day trade show, extensive networking opportunities and government procurement workshops for both prospective and current federal contractors. The purpose is to build relationships between senior representatives of the congressional delegation, the DoD, other federal agencies and numerous defense contracting firms, including North Carolina small businesses.

    The event will include a traditional trade show, static displays and demonstrations of military equipment, informal networking opportunities, installation small-business panels and contracting workshops. For more information, visit www.ncmbc.us/2019dts.

    The 2019 Southeastern Opportunities in Aerospace Regional Summit is set for Aug. 12-13 in Raleigh. The SOARS is a business development and team event focused on highlighting aerospace challenges and demands, presenting opportunities and showcasing regional capabilities to provide solutions to the challenges and demands.

    The Summit will showcase companies within the Southeast region engaged in manufacturing, logistics, research and development and other aerospace-related activities. Suppliers and service providers will be able to connect with national aerospace primes, first-tier subs and both military and civilian aerospace customers. Visit www.ncmbc.us/2019aerospace to learn more.

    The 2019 Southeast Region Federal Construction, Infrastructure & Environmental Summit is set for Oct. 23-24 in Wilmington. “The Summit” brings together over 700 representatives of the Corps of Engineers, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Fort Bragg, Marine Corps Installations East, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, other Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps installations, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Veterans Affairs, General Services Administration, other federal agencies, general and specialty contractors, designers and construction suppliers from throughout the Southeast of the U.S. For more information, visit www.ncmbc.us/2019summit.

    For more information on the North Carolina Military Business Center, visit www.ncmbc.us.
  • 14 10U teamIf you’re looking for raucous celebrations from coach Doren Kolasa and his Hope Mills Angels 10U state champion Dixie Youth softball team, you’ll quickly be disappointed.

    “We don’t jump up, and we don’t act silly,’’ Kolasa said of his team when they win. But it’s not because they’re an unhappy bunch — just a respectful one. “We teach them to stay humble. Make sure (they) understand somebody lost. We have time to celebrate later.’’

    Kolasa’s team has been doing a lot of celebrating so far in the run through the state Dixie Youth 10U tournament. The team now finds itself headed to Alexandria, Louisiana, and a trip to the 10U Dixie Youth World Series.

    Kolasa has been pleased with the way this 12-player group of all-stars has meshed in the postseason.

    “I think they the first thing is communication,’’ he said. “It’s hard to get players to communicate.’’

    In addition to communication, Kolasa has some genuine talent on the team, starting with pitcher August “Little A” Kebort. “This is a girl people need to watch,’’ he said. “She struck me out the other day in practice.’’

    Kebort has been striking a lot of people out. In 20.2 innings, she has 52 strikeouts. She’s also the team’s top hitter, with an .850 batting average.

    Another pitching standout is Haylee Lamb, who has 17 strikeouts in 9.2 innings. A surprise addition to the rotation is Jaycee Parnell, who was the catcher most of the season. In the postseason she’s pitched 8.2 innings with 19 strikeouts.

    Parnell is also a leading hitter, with a .650 batting average, along with Kolasa’s daughter, McKinley “Boo Boo” Kolasa. She’s batting .556 and is also a defensive star at first base. Another defensive standout is Jazelle Young at third base.

    At press time, the full schedule for the World Series had not been set.
    After opening-day ceremonies July 26, Hope Mills is scheduled to play Georgia in the first game of the nine-team double elimination event July 27.

    “For the last three or four months, we’ve told them defense wins championships,’’ Kolasa said. “Nothing is going to change. We always talk about focusing on fundamentals. Stick with basics. That seems to dial them in pretty good.’’

    Anyone wishing to make a last-minute contribution to the team before they leave on July 25 can contact the Hope Mills Youth Association via its Facebook page.

    Adults: Head coach Doren Kolasa, assistant coaches Brandon Boone and Mike Johnson
    Players: Haylee Lamb, Lizzie Johnson, Dania Berry, August Kebort, Olivia Herron, McKinley Kolasa, Meadow Critchfield, Jazelle Young, DeeDee Rivera, Kenzie Smith,
    Jaycee Parnell, Zee Owens

  • IMG 20190624 130449 01Of the four Hope Mills teams headed to a Dixie Youth World Series over the next several days, the one with the biggest challenge is the 12U Ponytails softball squad.
    That’s because they just captured their state title last week and have had the shortest time to raise money to help cover the nearly 13-hour trip plus lodging and food for the 12 players on the team and their coaches and families coming along.
    “My biggest concern is some of the families having to bear the financial burden after having a short turn from having to be in Wilmington for a week,’’ said head coach Steven Welsh. “Competition wise, I put this team up against anybody else.’’
    The team has relied on its ability to play well together during the run through the district and state tournaments, Welsh said.
    The top offensive stars are catcher Jordynn Parnell and third baseman Kaylee Cook.
    Parnell has a .731 batting average with six runs batted in while Cook is hitting .550 with 13 runs batted in.
    Paige Ford and Annie Ratliff head a deep pitching staff for the Hope Mills team. Ford has recorded 13 strikeouts in 14 innings while Ratliff has 18 strikeouts in 12 innings.
    Welsh said the team’s biggest strength may be defense. “They are a very tough team to score on,’’ he said.
    The town of Hope Mills is having a sendoff Wednesday at 5 p.m. for all four Dixie Youth teams that will be headed to World Series play.
    The event will be held at the field at Municipal Park immediately behind the Parks and Recreation Building.
    There will be live raffles for gift coupons from local businesses along with a 50/50 drawing to help raise money for the trip.
    “I’m really excited for these young ladies,’’ Welsh said. “They’ve played superb and hard to get here. I’m just excited for these girls to play on a stage of this magnitude at this age.’’
    Front row (left to right): Saniyah Leach, Alexis Walters, Annie Ratliff, Ruby Minshew, Madalyn Clark, Kayleigh Brewington
    Second row (left to right): Jamya Harris, Jordynn Parnell, Hannah Welsh, Paige Ford, Kaylie Cook, Carly Bailey
    Back row (coaches left to right): Tadd Minshew, Steven Welsh, Chris Bailey
  • 04phoneSyndicated columnist Leonard Pitts Jr. published a column earlier this month in the Raleigh News and Observer with the arresting headline, “What will we do when there are no newspapers?”

    What, indeed?

    Friends have told me that they do not use electronic readers because they prefer the physical feel of actual books, and others say the same about reading newspapers instead of online editions. It is the same sentiment regarding two different forms of communication, and the difference is, of course, that books are static. They do not change unless their authors issue updated editions. Newspapers, by nature, are different every day and require daily — now hourly, even second-to-second updates. As do broadcast and electronic media, they require massive volumes of information, hard news and many other kinds of stories, that require large staffs and vast amounts of money to churn out regularly.

    That is one of the main reasons the newspaper — as we have known it since the inception of the United States and even before — is endangered. Newspaper readers fret about their shrinking size, both physically and in terms of content. Another big reason for their decline is that newspapers appear once a day, and much of what they tell us we already know from the internet, television and radio. The internet, CNN and other media tell us in seconds what we used to find out the next morning in our daily paper.

    If — maybe when — newspapers as we know them do disappear, there will still be news, of course. The internet, CNN and other media will surely keep us informed about what the president is up to, which aspect of climate change is currently scaring us to death and what Prince Harry, Meghan and baby Archie are doing over the weekend. What we will have a much harder time learning is what our local legislative delegation is doing for — or to — us in Raleigh or when the governor is coming to town. If no one is reporting on our city council or county commissioners, it is more convenient for us to attend those meetings ourselves than it is to take a road trip to the General Assembly in Raleigh. Realistically, though, most of us are not going to make the effort.

    Hence, Leonard Pitts’ scary column, which points out a 2018 University of North Carolina School of Media and Journalism report that we have lost nearly 1,800 newspapers across our nation since 2004. The future is upon us, and it looks devoid of newspapers and local and regional journalism.

    Here is how Pitts describes our situation.

    “The passing of newspapers would have a devastating impact on the coverage of local events. The hole they leave would not be filled by CNN, whose original reporting tends to center on national — usually political — news. It would not be filled by local TV, whose original reporting tends to begin and end with street crime, weather and sports. And it would not be filled by social media, whose original reporting tends to be nonexistent.

    “Bottom line, it would not be filled. If you’re living in a news desert and the mayor is crooked, the cops corrupt or the businessmen pervy, how would you know? Chances are, you would not.”

    The demise of newspapers is a clear case of not appreciating what we have until we lose it. We newspaper readers have taken it for granted that local and regional reporters will keep us informed about actions that affect us, especially governmental actions. We have taken it for granted that local newspaper editorial staffs will help interpret the world around us and what it means for us and our families.

    It is increasingly our own responsibility to find outlets we can trust not just to feed us their points of view but to give us concrete and truthful information. It is increasingly our own responsibility to interpret what we learn and what it means for our communities.

    It is all we can do until new local and regional media emerge in whatever forms they take.

  • Meetings

    For details about all meetings and activities, including location where not listed, call Town Clerk Jane Starling at 910-426-4113.

    • Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Monday, July 22, 6:30 p.m., Parks and Recreation Center

    • Appearance Commission Tuesday, July 23, 6:30 p.m., Parks and Recreation

    • Veterans Affairs Commission Thursday, July 25, 6 p.m., Parks and Recreation Center

    Activities

    Good2Grow Farmers Market Saturday, Aug. 3, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., between Town Hall and Parks and Recreation Building.

    Hope Mills Area Kiwanis Club at Sammio’s, second Tuesdays at noon and fourth Tuesdays at 6 p.m. For details, call 910-237-1240.

    • Hope Mills Parks and Recreation Senior programs at Parks and Recreation Building. Senior programs are for those ages 55 and up who are residents of Cumberland County. Various activities, especially Zumba classes, are scheduled Monday through Sunday throughout the day. For details on times and days, check the schedule at townofhopemills.com. You can call the recreation center at 910-426-4109 or e-mail Kasey Ivey at kivey@townofhopemills.com.

    • Hope Mills Parks and Recreation is currently accepting registration for men’s and coed adult softball for the fall 2019 season. Registration will end Aug. 3 or when all leagues are filled, and the season will begin Aug. 12. The cost is $500 per team. For additional information, call 910-308-7651.

    Promote yourself: Email hopemills@upandcomingweekly.com.

  • 01UAC071719001It’s been 14 years since the first National Day of the Cowboy. Once a year, on the fourth Saturday of July, cowboys and cowgirls all over the country strap on their boots in memory of the Wild West and the simple yet strong values that came with it. The folks at 7 Branch Farm in Lumber Bridge, North Carolina, celebrate and embody these values, including good stewardship, honesty and hard work, in their everyday lives.

    The public is invited to celebrate 7 Branch’s sixth annual National Day of the Cowboy on Friday night, July 26, and Saturday night, July 27.

    The rodeo includes all the favorite pastimes of the Old West, including cowboy mounted-shooting. This attraction consists of horsemen shooting .45 caliber pistols at targets while riding horses, according to Buddy Blackman, general manager of 7 Branch Farm.

    Professional entertainer Cowpaty the Rodeo Clown will be back as will the Carolina Stars Trick Riders. Carolina Stars Leslie Reed and Lori Graham are the original trick riders from the Dixie Stampede, and they’ve worked with 7 Branch Farm since its first National Day of the Cowboy, according to Blackman.

    The duo is trained in adrenaline-spiking stunts: “Trick riders stand on top of (the horses), ride on the side of them, ride them backwards,” Blackman said. Perhaps because of Carolina Stars, 7 Branch’s National Day of the Cowboy rodeo just keeps growing and growing. “Every year, we have to add more bleachers,” Blackman said. For the same reason, he also encourages attendees to arrive early with lawn chairs in hand.

    There will be plenty for the kids to do, too, including bounce houses, face painting, free pony rides and a bucking machine, which both kids and adults can ride. Raging Rooster Catering, along with taco trucks and ice cream venders, will provide refreshments. Snow cones, funnel cakes and other concession foods will also be available, Blackman said. In the spirit of family-friendliness, there will be no alcohol at the event.

    The fun continues with a few highenergy competitions. According to Blackman, 64 competitors from all along the East Coast will perform in bareback horse riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, calf roping, team roping, steer wrestling, cowgirls breakaway roping and barrel racing.

    There’s a reason this event draws so many competitors to 7 Branch — 14 more this year than last year. “We were the first one in North Carolina,” Blackman said, speaking about the rodeo. When the National Day of the Cowboy Organization reached out to 7 Branch to start a North Carolina-based rodeo, the farm stepped up to the plate. To this day, 7 Branch is the only sanctioned venue in North Carolina that hosts National Day of the Cowboy.

    National Day of the Cowboy began in 2005 when Wyoming’s late U.S. Sen. Craig Thomas sponsored the event as a day to celebrate the contribution of the cowboy and cowgirl to America’s heritage and culture. The event has been growing ever since. In fact, North Dakota passed the National Day of the Cowboy bill into law in April of this year, the 14th state to do so since 2005.

    A piece of the culture celebrated at this event is the lifestyle exemplified by America’s cowboys. The Wild West didn’t have a written law for frontiersmen and frontierswomen to live by. In fact, these people took pride in following their own unwritten rules rather than those set by the federal government. Today, cowboys are remembered for the principled way of life outlined in the following Code of Conduct.

    The National Day of the Cowboy Code of Conduct for Cowboys & Cowgirls:

    1. Live each day with honesty and courage.

    2. Take pride in your work. Always do your best.

    3. Stay curious. Study hard and learn all you can.

    4. Do what has to be done and finish what you start.

    5. Be tough, but fair.

    6. When you make a promise, keep it.

    7. Be clean in thought, word, deed and dress.

    8. Practice tolerance and understanding of others.

    9. Be willing to stand up for what’s right.

    10. Be an excellent steward of the land and its animals.

    Like the cowboys of the frontier, the people at 7 Branch know something about hard work. Blackman’s father, Ron Payne, started the family-run farm 10 years ago with only eight acres. Today, 7 Branch boasts 30-plus acres and hosts several rodeos and training events every year.

    The family also gives back to the community. Part of the rodeo’s proceeds benefit Cape Fear Valley’s Friends of the Cancer Center, which 7 Branch has supported for several years.

    Tickets can be purchased online at www.dayofthecowboync.com or at the gate. Tickets are $15 per person, and kids 3 years old and under get in free. Active-duty military receives one free child pass with a paying adult. Gates open at 5 p.m., and the event begins at 8 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday night. 7 Branch Arena is located just outside Hope Mills at 62 McGougan Rd., Lumber Bridge. For more information, call 910-813-7881.

  • 05auroraMy apologies to the two or three of you who had the misfortune to read my recent column about our Alaska trip. That column was written under the influence of jet lag and the king of all sinus infections, which I obtained in the 49th state. Being cranky and ill, I was unfair to Alaska. Mea culpa Alaska, you are wonderful. My fourth-grade teacher, Ms. Delgrande, would have probably given me a B on that column. Her daughter Susan Delgrande, out of kindness, gave me an A. Let us look back in gratitude to the great state of Alaska.

    We flew out of RDU. The lengthy line for TSA review resembles Walt Disney World’s queue for Space Mountain. The TSA has added something new, a starter’s line for fliers to stand behind until their row is called. You walk down a 30-foot strip as a drug-sniffing dog weaves in and out of the tourists. The lady next to me said, “I’m sure glad I left my brownies at home.”

    After the usual soothing air travel experience, we arrived in Fairbanks in early afternoon. Our tour kept pushing something called the Alaskan Salmon Bake for only $99 for two. Being gullible, we went. A school bus picked up a flock of tourists at the hotel. We were hauled off like so much Soylent Green to the tourist shearing. Truth in advertising would demand it be called the Alaskan Tourist Bake. It was the Alaskan equivalent of Dillon S.C.’s South of the Border, or a Myrtle Beach all-you-can-stomach fried seafood buffet. All the salmon you could eat — along with a salad bar featuring brown lettuce. Wine and beer cost extra. The next day, after applying the rule that Tragedy + Time = Comedy, I realized the tourist food scam was funny.

    There is a four-hour time difference between North Carolina and Alaska. Who knew there was a time zone beyond Pacific time? Alaska time, like the cheese, stands alone. The University of Alaska at Fairbanks has an excellent museum in which I slept through a highly educational movie about the aurora borealis. Fairbanks also has the first Moldovian restaurant I have ever seen featuring a specialty apparently called Placenta Primavera. Yum.

    The rumors about Alaska being the land of the midnight sun are true. The sun does not disappear at night. It drops into a low crawl across the horizon moving from west to east and then starts back up into the sky in the morning. Watching the sun refuse to set was worth the price of admission. A side trip took us to a giant Alaskan Gold Dredge, which can scoop out entire mountains looking for gold. We got to pan for gold. We came up with $26 worth of gold, according to the proprietors. They did not offer to buy it back from us. However, the gift shop had necklaces for sale for $76 into which you could put your gold flakes to preserve your precious memories of your Klondike gold strike. They did give us a free cookie and coffee to go along with our gold. We took a picture next to the Alaskan pipeline to scare environmentalists.

    The next overnight stop was near the mountain called Denali, which formerly was known as Mount McKinley. That is one large mountain. The restaurant there sold wine in a can. This allowed you to sit on the deck, drink canned wine and admire America’s tallest mountain while thinking profound thoughts. One thought was that there are very few fat tourists in Alaska. You have to be in reasonably good shape just to get there.

    There is very little access to actual printed newspapers in Alaska. I read the same Wall Street Journal I brought from home for a week until I found a New York Times in Anchorage. You can get excellent shrimp and grits with a fried egg on top in Anchorage. Who knew low-country cooking would turn up in the north country? While we were in Anchorage, Trump got into a twitter war with Bette Midler, calling her a washed-up psycho. Kind of made me nostalgic for daily news.

    Once on the cruise ship, I was pleased to learn they showed a different episode of “The Love Boat” TV show every day. There is nothing finer than a 1970’s TV show with faded stars from yesteryear finding love on the Love Boat. Captain Stubing, Dr. Bricker, Gopher, and Isaac the Bar Tender remain on board. I still can’t get the theme song out of my head: “Love, exciting and new/ Come aboard/ We’re expecting you/ Love, the sweetest reward/ Let it flow/ It flows back to you.”

    Have you learned anything from this waste of your reading time? Probably not. However, I now strongly recommend going to Alaska. Once the jet lag and the sinus cooties disappeared, I was able to appreciate the wonders that comprise the Last Frontier. One last note, Alaska delights in selling T-shirts and hats that compare the size of Alaska to Texas. Size matters. Alaska is 2.5 times bigger than Texas.

    Alaskan people are among the friendliest and most self-sufficient folks I have ever met. If you can smile where it gets 60 degrees below zero in the winter, you are America’s finest.

  • 08craigbishopFort Bragg is probably best known as headquarters of the famed 82nd Airborne Division. But it’s one of several major combat commands on post. They include U.S. Army Forces Command, Army Reserve Command, 18th Airborne Corps, Army Special Forces Command, the Army Special Operations Command, Joint Special Operations Command, John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, 95th Civil Affairs Brigade, 528th Sustainment Brigade (Airborne) and the 4th Military Information Support Group (Airborne). An estimated three dozen general officers, including a four-star and half a dozen three-star generals, are stationed at Pentagon South, as Fort Bragg is colloquially known.

    A veteran of the 75th Ranger Regiment is on his way to Fort Bragg to become senior NCO of the secretive Joint Special Operations Command. Command Sgt. Maj. Craig Bishop is currently the senior non-commissioned officer of the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas. He was named to replace JSOC Command Sgt. Maj. David Blake, according to a Pentagon press release.

    JSOC oversees elite special operations strike forces, including the Navy’s SEAL Team six, the Air Force’s 24th Special Tactics Squadron and the Army’s Delta Force, officially designated the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment. JSOC is also responsible for studying special operations requirements, ensuring equipment standardization and developing joint tactics among special operations forces.

    Bishop enlisted in the Army in September 1992 from Sweetwater, Tennessee. Over the course of his Army career, he has performed all NCO leadership positions, from team leader to command sergeant major for the 75th Ranger Regiment. Bishop has been through all levels of the NCO education system, including Special Operations Command Summit course and the Joint Special Operations Forces Senior Enlisted Academy.

    Bishop will serve under Air Force Lt. Gen. Scott Howell, JSOC commander and the first Air Force general to lead the legendary unit that was born out of the Iran hostage crisis in 1980.

    Since 9/11, few elements of the U.S. military have been more involved in the fight against terrorism than soldiers of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, or USASOC. Established at Fort Bragg on Dec. 1, 1989, to enhance the readiness of Army Special Operations Forces, USASOC also functions as the Army component of the U.S. Special Operations Command, which is located at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. In Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and numerous other hotspots around the world, USASOC soldiers have been among the first forces to deploy in support of U.S. and coalition force objectives.

    Many of these soldiers, most of them having served in numerous combat rotations, remain deployed to those locations along with conventional forces and multinational partners to help ensure the success of all GWOT operations, whether in a frontline combat role or a humanitarian assistance function. Green berets ordinarily serve shorter deployments than traditional forces but are sent into combat more often.

    Photo: Command Sgt. Maj. Craig Bishop

  • 02RepElmerFloydPublisher’s note: I am yielding this space to Rep. John Szoka, R-N.C. I have the highest respect for John and all our elected public servants, regardless of political affiliation. Up & Coming Weekly is proud to be the local community newspaper, and we welcome contributions without regard to race, religion or political affiliation. This unbiased diversity is what makes Up & Coming Weekly successful and uniquely appealing to our readers. The only mandatory requirement we have is that the writers own their words. This is why we require photos and bios to run with all content features. Our readers want to know who is speaking to them. It’s also the reason many politicians will not contribute. Our policy: “You say it! You own it!” — Bill Bowman, Publisher

    In the aftermath of the governor’s veto of the budget, Democrats in the House who agreed to vote to override the veto have been labeled as disloyal to their governor and disloyal to the Democratic Party. How dare a Democrat step out of line? It’s “My party, right or wrong.”

    These Democrat House members are being portrayed as disloyal traitors and are threatened with being primaried by their own party. In fact, some were called to the governor’s mansion and introduced face-to-face to their next Democratic primary election opponent if they don’t toe the line. Raw political threats by elected and appointed people in positions of great civic responsibility is disappointing and so very wrong, to say the least. But remember, it’s “My party, right or wrong.”

    Equally disappointing are left-leaning organizations like Progress North Carolina. This organization is on social media claiming that Democrat Representative X is trading healthcare for pork, depicting a picture of a hog’s head and a stack of money right next to an unflattering photo of Representative X. Add to that the executive director of the North Carolina Justice Center, who was a guest on a local radio station last Thursday morning, echoing the same sentiments. Pork? Really? Funding the residency program at Cape Fear Valley Hospital is pork? Helping the town of Falcon repair its town hall when insurance came in about $60,000 short is pork? $20 million for capital improvements at Fayetteville Technical Community College, $16 million for capital improvements at Fayetteville State University and $28 million for new schools in Cumberland County is pork? Seriously? But remember, it’s “My party, right or wrong.”

    North Carolina’s economy has been booming for the last several years. Because of prudent fiscal policy and controlled spending over the last four budget cycles, we have seen a dramatic increase in job creation and increasing wages. North Carolina’s unemployment rate is at a record low, and tax collections have outpaced budget estimates for the last four years because of our booming economy. These are the reasons we can fund these important and necessary projects across the state that might not otherwise be funded. Pork? Politically speaking, pork can be defined as spending money you don’t have for projects you don’t need. What this budget does is return the “good economy dividend” to its rightful owners, the taxpayers, for projects benefiting taxpayers.

    House Democrats who’ve reached out across the aisle to work with Republicans — who have reached out to them in-kind — are being villainized and portrayed as party traitors. I thought this was called compromise. If I can believe even a small portion of what I see on TV, and read about in countless editorials, that’s exactly what everyone wants, compromise. And now everyone can see who is truly interested in compromise and who isn’t.

    Working for our constituents by working together for the common good is, after all, why we were all sent to Raleigh. So, instead of recognizing and acknowledging these House Democrats for what they have been able to achieve in spite of their own party, they are subjected to disdain, criticism and disrespect from their party peers and leftleaning organizations. Reps. Billy Richardson and Elmer Floyd are two such public servants who don’t deserve the contempt and disdain being heaped upon them.

    Actually, these two public servants deserve grateful appreciation, respect, support and thanks from their constituents and community. They understand that it’s not “My party, right or wrong,” but it’s about honoring their duty as public servants and doing the right thing for the right reasons for their constituents, community and state.

    For this, gentlemen, I thank you — even if no one else will.

    Photo: Democrat Reps. Elmer Floyd

  • 16Jarrod BrittThe apprenticeship is over for Jarrod Britt at Pine Forest High School. Now he’s ready for the spotlight at Cape Fear.

    After 10 years helping Tom Willoughby with the Trojan baseball team and another four guiding girls tennis to success, Britt has been named the head baseball coach at Cape Fear. He replaces longtime Colt head coach Wendell Smith.

    Britt said that when he began his coaching career a decade ago, his ultimate goal was to become a head baseball coach. When the Cape Fear job came open, he conferred with Willoughby and then applied for the position.

    Cape Fear’s tradition in baseball, which includes a state 3-A championship in 1994, had a lot to do with his decision. “There’s a lot of excellence (there) when it comes to baseball,’’ Britt said. “I have a lot of friends that teach there, too, so I knew it was a really good place to work.’’

    Cape Fear is in a transition phase with its administration. Former South View and Scotland High School Principal Brian Edkins will be coming aboard to replace current Cape Fear Principal Lee Spruill.

    “It was a plus when I found out Brian Edkins is going to be the principal,’’ Britt said. “He’s just a good guy, (a) really down to earth, honest person that I think I’m really going to enjoy working for.’’

    The only bad thing about the timing of Britt’s hire is it won’t allow him to get in any summer work with his new team. The week of July 15-20 is the final dead period for high school coaches in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association to work with athletes this summer. By the time they return from that, the official start of football practice on Aug. 1 is looming.

    “You don’t want to run into football season," Britt said. "You’ve got guys that want to play football, and they want them to be able to throw their full attention to that.

    “Once the school year gets started and the first dead period is over, you get started with workouts. I want to make sure I have a chance to meet all the guys and kind of figure out what the program is going to look like.’’

    Britt said he has high expectations for his first season at Cape Fear. “I’ve heard really good things from the people that were in the program and from the Mac Williams (Middle School) coach that had a pretty good class last year,’’ Britt said. “I’m excited about some of the guys coming up.’’

    Britt said his first job will be to make his players understand they need to dedicate themselves to the game, while reminding them that it is a game and they shouldn’t let baseball alone define them.

    “You play the game because you enjoy playing the game,’’ he said. “When you don’t enjoy playing the game anymore, you get off the field. If you don’t have fun, you’re not going to be successful.’’

    Britt said he hopes to build relationships with his players and let them see how hard he works so they’ll be motivated to give him everything they have as well.

    “Players want to play for guys that they enjoy being around and that they respect,’’ he said. “It’s building a foundation with them so right off the bat they know what I’m all about.’’

    Photo: Jarrod Britt, pictured, replaces longtime Colt head coach Wendell Smith.

  • 09capefearvalleymedCape Fear Valley Medical Center has been designated one of America’s safest hospitals by a national organization that monitors institutional patient safety. In 1999, the Institute of Medicine reported that nearly 98,000 Americans were dying annually because of medical errors. In response, a group of large employers formed The Leapfrog Group. Their goal was to collect data that ensures they are providing the best health benefits for their employees and to drive giant leaps forward in hospital safety. Thus, the name The Leapfrog Group was chosen.

    The group developed the Leapfrog Hospital Survey, which assigns recognizable letter grades assessing the safety of general hospitals across the country: A, B, C, D and F.

    Cape Fear Valley Medical Center was awarded an “A” rating this spring, acknowledging its efforts to protect patients from harm. The hospital survey system used 28 performance measures of patient safety. Details on those measures are available at hospitalsafetygrade.org. Across the country, 2,600 hospitals participated. The Leapfrog Group found that if hospitals with a grade lower than A are able to achieve the safety performance of A hospitals, an estimated 50,000 patient lives could be saved.

    The 2017 American Hospital Association’s Annual Survey of patient admissions found that the number of avoidable deaths ranged from 3.24 lives per 1,000 admissions in A hospitals to 6.21 lives per 1,000 admissions in D and F hospitals. Overall results reflect average hospital performance in each grade category.

    The information about hospital performance collected through the Leapfrog Hospital Survey is unique. “When they look into it, (you) realize how many things can go wrong in a hospital, and that makes a big difference,” said Leapfrog President and CEO Leah Binder. “That’s why I think it’s … important for us to highlight this in a way that’s easily accessible to laypeople.”

    In addition to Leapfrog Group’s findings, Healthgrades has conferred three specialty clinical quality awards on Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, which include evaluation of patient safety.

    The local hospital was ranked among America’s 100 Best Hospitals for the 2019 Cardiac Care Award. It also earned America’s 100 Best Hospitals’ Coronary Intervention Award for superior clinical outcomes in heart bypass surgery, coronary interventional procedures, heart attack treatment, heart failure treatment and heart valve surgery; and the 2018 superior clinical outcomes in coronary intervention procedures, which involve angioplasty with stent. Healthgrades evaluates hospital performance using objective quality measures, including patient safety, clinical outcomes and patient experience.

    Cape Fear Valley Health System’s most recent honors included Get with the Guidelines — AFIB Gold Quality Achievement Award from the American Heart Association — for helping patients suffering from atrial fibrillation. Methods to aggressively reduce risks to prevent stroke and stabilize heart function were established. The American Heart Association estimates 2.7 million adults have AFIB, which is associated with a significant increased risk of stroke.

    Cape Fear Valley is a private, not-for-profit health system governed by a 22-member board of trustees. The board includes the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners as well as physicians, registered nurses and various members of the community.

  • 06cityoffayettevilleFellow Fayettevillians,

    For those who know me, they know that I am first and foremost a husband and father who puts his family above all else. I have balanced my personal responsibilities in addition to my professional responsibilities, along with the civic responsibilities of holding the District 2 City Council seat, and I have no regrets.

    However, I believe it’s important to listen. So, when (I was) discussing the upcoming election with my family and my daughter innocently asked, as only a 6-year-old can, “Dadda — if you don’t get elected, does that mean you’ll have more time to spend with me?” I had to listen to what that question was really saying.

    I have always placed a demanding schedule on myself, but very recently, we had a physician at our practice relocate out of the state. Due to this, I had to take on even more professional responsibility to ensure continuity of care within our practice, which also employs a very dedicated and loyal staff. I have a responsibility to those people and their families as well as the patient base we care for. I have always been a man of my word and live up to my responsibilities to the best of my ability.

    I am proud that I have been able to serve the people of District 2 and this city honorably and effectively. I have worked tirelessly to ensure that my constituents have had a strong voice on the council that could be heard out of the other nine I had the honor to sit amongst. I am but one vote of 10; however, I have tried to make sure that vote was the people’s vote and not my own.

    During my representation, I, along with the rest of the council and city staff, have made great strides in moving our city forward. We have accomplished much in a short time and at a very critical juncture in our city’s growth. I look forward to continuing that service until the end of my term and will remain steadfast in ensuring other projects and initiatives I am involved with progress on schedule.

    However, as I said in my last campaign, actions speak louder than words. And upon much reflection, I must take action for what my heart is telling me. Therefore, I will not be running for another term at this time, so that I may better balance my time with my family and my professional responsibilities. I am hopeful to be able to offer my time and dedication to our city in the future should that path open again, and I will continue to remain engaged in our local community organization.

    It truly has been an honor to serve under such an overwhelmingly broad base of support that has come from all sides of the community. Fayetteville, we truly are one. And although there will always be those who wish to divide, do not let them. I have faith that my district will choose wisely in a replacement. I will work with that choice to ensure a smooth transition so that District 2 and our great city continue towards its immense potential that I believe has yet to be reached.

  • 10summernightslogo

         Cumberland Tractor Kubota of Fayetteville presents Downtown Summer Nights Concert Series every Thursday evening through August 22 in the Cool Spring Downtown District from 5:30-9 p.m. on the 100 block of Person Street. Attendees enjoy free live music from 5:30-9 p.m. on the 100 block of Person Street.

    “The purpose of the event is the title, which is ‘Downtown Summer Nights’ in Fayetteville with local and national acts,” said Kelly West, promotions and marketing director of Cumulus Broadcasting, LLC. “There is a lot happening in Fayetteville all of the time … you walk around Hay Street, Gillespie Street, Green Street and Person Street and see the culture and how amazing it is.”

    West explained that whenever there is a large local event, it almost always involves one of those streets. For this reason, the event organizers looked at Person Street and felt it would be the perfect place to have the Downtown Summer Nights Concert Series. That’s partly why they created the series — to build even more excitement around something happening downtown.

    The event features live music, various food, clothing and business vendors, a beer and wine garden, a kids’ activity area and a misting tent known as the chill zone.

    The concert series lineup includes Sherman Neckties and Sidewinder, July 18; the Eastline Band and the Breakfast Club, July 25; Lee Jean Jr. and That Nation Band, August 1; Tyrek and Lotus Sun and Sail On, Aug. 8; 80’s Unplugged and Earth, Wind & Fire Tribute Band, Aug. 15; and Dead City Symphony and Heartbreaker Aug. 22.

    “We would love to see 500-600 people at this event, so bring your kids and your dogs on a leash,” said West. “There is no heavy metal or rap music. We will have country/rock, soul, ’80s rock and ’80s tribute bands.

    “We would not be able to do this if it wasn’t for our lovely sponsors, who are the Cool Spring Downtown District, Healy Wholesale, Rimtyme, Karma Culture, Dirtbag Ales, Fascinate- U Children’s Museum, Sugar’s, Isabella Effon, Five Star Entertainment, our radio stations and more,” said West. “We invite everyone to come out and enjoy this familyfriendly event on Person Street.”

    The event is free for all ages and open to the public. For more information, call 509-901-3467.

  • 07scholarshipCumberland County’s collective graduating class of 2019 has racked up more than $92 million in college scholarships. Local high school graduates earned $74.7 million in academic scholarships and $5.5 million in athletic scholarships, a Cumberland County Schools news release said.

    Military scholarships, including those awarded by West Point Military Academy, Virginia Military Institute and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, totaled $10.2 million. Other awards of community and civic scholarships amounted to nearly $2 million.

    This year’s scholarship dollar totals surpassed the class of 2018 by more than $800,000. The class of 2019 graduates will also be financing their higher education at Methodist University, Fayetteville State University, Duke University, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Morehouse College, Ohio State University, Livingstone College and dozens of others.

    Department of Social Services helps fund those in need during the summer heat

    The Cumberland County Department of Social Services is accepting Crisis Intervention Program applications from individuals and families who are in danger of experiencing cooling-related crises. Households are being served on a first-come, first served basis. The CIP fund will be in effect until all funds are exhausted.

    Eligible families may receive more than one payment during the year. Benefits will vary based on the amount needed to alleviate the crisis, but will not exceed $600. Funds are paid directly to the utility provider.

    A household is considered in a crisis if there is a person experiencing or in danger of experiencing a life-threatening or health-related emergency when assistance is not available from other sources.

    Applications are accepted Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., at reception desk 23 on the second floor of the DSS building, 1225 Ramsey St. For information regarding eligibility criteria, call the Department of Social Services at 910-323-1540.

    Register of Deeds staffers may beat their own school supply drive record

    The Cumberland County Register of Deeds office is holding its 10th annual school supply fundraiser for homeless school children through Aug. 1. Individuals, businesses, civic groups and churches are encouraged to give. The Register of Deeds office hopes to collect supplies to fill 850 book bags, which will be donated to the estimated 650 homeless children in county schools. Some of the book bags will be set aside for relief events and the American Red Cross to help families that have experienced disasters.

    The following school supplies are needed: pencils, pens, notebooks, rulers, composition books, folders, notebook paper, pencil sharpeners, erasers, glue sticks, crayons, toothbrushes, toothbrush cases, toothpaste and hand sanitizer. In addition to school supplies, gift cards or cash donations will be accepted. No checks, please.

    Donated items can be dropped off Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Register of Deeds office in Room 114 of the Cumberland County Courthouse, 117 Dick St. For more information, call 910- 678-7775.

    Vacation time at City Hall

    It’s July, which means local government bodies are taking time off. Fayetteville City Council and Cumberland County Commissioners won’t be conducting regularly scheduled meetings until August. Fayetteville City Manager Doug Hewett took some time off last month so he can be on hand in the event something comes up.

    National Airborne day

    The 79th anniversary of U.S. Army airborne forces coincides with the 19th anniversary of the opening of downtown Fayetteville’s Airborne & Special Operations Museum. It opened Aug. 16, 2000.

    The ASOM Foundation chose to celebrate National Airborne Day on Saturday, Aug.17, to maximize the opportunity for the public to visit and celebrate the museum’s anniversary. Visitors will see iconic static displays of the XVIII Airborne Corps, United States Army Special Operations Command, and 82nd Airborne Division, as well as period reenactors in the world-class museum.

    ASOM is owned by the U.S. Army but operated by a local foundation. Local military and civilian officials decided to construct the facility in downtown Fayetteville rather than on Fort Bragg. They said at the time it was the most significant Army edifice in the civilian domain.

  • 14Randy FranklinEditor’s note: This is part of a series on Cumberland County high school spring football workouts.

    The hashtag on the most recent tweets from the E.E. Smith High School football Twitter account succinctly state the focus of the Golden Bulls' 2019 season: #RevengeTour19.

    Smith endured a 0-11 season in 2018, closing the year with an agonizing 70-20 defeat to Cumberland County rival Westover. After that kind of year, head coach Deron Donald said it would have been no surprise if some players wanted to get off the boat. He said he’s not seen any signs of that.

    “I can honestly say these guys have done a great job staying together and wanting this program to get back where it needs to be,’’ he said. “That’s a big thing for us now.

    "When you get knocked down, it’s how you get back up and respond. This is not only a challenge for the players but for myself, the coaching staff and the E.E. Smith community.’’

    Donald said the Golden Bulls are working hard to fix things and rebuild. He’s counting heavily on the incoming senior class to buy into the guidance of the coaches, get stronger in the weight room and realize they have a chance to be special.

    “When you go 0-11, you’ll be the group that turned it around,’’ he said. “You’ll always be remembered in the history of E.E. Smith. We’re trying to stay positive, letting our guys know they learn from what happened last year. How you learn and grow and build from it, that’s how a man is measured.’’

    Donald spent the bulk of spring practice getting everything installed offensively and defensively. “We’re still going to have to teach during the summertime, but that way we’ll have things already installed,’’ he said. “We can get a lot more things implemented going forward.’’

    Getting the team in shape has also been a focus and will continue to be one. Donald said being healthy is critical for his team.

    “We’re probably the smallest high school in Cumberland County from a numbers perspective,’’ he said. “One of the main things is being in shape and staying strong. I believe we have a group that can compete with anybody inside or outside Cumberland County, but we have to stay healthy because of lack of numbers.’’

    Two big losses Smith has to replace this season are leading rusher Jaylyn Locklear and leading receiver Toshiro Spivey, who both graduated.

    Donald said the whole senior class must step up for Smith this season. “Everybody will have a role to play and a part to play,’’ he said. “It’s their team, and we’re expecting those guys to lead this team and do what they’re supposed to do to get us back in position to compete for a conference title and make the playoffs.’’

    Top returners for Smith include Marquel Samuel at linebacker and defensive end and Randy Franklin at defensive back and running back.

    Donald said both players are being recruited by colleges and have offers on the table. “When you have that type of publicity, I definitely expect you to make plays and be great leaders for the program,’’ Donald said.

    Franklin, who recently got an offer from Alabama A&M University, said he feels the Golden Bulls need to get more leadership from the seniors this season.

    “We have to set an example for everyone,’’ he said. “That was something we really lacked last year. We have to be stronger, get more disciplined, and everyone has to come together as a team.’’

    He said players are trying to learn positions on both sides of the ball so lineups can be more flexible and give starters a chance to rest.

    He expects the Patriot Athletic Conference race to be challenging again. “There are some great teams out there,’’ he said. “South View, Pine Forest, great teams. We’re going to give them some competition this year.’’

    Photo: Randy Franklin

  • 12summerSchool is out. The kids can sleep late, swim in the pool, play video games and hang out with their friends. But that doesn’t mean they should stop learning. Here is a list of recommendations to ensure your child has a summer full of meaningful learning experiences.

    Reading

    Summertime reading is a must. Take your child to the library as often as possible during the summer months. They should read daily and answer questions for comprehension. Create a word wall and have them practice the words on a consistent basis. Make sure your child reads both fiction and nonfiction literature. You can browse the internet for free nonfiction reading websites. Children can also watch educational videos and listen to audiobooks.

    Math

    It is crucial to build both reading and math into everyday activities. For example, a trip to the grocery store can be fun and educational. Make a list of items that are needed, and give your child a calculator to calculate the cost of the items. Read and follow a recipe with your child. Cooking or baking is a wonderful math lesson on measurement and following directions in sequential order. Practice math flashcards for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

    Summer programs

    Research various summer programs and select the one that best suits your child. You want to find camps that will create an opportunity for the growth of independence in your child. Your child will learn how to interact with other children, which is an important social skill.

    Educational trips

    Some examples of educational trips to take with your children include the zoo, museums, a planetarium, local exhibits, a state or national park, a farm, the botanical garden, historical sites, local events, camping trips and concerts.

    Vacation activities

    Quality family time during summer vacation is important, too. This is the perfect opportunity to spend time together doing the things you love the most. When you return from your vacation, encourage your child to write in his or her journal about their favorite things that happened during the trip.

    Healthy conversations

    Learning begins at home. It is important for parents to have healthy conversations with their children. Teach them to say good morning when they wake up in the morning and enter the classroom and/or front office. Teach them to say please and thank you. Consistent conversation is the key to promoting children’s language development. We want our future leaders to know how to effectively communicate with others.

    Playtime

    Children learn through play. Limit their screen time this summer, and allow them to do the things we did as kids — like ride their bicycle, play hideand- seek, make mud pies, play dodgeball and kickball, set up a tent in the backyard, and run and get wet in the water sprinkler.

    Have a safe and happy summer!

  • 07edNorth Carolina law says that any member of the armed services qualifying for admission to an institution of higher education but not qualifying as a resident for tuition purposes shall be charged the in-state tuition rate for enrollments while a member of armed services. Dependents and spouses of active-duty service members using Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits are eligible to be reclassified under the in-state tuition rate without meeting the state’s 12-month residency requirement.

    The North Carolina General Assembly passed Senate Bill 257 in 2017 to comply with federal law under Section 702 of the Choice Act. It provides a waiver of 12-month residency requirements for certain veterans and other individuals entitled to federal education benefits. In North Carolina, to qualify for in-state residency, a veteran must show that he or she established legal residence, or domicile, in North Carolina and has maintained that domicile for at least 12 consecutive months before the beginning of the term. They also must demonstrate that they intend to make North Carolina a permanent home indefinitely.

    Active-duty members of the armed forces are charged in-state tuition while living in North Carolina because of their active-duty assignment in the state. This also applies to reservists, even those who are not intending to make the state their permanent home. If subsequently reassigned outside North Carolina, the members continue to qualify for instate tuition so long as they remain continuously enrolled in the program they were in before reassignment. Dependent relatives — spouses, children and siblings who share the abode of a service member who is in North Carolina on active duty — also qualify for in-state tuition rates.

    Many service members seeking higher education have historically preferred community colleges. Fayetteville Technical Community College has been rated one of the best two-year institutions for service members, and it’s one of the largest in the state. FTCC is a public, two- to four-year school. Its highest level of offering is associate degrees. Tuition and fees for 2019 at FTCC are $2,544 for North Carolina residents and $8,688 for out-of-state students. The school has a total enrollment of 11,660. The studentto- faculty ratio is 19-to-1.

    In October 1963, two years after the fledgling school opened, the board of trustees requested that the status technical institute be granted to the institution. The North Carolina State Board of Education did so in January 1964, and the name Fayetteville Technical Institute was adopted. The board of trustees was granted authority to award the associate in applied science degree in addition to diplomas offered in numerous programs. In January 1988, FTI became Fayetteville Technical Community College when the North Carolina Department of Community Colleges changed the name. The change was in name only though, as the purpose of FTCC remained intact.

  • 20David MayThe North Carolina Coaches Association East-West All-Star games are scheduled July 15-16 in Greensboro in conjunction with the annual North Carolina Coaches Association Clinic.

    Following are capsule biographies of the Cumberland County coaches and athletes who were selected to compete in this year’s game. This list was current as of press time, but players can be added or dropped up to the week of the games, depending on availability.

    Basketball: Girls

    Monday, July 15, 6 p.m., Greensboro Coliseum

    • Coach: David May, Pine Forest 

    East girls head coach.  This will be May’s final game as head coach. Stepping down after coaching both girls and boys at his high school alma mater, Pine Forest. Career record of 298-199 in 19 seasons. Teams won two regular-season conference titles, two conference tournament titles and made 11 trips to state playoffs. Three-time conference Coach of Year. Also Cape Fear Region and District Coach of the Year. Played college basketball at University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

    • Players:

    Kendal Moore, Pine Forest: 5-6, guard Named Associated Press All-State. Second team North Carolina Basketball Coaches Association All- State. All-Conference, Conference All-Tournament, All-District. Played in the North Carolina-South Carolina All-Star game. Averaged 24.6 points, 4.5 assists. Headed to North Carolina State on scholarship, where she will major in biology.

    Alexandria Scruggs, E.E. Smith: 6-0, forward Associated Press All-State and North Carolina Basketball Coaches Association All-State. District Player of the Year. Led team in scoring with 26.2 points per game and rebounding with 12.8 per game. Member of E.E. Smith Academy of Scholars. Will attend Wake Forest on scholarship and major in health and exercise science.

    Kate Perko, Terry Sanford: Forward, 5-11: All-Conference and All-Tournament. Averaged 14 points and 11 rebounds per game. Scored 1,181 career points. Member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honor Society and National Latino Honor Society. Will attend Meredith on a scholarship. Her mom, Amy Privette Perko, played for the West All-Stars in 1983.

    Basketball: Boys

    Monday, July 15, after girls game, Greensboro Coliseum

    Players: 

    Brion McLaurin, Seventy-First: 6-7, forward All-Conference, Conference Player of the Year, All-District, District Player of the Year, Ike Walker Holiday Classic MVP. Averaged 17.7 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. Earned scholarship to Chowan University, where he will major in sports and fitness management.

    Football

    July 17, 8 p.m. at Grimsley High School’s Jamieson Stadium

    • Coach: Duran McLaurin, Seventy-First

    East assistant coach. In six seasons at his alma mater Seventy-First, McLaurin is 56-18. His career record is 82-44. Teams have won two conference titles with nine state playoff appearances in 11 seasons. Played college football and basketball at North Carolina Central. Has also been a head coach at E.E. Smith and assistant coach at Westover, South View and Seventy-First.

    • Players:

    Dante Bowlding, Terry Sanford: 5-10, 180, defensive back Named All-Region and All-Eastern. Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Had 172 tackles, 80 solos, five tackles for loss and five interceptions. Alltime school leader in tackles with 419. Will attend University of North Carolina at Pembroke on scholarship and major in exercise science and physiology. 

    Kyler Davis, Seventy-First: 6-1, 208, quarterback All-Conference and team Offensive Player of the Year. Passed for 5,829 yards, 55 touchdowns and rushed for 2,262 yards and 24 touchdowns for his career. Volunteer at McNair Foundation. Active member of Spring Branch Missionary Baptist Church. Undecided on college choice.

    Photo: David May

  • 18Taurienne FreemanEditor’s note: This is part of a series on Cumberland County high school spring football workouts.

    Ernest King took over as Westover head football coach late in the offseason development period last year, making his challenge to field a competitive football team even more difficult.

    He responded by guiding the Wolverines to a 4-7 record. Now, with more than a year working on the program behind him, he’s optimistic about this fall’s outlook.

    “The biggest thing is we’ve got the majority of our offensive line back,’’ he said. “We’ve got our running backs back, and our receiving corps is back.’’

    There is one big hole to fill on offense with talented quarterback Xavier Marsh departed.

    “Our receiver corps has to make our quarterback look good this year,’’ King said. “When the ball is in the air, we’ve got to attack it.’’

    Most of the defense returns, highlighted by linebacker Taurienne Freeman. 

    “He’s our leader on defense,’’ King said. “He finished last year with 169 tackles. We expect him to do the same thing this year, lead us even more and hopefully get us to the playoffs.’’

    Freeman said the focus for Westover this season is being more disciplined and knowing assignments on the field along with getting in the weight room every day.

    He said things are already ahead of last year. “Everybody is finally developing as a team,’’ he said. “Everything is starting to fit in. We’re building a brotherhood and building a bond with the coaches, too, so we’re pretty good with that.’’

    When it comes to returning the Wolverines to winning football, Freeman said the job for the team is obvious. “Playing hard football,’’ he said. “That’s the only way we’re going to get it back. We’ve got to come out here, play everybody hard and win. That’s how we are going to get our respect back.’’

    King is expecting another tight battle for the Patriot Athletic Conference title and hopes the Wolverines will have a chance to be in the picture.

    “Everybody is learning the system so when we go into summer all we are doing is getting repetitions instead of doing a lot of teaching,’’ he said. “We’ve got our coaching staff, and a majority of the kids have shown up for spring ball. We won’t lack experience.’’

    Photo: Taurienne Freeman

  • 10SiemeringThe quality I most admire in artists is their ability to see possibility in what many would overlook. This concept is clearly evidenced through the current exhibition held at the Arts Council through Aug. 17. “Reclaimed!” is sponsored by Waste Management and the city of Fayetteville’s Environmental Services Department. It highlights art that is made primarily with recycled, repurposed and found materials. This exhibition and the Arts Council of Fayetteville/ Cumberland County’s partnership with its generous sponsor has been in existence for many years. However, each year the results are radically different. This year, the organizers went national and put out a call for art to creatives from around the country.

    Juried by Bryant Holsenbeck, an environmental artist from Durham, the Arts Council received more than 100 entries from artists across the nation, and just over half were selected for inclusion in this exhibition. Holsenbeck also chose first-, secondand third-place awards. First place went to Rebecca Siemering for “Tuft Enough.” Siemering, an artist from Pawtucket, Rhode Island, created what looks like a onesie for a child — made of dental floss and betting slips. From a distance, this work looks to be made from tufted wool or knitted material. Only a close examination reveals the unique materials used to create this work.

    Second place went to Bill Sieber from Carbondale, Illinois, for “Ocean Sweep.” This work is remarkable in its simplicity, yet it reflects environmental concerns that are incredibly current. The artist strung together plastic drinking straws with fishing line to create a representation of a fishing net.

    The third-place award went to Michael Weddington, an artist from Matthews, North Carolina, for “Piano Lessons: Old School, New Didactic.” The work is crafted from reclaimed piano keys and other hardware combined with wood and metal.

    There are many other notable works in this exhibition, including several from local and regional artists. Sherry Young, from Fayetteville, has two works in “Reclaimed!” — including a fish made from Styrofoam cups and a seahorse made from zip ties. Raul Rubiera, also from Fayetteville, has a piece that is striking in its minimalism and balance. It is made from two saw blades connected by a branch and mounted on a slice of a tree trunk.

    Many works, like Rubiera’s, are not just works of beauty created with recycled, reclaimed and found materials; they also state something more profound. Rubiera describes his work as “a mixture of natural materials and the tools that transform that material into a tamed object.” While the description and the work itself does not place judgment on the materials or usage thereof, it does make the viewer think more critically about what we toss aside to make our lives more comfortable and more convenient.

    Art has the power to make us think critically about our lives. This exhibition does just that while also showcasing the transformative nature of objects and the art that can be created from what is normally discarded.

    This exhibition is on display at the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County, 301 Hay St., until Aug. 17. For gallery hours and more information, visit www.theartscouncil.com.

  • Meetings

    For details about all meetings and activities, including location where not listed, call Town Clerk Jane Starling at 910-426-4113.

    Historic Preservation Commission Wednesday, July 10, 5 p.m., Parks and Recreation Building

    Board of Commissioners Monday, July 15, 7 p.m., Luther Board Room, Town Hall

    Lake Advisory Committee Tuesday, July 16, 6 p.m., Parks and Recreation Center

    Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Monday, July 22, 6:30 p.m., Parks and Recreation Center

    Appearance Commission Tuesday, July 23, 6:30 p.m., Parks and Recreation

    Veterans Affairs Commission Thursday, July 25, 6 p.m., Parks and Recreation Center

    Activities

    Good2Grow Farmers Market Saturday, Aug. 3, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., between Town Hall and Parks and Recreation Building.

    Hope Mills Area Kiwanis Club at Sammio’s, second Tuesdays at noon and fourth Tuesdays at 6 p.m. For details, call 910-237-1240.

    Hope Mills Parks and Recreation Senior programs at Parks and Recreation Building. Senior programs are for those ages 55 and up who are residents of Cumberland County. Various activities, especially Zumba classes, are scheduled Monday through Sunday throughout the day. For details on times and days, check the schedule at townofhopemills.com. You can call the recreation center at 910-426-4109 or e-mail Kasey Ivey at kivey@townofhopemills.com.

    Hope Mills Parks and Recreation is currently accepting registration for men’s and coed adult softball for the fall 2019 season. Registration will end Aug. 3 or when all leagues are filled, and the season will begin Aug. 12. The cost is $500 per team. For additional information, call 910-308-7651.

    Promote yourself: Email hopemills@upandcomingweekly.com.

  • 13LoweryRecently, U.S. Sen. Richard Burr wrote a newspaper column criticizing the Eastern Band of the Cherokee for opposing the South Carolina-based Catawba Tribe’s efforts to acquire land near Kings Mountain to build a casino. Burr also criticized the Cherokees for lobbying against full recognition for the Lumbee tribe because they view it as a threat to their federal benefits and gaming business.

    In a response published in the June 23 News & Observer, Richard Sneed, principal chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, stated, “Actually, the Eastern Band has opposed Lumbee recognition legislation for literally a century, long before tribal gaming. The Lumbees have claimed to be a Cherokee tribe and at least three other historic tribes over the years, and their identity as an historic tribe and as individual descendants of an historic tribe has been questioned for many, many years.”

    So, what are the facts? Where did the Lumbee people come from? How are they different from other Native Americans, and how are they alike?

    Malinda Maynor Lowery, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill associate professor of history and director of the Center for the Study of the American South, takes on this challenge in her new book, “The Lumbee Indians: An American Struggle.”

    As a member of the Lumbee tribe with deep family roots in the Lumbee community, Lowery brings more than scholarship to her explanation of her people’s origins and history. She weaves her family’s experience with the defining events in Lumbee history. The main characters in Lumbee and family history turn out to be a fascinating blend of characters, heroes and scoundrels, preachers and bootleggers, lawyers and lawbreakers, and farmers, all deeply attached to the swampy lands along the Lumber River in Robeson County.

    In the early 1700s, as early American Indian tribes were decimated by disease and the relentless pressure from European settlement, remnants from these groups made their way to the Lumber River (then called Downing Creek). By the 1750s, Lowery writes, “the people of Downing Creek and its swamps knit together families and places. They traced belonging through kinship, spoke English and farmed.”

    Lowery cites reports of violent action in 1773 at Downing Creek that included the names of “Chavis, Locklear, Grooms, Ivey, Sweat, Kearsey, and Dial families, all ancestors of today’s Lumbees.”

    During and after the Civil War, Henry Berry Lowry and his gang made war on the white establishment. Though Lowry escaped punishment, a cohort, Henderson Oxendine, was captured and hanged in 1871. For his last words, he sang “Amazing Grace" and “And Can I Yet Delay,” an old Methodist hymn. Oxendine is Malinda Lowery’s great-great-grandfather. Henry Berry Lowry is remembered and revered in the community as the Lumbee Robin Hood.

    In the post-Civil War and Jim Crow times, Lumbees fought for Indian schools, state recognition and a tribal name, finally settling on the Lumbee name in the 1950s.

    One defining event in Lumbee history occurred in 1958 when a large group of Lumbees disrupted a Ku Klux Klan rally near Maxton and chased its leaders away, gaining positive national attention for the Lumbee.

    The Lumbee effort for federal recognition gained partial success in 1956 with the passage of the Lumbee Act. It recognized the tribe as Indian but did not make its people eligible for the benefits accorded other recognized tribes.

    As for the future, Lowery closes her book with a strong argument for full recognition of the Lumbee. “Under pressure of European settlement, our ancestors abandoned many of our oldest homeplaces, but having existed for nearly 300 years along the Lumber River, we will not forsake this place.”

    Lowery may not persuade everyone that the Lumbee tribe should gain full recognition. But what she has shown conclusively is that the Lumbee people are entitled to respect, admiration and appreciation for their 300-plus years struggle to build and hold their community together.

    Photo: Malinda Maynor Lowery

  • 15Hope Mills Creative Arts CouncilFor the last five years, Elizabeth Blevins has been exploring ways to bring art to the town of Hope Mills. After finding out she wasn’t alone in her quest, Blevins put together a committee that is going to try to make this dream happen. The newly created Hope Mills Creative Arts Council held its first official meetings last month and has as its ultimate goal bringing public displays of art to the community.

    During her search for ways to bring art to the town, Blevins learned about the nearby town of Cameron in Moore County. Some years ago, a Cameron native moved to New York and became a prominent artist. He then returned to his hometown with some artist friends and painted numerous murals on various local buildings. The murals drew many visitors to the town, and Blevins would like to see Hope Mills try something similar.

    “We love art, but art with a purpose,’’ Blevins said. One of the biggest reasons to bring art to a town like Hope Mills, she said, is research shows it can increase both commercial and private property values.

    In addition to increasing property values, art has an effect on citizens. “It makes them proud of their community to know we have this,’’ she said. “When they are proud, they act a little better. They invest emotionally and then financially in their own community.’’

    A spinoff of the art group would also be to promote a garden club and an appearance club that would work one-on-one with property owners to help them beautify their homes and businesses.

    “We want to move forward with that to create an artist’s cooperative where we pair artists with local businesses,’’ Blevins said. “We already have space available and can turn businesses in our community into micro-art galleries.’’

    Blevins said this could also lead to local performances with musicians, comedians, dancers and all manner of entertainment.

    “We want art to be an integral part of daily life in Hope Mills,’’ she said. “We want Hope Mills to be the kind of destination people are willing to drive three hours to visit because of the art.’’

    Karoll McDonald, who runs her own creative marketing agency, reached out to work with Blevins when she first heard about Blevins' idea to bring public art to Hope Mills.

    “Whenever you do things that promote art, it creates a connection with the community,’’ McDonald said. “Whenever people see colors, see art, it gives them a sense of belonging, that they are part of something.’’ 

    McDonald said the committee has already gotten positive response from a number of businesses. “There are a couple of exciting things coming up this year for the people in Hope Mills,’’ she said.

    Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner has attended meetings of the committee and is excited citizens of the town are involved in this project. “They’re so interested and have so many creative ideas,’’ she said of the group. Warner said she has displayed local art in her private business and has sold some pieces created by local artists.

    “We can tap that talent to start with,’’ she said. “The cultural side has not been developed like it should be. I think we need to start promoting (the fact) that we do have some talent here and some creative people here.’’

    Photo:  Some founding members of the Hope Mills Creative Arts Council, left to right: Kenjuana McCray, Beth Cooper, Dennis Brechner, Pat Edwards, Sue Moody, Elizabeth Blevins, Adam Walls, Jim Blevins, Karoll McDonald

  • 19South View track1South View track and cross country coach Jesse Autry got a phone call recently that nearly brought him to tears. One of his assistant coaches told him work had finally begun on installing a rubberized track at the South View football field.

    It was a successful completion of an arduous process Autry has been chasing for years, culminating in a fundraising effort he championed on Facebook.

    Autry wanted to praise everyone who helped. “I can’t say enough at what Dr. (Tonjai) Robertson, Chad Barbour and Vernon Aldridge and everyone has done,’’ he said. Robertson is the South View principal, Barbour the school’s athletic director and Aldridge the student activities director for Cumberland County Schools.

    “People have pitched in from our community, and alumni from our teams,’’ Autry said. “It’s really been something.’’

    There is still going to be a little more money needed to finish the project completely. What’s been raised so far only covers the track. To be able to host meets at South View, the school will need to upgrade the jumping pits for events like the long jump and high jump.

    “I know that the powers that be are working to make it a complete facility,’’ Autry said. “I can tell the effort is there, and they are trying to make sure the money is there.’’

    The rubberized track will replace an asphalt one South View has had since 2002. While asphalt is better than the dirt tracks still used at some Cumberland County schools, Autry said it was rough on the legs of his runners. “We’ve had to run in the zero lane, as we call it, which means in the grass on the inside (of the track),’’ Autry said.

    “You begin to realize rubber is a safer surface. Rubber is also faster. On asphalt, when kids try to wear spikes, they slip.’’

    Autry said the new track will pay for itself because South View can host major meets and get teams to travel to run there. “People aren’t going to drive three hours to race on an asphalt track,’’ he said. “Hosting big meets means making money.”

    Athletic director Barbour said the company installing the track has a 90-day contract that started June 10. The plan is to have the new track finished by Aug. 23, before South View’s first home football game.

    Barbour said the installation won’t interfere with South View’s fall sports practices. Both the South View football and soccer teams have practice fields independent from the football field where work on the new track will be taking place.

  • 14History A Riders CompanionHistory is often a traveler's best companion. I read a book titled "Here Is Where: Discovering America's Great Forgotten History" by Andrew Carroll. In the book, Carroll tells the story of Dr. Joseph Goldberger, who used prisoners in Mississippi as a control group to find a cure for pellagra. Pellagra is a disease caused by low levels of niacin, also known as vitamin B-3. It can be fatal.

    In the chapter titled "Sparks: Inventions and Technological Advancements," Carroll opens with the story of Calendonia Correctional Institution. David M. Williams of Godwin, North Carolina, is the focus in this part of the story. Williams was accused of killing Cumberland County Deputy Al Pate on July 22, 1921, during a raid on a moonshine still. The evidence was mostly circumstantial, but Williams pleaded insanity. At the trial, one juror was convinced he was insane, resulting in a mistrial. At retrial, Williams pleaded guilty to a lesser charge in fear of a life sentence or the electric chair.

    In 1921, while in prison, Williams eventually was able to work in the metal shop. Williams was talented with firearms, and he began working on a design for a new gun. With the help, trust and encouragement of the prison's superintendent, Captain H. T. People, Williams invented what became the most influential weapon invention in history, the short-stroke piston. The design allowed the breach of a semi-automatic weapon to travel less distance and provide a faster reload capability. This invention led to the production of a shorter, lighter and more dependable rifle, the M1 carbine.

    By the end of the 1920s, Superintendent People, North Carolina Gov. Angus McLean, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, Cumberland County Sheriff N. H. McGeachy and, reportedly, Pate's widow lobbied to have Williams pardoned. Williams was pardoned and was hired by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company.

    In 1941, Winchester won a contract with the military to build the M1 carbine. In Carroll's book, he reports that 8 million M1s were produced for Word War II and the Korean War. It was reported that Gen. MacArthur stated the M1 carbine was "one of the strongest contributing factors in our victory in the Pacific."

    I did some further research and discovered that in 1952, Jimmy Stewart starred in a movie called "Carbine Williams." I downloaded it from iTunes and enjoyed watching it. During my research, I learned there is a historical marker in Godwin, and that Williams is buried not far from there, at the Old Bluff Presbyterian Church near Wade, North Carolina.

    Times are changing, and so are our ways of finding new spots and recommendations. Lately, I've been turning to social media. On Facebook, you can type in the place you want to go and ask for a recommendation. Usually, some nice person will help you out.

    Recently, I've been trying to get my head around Instagram and have discovered a few things. If I type in some place I want to go, I can search for pictures and see places that people have tagged. Once I see something I like, I just message the person that posted the picture to ask them more information about the picture or where it was taken. Most of the time, people will be kind enough — maybe even excited — to help because you enjoyed their work.

    Traveling and learning are just great companions, and you do not have to go across the country to find a little history.

    Oh, and about Williams. I will leave you this thought. Although Williams certainly took his time in prison, he turned an evil act into a historychanging moment. What about People? If People had not recognized Williams' genius and not given him the latitude to work in that metal shop, how would World War II and the Korea Wars have turned out? Due to the superior firepower that the M1 carbine gave the U.S., I would suspect our casualty rates at the least would have been much higher, and history would be different.

    It is reported that by the time Williams died at the age of 74, he had between 40 to 60 patents.

    If there is a topic that you would like to discuss, contact me at motorcycle4fun@aol.com.

    RIDE SAFE!

  • 02pubOne look at the cover of this publication and you know which side of this issue we fall on. It’s been a busy Fourth of July week here in Fayetteville and Cumberland County, with the holiday fireworks surrounding the negative effects Gov. Roy Cooper’s, D-N.C., veto of the 2020–22 budget will have on the residents of Cumberland County and the state. My view is that partisan political agendas and the lack of credible communication skills have the governor and his lemmings putting self-serving politics before the people.

    Granted, the budget is not perfect, and there is plenty of room for improvement. However, when listening to the arguments of those who support the governor’s veto, like Democrat Sen. Kirk deViere, you would think their goal was to establish themselves as modern-day Robin Hoods.

    To hear them tell it, Democrats are the only ones who care about jobs, education, infrastructure, teachers, child welfare, veterans and health care. Listen to their arguments and eventually, the true meaning of their words reveals a political agenda. It’s a biased agenda that varies from county to county, depending on individual political aspirations. Sen. deViere is constantly referring to “his” constituents. Well, we are all his constituents, and many people feel our elected delegation should look to the future of Cumberland County and pursue what is good and beneficial to our community — not short-term fixes that are politically gratifying. The major pushback is coming from the fact it does not include the governor’s pet project, Medicaid expansion.

    District 45 Republican John Szoka heads our Cumberland County delegation. Szoka has gained the respect and admiration of local constituents and colleagues across the state. His effectiveness, achievements and overall statesmanship as a legislative delegate is a matter of record in Raleigh. Szoka is known for his relentless work ethic, honesty and integrity — but mostly for his obsession with pragmatic thoroughness when it comes to investigating and researching bills, policies and the needs affecting residents of Cumberland County and our state.

    Szoka has rightfully earned that reputation, and it is the reason for his firm stance opposing Medicaid expansion. No one is more informed in understanding the effects of this budget on North Carolina. He was appointed by House Speaker Tim Moore, R-District 111, as a conferee to work out the differences between the House and Senate versions of the budget. During this time, he was a strong advocate for his district and Cumberland County. During this process, the county received the budget considerations that Szoka included in the House version of the budget. Through his persistence working on HB966, $132 million was appropriated to Cumberland County. HB 966, according to Szoka’s recent newsletter, included:

    • $900,000 NC Military Business Center Fund: Provides additional funds for the North Carolina Military Business Center at Fayetteville Technical Community College. The revised net appropriation for the Center is $2.1 million.

    • $100,000 Cape Fear Botanical Garden: Provides a directed grant to FTCC to support the Cape Fear Botanical Gardens.

    • $4 million Cape Fear Residency Program: Southern Regional Area Health Education Center Provides funds to the SRA Health Education Center for surgery and family residencies in the SRAHEC services area and facility and structural improvements associated with current residency programs. The net appropriation for this purpose is $4 million in each year of the biennium.

    • $40,000 Town of Falcon Fund: Provides a directed grant to the town of Falcon for town hall projects.

    • $420,000 Texfi Site Cleanup Fund: Provides funds for a directed grant to the Fayetteville Public Works Commission to address contamination at the Texfi Industries site.

    • $600,665 Emerging Compounds: Provides additional funding for activities related to emerging compounds. Funds are provided to create five positions for surface and groundwater monitoring and sampling. In addition, nonrecurring funds are provided for scientific equipment and supplies.

    • $750,000 Airborne & Special Operations Museum Fund: Provides a directed grant to the ASOM Foundation.

    • $750,000 Veteran’s Health Care Pilot Program: Provides funds to develop and implement a two-year pilot program in Cumberland County to provide health care and job training services to veterans.

    • $2 million Military Presence Stabilization Fund: Provides funding to sustain and maintain the state’s military programs and activities by providing grants for local communities or military installations, updates to strategic planning, federal advocacy and identification of measures to increase the military value of installations.

    • $15 million Civil War History Center Fund: Provides a directed grant to the NC Civil War History Center Foundation for the construction of the North Carolina Civil War & Reconstruction History Center. The total amount authorized for the project is $46 million.

    • $2.5 million University of North Carolina- Fayetteville State University Dormitory Demolition and Removal Fund: Provides funding for the demolition and removal of a dormitory.

    • $13.7 million University of North Carolina- Fayetteville State University Rosenthal and Chick Buildings Renovations and Additions Fund: Provides funding to renovate the Rosenthal and Chick buildings.

    • $1.5 million Martin Luther King, Jr. Park Fund: Provides a directed grant to the Fayetteville/Cumberland County Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Committee, a nonprofit organization, to complete the development of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Park.

    • Cumberland County $28,886,745: The General Assembly intends to appropriate at least $500 million. Funds allocated shall be used to issue allotted proceeds to local school administrative units for new construction or rehabilitation of existing facilities and repairs and renovations.

    • FTCC $20 million: The State Capital and Infrastructure Fund allocated for capital improvement projects at community colleges in this state in the aggregate amount of $400 million. Funds allocated shall be used to issue allotted proceeds to community colleges for new construction or rehabilitation of existing facilities and repairs and renovations. 

    Below is an excerpt from Szoka’s recent newsletter explaining the actions, inactions and political antics taking place in Raleigh.

    It is NOT About Medicaid Expansion: It is about Politics.

    In good faith, House and Senate leadership met with the governor and brought a list of negotiating positions on top-line budget targets, capital spending, taxes, teacher and state employee salaries, public education and the rainy-day fund. Despite repeated requests, the governor did not come to the meeting with any specific positions on anything other than Medicaid expansion.

    Rep. John Szoka: “Medicaid is a separate issue that is very complex and, in all honesty, has been a mess from the beginning. To put money into an already inefficient and broken program would be irresponsible, in the least, and an absolute travesty to the taxpayers of N.C., at its worst.”

    Speaker Tim Moore: “Regarding that issue, we offered to include in the budget a provision to convene a special session to address health access issues, including Medicaid expansion. The governor previously proposed a ‘two-track’ solution and wants Medicaid to be ‘part of the conversation.’ This meets both of those requests. The Governor rejected the proposal.”

    Rep. John Szoka: “This is not how to govern. In good faith, the ‘vetoed’ budget does include a provision to convene a special session (at the order of the governor) to address health access issues, which include Medicaid expansion.”

    At the extra session on access to health care section 5.12: “The General Assembly encourages the governor to convene an extra session pursuant to Section 5(7) of Article III of the North Carolina Constitution. The purpose of the extra session would be to consider access to health care across North Carolina, including issues pertaining to health insurance, association health plans, Medicaid, and Medicaid expansion.”

    The entire document can be viewed by clicking the link on Up & Coming Weekly’s Facebook page. You be the judge. Who is being honest? Who is trying to communicate? Who is trying to negotiate? Who is looking out for the residents of Fayetteville and Cumberland County and the citizens of North Carolina? Szoka carries the type of vision and responsible leadership that will grow our community and state while assuring a bright and prosperous future for generations to come.

    If you agree, contact your state senator and state representative and ask them to vote for vision, honesty and integrity in North Carolina government. They will know what to do, and ultimately, so will you.

    Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

    Photo: Rep. John Szoka with former Fayetteville mayor Nat Robertson

  • 06Methodist Univ 2If students are looking for an affordable university and prefer going to college near home in the fall, they are in luck. Affordability isn’t simply finding a school with a low published in-state tuition. It’s important to research the typical financial aid package offered by a school, the average net price paid, and most importantly, the quality of education students receive for their tuition dollars. CollegeCalc is a website that lists best-value colleges in North Carolina for rankings that consider school quality and average net price.

    CollegeCalc’s proprietary national percentile ranking has an average score of 50. Dollar value is a measure of a school’s academic rating compared with the average net price paid. All price quotations are reprinted from the U.S. Department of Education’s 2017-18 IPEDS Survey and reflect reported costs for the 2017-18 academic year.

    The most affordable four-year public colleges in North Carolina are listed by one year’s in-state tuition list price for the 2017-18 school year. Leading the colleges list is Elizabeth City State University with an in-state tuition of $2,856. Fayetteville State University tuition is $2,982 per year for in-state residents. This is 58% cheaper than the national average public four-year tuition of $7,056. The cost is 84% cheaper than the average North Carolina tuition of $18,281 for fouryear colleges.

    Tuition ranks second in North Carolina among four-year colleges for affordability in the state. If attending from out-of-state, the tuition at FSU is $14,590, which represents a 389% premium. The school charges a fee of $2,201 in addition to tuition, bringing the total effective in-state tuition to $5,183.

    FSU provides on-campus room and board for $8,627 per academic year. Students electing to live off campus should budget at least this amount. The estimated annual cost for books and supplies is $400. Students should budget $2,426 in additional living expenses. The total tuition and living expense budget for in-state North Carolina residents who went to FSU was $16,636 for the 2017-18 academic year. Out-of-state students who don’t have North Carolina residency can expect a one-year cost of $28,244.

    Private colleges and universities are considerably more expensive. Duke University has the most expensive tuition and fees in North Carolina, totaling $55,695. Tuition for Fayetteville’s Methodist University was $32,504 for the 2017-18 academic year. This is 17% more expensive than the national average private, nonprofit four-year college tuition of $27,755. The cost is 78% more expensive than the average North Carolina tuition of $18,281 for four-year colleges. Tuition at MU ranks 59th in North Carolina among four-year colleges for affordability and is the ninth most expensive college in the state. The school charges an additional fee of $356 in addition to tuition, bringing the total effective in-state tuition to $32,860.

    The school provides on-campus room and board for $12,210 per academic year. Students electing to live off campus elsewhere in Fayetteville should budget at least this amount. The estimated annual cost for books and supplies is $1,400. The annual tuition and living expense budget to go to MU was $54,529 for the 2017-18 academic year. The cost is the same for all students regardless of North Carolina residence status as there is no in-state discount.

     

  • 09JosephsCarriage Tours of Olde Fayetteville, sponsored by the Cool Spring Downtown District, offers something special to guests on Saturday, July 13 — an exclusive inside tour of the historic St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church. The church was founded in 1873 by Rev. Joseph Caldwell Huske, rector at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Fayetteville, and its African American members, who constituted one-fourth of St. John’s congregation at the time. The church was built in 1896, thanks to the generosity of a wealthy New York philanthropist, Eva S. Cochran.

    That connection to New York may help explain the “Resurrection Windows” in the sanctuary made by Tiffany of New York, the only Tiffany stained-glass church windows in Fayetteville. Another New York connection is the pipe organ, which was purchased from St. John’s. It was manufactured in New York in 1857 and is still in operation today. Heidi Bleazey from the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum will be on-site to give the back story on these and other features of this historical treasure in downtown Fayetteville.

    Because St. Joseph’s is not typically open for public touring, this truly is a special opportunity. Also, on the way to and from the church, the horse and carriage will pass by many of the historic sites within the footprint of the original town founded as Cross Creek more than 250 years ago. A professional tour guide will relate the fascinating true stories of the people and events associated with these sites. The “limousine carriage” features comfortable, padded seats and a canopy overhead.

    Because of the specialty tour of St. Joseph’s, the total experience will last an hour and a half. Departure times are 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and noon. Guests will meet their carriage at 222 Hay St., across from the Cameo Art House Theatre. Parking should not be a problem. The Woodpeckers baseball game scheduled for that night doesn’t start until 6 p.m., and parking in the nearby Franklin Street parking deck will be free.

    Like all the carriage tours, this is an excellent way to entertain out-of-town visitors. People in Fayetteville have used the carriage tours to show off their city to friends and family for the past three years. A recent survey found that 40% of passengers are from out of town and, of that number, fully twothirds are from out of state.

    Tickets can be purchased online at www.visitdowntownfayetteville.com or by calling the Cool Spring Downtown District office at 910-223-1089. The phone reservation system is recommended if there is any problem reserving online. Even with the added experience of the St. Joseph’s tour, tickets will remain at the same low price — $25 per adult, $20 with a military ID and $15 for children under 12. There are only three tours, and reservations are strongly advised.

  • 16DJ King JamesThe sound of music is coming to Hope Mills again. The latest music makers in the town will be DJ King James and his fellow disc jockeys.

    Lamarco Morrison of the Hope Mills Parks and Recreation Department said he was approached by James, who specializes in top 40, rhythm and blues, and pop music that features family-friendly lyrics.

    James' idea was to provide music in the park free of charge to the town. Morrison said James works with a group of five DJs who have done this kind of performance at other venues.

    The plan is to hold the first event in Hope Mills on Saturday, July 13, setting up a stage at the basketball courts in Hope Mills Municipal Park. The performance will last from 6-8 p.m.

    Morrison said he also plans to coordinate with Chancer McLaughlin of the town administration staff to have food trucks on hand for the event.

    Including the free music, Morrison said he hopes to have some kind of charitable donation event taking place at the same time, but a final decision on that had not been made at press time.

    “It’s mainly going to be about the music and giving the community something to do in the park on a Saturday,’’ Morrison said. “I’ve done those in other cities, and it amazed me we didn’t have a music in the park (event).

    “I think it will work perfect for us. It was perfect timing for (James) to contact me.

    Morrison stressed the music for the performance will feature clean lyrics with no profanity and nothing suggestive. “It will be your top 40,’’ he said. “Whatever the radio is playing and whatever the kids are dancing to. It’s about (being) family-friendly.’’

    James has previously performed for Hope Mills events like the health fair.

    Photo: DJ King James

  • 17Hope Mills state champsHope Mills has had many Dixie Youth Baseball state champions, but last week, the Hope Mills National team made history by winning the town’s first 8U state championship.

    In the championship round of the winners bracket at Lockwood Folly, they fell to Reidsville 10-7 for their only loss of the tournament but rebounded to win the title with a 10-2 victory over Reidsville.

    Left to right: Coach Jonathan Ransom, Hunter Matthews, Dallas Lupo, Colby Cox, Tanner Parrish, Joshua Ransom, Colt Burns, Landon Lusignan, Gavin Bowen, Coach Joshua Lusignan, Noah Rivera, Coach Jesse Cox, Ziriyon Campbell, Aiden Peterson- McAlexander, Corey Cox and Coach Jonathan Lupo.

    Hope Mills advances to the 8U Dixie Youth World Series, which will be held July 26-30 in Ruston, Louisiana.

  • 05city govt academyThe next Fayetteville Citizens Academy class is set for Wednesday, Aug. 14, at Kiwanis Recreation Center, 352 Devers St. Class begins at 8:30 a.m. and features officials of Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks & Recreation and the Development Services Department.

    Applicants must be city of Fayetteville residents or work in Fayetteville. The class size is limited to 25 residents. This session will conclude at or before 5 p.m. To apply, log onto www.fayettevillenc.gov/citizensacademy, scroll to the bottom of the page and download the application.

    Applicants will be notified of their acceptance by close of business Friday, Aug. 9.

    “The Citizens Academy gives residents an opportunity to see city of Fayetteville employees at work, up close and personal,” said Corporate Communications Director Kevin V. Arata. Lunch will be provided, and residents are asked to dress appropriately for the weather in business casual attire and closedtoe shoes. There will be some walking involved during tours of city facilities.

    Splash pads are popping up all over the county

    The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners and town of Linden leaders have cut the ribbon on the fifth splash pad opened in rural areas of Cumberland County this year. The water feature is at the Linden Little River Park, located at 5010 Loop Rd. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (3-7 p.m. when school is in session) and Sundays from 2-7 p.m.

    Eastover and Wade splash pads opened May 22, Godwin on May 31 and Gray’s Creek on June 7. Each of the splash pads cost between $230,000 and  $250,000, according to Fayetteville/Cumberland Recreation and Parks Director Michael Gibson.

    The Linden water feature is 1,000 square feet and was funded by Cumberland County recreation dollars as were the other four. The pad is wheelchair accessible and features a Super Splash and Aqua Dome. Future projects include a shade structure, additional playground equipment and an additional parking lot.

    Kids may have the summer off, but parents don’t

    Even though school is out for the summer, parents might like to know what their children will need for the upcoming school year this fall. Cumberland County Schools has a one-stop resource that will answer all your questions. It’s called the 2019-2020 Back-To-School Guide. It contains 26 pages of information about the school calendar, needed school supplies, open house schedules, lunch prices, bell schedules and more. This parent resource can be found on the Cumberland County Schools website, http://ccs.k12.nc.us, or at btsg.ccs.k12.nc.us.

    Cornhole a popular recreational sport

    The Fayetteville Woodpeckers have announced the inaugural edition of its Cornhole Tournament to take place at Segra Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 17. At 3 p.m. that day, teams and spectators can begin entering for registration. Beginning at 4 p.m., registered teams of two are invited to compete for a $250 cash prize for first place and a $100 cash prize for second place. With 50 team slots available for the tournament, fans and competitors are asked to register for the event no later than Friday, August 2.

    Each two-person team will feature one captain and one partner. Both competitors will receive complimentary Fayetteville Woodpeckers T-shirts and drink Koozies. Registration is $50 per each twoperson team. Registered teams can also save up to $9 on tickets when purchasing at least two general admission tickets to any upcoming Woodpeckers home game.

    Gilbert Theater loses an artist

    The board of directors of the Gilbert Theater has reluctantly accepted the resignation of Matthew Overturf as artistic director, effective Jan. 31, 2020.

    “All of us are very grateful for Matthew’s enthusiasm, vision and excellent contributions to the Gilbert Theater over the past three years,” said a news release from the theater. “The demands of his full-time faculty position will make it impossible for him to continue as the Gilbert’s Artistic Director,” the statement continued.

    The Gilbert Theater board of directors has begun a search for a new artistic director. For more information, including the job description, visit www.gilberttheater.com.

    Fayetteville gets one of the first new generation Dunkin’ Donuts

    Fayetteville has a new Dunkin’ Donuts on Bragg Boulevard. “The launch of our next generation concept store marks one of the most important moments in Dunkin’s growth as an on-the-go, beverage-led brand,” said Dave Hoffmann, president of Dunkin’ Donuts North American business, in a statement. “Our new look represents both our heritage and our evolution as the brand that fuels optimism and keeps America running with great coffee, donuts and more,” said Tony Weisman, chief marketing officer, Dunkin’ U.S.

  • 08Bob LewisTough but fair. Those were the words most frequently used to describe the late Bob Lewis by friends and former co-workers.

    Lewis, 88, was a coach, teacher and principal in New Bern before relocating to Fayetteville, where he largely made his reputation locally as the principal at Seventy-First High School in the 1970s.

    He went on to serve in local government, elected to the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners and eventually rising to the chairman’s seat.

    Larry Lancaster, who currently serves on the Board of Commissioners, was an educator at roughly the same time as Lewis. Like many, he knew of Lewis’ reputation.

    “Bob was a man of conviction,’’ Lancaster said. “He did not shy away from controversy. Back when he was principal, it was a tough time. There were a lot of things going on in this country and a lot of stuff that was brought to the schoolhouse door.’’

    Lancaster said Lewis ran a tight ship and expected both students and staff to follow the rules. “There were no shortcuts with Bob,’’ Lancaster said. “Strict, fair, but he had an eye for great people.’’

    A number of the people who served under Lewis during his Seventy-First days went on to become leaders in both education and politics.

    One of those was Alex Warner, who was an assistant principal with Lewis and became a member of the Cumberland County Board of Education and later the North Carolina General Assembly.

    Warner said Lewis faced multiple challenges in his time at Seventy-First. The Vietnam War was raging, and public schools were about to be fully integrated for the first time when Lewis came to Seventy-First as principal in 1968.

    On top of that, the building at Seventy-First was built for about 1,100 students, Warner said. At one point during Lewis’ tenure, they had 2,300 enrolled.

    “It was dynamite fixing to be set off by some incident,’’ Warner said.

    Warner said Lewis had a knack for finding the good in everyone he encountered and nurturing it. Lewis would frequently hold round-table discussions with his whole staff to get various opinions on problems they were dealing with, but when a decision had to be made, Lewis made it and stuck with it.

    “When we left the office, we were unified together because the mission was established by the boss,’’ Warner said. “He was the boss, and I admire him for that.’’

    Gerald Patterson, another former Lewis assistant who went on to become principal at Seventy- First, said the most important thing he learned from Lewis was to stand up and be counted. Patterson said it was the strength of Lewis’ leadership that propelled many of his protégés into administrative careers of their own.

    “What he gave me was the impetus to stand on my own two feet,’’ Patterson said. “Don’t be afraid of who might come after me. Be yourself.’’

    Photo: Bob Lewis

  • 04parkingFayetteville is dealing with a tremendous challenge regarding downtown parking. In the big picture, paid parking in city lots that has been instituted during baseball games is adversely impacting businesses and those who work downtown. A further complication is that people who want to go downtown during a game but not attend the game find it difficult to locate free onstreet parking. This condition is caused, in great part, by game attendees using on-street parking. Fayetteville City Council is looking for a solution to this problem.

    As Council and others decide on a course of action, the starting point should be clearly defining city government’s overall goal regarding conditions in the downtown area. The following statement appears on the city’s website under “Economic Development”: “The City of Fayetteville’s vision includes a vibrant downtown and a strong local economy. The activities included in this section focus on small business development activities with a concentration on economic development activities in the downtown area in support of the Fayetteville Renaissance Plan and the City’s redevelopment plan areas throughout the community.”

    This parking challenge should be addressed in light of that overall desired condition for the downtown area. The next step would be to honestly define our circumstance. This step is critical because, if it is not executed, we run the risk of taking a cookiecutter approach. That approach would be concluding that we can just do what other cities do and all will be well. The problem is that serious examination of our circumstances might show that we are not so much like other cities — that we cannot simply do what they do by way of downtown parking.

    For example, does our downtown offer a similar variety of businesses and general experiences as cities being looked at as models of what might be done regarding parking? There are some wonderful restaurants downtown, but since I live in the north area, I can drive a much shorter distance to great restaurants that offer free parking. As much as one appreciates what is downtown, will the average person drive there and pay to park?

    I fully recognize that attitudes change over time. However, although I have not been able to confirm it through media reporting, several people have stated that parking meters were removed from downtown during the 1970s in an attempt to attract people to the area. My sense is that the 1970s thinking about paying to park downtown, when free parking is available elsewhere, has not dramatically changed. In Raleigh, Charlotte, Winston-Salem and so on, people likely expect to pay for parking. Their only concern might be how much they pay. I do not think that Fayetteville is at that point.

    Now, what seems to be Council’s thinking as to what any corrective action should aim to accomplish? The following statement appears, with the new rules, on the City’s website at fayettevillenc.gov/community/gettingaround/downtown-parking:

    “The intent of enforcing on-street parking hours until 9 p.m. during event and non-event days is to encourage those who need to park for an hour or more to use parking lots and make onstreet parking more easily available for those patrons who wish to visit downtown businesses. It is important for the vitality of downtown businesses that on-street parking turn over regularly so that customers are likely to find a convenient place to park.

    “Unfortunately, evening on-street parking has become increasingly difficult to find since Segra Stadium opened. The change in enforcement is designed to move long-term parkers coming downtown for events into the ample off-street parking available in city and privately owned lots in the downtown.”

    To achieve the goal of making on-street parking more available through regular turnover, Council plans to implement paid parking in most city-owned lots and for on-street parking spots. New parking rules have been published and will take effect during the next six months.

    I would summarize that serious examination of our circumstances might show we are not so much like other cities, based on information from: https://fayettevillenc.gov/community/getting-around/downtown-parking and an article by John Henderson titled, “Council endorses proposal to enforce downtown Fayetteville parking time limits”:

    “On-street parking is presently limited to, depending on the location, two or three hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. There is no charge for this parking. Parked cars are monitored by roving personnel and tickets issued where appropriate due to overstays. Effective 15 July, this program will shift to being in effect Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. That will continue through Dec. 31. It is expected that as of Jan. 1, 2020, pay kiosks will be in place for on-street parking. At that time, and beyond, metered parking will be used to accomplish the desired regular turnover of on-street spots. The cost will be $1 per hour.

    “There are two types of city lots; paid and timelimited. Starting on July 15, 2019, these lots will require payment or adherence to the time limits, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The only time-limited lots are one behind City Hall and one adjacent to the police station. The city lots that require payment can be identified by the legend, on a map at https://fayettevillenc.gov/community/ getting-around/downtown-parking/regular-parking, as Monthly Leased Parking, Pay Upon Exit/Monthly Leased Parking, Pre-Pay Parking, and Pre-Pay/ Monthly Leased Parking. Parking is free and time unlimited on Saturday and Sunday in all city-owned lots. During event days, parking off-street in all city-owned lots will be $5 per vehicle beginning two hours before the start of events.

    “Currently, event days are defined as follows: Woodpeckers baseball home games; Dogwood Festival (April); International Folk Festival (September); Fall Dogwood Festival (October). Other events may be identified throughout the year.” 

    It would appear that the goal of having on-street parking turn over regularly could be accomplished without going to paid parking. The time limits for on-street parking now in place, maybe with some tweaking, could accomplish that end. This approach will be employed until metered parking is in place.

    That raises the question of to what extent revenue generation for the city comes into play with Council’s move to paid parking. The following was written by John Henderson in an article titled “Fayetteville’s $10 parking fee brought in money, but also ill will,” in regard to comments by Mayor Mitch Colvin: “Colvin said that the city has been losing about $250,000 on its downtown parking enforcement that is being covered by property-tax payers, so it’s nice to have some revenue stream to offset this expenditure.

    “‘When you go from paying $250,000 for something to making $19,000 to $20,000 a month, it looks like you’ve cleared your problem of having a deficit,’ he said. ‘But what I will say is that we’ve got to be mindful of the impact it will have on the people we are asking to visit the baseball stadium, the people we are asking to visit businesses.’”

    Granted, the income referred to in this article was before event parking was reduced from $10 to $5. However, when the city has been losing money on parking, increasing parking revenue has to be attractive to Council. Colvin, however, cut to the heart of the matter. If increased revenue comes at the expense of losing businesses, and visitors, from the downtown area, the outcome is a negative for the city.

    Loss of businesses and visitors is likely. “Some owners selling downtown businesses say parking a factor,” another article by John Henderson, supports this conclusion. From the article: “After two decades of operating the popular downtown coffee shop Rude Awakening on Hay Street, Molly Arnold has put the business up for sale.

    “She said the city’s plans to implement paid parking for on-street spaces in the downtown area, as well as the reduction in business from the paid parking plan implemented by the city during Woodpeckers baseball games, is taking a toll on small businesses like hers and was a factor in the decision.

    “She also has put her White Trash gift shop on Franklin Street on the market.”

    Based on comments from owners, the article goes on to report: J&M Vapor Store is moving from Hay Street to Russell Street; business has suffered at Cameo Art House Theatre; Sweet Palette bakery’s business has suffered. It appears safe to conclude most, if not all, downtown businesses are being adversely impacted by the current parking situation and will continue to do so under the new plan. Add to this the negative impact on people working downtown.

    Downtown parking should be assessed in terms of Council’s aim for the area, strength of the downtown draw for visitors, public attitude toward paid parking, cost/benefit of revenue generation while losing businesses and downtown visitors. I think this approach would produce major changes to the plan summarized above.

  • 03dividedTo Americans, our National Mall in Washington, D.C., is a sacred space.

    A vast tract of urban open space running almost two miles between the U.S. Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial, the Mall is where we take our children, both literally and through pictures, to teach them about George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln, about World War II and the Vietnam conflict, about our national culture as told in museums featuring American history, American art and the American fascination with air and space. It is where we sit quietly beside the reflecting pool to ponder what it means to be an American and how blessed we are to be part of the greatest ongoing experiment in democracy the world has ever seen.

    On most days, the National Mall hosts tourists taking in the sights, joggers in their regular runs and frisbee players out for a fun afternoon. Last week, on the Fourth of July, though, the Mall became a visible metaphor not so much of the United States of America as of a country whose people are sharply divided.

    Americans on the Mall that day represented two distinct camps.

    At the Lincoln Memorial end of the mall, Donald Trump treated his Trump MAGA-attired supporters and VIP donors to what he billed as a “Salute to America,” a program awash in both patriotic themes and rain. Trump is the first president to address a Fourth of July celebration in almost seven decades, and he topped off the occasion with a taxpayer-funded fly-over by American military war planes. Tanks and other asphalt-crushing heavy equipment were corralled on the sidelines in case spectators wanted to take a gander. There were chants of, “Four more years!”

    At the Capitol end of the mall, other Fourth of July celebrants enjoyed more traditional Independence Day entertainment, including music by Carole King and the National Symphony Orchestra, a visit by some Muppets, and fireworks as the sun sank into the stormy horizon. These folks were doing what many Americans do on the Fourth, complete with blankets — some of them soggy — and picnic hampers. The New York Times reported that a woman heading toward the concert stand carried a sign reading, “Fight ignorance, not immigrants.”

    Such is the state of our nation in 2019. If there is anyone who does not have an opinion of Donald Trump one way or another, I have yet to meet him or her.

    There are as many reasons for our national divide as there are Americans, and most of those reasons are valid. We have arrived to this distressing state of affairs over time through — in no particular order — increasing globalization both in trade and in culture, extreme gerrymandering making our votes less meaningful, a widening and gaping economic gulf between the haves and havenots, demographic evolutions well underway that threaten some among us, ongoing educational inequities, racial polarization, urban-rural disparities, a paralyzed Congress and on and on.

    The Trump fans and the concert-goers at opposite ends of the national mall on a rainy Fourth of July provide a powerful visual of the state of our nation.

    Zealots on both ends of the Mall, literally and figuratively, are entrenched in their positions and brook no discussion with others with differing views. More thoughtful people on both sides are deeply concerned about the future of our nation. Significant books of warning have been flowing from publishers’ presses just in the last two years, among them “How Democracies Die” by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, “This America: The Case for the Nation” by Jill Lepore, “Fascism: A Warning” by Madeline Albright, “The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels” by Jon Meacham, and many others.

    Each has its own take on what is happening in and to our country, but all are sounding national alarms. We Americans would do well to listen.

  • We the undersigned stand united for an even stronger, more vibrant, more competitive Fayetteville and Cumberland County from this day forward! Please click the following link and turn to page 16 to read a community petition regarding the governor's veto of the state budget that would bring more than $132 million to projects that benefit our community: Click here to read petition
  • 02NCwomenshealthMost of us, both men and women, take a deep breath every time we go for a medical checkup. Will our tests be within normal ranges? Will we have strange lumps and bumps? Will we weigh too much or too little? Will our lives be turned upside down by some unexpected diagnosis this very day?

    Women’s health and wellness are not more important than those of men, but they are different. For women and those who love us, there is good news and bad news.

    The 2019 Status of Women in North Carolina: Health and Wellnessreport released last month finds that we are healthier in some areas than we were earlier in the decade. Mortality rates for heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancers of the breast, uterine, cervix and ovaries have gone down — as have several sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS. Our teen pregnancy rate has dropped almost 7% since 2013. These declining rates are positive news, of course, but our rates are still generally higher than the national average, including the births of low-weight babies.

    Generally speaking, North Carolina women rank in the middle or bottom indicators of national health and wellness, and our diabetes rates remain among the highest in the nation. In addition, North Carolina women continue to report domestic violence and sexual assaults, with 35% experiencing some form of physical aggression by an intimate partner and nearly 20% having been raped.

    Perhaps most worrisome of all is that the gains made over the last decade are not shared by all. Black women have higher rates of heart disease than do white and Hispanic women, as well as higher rates of HIV/AIDS. Ditto for breast cancer. Disparities among races and ethnicities clearly exist, and do disparities based on geography and socio-economic status. Women in rural areas clearly have less access to high-quality medical services, an issue that is becoming more acute as medical professionals flock to urban areas and rural hospitals close.

    A drive along almost any rural road may be lovely and evoke nostalgia, but try counting health care facilities, which will be scarcer than proverbial hen’s teeth. A Robert Wood Johnson Foundation report puts Cumberland County’s patient to primary care physician ratio at 1,350:1; Robeson’s at 2,490:1; and Hoke County’s at an astounding 7,520:1.

    The report details some policy recommendations, including Medicaid expansion. This topic has turned into a political football in the North Carolina General Assembly with Democrats demanding it and Republicans holding onto their long-standing and loud, “No!” Also being kicked around are proposals for paid family leave and paid medical leave, which would help women in low-wage jobs unlikely to provide such benefits. Also on the list are broader access to reproductive health care and decreasing violence against women.

    This is challenging news for sunny summertime, but we all have women in our lives who are near and dear and without whom our lives would not be the same. The health and wellness status report sums up the importance of women’s health and wellness this way. “Good health, access to health services and the ability to live in a safe environment are critical to the economic security and overall wellbeing of North Carolina women.

    “While poor health can negatively affect employment opportunities, educational attainment and financial security, good health allows women to meet their economic and educational goals and flourish in the other areas of their lives.”

    It is clear that North Carolina is both on the right track and still has many miles to go.

  • 04lodgeWith all the discussion in City Hall about homelessness and what to do about it, Up & Coming Weekly got an update from Operation Inasmuch and its shelter for homeless men. The Lodge, as it’s known, is not just a shelter. “It’s a transformation program for homeless men who want to change their lives. Each man commits to create realistic financial, social and spiritual goals, become drug- and alcohol-free, get a job, and treat others in the program with dignity and respect,” says in the Operation Inasmuch website.

    The Lodge provides a place for up to 40 men to sleep every night. Internet access, a kitchen, laundry facilities, showers and a dayroom are also provided. Financial planning, Bible studies and other helpful opportunities are available for these men. The Lodge is located across the street from the Operation Inasmuch Ministry Center at 531 Hillsboro St. Learn more online at www.faoiam.org.

    Seth’s Wish gets its wish

    The city of Fayetteville will not require that local homeless advocacy group Seth’s Wish pay fees or penalties for not obtaining proper permits before renovating its building. Council member Tisha Waddell said she wasn’t comfortable with allowing the fees to be waived. But City Manager Doug Hewett pointed out there was a precedent for the waiver. Waivers were granted to several businesses that suffered damage during Hurricane Matthew, as Seth’s Wish’s building on S. Cool Spring Street did. Waddell and several other Council members said they would be willing to make personal financial contributions. But Council agreed to approve the manager’s recommendation during a dinner meeting June 24.

    Seth’s Wish is a volunteer homeless advocacy charity supported by private donors. Find out more at www.sethswish.com.

    Violent deaths are down slightly

    While murder rates are on the increase in Raleigh and Durham, homicides in the city of Fayetteville are down so far this year, although the typical peak season lies ahead. Fayetteville Police spokesman Sgt. Shawn Strepay said 10 local homicides were investigated during the first half of 2019. He said that compares to 11 murders during the corresponding period of 2018.

    Board of Education looking to fill a vacancy

    Members of the Cumberland County Board of Education need to fill a vacant seat on their nine-member board. Cumberland County residents who reside in District 6 and are interested in serving are invited to submit a one-page resume and letter of interest to the office of the school board attorney by July 15 at 5 p.m.

    Board member Peggy Hall resigned abruptly last month. For more information about the vacancy, visit the Cumberland County Schools website at www.ccs.k12.nc.us. For questions about District 6 residency, call the Cumberland County Board of Elections at 910-678-7733.

    Pat McCrory and the Trump administration

    President Donald Trump considered former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory for a position in his administration, according to records obtained by the news and information website Axios. But those records show the Trump administration found some “red flags.” The 10-page file on McCrory contained accusations of “favoritism toward Duke Energy” and having “thin skin,” and “comments critical of Trump.”

    The headline of an October 2016 Washington Examiner story saying “Pat McCrory says Trump ‘needs to have his mouth washed out’” topped the list of red flags.

    McCrory was responding to comments Trump made about women in a recording from 2005. McCrory is one of dozens of Republican politicians and officials identified by the Trump transition team as potential suitors for top posts in the administration.

    After losing a tight governor race to Democrat Roy Cooper in 2016, McCrory met with Trump’s transition team in New York City.

    Former Republican Rep. Charles Jeter, a supporter of McCrory’s, described him this way: “He can’t fathom that anyone would question his motives,” Jeter said. “And he (has) a tendency to take criticism personally. He’s done it with the press. He’s done it in the legislature.”

    Our community has lost a pair of dedicated public servants

    Late last month, former Cumberland County Commissioner and educator Bob Lewis died from complications following heart surgery. He was 88. Days earlier, retired Hope Mills police chief John Hodges died.

    Lewis served two four-year terms as a commissioner. Before that, he was principal of Seventy-First High School from 1968 to 1976 and later principal at Seventy-First Elementary School until he retired in 1982. Lewis was an acknowledged disciplinarian at Seventy-First High at a time when student misconduct was excessive. “I might have been tough sometimes, but they knew I cared about them,” he once said.

    Lewis earned the Purple Heart while fighting during the Korean War as a member of the 1st Marine Division from 1950 to 1954.

    Retired Hope Mills police chief Hodges died at the age of 84. He served the town for more than 20 years until his retirement in 2009. Hodges retired from the U.S. Army after a 20-year career before taking the Hope Mills post. The town board of commissioners voted to name the new public safety building being planned for Hodges.

    “It’s just a shame that he didn’t live to actually see the building,” Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner said.

  • 07purpleheartIf you live in Fayetteville, chances are you know a soldier. With over 50,000 active-duty personnel, Fort Bragg is the largest military base in the world by population. “Camp Bragg,” as it was called from 1918-1922, has been training heroes for more than 100 years, and it shows. The community in and around the Fayetteville/Fort Bragg region is always ready to give honor where honor is due.

    Rolling Thunder is a national veterans organization designed to bring full accountability for prisoners of war and those missing in action of all U.S. wars. Craig Hardy is a veteran and chairman/ past president of Rolling Thunder NC Chapter 1. “The mission of Rolling Thunder is to educate the public that there are still missing Americans from all wars, and we try to ensure that our government does not forget that,” Hardy said.

    “We do more to bring them home,” he added. “Our second mission is to help and assist veterans and their families in the area.”

    Hardy invites the community to assist veterans alongside him. “Fayetteville unfortunately has a large number of homeless veterans. There’s more that the community could probably do to help (them) and other veterans in our communities, but there’s a lot of organizations that are doing just that,” said Hardy.

    Serving U.S. veterans has long been a recognized need in this country. In 1782, George Washington created the Purple Heart, originally called the Badge for Military Merit, to honor those who have been wounded or killed in combat. It is the oldest American military decoration for military merit.

    Locally, the Sandhills Purple Heart Committee invites the public to join them in thanking Purple Heart recipients, families of deceased Purple Heart recipients, families of those killed in action and Gold Star mothers at the Sandhills Purple Heart Dinner.

    The Sandhills Purple Heart Dinner is one of the largest functions that Rolling Thunder sponsors— and one of the biggest ways they honor those who have sacrificed for our country. “Those who have (made it home) still need to be thanked for their service, and Rolling Thunder tries to do that with their events,” said Hardy, who is also this year’s Purple Heart Committee director.

    Recipients will be escorted by Junior ROTC cadets and announced during the Walk of Honor, in which each recipient walks through a saber salute. Their name, branch, location of service, and the location that they received their Purple Heart is announced.

    “It’s recognizing and acknowledging and honoring them for their service and sacrifice,” said Hardy.

    The event takes place Saturday, Aug. 24, from 5-8 p.m. at the Crown Coliseum, 1960 Coliseum Dr. It is open to the public. Tickets cost $25. Purple Heart recipients receive a free meal and additional tickets for up to two guests. To register and purchase tickets, visit www.sandhillsphdinner.com.

  • 11policechiefjohnhodgesIt has been 10 years since John Hodges served as the police chief for the town of Hope Mills. But he remained a familiar figure to the people of the small town after his retirement, and they still held him in high regard because of the respect he showed for its citizens.

    Hodges, 84, passed away just over a week ago.

    Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner was a member of the town’s board of commissioners during Hodges’ final years as police chief.

    “If I’m not mistaken, he was at our last board meeting,’’ Warner said. “He would come to board meetings, and you’d always see him at local restaurants.’’

    He had a fun side beyond his role as police chief. “The most unusual thing was when I found out he loved to dance,’’ Warner said. “He traveled all over North Carolina and competed in Fayetteville’s Dancing With the Stars.’’

    While she described Hodges as softspoken, Warner said his interest in the town was genuine. “You always knew he was concerned,’’ she said.

    He was also supportive of his son Chuck Hodges, who currently serves as the town’s fire chief.

    “He grew up in a town kind of like Hope Mills,’’ Chuck said of his father. “He loved Hope Mills. He loved the people. He loved that hometown feeling.’’ Chuck said it was rare for his father to go anywhere in Cumberland County without running into someone who knew him.

    The elder Hodges was an avid sports fan, having played sports in high school and some semipro baseball. He officiated local high school sports as well.

    Neil Buie, regional supervisor of football officials for the Southeastern Athletic Officials Association, said John had a calm, unexcitable demeanor as a football official and that he worked well with coaches.

    “He just brought respect to the football field from his private vocation," Buie said. “John was a good guy. He really enjoyed it.

    Above all, Chuck said his father instilled in his family a sense of the importance of public service. John's son Tim Hodges is a sergeant with the Cumberland County sheriff’s department. His daughter-in-law, Kara Hodges, is a senior assistant district attorney for Cumberland County.

    “Our whole family has been in some form of public service, giving back to the community, helping to protect the community,’’ Chuck said.

    Although John's role as police chief required him to enforce the law, Chuck said, his father won the respect of many people he interacted with who were on the wrong side of the law.

    “I’ve had people come up to me and say, ‘Your dad busted me, but he treated me like an individual,’" Chuck said. “I think he was honorable.

    “You might not get the answer you wanted from him, but he would listen to your side. I just think he treated people fairly.’’

    Photo: John Hodges

  • 12mayorjackiewarnerUp & Coming Weekly asked the mayor of Hope Mills and the members of the board of commissioners to share what they thought the Fourth of July means to their community. We received responses from Mayor Jackie Warner and Commissioners Jessie Bellflowers and Pat Edwards. Here are their replies.

    Mayor Jackie Warner

    Parade, traditions, family, friends, fireworks and homemade ice cream — July Fourth, Hope Mills.

    Like many military families, we moved a lot. But unlike most, we stayed in the Fayetteville area, just different houses — new schools every year while our dad served in other countries.

    When I married and Hope Mills was Alex (Warner’s) home, it became my permanent home finally. So, like many of our retired veterans and active-duty military who find Hope Mills a perfect location to raise a family, I also share that same sentiment.

    What makes Hope Mills special? First and foremost are our people. Our small town offers so much for families — youth programs for all ages, Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, Adventurers, churches of all religious preferences and the best schools in Cumberland County.

    Family activities, especially around special holidays, we have so many special memories. Christmas parades — some watching with family on the front porch of Countryside Furniture — or participating in the parades, walking among floats and vehicles with scouts, bands or special groups.

    The Festival of Lights at the lake with Christmas carols, hot chocolate and the Christmas story shared by a local minister are times we look forward to every year.

    But a favorite time in Hope Mills has to be the July Fourth special events, which for my family have changed so much over the years.

    The July Fourth parade starts the day off with families lining the parade route wearing patriotic clothes and waving flags.

    Our Countryside Furniture porch has been the place for many to come and watch the parade since 1979. I can still see pictures in my mind of Mac and Pete Warner, Colleen and Milton Smith, Fronnie and Jimmy Jackson, along with friends and neighbors sitting on the porch or in the parking lot.

    Over the years, the faces have changed as our family has grown — Colleen, Milton, Micah and Caleb Smith; Teddy, Tiffany, Parker and Peyton Warner; Molly, Nick, Kate, Cooper and Jackson Capps — share the porch with new neighbors and friends.

    The classic car rides or town float have made the parade trip special, but also sometimes because I wave as we pass the porch that has so many memories.

    The events at the park or lake are also etched in my mind, but not as much as the fireworks display. (Alex's and my) first July Fourth, in 1979, we watched the fireworks from our Hillcrest Street front yard eating homemade ice cream. As our family grew, we moved to Frierson Street, where we watched from our backyard. Then it was on to our current Legion Road home, where we watched from our driveway from 1994-2003. After the dam failed and the fireworks were moved, we watched from various locations. The best display we watched from our back porch, as it was staged at South View High School.

    Traditions such as family cookouts, Christmas in July events and many churns of homemade ice cream are captured in my heart and mind.

    This year, like the past 10 years, we will watch the fireworks display from the Moulder home side yard — never sure how many or who will share the best view ever because we are across Rockfish Road from the park.

    Also, the ice cream churn has to start by 8:30 p.m. to be ready for the show. 

    Patriotism, traditions, family, community, church and schools are why Hope Mills is our home.

    Hope Mills gives our children firmly planted roots in family values, traditions and love of their home. Memories are made every day, but the favorite memories come to mind on July Fourth.

    Commissioner Jessie Bellflowers

    Each year on the Fourth of July, most folks in Hope Mills ask two questions: When is the town parade, and where is the fireworks ceremony.

    In our community, more and more families each year celebrate our nation’s birthday by attending and participating in the parade; and the

    Fourth of July just wouldn’t be the same without a stunning fireworks show in the park.

    On this day, let us recommit ourselves to the principles upon which our great nation was first founded. We must continue to reflect upon the price of freedom and honor America’s brave patriots who gave their last full measure and (those who) defend the freedoms we enjoy today.

    Stand and salute our national colors. Let us renew our sacred pledge that will forever remain: “One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.’’

    I am honored to stand with thousands of American patriots who have a genuine love of country and willingness to sacrifice everything in their life for it, without regret. Over the past 243 years, it has taken generations of sacrifice to make sure our nation’s independence endures. Those of us who have fought for freedom know all too well the high cost of maintaining the freedoms we enjoy today.

    It has often been said, “A nation’s strength is not measured through military might; it’s measured in the patriotism of its people.’’

    So, on this Fourth of July, please share a love of country and patriotism with your family and friends, but also pause to remember and honor all of America’s patriots who unselfishly sacrificed themselves for us to celebrate our past, our present, our future — our nation’s Independence Day.

    And don’t forget to thank our active-duty members and their families for their bravery, boldness and the courage to protect the core values of America... the very values upon which our great nation was founded 243 years ago. Enjoy a hot dog, hamburger, and raise a glass of celebration to let freedom ring across our great nation.

    Happy Birthday, America.

    Commissioner Pat Edwards

    The Fourth of July means so much to me. It glorifies the freedom and liberty for every man and woman on earth. We commemorated the Declaration of Independence of the United States on July 4, 1776. Patriotic displays and family events are celebrated throughout the United States.

    I am proud to be an American. I deeply believe that every day is Veterans Day. Our town will celebrate with a parade, vendors, food trucks (and) activities for children, followed by fireworks. Everyone is welcome. Fun time for all.

    Photo: Mayor Jackie Warner

  • 05jayreinsteinCity of Fayetteville staff members who know him say Jay Reinstein is a good guy. Reinstein, 57, spent five years on the job as an assistant city manager. His last day on the payroll was June 30, although he has used family medical leave and sick leave since last October. That’s when he was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Reinstein is not yet eligible for retirement. Disability insurance provides income for someone who can no longer work because of illness or injury. He will receive short-term disability through the state retirement system and a year later will apply for long-term disability until he can officially retire in 2022.

    Reinstein was honored by the city on June 24 with a luncheon, reception and a special presentation by City Council. Mayor Mitch Colvin presented him with a key to the city, Fayetteville’s highest honor. The presentation at the City Council meeting followed a video tribute prepared by and featuring numerous department heads and others. Reinstein’s wife and daughter were on hand for the ceremony.

    “The next chapter of my life is to help find a cure for Alzheimer’s,” Reinstein told the gathered City Hall assembly. He has been named to the board of directors of the National Alzheimer’s Association and will attend his first board meeting this month in Chicago, Illinois. He makes a point of often repeating that he doesn’t want sympathy. He wants support.

    The impact of Reinstein’s condition became clear last fall when The Jaywalkers, a team of friends and associates organized to honor him, raised nearly $25,000 for research. Researchers hope that studies on biomarkers will allow experts to diagnose the disease more quickly. Biomarkers are proteins in the body, or other types of markers, that reliably indicate the progress of a disease.

    Early-onset Alzheimer’s is a rare form of dementia that strikes people younger than 65. Statistically, only about 5% of those who develop Alzheimer’s develop symptoms before age 65. Most people with early-onset Alzheimer’s develop symptoms of the disease in their 40s and 50s. An accurate diagnosis is crucial, for medical reasons, to rule out other potential issues and get the most appropriate treatment as well as for personal and professional reasons. For one’s family, the diagnosis is fundamental in helping members respond with appropriate understanding and compassion.

    Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease can be a difficult situation to cope with. Reinstein is on record as knowing that it helps to have a positive outlook and to stay active and mentally engaged. It’s also important to rely on friends and family as much as possible. When the disease is still in its early stages, it’s critical to think about the future, again something Reinstein says he has done. This includes financial planning, clarifying health insurance coverage and getting important documents in order. Doctors also say it is important to have a healthy diet, get regular exercise, cut down on alcohol and use relaxation techniques to reduce stress.

    Photo: Jay Reinstein

  • Meetings

    For details about all meetings and activities, including location where not listed, call Town Clerk Jane Starling at 910-426-4113.

    • Historic Preservation Commission Wednesday, July 10, 5 p.m., Parks and Recreation Building

    • Board of Commissioners Monday, July 15, 7 p.m., Luther Board Room, Town Hall

    • Lake Advisory Committee Tuesday, July 16, 6 p.m., Parks and Recreation Center

    • Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Monday, July 22, 6:30 p.m., Parks and Recreation Center

    • Appearance Commission Tuesday, July 23, 6:30 p.m., Parks and Recreation

    Veterans Affairs Commission Thursday, July 25, 6 p.m., Parks and Recreation Center

    Promote yourself: Email hopemills@upandcomingweekly.com.

    Activities

    Independence Day Parade and Celebration Thursday, July 4. Parade starts at 10 a.m. near Rockfish Elementary School. Celebration runs from 4-10 p.m. at Hope Mills Municipal Park.

    Good2Grow Farmers Market Saturday, July 6, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., between Town Hall and Parks and Recreation Building.

    Hope Mills Area Kiwanis Club at Sammio’s, second Tuesdays at noon and fourth Tuesdays at 6 p.m. For details, call 910-237-1240.

    Hope Mills Parks and Recreation Senior programs at Parks and Recreation Building. Senior programs are for those ages 55 and up who are residents of Cumberland County. Various activities, especially Zumba classes, are scheduled Monday through Sunday throughout the day. For details on times and days, check the schedule at townofhopemills.com. You can call the recreation center at 910-426-4109 or e-mail Kasey Ivey at kivey@townofhopemills.com.

  • 15terrysanfordbleachersThe recent demolition of the red brick football grandstand at Terry Sanford High School has caused me to wax nostalgic about one of Fayetteville’s oldest high school football stadiums.

    I spent many Friday nights on the sidelines and in the press box at that imposing structure during my nearly 50 years of reporting on high school athletics in Fayetteville and Cumberland County. Many of the nights I was there, I was following the exploits of a pair of great coaches, first Len Maness and later John Daskal. Both guided Terry Sanford teams to the pinnacle of state football excellence at the time, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 4-A championship game.

    I have been running through the cluttered files of my brain, thinking back to great moments on that field near Fort Bragg Road. But I decided it best not to rely on my own memory when trying to remember the most incredible nights I spent there.

    I reached out to Bulldog stars of multiple generations for their input on the greatest games they remembered. I got several good replies, but the one game mentioned most, and the one I’d like to share with you in this column, took place in the third round of the NCHSAA state 4-A playoffs in 1985.

    Terry Sanford was scheduled to host a strong Jacksonville team coached by the great Ray Durham, who I’d known since my college days at UNC-Wilmington when he was the head coach at Wilmington’s Hoggard High School.

    A few years earlier, Durham’s Jacksonville team took on Douglas Byrd in a playoff game won by Bob Paroli’s Eagles. In writing a column after the game, I learned a painful lesson about taking misguided advice from someone I trusted. They convinced me that Jacksonville had tried to even the odds with Byrd by watering its field to slow down the Eagle running game.

    I got blistering letters from the Jacksonville principal and one from Durham himself.

    That Friday in 1985 was the first time I’d covered Durham’s team since. The whole thing had long since blown over, but Durham was waiting for me when we arrived at Terry Sanford that Friday night and were greeted by a downpour.

    Durham and Daskal were huddled in the breezeway next to the Terry Sanford stadium watching the rain come down.

    As I walked up, Durham looked at me, a kind of crooked grin on his face, and said, “Well, you wet the field, didn’t you.” Touché, coach.

    Anyway, the contest was postponed to the following Monday.

    Jacksonville took command early and appeared on the way to the win with a 21-7 lead. But Terry Sanford fought back and, in the final minutes, cut the Jacksonville margin to 21-20.

    Instead of going for the tie, Daskal elected to try for the 2-point conversion and the win. Quarterback Trey Edge, now the radio voice of Bulldog football on Friday nights for DK Sports, Inc., found his way into the end zone to clinch the 22-21 victory.

    Terry Sanford would go on to make the state 4-A championship game against Greensboro Page, where it wound up suffering a heartbreaking loss. Page returned a blocked field goal on the game’s final play for 75 yards and the winning score.

    Ironically, Terry Sanford will spend the 2019 football season playing its games in John Daskal Stadium at Reid Ross Classical High School while construction is underway on the new stadium on Fort Bragg Road.

    The Bulldogs are expected to begin play in the new stadium in the 2020 season.

  • 03hieroglyphic“It’s summertime, and the living is easy/Fish are jumping, and the cotton is high” was sung by Bess in Charleston down on Catfish Row. It’s the time of year when a lot of North Carolina families get together at the beach in a rental cottage, lest old acquaintance be forgotten, to share fried chicken, potato salad, sunburn and the resurrection of old grievances. Precious memories, how they linger. Thinking about these annual reunions got me to pondering about what a week at the beach would have been like for the family of the Egyptian Lord of the Underworld, Osiris. It could be fraught.

    In case you may have misplaced your Egyptian mythology, allow me to bring you up to speed. Osiris had green skin and was in charge of judging dead Egyptians and causing the Nile River to flood annually so that crops would grow. He was popular among the ancient Egyptians. He was the Elton John of Egyptian gods. His family tree was pretty much a straight line, as the Egyptian gods married their siblings to keep it all in the family. Unfortunately, unlike today’s families who always get along, the families of Egyptian gods had troubled relationships with each other.

    Osiris’ friends called him Ozzie, so we will, too. Ozzie first showed up about 2400 B.C. Ozzie’s family tree is a bit complex, but understanding it is necessary for our story. Kindly bear with me through the begats. His grandfather was the god Atum, who created Shu and Tefnut. Despite the obvious temptation to say, “Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t,” I will resist writing that. The siblings Shu and Tefnut had two children, Geb and Nut, who procreated and produced Ozzie, his sisters Nephthys and Isis, and his wicked brother Set.

    Ozzie married his sister Isis. She was not the Isis terrorists who recently were whupped in the Middle East. Ozzie enjoyed being the king of Egypt. As Ozzie was frequently away from the palace making the world civilized, he assigned Isis to handle things when he was out of town. This rankled his evil brother, Set, who wanted to be king. 

    Set was married to their sister Nephythys. Set came up with a plot to kill Ozzie. He had Nephythys pretend to be Isis to seduce Ozzie. From this misbegotten union was born Anubis, the dog-headed god. Are you following all this? It’s a mess.

    Set built a really fancy chest for a big family dinner. He promised to give the chest to whichever member of the family could fit in it. Set had the chest built so that only Ozzie would fit. When Ozzie got in the chest, quick as cat can wink its eye, Set slammed the chest shut. He poured molten lead on the chest, sealing Ozzie inside. He tossed the chest full of Ozzie into the Nile River, where it floated out to sea.

    The chest finally hit an island, where it got stuck in a Tamarisk tree, which grew up around the chest. Ozzie couldn’t get out. As a result — being in the chest in the tree — he expired, turning his pretty chest into a coffin. Meanwhile, Isis had been looking for Ozzie all this time. She ultimately found Ozzie’s coffin, which she called a sarcophagus.

    Isis turned herself into a bird, said some magic words, flapped her wings and revived enough of Ozzie’s body to conceive a child named Horus. She literally raised the dead.

    Evil Set located Ozzie’s body and had it chopped up and spread all over Egypt. When Isis found out what Set had done, she rounded up as many parts of Ozzie as she could find to reassemble them so he could have a proper burial. Unfortunately, she could not locate Ozzie’s manhood, which had been eaten by a fish.

    Since Ozzie was not complete, he was not eligible to rule the living. As a consolation prize, he was put in charge of the dead folks in the Underworld. One of Ozzie’s jobs in the Underworld was to help the dead get to their final reward. To determine if the dead were worthy of getting into the Underworld, he would weigh their hearts on a scale against the sacred feather of Maat.

    Ozzie, being the benevolent guy he was, didn’t expect people to be perfect. If they were more-or-less good enough, he would let them pass.

    Meanwhile above ground, Ozzie’s son Horus got revenge by killing his uncle Set. Horus then got to be king of Egypt. It is unclear if Ozzie let Set into the Underworld.

    So, what have we learned today? Once again, very little. But if someone offers you the chance to lie down in a coffin, even if it’s a really pretty box, don’t do it. If your family tree is a straight line, you might be an Egyptian god. Send your DNA to Chromosomes-R-Us and find out if you might have a shot at the Underworld, or at least being king of Egypt.

    Be glad you didn’t have to spend a week at the beach with Osiris’ family.

  • 00coverUAC070319001The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County, the Culture & Heritage Alliance and Loving Hands international present the 5th Annual African World Peace Festival on Friday, July 12-Sunday, July 14, in the Cool Spring Downtown District of Fayetteville.

    “The purpose of the event is to celebrate culture and heritage through dance performances, cultural exhibitions, music and storytelling, and to preserve and inform everyone in our community about other cultures, customs and traditions of all indigenous people,” said Betsy McElwee, marketing and graphic design coordinator of the African World Peace Festival. “It is also a time to celebrate, dance and have fun.”

    The festival features a beer garden, a kids zone, five bounce houses, a climbing wall, arts and crafts activities, musical performances, food trucks, retail vendors and more. Fascinate-U Children’s Museum will do an art project with the kids. The Breastfeeding Center of Fayetteville will have breastfeeding and diaper changing areas located throughout the festival.

    The event kicks off on Friday at 5 p.m. “We will have vendors, food trucks and music,” said McElwee. “Our stage is going to be set up on Person Street, and it will be kicked off by Fusha Dance Company, based out of New York City, who will be doing an African dance performance.”

    McElwee added that there will also be performances by an African highlife band and Veterans Artist. Jazz saxophonist and national recording artist Reggie Codrington will play a tribute to jazz legend and political activist Hugh Masekela. An Art Walkabout touring the downtown galleries with the African World Peace Festival theme will take place from 5-9 p.m.

    Saturday’s festivities begin with the 5K Peace Run/ Walk at 8 a.m. Rolling Thunder’s motorcycle club’s North Carolina Chapter will lead the run. The 5K this year is in remembrance and honor of retired Sgt. 1st Class Julio C. Ramirez, who served in the Army and died from leukemia.

    “Julio brought (this) run to Fayetteville and helped me start this festival,” said Isabella Effon, event coordinator of the African World Peace Festival. “He understood celebrating the footprint of Africa around the world and the (importance of the) arts.”

    Effon added that Julio died before the event’s second year and that celebrating its fifth year is meaningful to her because she could not have done it without Julio. His wife and daughter continue to give their support with the run as Fayetteville Elite Runners. In 2016, the city of Fayetteville proclaimed Aug. 14 as a day for Julio C. Ramirez, to honor his tireless community efforts and his work in local charities and running events.

    The first performance on Saturday will be the JC Latin Jazz Project at 11:30 a.m. There will be various health providers on-site to conduct free blood pressure screenings from 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Carriage Tours of Olde Fayetteville will be on-site offering rides through downtown Fayetteville from 9 a.m.-noon. The headliner performers are Bill Curtis & Friends with The Fatback Band Reunion at 8 p.m. and Chris Legacy at 10:15 p.m. Other musical performances include the Ewe Association of Charlotte, North Carolina; That NATION Band; African Highlife Band; Aya African Drum & Dance; and a Kongo jazz act.

    “We will have a lot of African-specific vendors, and you will be able to get authentic African food, textiles and goods, which we think is just super cool,” said McElwee. “Many of the merchants in downtown Fayetteville will also set up their own vendor tables because they will be participating in our event.”

    Sunday’s lineup begins at noon with a gospel concert. “We will have a nondenominational service and we will also have the Aya African Drum & Dance, Bonita Burney Simmons, gospel drummers, African Children Beats, African Gospel Band, The Spiritual Crusaders, and Anointed Vision,” said McElwee. “We will have food trucks, vendors and the kids zone, but we will not have the climbing wall.”

    The Culture & Heritage Alliance has three charities it supports. First, the Alliance has partnered with Loving Hands International. Loving Hands International’s mission is to build a balanced community through donating resources to strengthen and improve quality of life for the poor and underserved communities in the United States and Ghana.

    “This year, we have a book drive that we will be holding throughout the event, and we are also trying to raise money for Anani Memorial International School in Ghana, Africa,” said McElwee.

    “Every year, Loving Hands International goes to Ghana and does a mission trip. This year, we will be taking books. We are trying to raise $30,000 for 20 computers for their school.”

    The Cultural & Heritage Alliance supports two local nonprofit charities, Cape Fear Valley’s Sweet Kids Camp and Designing Station. The camp is designed for diabetic children, and the goal is to send five kids from low socio-economic families to camp next summer. Designing Station is an organization that supports individuals and families who are transitioning from homelessness and domestic violence in Cumberland and Robeson counties. The goal in regard to that nonprofit is to gift it with $1,000.

    A free African World Peace Drums and Rhythms interactive workshop will be offered July 8 and July 11 from 2-4 p.m. at the Main Headquarters Library in downtown Fayetteville and July 9 and 10 at Volta Space at Taste of West Africa from 2-4 p.m.

    The event is free and open to the public. The 5K Peace Run/Walk set for July 13 will begin at 105 Person St. Register online at www.active.com. The cost is $40 for adults and $30 for kids. Military cost is $30 for adults and $25 for kids. Every runner will receive a T-shirt and a medal. Runners for the 5K ages 21 and older will receive a free beer. Winners in each age category will receive an award.

    Packet pickup for the race is Friday, July 12, from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at 116 Person St. For more information, or to volunteer or become a sponsor, contact Isabella Effon at 910-728-2186 or visit www.AfricanPeaceFestival.org.

  • 10FTCCarmyFayetteville Technical Community College is making a significant contribution to the education of people in our military community. FTCC leaders and educators work hard to positively impact the education of our students through their knowledge of an appropriate pedagogy for veterans, members of the military and their families.

    Competition is fierce, both in the military and civilian sectors. Today, more than ever, a good college education can provide a competitive edge for military personnel. Whether students are active duty, National Guard, Reserve, retired, veteran, military spouse or dependent, FTCC's counselors, staff and educators want to serve them. FTCC wants to help students in these categories realize not only their educational and career goals but also their personal, individual potential.

    FTCC provides flexible, accessible, affordable education to support military students’ needs. It offers over 280 programs of study in seven major program areas: arts and humanities, math and sciences, business, computer technology, engineering/ applied technology, health, and public service.

    Some of these academic programs are offered completely online. Many include rolling monthly start dates, programs for spouses like the My Career Advancement Account scholarship, fast-track degree programs, flexible courses, military certification programs, tuition-free transition tech programs for veterans, and university partnerships to provide ease of credit transfers to fouryear universities.

    The FTCC Fast Track Degree program recognizes the value of military training and is able to combine credits from military training with FTCC academic credits. This unique program reduces the overall amount of time required for soldiers to earn credits to achieve a degree.

    At FTCC, online flexible courses allow soldiers to complete the course at their own pace and/or complete a military certificate program for additional industry credentials.

    FTCC refers to its military service members as “student warriors,” and its goal is for these students to achieve great success. In FTCC's 2019 summer graduation class, more than 300 student warriors graduated with an associate degree. Over 1,700 more student warriors enrolled in classes throughout the 2018-19 academic year. Many of these students enrolled in classes while stationed throughout the United States and other countries around the world. Online courses provide student warriors with instant access to course materials and flexible study times.

    For soldiers’ convenience, FTCC offers lunchtimes classes at the Bragg Training and Education Center and at the Soldiers Development Center. FTCC also recently began offering unit classes throughout the Fort Bragg community. With unit classes, an FTCC instructor travels to Fort Bragg for eight weeks to conduct the class. Many military organizations in the Fort Bragg area have taken advantage of unit classes, and the feedback has been positive.

    FTCC is excited to have been voted No. 1 by Military Friendly Schools and VIQTORY in the Top 10 Gold Category (Large Community College) for the 2019-20 school year. The school takes great pride in supporting our military and veterans community. FTCC is home of the All American Veterans Center at the Fayetteville campus, where veterans serve other veterans.

    FTCC’s Fort Bragg campus is equipped to handle all the educational needs of military service members and their dependents. We encourage service

    members to visit their education center on post to

    learn more about how FTCC can benefit them in

    their quest for higher education.

  • 06rocketfizzWhen Gander Outdoors, formerly known locally as Gander Mountain, got in the business of selling recreation vehicles and motorhomes, the company found it needed more space than its parking lot provided. Its location at Marketfair Mall on Skibo Road wasn’t designed to display a couple-dozen large recreational vehicles. It also needed room to display additional units that it couldn’t park in front of the store. So, Gander Outdoors worked out a lease with WSB Retail Partners of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, which provides property management services for Marketfair. Under new owners, the venue has become an upscale retail, dining and theater facility.

    Last fall, some of the small-business owners in the courtyard near the AMC Cinema 15 complex became concerned when they discovered RVs were being placed in an overflow parking lot adjacent to the businesses. Ann Sims, co-owner of Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shop, said her customers complained that the lot was filling up because the RVs took up so much space. She told Up & Coming Weekly that in February she was rebuffed by Gander management when she inquired. A month or so later, Sims said WSB management got involved, but nothing developed.

    By this time, the parking issue had become a cause for Sims. “We work hard to have a successful business,” she said. In mid-June, she arrived at work to find that a chain link fence had been erected in the middle of the overflow parking lot. RVs were being parked inside the fence. Marketfair customers had to park in the smaller section, which Sims said was poorly planned and awkward for motorists.

    Sims fired off a lengthy email to WSB Managing Partner Dusty Weiderhold. “While we want what is best for our business, we also want to aid our fellow tenants and ensure an environment that helps make the center a better shopping experience for all our customers and prospective tenants, not just Gander Outdoors,” she wrote.

    Weiderhold conceded things have been happening that he was unaware of, and he shared that with Sims. He told her he was concerned that the fence had been installed in the adjacent parking lot. He declined to comment regarding large unattended parking areas to the rear of the AMC theaters and next to the Rooms to Go furniture store.

    “We will try to get together with them,” he said of the business owners.

    “Rocket Fizz has tried hard to promote Marketfair Mall since we first moved in in 2015, as we have helped promote and organize events such as Christmas Tree Lightings, Easter Egg Hunts and Trunk or Treats and (have) brought a lot of attention from the press to highlight this center,” Sims said.

    Weiderhold told Sims he hopes to arrange a meeting with Marketfair business owners sometime during the week after the July Fourth holiday. Sims said she was happy to hear what she hopes is Marketfair’s genuine interest in solving the parking problem.

  • 08rivermistSummer after summer, Fayetteville After Five provides free concerts in Festival Park. Showstopping artists hit the stage every second Friday from May until August, providing the perfect weekend kickoff. It wouldn’t be perfect without a few finger-licking snacks, however. Come hungry and let the many food trucks offerings at Festival Park fill you up.

    Alternative, rock and pop band 120 Minutes and Eagles tribute band On The Border kicked off the summer with every classic from the ’70s to the ’90s. Rivermist and Kasey Tyndall are coming July 12 and Aug. 9, respectively, to finish off the season with some classic rock and country tunes.

    Local band Rivermist was formed right here in Fayetteville in 2014, though the musicians have been playing in and around the Fayetteville area for more than 20 years. A classic rock and variety party band, Rivermist is known for bringing excitement and energy to any venue, which is one reason it has won awards like Up & Coming Weekly’s Best of Fayetteville.

    The band also knows how to cater to its audience. They’ve been known to play every artist from Earth, Wind & Fire to Bruno Mars and more. After being booked at different festivals and concert series all over North Carolina and Virginia for the past few years, Rivermist has clearly been busy rockin’ the Carolinas (and more).

    Closing out the summer is country singer Kasey Tyndall. Audiences might recognize her hit debut single “Everything is Texas,” which earned recognition by being included on the Wild Country Spotify playlist and the music video hit Top 10 on CMT’s 12 Pack Countdown.

    Tyndall’s debut album, “Between Salvation and Survival,” has gathered over 1 million streams on Spotify since its release in January 2019.

    Tyndall traded her plans to study nursing at East Carolina University for the life of a country music star when she won a radio station contest in 2014. The prize was the opportunity to sing “We Were Us” with Keith Urban. Since then, she has only grown in success.

    “Wrap Around Porch,” Tyndall’s latest single, was written by Nashville stars Laura Veltz, Josh Thompson and Jessie Jo Dillon. “The moment I heard this song, it felt like me,” she says on Spotify. “Lyrically, it speaks to the life so many of us grew up with — we dream big, but it’s the simple things that make us happy.” Tyndall has also collaborated with artists like Ashley McBryde and Lainey Wilson.

    The gates for Fayetteville After Five open at 5 p.m. The acts begin around 6:30 p.m. and end around 10:30 p.m. Don’t forget to bring a lawn chair or picnic blanket. Coolers, canopies and outside food and beverages are not allowed. Service dogs are always welcome. The free concerts are located at Festival Park, 335 Ray Ave.

    Photo: Rivermist

  • 17kirstiekingFormer Terry Sanford High School star athlete Kirstie King recently picked up her diploma from Raleigh’s Meredith College. But she won’t be leaving school to find a job. She’s already landed one at her alma mater. Meredith recently named King as its new assistant women’s soccer coach.

    King played both basketball and soccer during her years at Meredith. When she initially enrolled there, a future in coaching wasn’t in her plans.

    Originally, she planned to become a nurse with an interest in nutrition. But she changed to a major in exercise sports science with a possible interest in teaching.

    She served as captain of the soccer team her final two years at Meredith, and she enjoyed her role working with the younger players on the team.

    “I really took over the role of leading and teaching, trying to help develop the younger players on and off the field,’’ she said.

    That continued this past spring as she helped as a volunteer coach with the soccer program. Jen Grubb, who became the head coach of Meredith soccer in January this year, suggested King apply for the assistant coaching position.

    King thinks her personal experience as a student- athlete at Meredith will put her in a unique position to be able to promote the program to potential recruits.

    Her job began June 15. Right now, she’s helping get things organized for the upcoming season. She won’t hit the recruiting trail for the first time until later this year.

    She’s excited about the chance to come back to Fayetteville and Cumberland County and try and get players from here to play for Meredith.

    “I’m super excited,’’ she said. “Coming from Fayetteville, I can reach out to the coaches I’ve had, watch the girls and show them the opportunity I’ve had here.’’

    Photo: Kirstie King

     

  • 02pubpenimageFINALExcept for Democrat Sen. Kirk deViere, Cumberland County politicians in Raleigh have demonstrated a refreshing display of unity, cooperation, communication and focus on the needs and priorities of the people in our community. 

    First and foremost is their desire to create a stronger, more vibrant, more competitive Fayetteville and Cumberland County for residents and future generations. Finally, we have responsible leadership with vision — leaders who are placing people over politics and assuring Fayetteville and Cumberland County will be taking their places amongst the larger, more prosperous cities and counties in our state. It is this delegation that, along with a substantial number of residents, businesses and organizations, has worked for years to improve our community. For too long we have watched other North Carolina communities receive special favors and funding from our state legislature while leaders ignored the needs of Cumberland County. 

    Many of our former legislators worked hard to improve the situation for Cumberland County and Fayetteville. Their efforts laid the groundwork for this current legislative delegation to garner state legislative support for much-needed projects that will impact our community for decades. This group of relentless bi-partisan leaders can only be described as a visionary tour de force for recognizing the needs and opportunities for Fayetteville/Cumberland County, the likes of which we have never seen before. 

    The 2020-22 budget presented by the North Carolina Legislature brings more than $132 million in projects that benefit diverse aspects of our community. In a rare show of unity, their vision and “people over politics” leadership style has netted us big and long-lasting benefits, including projects that, once completed, will net Cumberland County $20-$40 million dollars a year in additional revenues. 

    While no budget meets all the needs of the community, this budget is a once-in-a-lifetime win-win for all of us here in Fayetteville and Cumberland County. A very special thank you to Rep. John Szoka, R-District 45, and Sen. Ben Clark, D-District 21, for leading this charge. 

    This being said, it would be nice to celebrate our good fortune. Unfortunately, we cannot. Gov. Roy Cooper, D-N.C., has vetoed the budget. 

    Why? I smell partisan politics and Cooper’s desire to impress his fellow left-leaning political cronies by demonstrating that he’s a team player willing to reject the state budget because it excludes Medicaid expansion. Cooper and political opportunists like deViere have put the possibility of this $132 million infusion into our community in jeopardy. 

    Here’s what we would gain with the approved budget — or what we could lose if Cooper’s veto is upheld.

    • $12 million for the North Carolina Civil War and Reconstruction History Center; $3 million in year two with anticipation of a total payout of $46 million in the years ahead

    • $28.8 for school construction and renovation and repairs

    • $8 million to fund Cape Fear Valley Medical Center’s physician residency program

    • $1.53 million for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park

    • $1.5 million for Kingdom Community Development, which includes affordable housing construction

    • $900,000 for the North Carolina Military Business Center headquartered in Fayetteville

    • $750,000 for Airborne and Special Operations Museum’s renovation second-year funding 

    • $750,000 for Cumberland County Veterans Healthcare pilot program

    • $16.2 million to Fayetteville State University

    • $20 million to Fayetteville Technical Community College

    Opportunities like these don’t just happen. It takes thousands of residents, businesses and organizations spending time, energy and money to make projects of this magnitude a reality for any community. It takes a dedicated group of hardworking, business-savvy political leaders who understand the needs of our community and care more about their constituents than they do about themselves or their political futures. This is why it is vitally important that we support and encourage our local legislators — Sen. Clark and state Reps. John Szoka; Marvin Lucas, D-District 42; Elmer Floyd, D-District 42; and Billy Richardson, D-District 44.

    Encourage them to stand up for Fayetteville/Cumberland County constituents by keeping people before politics. Encourage them to pursue the $132 million infusion into our community by rejecting Gov. Cooper’s veto of the 2020-22 legislative budget. 

    For some, this will be a bold and challenging move. However, it will demonstrate to everyone in Fayetteville, Cumberland County and the rest of North Carolina that our leadership possesses the integrity, vision and talent needed to aggressively move our community forward by doing the right thing for the right reasons. 

    No doubt, tough, gut-wrenching decisions will have to be made. That’s what real leadership is all about. However, in doing so, the rewards are many and the consequences are few. Without a doubt, this budget touches many people in wonderful and diverse ways. A vote by our legislators to reject the governor’s veto will be a vote that will assure a bright and bountiful future for current Fayetteville/Cumberland County residents and future generations. 

    Again, a very special thank you to our hardworking local delegation: Clark, Szoka, Lucas, Floyd and Richardson.

    Keep up the good work!

    Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • 16djjonesEditor’s note: This is part of a series on Cumberland County high school spring football workouts.

    While Pine Forest’s football team is still basking in the glow of winning last year’s Patriot Athletic Conference regular-season title, head coach Bill Sochovka adds there’s still a sour taste from the loss that ended the season.

    That occurred in the second round of the 4-A playoffs at Pine Forest. A controversial call prevented the Trojans from keeping a late drive going as they wound up losing to Scotland.

    “Some coaches say I’m complaining, but I’m not,’’ Sochovka said. “The kids remembered how it was. In any sport, a loss like that, you don’t take lightly.’’

    That is why Sochovka feels the Trojans are quickly looking forward, not back, as preparation for the 2019 season begins. “Last year, we were talking about the leadership and what I thought turned that team around,’’ he said. “That’s still here today. I feel really good about that in terms of the momentum coming off that. All those things in the right place are still in.’’

    While things look ready to go on offense, Sochovka said the defense is going to require some rebuilding.

    The key returnee for the Trojans is running back D.J. Jones, who has been a major recruiting target. June 26, Jones ended speculation by announcing that his college choice will be the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

    Last season, Jones rushed 206 times for 1,198 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also caught 18 passes for 307 yards and five touchdowns.

    Sochovka said Jones’ accomplishments are not an accident. “You work hard like this kid does, you have a great attitude like this kid does, and you set a goal and you achieve it,’’ Sochovka said. “Great, great, great character. Grades — phenomenal.’’

    Sochovka added when players put things together like Jones has, the recruiters will come and find them.

    Even Jones' highlight tape is a testament to the kind of teammate he is, Sochovka said. “Six of his first slides are him blocking for somebody else,’’ he said. “He’s got a great motor. Check everything you want to see in a player and times it by two, because he’s got it.’’

    As for Jones, his main concern this season is serving as a mentor to the younger players on the Pine Forest team to get them up to varsity level.

    “We’ve got a bunch of new guys, younger guys coming in,’’ Jones said. “We’ve got to get them in the system and get their confidence up. We’ve got to get them to be veterans, be the leaders on the team.’’

    Jones said he also plans to be a better leader on the field by giving everything on every play. “We know at the end of the day, we could have done better on our part,’’ he said.

    Last year’s conference race was tight, with five teams finishing within two games of first place. Sochovka expects another tight race this season, adding that there are several teams with potential to contend for the title if they get the right formula at the right time.

    “We surprised a lot of people and we have a target on our back,’’ Sochovka said of his Trojans. “I think it will be another dogfight like it was last year.’’

    Photo: D.J. Jones

  • 17Vernon Aldridge2The BSN Sports Cumberland County Schools Football Jamboree is back for 2018 with a title sponsor and hopes of getting even bigger in the years to come.

    The two-night event features 24 teams this year. It will be held Wednesday, Aug. 8, at Pine Forest High School, which has hosted the jamboree before, and Thursday, Aug. 9, at a new host, Jack Britt High School. The full schedule of teams and scrimmages for this year’s jamboree is listed in the far-right column of this article.

    Vernon Aldridge, student activities director for the county schools, is pleased with how the jamboree has grown in recent years, but he’s hoping for more improvements.

    In addition to already feeding the teams and helping the visiting schools with their travel expenses, Aldridge hopes someday to offer scholarships to the competing teams to award to a player who exemplifies the best attributes of their school’s program. To make that happen, Aldridge said he’ll continue to work to add sponsors for the event.

    Aldridge reminded spectators coming to the jamboree that they will not be watching a game. It’s a controlled scrimmage where each team runs a set number of offensive plays before switching sides. Another feature of the jamboree is there will be two scrimmages going on during each session with two teams on one side of the 50-yard-line and two on the other.

    Spectators who don’t want to see the whole scrimmage but just want to watch their school need to arrive well in advance of their team’s scheduled scrimmage to avoid missing the action.

    There will be no advance sale of tickets this year, so all tickets must be purchased at the gate. Tickets are $10 for each night of the scrimmage.

    JAMBOREE SCRIMMAGE SCHEDULE

    Wednesday, Aug. 8, at Pine Forest

    6 p.m. - Farmville Central vs. Westover, Rolesville vs. Overhills

    7 p.m. - Union Pines vs. E.E. Smith, Triton vs. Terry Sanford

    8 p.m. - Scotland vs. Cape Fear, Lumberton vs. Pine Forest

    Thursday, Aug. 9, at Jack Britt

    6 p.m. - St. Pauls vs. Douglas Byrd, West Bladen vs. Gray’s Creek

    7 p.m. - East Montgomery vs. Hoke County, Eastern Wayne vs. South View

    8 p.m. - Lee County vs. Seventy-First, Apex Friendship vs. Jack Britt

     

    18Football schedule

  • 15Buffalo Soldiers PhotoIf you have lived in Fayetteville for any amount of time, you have probably been stuck in traffic while hundreds of motorcyclists jam up the roads in some kind of motorcycle procession. I know times like this may be frustrating, but your patience and understanding help others safely travel to raise money for various charities, groups and individuals in the area.

    One of these charitable groups is the Fayetteville Chapter Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club of the National Association of Buffalo Soldiers & Trooper Motorcycle Club.

    On July 21, Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club presented five checks for $1,000 each to five high school students. The gift was part of the club’s College Scholarship of Excellence awards. The recipients of this year’s academic achievement awards are Nyah Kite, Harnett Central High; Destiny McMillian, Fairmount High; Mailyn Nelson, E.E. Smith; Myles Nooks, E.E. Smith; and Jesenia Ortiz-Ruiz, Cumberland International Early College High School.

    The Buffalo Soldiers’ proud history originally started with members of the 10th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army, formed Sept. 21, 1866, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. This nickname was given to the all-black cavalry by Native American tribes who fought in the Indian Wars. The term eventually became synonymous with all of the African-American regiments formed in 1866 and still celebrated today.

    The heroic efforts of the original Buffalo Soldiers led to the creation of a motorcycle club named in their honor. The Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club of North Carolina was formed June 1, 2001. The idea was to have Fayetteville and the state of North Carolina represented by some of the finest military and civilian personnel and to also uphold the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers from the 9th and 10th Calvary.

    For more information about the Buffalo Soldiers motorcycle club, visit www.ncbuffalosoldiers.com or contact their Public Relation Committee chair, Dorian “ShoTime” Brunson at shotime.bsmc@gmail.com.

    If there is a topic you would like to discuss, you can contact me at motorcycle4fun@aol.com. RIDE SAFE!

  • 16Shaun MaherShaun Maher is retired from playing professional soccer in Europe, but he’s still sharing his knowledge of the game with younger players.

    Maher, the brother of Fayetteville Academy assistant soccer coach Jimmy Maher, held a camp for local soccer players recently at Fayetteville Academy.

    A veteran of professional play in England and Ireland, Maher said he brought a different voice and his own perspective of the game to his young students.

    “My philosophy is pass and attack, and I’m just trying to pass that on, help the players with certain tools that will help them in their application (of the game),’’ Maher said.

    Maher said the biggest difference between European soccer and the American game is that American youngsters don’t get enough playing time during their developmental years.

    “They play seven months of the year then move on to other sports,’’ he said. “You need 10,000 contact hours before the age of 18. Kids here aren’t giving themselves the proper chance because they’re not reaching half of that.’’

    There was much criticism of American soccer nationally this year when the United States men’s team failed to qualify for the recently-completed World Cup.

    Maher said he agrees with comments made by national pundits who say one big problem with American soccer is that the nation’s top athletes are generally drawn to play sports like football  and basketball.

    “The population here is vast, the athletes are here, but you’ve got so many sports competing against soccer,’’ Maher said.

    To change the soccer culture in this country, Maher said soccer needs to provide more pathways to develop players. “You need to look at the pathways for American players (into the pro game),’’ Maher said. “The resources are being sent elsewhere.’’

    Two local players who attended Maher’s clinic said he gave them different perspectives on the game.

    One was Terry Sanford’s Talia Parrous, who just days earlier had played and scored a goal for the East All-Stars in the annual North Carolina Coaches Association East-West All-Star game in Greensboro.

    Since Maher’s clinic, Parrous has reported for her freshman season on the soccer team at UNCWilmington.

    “I really like what he does,’’ Parrous said of Maher. “He brings something new I don’t get a lot of the time. He has different creative drills, more technical.

    “He’s big into fitness. I’m trying to step up my fitness, and doing three hours of soccer is one way to do it. It’s like a professional coach, so it gives me something good to get into.’’

    Cortez Herring will be a junior at Fayetteville Academy this fall. Herring liked Maher’s focus on high-intensity training and defensive pressure, trying to win the ball back.

    “He teaches different ways to help us get to the next level,’’ Herring said.

  • 14Dam 4 Aldridge photoThe citizens in Hope Mills don’t just have a new dam and restored lake anymore. Now they’ve got a nationally-recognized one.

    Town Manager Melissa Adams recently received notification that Hope Mills has won this year’s National Rehabilitation Project of the Year Award from the Association of State Dam Safety Officials based in Seattle, Washington. Town representatives will travel there on Sept. 10 to receive the award at the dam safety conference’s award luncheon.

    Katelyn Riley, communications manager for the ASDSO, said the rehabilitation project award is one of several specific dam safety awards the organization presents annually. Founded in the 1980s, the dam safety group has presented this particular award since 1992 under slightly different names.

    Riley put the meaning of the award in the proper context.

    “It is a big deal,’’ she said. “It means the work that they did is state-of-the-art. It means they are meeting really high standards. It means they are an example for other people who are looking into rehabilitation for their dams. It’s national recognition that they did a great job.’’

    Riley said the dam in Hope Mills was first brought to the attention of her organization through a member of their board of directors. Then, Hope Mills was contacted and had to go through an extensive application process to be considered for the award.

    “Our organization, our vision, is a future where all dams are safe,’’ Riley said. She added they work with people all across the nation involved in dam safety to improve safety, education and communication about dams.

    She said the award is for developers who come up with unique and innovative rehabilitation projects that meet the high standards for engineers and dam safety and serve as an example for other people across the country.

    The Hope Mills application for the award was submitted primarily by Adams, Mayor Jackie Warner, former Hope Mills Public Works Director Hector Cruz and Mark Landis of Schnabel Engineering. Adams said the entry included problems encountered, solutions achieved, unique characteristics of the project, plus a description and history of the rehabilitation.

    Adams called the award fantastic and hopes that the community realizes it came from a lot of hard work from many, many people.

    “I don’t believe they realize the magnitude of all the work that went into it,’’ Adams said, “even the daily oversight of the project.’’

    She does feel there is a great sense of celebration and jubilation in the community now that the dam is back and the lake has been restored.

    “People are truly enjoying the property, the park area, the new pier, the water in the lake, being able to boat and sit out there and view the water at sunset,’’ she said.

    “It’s absolutely gorgeous. I think people are grateful for that and enjoying it.’’

    As the town commissioners continue to develop plans for the lake’s future, Adams thinks there’s no limit to what the town can do to benefit from the dam and return of the lake.

    “The different activities we’ll be able to hold down there,’’ she said. “The public functions. The future celebrations. Being able to have that sense of accomplishment and look at how beautiful it is.’’

    Adams said it will add an additional piece to public functions as well as parks and recreation activities.

    “Anybody can come and enjoy,’’ she said.

  • Meetings

    For details about all meetings and activities, including location where not listed, call Town Clerk Jane Starling at 910-426-4113. Most meetings take place at Town Hall or the Hope Mills Parks and Recreation center.

    • Special Meeting of the Board of Commissioners Wednesday, Aug. 1, 6 p.m. in the Bill Luther Meeting Room at Town Hall. The goals are: (1) To discuss rescheduling the public hearing on the Lone Survivor Project until after the Board has received the Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Plan and has had a chance to review it. (2) To conduct a Closed Session pursuant to NCGS  143-318.11 (a) (6) to discuss matters relating to a personnel matter.

    • Festival Committee Monday, Aug. 6, 5 p.m. at the front Town Hall meeting room.

    • Board of Commissioners Monday, Aug. 6, and Monday, Aug. 20, 7 p.m. in the Bill Luther Meeting Room at Town Hall.

    • Lake Advisory Committee Tuesday, Aug. 21, 6 p.m. at Hope Mills Parks and Recreation.

    Activities

    • Hope Mills Area Kiwanis Club at Sammio’s, second Tuesdays at noon and fourth Tuesdays at 6 p.m. For details, call 910-237-1240.

    • Hope Meals Food Truck Rodeo Thursday, Aug. 2, 5-8 p.m. Live jazz, kids activities, vendors. Held in the big parking lot at Town Hall.

    • National Night Out Tuesday, Aug. 7, 6-9 p.m. at Hope Mills Municipal Park.

    Promote yourself: Email hopemills@upandcomingweekly.com.

  • 13Elite Dance 1Victoria Armstrong and Michelle Hurd have both spent the majority of their lives dancing and teaching others how to.

    They’ve brought their enthusiasm and knowledge of dance to their own Elite Dance Center at the corner of Legion and Black and Decker Roads in Hope Mills.

    Hurd, 45, was a dancer and teacher first, training her daughter Armstrong, 27, and transferring her love for dance to her daughter.

    At Elite Dance, the teaching subjects are all children, no adults, ranging in age from 2 to 18. Armstrong said the dance center’s first goal is to give the youngsters a love for dance because often it’s the idea of a parent to enroll children in dance as an activity.

    “Our first priority is to teach them to love the art form,’’ Armstrong said. “We have to pique their interest, and we’re going to try and do some learning along the way.’’

    There’s a major difference in teaching children about something like dance versus sharing the fundamentals and rules of other youth activities like soccer, football or baseball, Armstrong said. Yes, there are disciplines to be learned in dance, she said, but the children also need to be taught to explore what dance is all about.

    “There are rules to sports,’’ she said. “This is a little more creative. We have to open their eyes to feel comfortable to do things like that.’’

    Armstrong said it’s not her mission to dismiss other sports and try to convince parents and children that dance is better. At the same time, she said, dance has a lot of things to offer.

    “It is a physical activity and it’s something I feel anybody can do,’’ she said. “We have children with special needs, physical and mental limitations, and dance is for them.’’

    Armstrong also made the point that dance transcends race, age, physical or mental ability along with being easily accessible. “On different levels, it can be taught to anyone,’’ she said. “It’s important from a positivity aspect. It’s learning to embrace and use your body for different things, artistic purposes.’’

    It’s also an important learning experience for the younger dancers, ages 2 and 3, who may not have experienced time away from their parents in a social situation with other children. “They come here and be away from mom a little,’’ Armstrong said. “It’s a great time to meet children of their own age and develop their own social skills. I can’t say enough about it.’’

    Armstrong is convinced her dance experience as a child helped her develop a great sense of community and team building. “I did recreational dance but I also did competitive dance,’’ Armstrong said. “I was able to learn those valuable team lessons.’’

    Dancers at Elite learn a variety of styles, including ballet, tap, jazz, tumbling and hip hop, to name a few.

    They also participate in two different styles of presentation: competition and performance.

    In competition dancing, teams pay an entry fee to compete in contests against other studios where they are judged and prizes are awarded.

    “We bring home trophies just like you would with any sport,’’ Armstrong said.

    There is also a performance aspect of the training. This comes at end-of-year dance recitals. A select group of studio dancers makes public appearances. Elite dancers served as the official Heart of Christmas Show dancers, performing publicly while patrons paid to see them dance.

    From a cost perspective, Armstrong said, dance is cheaper than some activities. The base price at Elite is $48 a month for four to five classes. There is a discount for boys who sign up because they are not frequent participants in dance for youngsters. Armstrong said if someone has a child they’d like to sign up, she prefers they come to the studio for a visit. “I like human interaction, especially when discussing what’s best for your child,’’ she said. “I kind of get a feel for them and help them look over our schedule.’’

    The classes for dance are broken down both by age group and dance styles, Armstrong said.

    Armstrong said they are pleased with the location because they get a lot of what she called “curb visibility” from passing vehicles. She said many people who wait in line at the drive-thru of a neighboring fast food restaurant call after seeing the studio’s number on the wall of the building.

    “We’re going into our sixth year and it feels like the right place to be,’’ she said.

    You can find Elite on Facebook by searching Elite Dance Center or on the web at www.elitedancecenternc.com. The phone number is 910-425-3524.

  • 12Bert BennettIn 1965, Terry Sanford left the governor’s office and moved down Fayetteville Street from the Capitol into law offices in the BB&T Building. Political insiders started referring to that structure as the Bert Bennett and Terry Building.

    When Bert Bennett died last week in Winston-Salem at 97, old-timers remembered how his vigorous, organized and decisive leadership in the gubernatorial campaigns of Terry Sanford and Jim Hunt was crucial to the success those men achieved.

    Ironically, Bennett’s death came only a few days after the passing of Tom Ellis, the key advisor and organizer for the late Sen. Jesse Helms, the stalwart adversary of Sanford and Hunt.

    Writing about Ellis in “Jim Hunt: A Biography,” Gary Pearce paid Tom Ellis the greatest compliment while describing how Ellis directed Ronald Reagan’s 1976 winning North Carolina presidential primary campaign. He explained, “Ellis was Jesse Helms’s Bert Bennett.”

    In November 1959, Terry Sanford was preparing to announce his candidacy for governor. He had already recruited heavy hitters like Hargrove “Skipper” Bowles to raise campaign funds. When Sanford first called on the successful and wealthy businessman living in a mansion looking over a Greensboro country club golf course, he worried that Bowles might be a Republican.

    But now, Bowles had already raised a bundle of money for Sanford and was hosting the meeting to introduce Sanford’s choice for his campaign manager.

    As Howard Covington and Marion Ellis wrote in their biography, “Terry Sanford: Politics, Progress, and Outrageous Ambitions,” “The newcomer at that meeting was Bert Bennett, a tall, lean businessman from Winston-Salem who had just resigned as Forsyth County party chairman to sign on as Terry’s campaign manager. Some of those present had known Bennett at Chapel Hill, where he had been student body president. Others knew him as a political leader closely aligned with the conservative interests that dominated the party organization in Winston-Salem, home of Wachovia Bank & Trust Co. and R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. Terry had chosen him for those reasons and others, and believed Bennett would add balance to the organization. It was the beginning of a political alliance that would shape North Carolina politics for the next twenty years.”

    As Rob Christensen explained last week in the Raleigh News & Observer, “Bennett was not particularly ideological and was more conservative than Sanford. But he shared Sanford’s sense of wanting to move North Carolina forward and his love of the political game.”

    There was one critical thing that Bennett wanted from Sanford. According to Covington and Ellis, Bennett remembered, “The only thing I asked him was did he want it bad enough.”

    It was the same question Bennett asked every candidate who sought his support, including Jim Hunt. If the candidate did not have fire in the belly, Bennett was not interested.

    But Bennett also had a wry sense of humor. In his book on the 1960 campaign, “Triumph of Good Will: How Terry Sanford Beat a Champion of Segregation and Reshaped the South,” John Drescher tells about the first time Sanford publically admitted that the money for his proposed educational improvements would come from taxes. Walking out of the meeting, he told Bennett that it was remarkable that the audience had applauded. Bennett laughed, “Yes, but I wouldn’t be too sure. They thought you said you’d get the money from Texas.”

    Bennett identified Hunt early on. In Gary Pearce’s biography of Hunt, one chapter is titled “Bert Bennett’s Boy.” He writes, “It was Bennett who decided that Hunt had what it took to be governor, and that the old Sanford group should get behind him.”

    Last week, lots of Democrats were wishing somebody like the tough, businesslike Bert Bennett would get the old group behind the party’s candidates this fall.

  • 11AdultRelive your favorite day in elementary school as an adult. Cumberland County’s first annual Adult Field Day takes place Saturday, Aug. 11, in Festival Park. This is a free event open to the public that is intended to bring people from all communities together through games, food music and more.

    Forty coed teams of four to five will compete in 10 exciting Field Day events for a trophy and bragging rights. There will be an assortment of vendors and food trucks to enjoy as the event is taking place. A great mix of music will play all day, and the night will conclude with a free concert featuring local artists and headlined by North Carolina’s own and Bull City (Durham) native G. Yamazawa. There will also be fun activities for the kids.

    Adult Field Day is a new annual funding event for the local nonprofit organization Our P.L.A.C.E. Proceeds raised will be used to grow the organization and support its future projects and events. Our P.L.A.C.E is known for a host of events and projects, including The Marquis Slam, a monthly spoken-word event held at the Arts Council; after-school programs; community and youth outreach programs; and a Cultural Arts Scholarship program. Most recently, it is gearing up to host the 2019 Southern Fried Poetry Slam in downtown Fayetteville.

    When asked what makes Adult Field Day special, Our P.L.A.C.E. Founding President Eean Tyson said, “I once read, (by David Binder), ‘Festivals promote diversity, they bring neighbors into dialogue, they increase creativity, they offer opportunities for civic pride, they improve our general psychological well-being.’ This is everything we at Our P.L.A.C.E. believe whole-heartedly. We want to bring our community together through sport, food and music.

    “We are a cultural arts nonprofit, and we focus on and are dedicated to the arts, but it’s said that art imitates life, and we want to contribute to our community by making it a better place to live.

    This is the first of many steps we plan to take on this journey, and we hope that you will come along with us.”

    The 10 Field Day events are all the classic favorites, and a few added with a twist: tug of war; sack relay race; three-legged race; balloon toss; memory game; giant Jenga; corn hole; giant “beer” pong (no alcohol); sponge relay with flippers; sprint relay.

    Registration starts at 8 a.m. and the Field Day events begin at 10:30 a.m. An array of food trucks will be on-site and serving food by 11:30 a.m.

    The Field Day competitions are scheduled to conclude at 4 p.m., and winners will be announced by 5 p.m.

    The concert portion of the event will begin shortly after, kicking off with local performers. Headliner G. Yamazawa will hit the stage at 7 p.m. Adult Field Day will end at 9 p.m.

    Register as a team ($75 total) or individual ($20) or learn how to be a sponsor, vendor or volunteer at www.welcome2ourplace.org or www.facebook.com/Fayadultfieldday.

  • 10golfFor 25 years, operating out of downtown Fayetteville, The CARE Clinic has provided free basic medical, dental and pharmacy services to uninsured, lowincome adults. The nonprofit facility is run entirely by volunteers, from physicians, nurses, dentists and pharmacists to board members and receptionists. According to Development & Marketing Director Cynthia Deere, it takes about $44,000 a month just to keep the doors open. One way The CARE Clinic meets this financial need is with its yearly Golf Charity tournament. The 24th Annual CARE Clinic Golf Charity is set for Thursday, Sept. 20, at Gates Four Golf & Country Club.

    “What drives us to do all this, of course, is our patients,” said local attorney Greg Whitley, a longtime CARE Clinic board member who is chairing this year’s tournament.

    Whitley said participants will notice a few changes this year. First, he said, the tournament will change from being a Captain’s Choice, the usual format for charity golf tournaments, to a Texas Scramble. Whitley explained that this will give individual golfers more opportunity to play their own game, no matter their skill level.

    Second, every player will receive a player pack with OGIO golf accessories worth a total of $195.

    The unique Sponsor a Solider option is back, too. Those who wish to support the clinic while blessing a service member can pay for a Fort Bragg soldier’s entry.

    Day-of registration starts at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, with a shotgun start at 11 a.m. Dinner and awards will follow the conclusion of the tournament at the Gates Four pavilion. There will be a raffle, prize presentations to the winning teams and time to socialize.

    This mingling, Deere said, can have long-reaching positive effects.

    “We had one sponsored soldier golfer last year who won the 50/50 raffle,” she said. “He didn’t know anything about The CARE Clinic, so he learned a little bit about us that day. Then, ironically, he’s in Fayetteville Young Professionals, and I was having them come (to the clinic) the following week. And so he came, and he heard all about us.

    “He never cashed his 50/50 raffle check, which was several hundred dollars; he gave it back to the clinic because he’d learned about what we do.

    “He was getting out of the military, starting his own small business. He had an employee who got sick and did not have insurance, so he told her to contact The CARE Clinic, and she did. She  got the medication she needed, she stayed well, and she was able to keep working for him and not quit her job. And this all came from him playing in the golf tournament.”

    Deere said this is just one of many similar stories that point to the value of charity events like this one.

    “I think one of the biggest misconceptions is that we are assisting lazy people that expect everything for free,” she said. “That is not who our patients are. Our patients are hard-working people who either own a small business or work for a small business and don’t have insurance, or they are single, raising kids and can’t afford health insurance.”

    For 2018 CARE Clinic Golf Charity registration and sponsorship information, or to learn about other volunteer opportunities, call 910-485-0555 or visit www.thecareclinic.org. The CARE Clinic is located at 239 Robeson St.

    CARE Clinic patient information:

    To be eligible for The CARE Clinic’s services, you must be 18 years or older; have no insurance, including Medicaid; meet an income requirement; and display proof of household income and a valid, North Carolina DMV-issued picture ID card or driver’s license showing your current address.

    Call 910-485-0555 to make an appointment. Appointments are made only by phone; no walk-ins. Medical appointments can be made Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dental appointments can be made Friday from 9 a.m. to noon for the following week.

    The clinic serves patients each Tuesday and Thursday and the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Dental clinics are every Tuesday and the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. Appointments are made on a space-available basis.

  • 09Hawkins3The Fayetteville Ladies Power Lunch is a quarterly event that brings local women together to inspire, educate and empower one another. Thursday, Aug. 9, don’t miss the third power lunch of the year, featuring keynote speaker Fayetteville Police Chief Gina Hawkins.

    Like many women, Hawkins is intentional in her quest for a balanced life. “Maintaining balance is definitely the most difficult objective when you are living on purpose,” she said. “I believe people who are living on purpose have a passion for what they do and can get so focused they can begin to neglect themselves or taking care of what is truly important to their health – physically, emotionally and socially.”

    Staying true to the spirit of the event, Hawkins will talk about the theme of the empowerment lunch – inspiring, educating, empowering and celebrating the lionesses of the community. “I will do my best to provide examples of each within my life experience and (will also talk about) the importance of relationships,” she said.

    Hawkins took the helm of the Fayetteville Police Department in August 2017 after serving on the Atlanta, Georgia, police force for almost three decades. She received the We Are Clayton Magazine2016 Living Legend Award and was awarded a place on Georgia’s 100 Most Powerful and Influential Award by Women Looking Ahead News in 2014.

    She is a Peace Officer Standards Training-certified instructor and speaks Spanish as her second language. Hawkins is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives, the Hispanic  American Police Command Officers Association, Atlanta Metropol, Senior Management Institute for Police, the Police Executive Research Forum and the FBI National Academy Associates Georgia.

    Hawkins considers her greatest accomplishments to be her service to God, her devotion to her family and friends, and her two daughters, Italia Danita-Hawkins Hines and Trinity Aminah-Kariamu Yabuku.

    The power lunch starts at 10 a.m. with a shopportunity, which includes vendors as well as a wine bar and tasting. The luncheon and Hawkins’ talk follows from noon to 2 p.m. After the meal, attendees are invited to stay and shop until 3 p.m.

    Vendors at this luncheon include Kids Peace; It Works; Rodan & Fields; Inspired Mache; Randall’s Engraving; Back 2 Eden; Jewels by Park Lane; Mary Kay Cosmetics; ShoMore  Photography; Paparazzi Jewelry; Picture of Health Thermography; Cookie Crafts 4 Crisis; LREEZ Decadent Desserts; Pure Romance with Dee; SeneGence; Christi Lowe Productions, LLC; The Next 56 Days; Girl Scouts of the Coastal Pines; Together As One Bridal Boutique; Trost Therapeutic Massage; Ja Le’Artworks; and Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa.

    The luncheon takes place at the Ramada Plaza at Bordeaux. Visit www.fayettevilleladiespowerlunch.com or call 910-273-2820 to make your reservation. Tickets cost $35. A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to the Kidsville News Literacy and Education Foundation.

  • 08James BurmeisterA Minnesota congressman wants full details on what the military knows about extremist activity in its ranks, following news reports detailing at least three service members with ties to a white supremacist group. Rep. Keith Ellison, a Democrat who was the first Muslim elected to Congress, sent a letter to Defense Secretary Jim Mattis asking for information on any investigations into troops’ extremist activities and “steps currently being taken to screen recruits for extremist ties.”

    “Department of Defense guidance clearly prohibits discrimination and extremist behavior,” he said. But, he said, “it appears that some service members are still able to join and actively participate in extremist organizations.”

    Several lawmakers have questioned whether the military has done enough to investigate the issue and root out individuals with ties to extremist groups. The allegation of racism in the Army is  reminiscent of a sensational double murder in Fayetteville 23 years ago involving James Burmeister II.

    The New York Daily News said at the time that Burmeister was weaned on racism. His father, a mechanic, was a bitter, big-talking bigot who fed his son a steady redneck diet about how minorities had stifled white progress. Young Burmeister matured into the apple of his father’s eye – a young man seething with racist phobias and resentment.

    He joined the Army after finishing high school in 1993 and was assigned to Fort Bragg’s 82nd Airborne Division. While driving around town on the night of Dec. 6, 1995, Burmeister and Malcolm Wright got out of their car and walked up behind two African-Americans on Hall Street near downtown. Their names were Michael James, 36, and Jackie Burden, 27.

    Burmeister executed James with two shots to the head. He then chased Burden, knocked her down with a shot to the back and shot three more bullets into her head. A friend, Randy Meadows Jr., the driver, had parked a block away.

    Burmeister and Wright fled in the opposite direction and eventually caught a taxi home. Meadows, meanwhile, got out of the car and walked toward the gunfire. Police picked him up within minutes of the murders, and he gave up the names of his skinhead comrades.

    Meadows led the authorities to the trailer where Burmeister and Wright were sleeping. Police found a 9 mm semiautomatic pistol, a Nazi flag, white supremacist pamphlets and other gang paraphernalia. The State Bureau of Investigation identified the handgun as the weapon that killed James and Burden.

    In 1997, Burmeister and Wright were tried on two counts each of first degree murder and conspiracy. They were convicted and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.  Prosecutors said that the killing of James and Burden was racially motivated and that Burmeister and Wright were neo- Nazi skinheads who chose their victims at random.

    The case prompted the Army to conduct a worldwide inquiry into racism in its ranks. The 1995 investigation ordered by then Army Secretary Togo West found little evidence of organized racist activity but led to stronger policies for preventing it. The probe found that fewer than 100 of 7,600 soldiers interviewed belonged to white supremacist groups. Officials at Fort Bragg identified 21 soldiers who actively participated in skinhead activity. They were later discharged.

    On March 21, 2007, James Burmeister died at the U.S. Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri, said Keith Acree, a spokesman for the North Carolina Department of  Corrections. Acree said Burmeister died of natural causes but said he couldn’t elaborate because of federal privacy laws.

  • 07Illegal gambling machinesMore than two dozen Robeson County people identifying themselves as members of the Tuscarora Indian Tribe face charges of operating illegal gambling houses, money laundering at illegal casinos and the manufacture of controlled substances. Because of their Native American status, they claimed to be a sovereign nation. The men and women ranged in age from 17 to 62.

    “This group openly expressed beliefs that neither the laws of North Carolina nor the United States applied to them, putting law-abiding citizens in danger,” said Terrance Merriweather, head of North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement, the agency that executed the search warrants. “Citizens living near the casinos complained of the illegal activity taking place and notified law enforcement,” he added. The illicit casinos were operated in blacked-out buildings. Officials said they operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

    The Tuscarora coalesced nearly three centuries ago as a people and eventually became part of the Five Nations of the historic Iroquois Confederacy in New York. Some of the Tuscarora migrated south and settled in Eastern North Carolina long before European explorers arrived.

    Tuscarora tribal officials in New York dispute claims that anyone in North Carolina has continuity as a tribe with the Tuscarora. They consider any individuals remaining in North Carolina as no longer having tribal status, although they have Tuscarora genetic ancestry.

    The illegal casinos operated in Maxton, Pembroke and Red Springs. Vehicles, currency, marijuana, firearms and over 200 illegal gaming machines were seized during the raids following a yearlong local, state and federal inter-agency investigation. The group operated three illegal casinos located at 1345 Modest Rd., Maxton; 129 Nancy Ln., Pembroke; and 1521 Opal Rd., Red Springs. Indoor and outdoor marijuana growing operations were also found.

    The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, the State Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted NCALE in the yearlong operation.

    Merriweather said the illegal band operated an unlawful police force with heavily armed operatives who were not only unlicensed but used blue lights in their pickups. The group made threats of  war against law enforcement.

    “Most of the offenders were considered to be armed and dangerous, and many have criminal records,” said Robeson County Sheriff Kenneth Sealey. “People living in those towns feared the  activities taking place around the casinos. At the end of the day, this operation is all about community betterment,” he added.

    Those arrested included the Tuscarora Nation’s leader, Kendall Locklear, and his son, Keaton. Also charged were the armed guards who provided security at the casinos and other employees.

    Since the late 20th century, some North Carolina persons claiming Tuscarora ancestry formed bands in Robeson and nearby counties. In the 1960s, many of their descendants and approximately 2,000 other individuals organized an official Tuscarora political infrastructure. In 1979, the Tuscarora Tribe of Indians Maxton was accepted into the National Congress of American Indians. Then, in 2010, leaders and individuals of the various Tuscarora factions in Robeson County came together to form the Tuscarora Nation One Fire Council, an interim, unincorporated government now claiming to be a sovereign nation.

  • 06wilkie robertRobert Wilkie, who grew up in Fayetteville the son of an injured Vietnam War combat veteran, is the new secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Senate confirmed 55-year-old Wilkie by a vote of 86-9.

    “Robert Wilkie is the right man for the job,” said Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., the ranking member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.

    Wilkie, who worked as an aide to North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillies and others and at the Department of Defense under two Republican Party presidents, is the most prominent North Carolinian in President Donald Trump’s administration. Wilkie is a reserve officer in the Air Force and previously served in the Navy reserve.

    Wilkie replaces David Shulkin, who was fired in late March. Wilkie, who had been appointed as interim director, was then picked for the permanent post in May.

    Reducing suicide is a major objective of the Veterans Affairs

    Suicide prevention is now the VA’s highest priority for the nation’s 20 million veterans, 2 million of them women, according to a VA National Suicide Data Report released last month.

    An estimated 20 veterans and as many as four active-duty service members killed themselves each day in 2015, the last year for which detailed information was available. Male veterans were 1.3 times more likely than non-veteran adult men to commit suicide, the report said. Female veterans were twice as likely as non-veteran adult women to kill themselves.

    Fayetteville is a little smarter

    Durham and Chapel Hill won’t mind sharing this title: Together they rank among the top five most educated cities in the nation. Durham-Chapel Hill was considered a single metropolitan area and ranked the fourth-most-educated of the 150 largest U.S. metropolitan statistical areas included in a recent WalletHub study.

    Ann Arbor, Michigan, easily retained its position from last year as the smartest U.S. city.

    The ranking process considered educational attainment and quality and racial and gender education gaps.

    Other North Carolina cities deemed more educated this year included Fayetteville (from 102nd to 89th) and Greensboro-High Point (106th to 100th). Raleigh improved from 15th last year to 13th in this year’s report. Asheville surpassed Charlotte as it made the biggest leap forward out of North Carolina cities in the ranking, from 62nd in 2017 to 30th in 2018. Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia showed considerable improvement, jumping from No. 71 in 2017 to No. 54 this year.

    Winston-Salem slipped in the ranking, from 101st to 116th, as did Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, from 143rd to 145th.

    Hot Car Safety

    As people are enjoying summertime activities and vacation, it’s a good time to remember some important safety tips while out in the heat. July is typically the deadliest month for children being left in hot cars. But August weather is equally hot and humid. In North Carolina from 1990 to 2017, 33 infants and children died after being left unattended in hot vehicles.

    To help reduce the chances of this happening, the North Carolina Department of Transportation advised motorists to “look before locking.” Get into the habit of checking the back seats before locking the vehicle and walking away. Women can place their purses in the back seats when they put children in their car seats. Keep keys out of children’s reach. The DMV says nearly three in 10 heatstroke deaths happen when an unattended child gains access to a vehicle.

    These safety tips also apply when traveling with pets. A dog can die of heatstroke in just 15 minutes.

    Arts grant awarded to film festival

    GroundSwell Pictures, a Fayetteville 501(c) (3) nonprofit, has received a grant in the amount of $6,400 from the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County in support of the Indigo Moon Film Festival 2018. Indigo Moon is an annual festival bringing in films and filmmakers from around the world for a three-day event in October. This year, the festival will take place Oct. 12-14.

    Four venues in downtown Fayetteville show films to audiences. The festival includes an opening night film and reception as well as an awards banquet and encore showings of the winning films.

    “GroundSwell Pictures is honored to have received these funds which will help support this exciting cultural arts festival,” according to Board President Pat Wright.

    “The Arts Council is proud to partner with GroundSwell Pictures in support of Indigo Moon Film Festival,” said Deborah Martin Mintz, Arts Council executive director.

    The Arts Council’s Project Support Grants for 2018-19 will help fund 23 projects facilitated by 20 nonprofit organizations.

  • 05john locke“Can I speak to Mr. Locke?” During the quarter-century that I served as either president or vice president of the John Locke Foundation, we got such calls on regular basis.

    Some actually wanted to talk to me and just mistook one twosyllable name beginning with “John” for another. But others thought the John Locke Foundation was a charitable foundation named after a wealthy benefactor and hoped a personal call might get them money for a local project or a school trip.

    Still others believed John Locke was a former government official who had set up a think tank to advance his political philosophy, and wanted to talk to the “big man” rather than settle for a subordinate.

    My standard response to the question was that callers would find it challenging to set up a conversation with Mr. Locke unless they believed in séances. He died in 1704.

    John Locke was, in fact, a former government official who devoted much of his life to advancing his political philosophy of limited government and individual liberty. But independent research institutes didn’t exist in his day. While much of his early career was spent as a scholar at Oxford, Locke did most of his writing on philosophy and government – and performed most of his public service in appointive posts – as an aide to a powerful English statesman and political activist named Anthony Ashley Cooper, the first Earl of Shaftesbury.

    Locke originally joined Shaftesbury’s household and political retinue as his personal physician, and Locke helped save his life after Shaftesbury’s chronic liver condition grew acute enough to require surgery. Later, during the late 1660s and early 1670s, Locke helped Shaftesbury oversee the new Carolina colony, write its constitution and even design the street grids and land-use rules for Charleston and other cities to be founded across the Carolinas.

    When Shaftesbury began contesting power with other English politicians and the Stuart monarchy, Locke again helped him plot strategy and convert abstract philosophical ideas into distinct principles and concrete proposals. Locke would later influence Western philosophy with his own powerful writings, both on questions of how we can come to know the truth of things (epistemology) and how the coercive power of government ought to be used to protect individual rights and serve the public good (political philosophy).

    When the North Carolinians who founded what would open its doors in early 1990 as the John Locke Foundation discussed the potential name of the North Carolina think tank, we considered a variety of options. Some state-based research institutes have simple, descriptive names, such as those of our neighboring peers the South Carolina Policy Council and the Georgia Public Policy Foundation.

    Other think tanks honor American founders or other historical figures from the states in question, such as New Hampshire’s Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy, which is named after New Hampshire’s famous former governor, chief justice and signer of the Declaration of Independence. The president of the Josiah Bartlett Center happens to be a former John Locke Foundation colleague, Andrew Cline.

    In the end, we decided on John Locke. He never ventured across the Atlantic. But as the founder of political liberalism, and with some historical ties to the Carolinas, Locke was just the right fit.

    As our philosophy is usually called conservative, why choose a liberal namesake? Because the classical liberalism of Locke helped to shape what is now termed modern American conservatism.

    During the 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries, when liberals and conservatives competed for office and influence, they were debating the proper balance between liberty and order. But the rise of socialist, populist, and progressive movements in the late 19th and early 20th centuries pushed classical liberals and conservatives into an alliance to defend limited government and market economics.

    One Carolina legacy of John Locke and his patron Anthony Ashley Cooper is the iconic city of Charleston, nestled between the Ashley and Cooper rivers. The other can be found further north, in the think tank whose board I still proudly chair.

  • 04PutinRecent world news events from Helsinki reminded me of Aunt Pitty Pat Hamilton’s great line in “Gone with the Wind” as the Northern army is about to invade Atlanta. Aunt Pitty is getting ready to lam out of town when a large explosion shakes the ground. Pitty shrieks, “Yankees in Georgia! How did they ever get in?”

    Guess who’s coming to dinner at the White House this fall? Putin in the Oval Office. How did he ever get in? As Jules in “Pulp Fiction” would say, “Allow me to retort. What does Vladimir Putin look like?” He looks like the new boss. Same as the old boss. Herein lies my wildly speculative analysis of what’s happening under the rocks in Washington, D.C.

    Unless you have personally been living under a rock at the outskirts of town, you probably saw Our Dear Glorious Very Stable Genius President standing next to Putin in Helsinki after their Double Secret Summit. They agreed to put NATO and Western Europe on Triple Totally Unsecret Probation. Dear Leader stood at attention beside Putin after being questioned about whether Russia had interfered with the American election. Dear Leader announced, “I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today.” Our Dear Leader didn’t say it, but his thought balloon said: “And in addition, President Putin is a manly man, a thing of beauty to behold, and I really, really hope he asks me to the prom.”

    There has been much speculation about what happened in the Double Secret meeting between Dear Leader and Putin. No one really knows, not even Dan Coats, the director of national intelligence – at least he was the director at the time of this writing; he may be given the James Comey bum’s rush by the time this stain on world literature hits print.

    Some might think the director of national intelligence ought to know what is happening at the highest levels of security in the American government. Some would then be wrong. It’s a secret that only Dear Leader and Putin know. The rest of the world – and we American peons – will have it sprung upon us on a need-to-know basis.

    This does gives rise to the opportunity to imagine all sorts of things that Dear Leader promised to do for Putin in return for Putin keeping his mouth shut about whatever dirt he has on Dear Leader. Let us commence to wildly speculate.

    Despite widespread condemnation of Dear Leader’s failure to stand up for American intelligence agencies and law enforcement while kissing Putin’s ring, Dear Leader invited Putin to the White House for round two of his performance review. Putin is coming to Washington this fall on an inspection tour of his newly acquired property at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. The usual unreliable sources have revealed that in honor of Putin’s visit, Dear Leader is going to have the White House literally turned upside down like the Upside-Down House at Broadway at the Beach in Myrtle Beach. The White House will be painted red in Putin’s honor and will remain upside down and red throughout the rest of Dear Leader’s time in office.

    Another unfounded rumor has it that the reflecting pool in front of the Washington Monument will be drained and filled with Stolichnaya Vodka.

    One of the Double Secret Summit’s deals was to have the Russian Secret Police interrogate Michael McFaul, the former U.S. Ambassador to Russia, for possible crimes against the Commies. Unfortunately, this deal fell through when American public opinion turned against having an American diplomat submitted to the tender mercies of Russia’s intelligence agency. Putin must be mollified for the loss of getting an American diplomat to twist slowly, slowly in the Moscow wind. The rumor mill has it that Dear Leader will send Hillary Clinton, James Comey, Dan Coats and a future undisclosed draft choice to a Gulag in Siberia to be debriefed by the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence service. As a consolation prize for not getting Ambassador McFaul, Putin will absorb Montenegro, Freedonia and The Grand Dutchy of Fenwick into the growth industry that is Russia in 2018.

    Dear Leader has agreed to appoint Rufus T. Firefly as the new director of national intelligence and a hollow log as the director of the CIA, as both appointees have been carefully vetted and approved by Putin. So, keep watching your TV. An exciting fall season of Russian influence is coming to a ballot box near you.

  • 03Melania Trump 27356337I have long been interested in our nation’s first ladies, beginning when I checked out a book on Abigail “remember the ladies” Adams from the library of the late, great Haymount Elementary School where Haymount 700 now stands.

    No matter what stage of our history or what political position she represents, each of our first ladies came to her unpaid position, whether she wanted it or not, only because her husband managed to get himself elected president. Each found herself in an unscripted position that is not exactly a job, but one that comes with high expectations from her fellow Americans.

    Some first ladies are better at “the job” than others. Dolley Madison possessed social skills so strong that her husband, President James, basked in her reflected glory. A North Carolina native, Dolley Madison did not invent ice cream as legend has asserted, but she did serve oyster ice cream at the then-new White House.

    Edith Wilson became our de facto president after her husband suffered a debilitating stroke, allowing few others in to see him and “interpreting” and “relaying” his wishes herself.

    Jacqueline Kennedy became the most famous woman in the world and remains a glamorous fashion and social icon more than two decades after her death.

    Betty Ford and Nancy Reagan helped us understand addiction and cancer. Hillary Clinton introduced us to the notion of policy wonks, and Michelle Obama taught us healthier and local eating habits.

    It is also fair to say that no first lady, at least in my lifetime, has been more mysterious than Melania Trump.

    One of only two first ladies born outside the United States – Louisa Adams, Mrs. John Quincy, was born in London – Melania Trump began modeling in her native Slovenia at age 16 and became a U.S. citizen in 2006, a year after she married “the Donald,” the nickname given our current president by a previous wife.

    Melania reportedly speaks six languages, English among them. Last year, she inexplicably wore a $51,500 jacket on a visit to Italy, a price tag just slightly under the median U.S. household income in 2017. She had a mysterious operation earlier this year and spent several days in a Washington, D.C., hospital. She mysteriously wore a jacket with “I really don’t care do U” emblazoned on its back to visit immigrant children in cages along our Texas border. Her ongoing silence as the world chews over her husband’s conversations about paying off women is extremely curious. Even her signature program as first lady, BE BEST, is mysterious, as no one quite knows what it means.

    North Carolina humorist Celia Rivenbark wrote about our mysterious first lady in a recent column that began with this. “Sometimes I wish I could sit down with Melania Trump over a box of KFC’s new picklefried chicken tenders … and have a real just-us-girls conversation.”

    So do I, Celia, so do I.

    Rivenbark went on in this vein. “Being beautiful and aloof will only get you so far. After a while, people want to shake that empty Valentino suit and see what’s up. For example, why did she look so happy – a first – smiling radiantly while chatting with Obama at Barbara Bush’s funeral? In contrast, when she stands beside her husband, she looks like someone who really has to pee but  has just been told the next restroom is 90 minutes up the interstate.”

    I am willing to cut Melania a bit more slack.

    It cannot be easy just being Mrs. Donald Trump. Layer on the pressures of the presidency, the lack of privacy for an obviously private person and the ill-defined but nevertheless real responsibilities of the first lady, and life has got to be tough for Melania.

    On the morning I am writing this column, the news is full of President Trump in full wackadoodle rage mode after discovering his wife’s Air Force One television tuned to CNN in defiance of his presidential edict that all sets be tuned to his preferred network, Fox. In an unusual show of independence, the first lady’s official spokesperson announced our first lady will watch “any channel she wants.”

    Maybe Melania is not as mysterious as we think.

  • I have been the executive director for Rape Crisis of Cumberland County for over 10 years. I have advocated for thousands of victims, soldiers, men, children, women, Hope Mills residents... thousands.

    Last night, I attended your meeting in support of Lone Survivor Foundation, and honestly, I was embarrassed about what I heard from some of you. It was at times very hard to follow what you were saying – a lake, kayaking for veterans being dropped off at a fire station, a recreation spot, a VFW, the list seemed to volley from one thing to another without making much sense.

    This is what I do know, last year we (Rape Crisis of Cumberland County) served 611 victims of sexual violence, 243 of those were active duty soldiers. That number does not include veterans, National Guard or reservists. Their stories happened down range, in the barracks, in your town, in your county.

    Our resources are extremely limited, and when LSF came to our attention, it was like a dream come true! An organization was actually going to help me help OUR soldiers in a healing way, for free?!

    I was ecstatic, but very cautious. I would not support, advocate (for) or refer my victims to just anyone. So I got involved, met with Morgan Sierra (and) Terry Jung, attended many of their informational meetings and researched LSF. Yet I was still not 100 percent convinced that I could look my victims in the eye and tell them that LSF was OK, and it was OK for them to trust them, share their story and bravely attend a retreat. But, one of my board members for RCCC had told me that she had gone, and it was a lifechanging experience.

    My best friend, a vet, a city cop, a hardass guy, told me he was going (to an LSF retreat). I knew I would base my final decision on what he said. On the way to the airport after leaving the retreat, I got this text from him. “Reference vetting Lone Survivor Foundation, 100% yes...”

    Trust me when I say this, there is no one else out there that is offering this level of care to take care of OUR soldiers who have been raped. No one. To turn LSF away from our community when we so desperately need them is just... wrong and completely unfathomable based on the reasons you gave last night.

    I commend LSF for trying to make this work, I would not blame them if they went to another community, a community who supported them and welcomed them.

    If that happens, I will invite you to meet with my victims, and you can explain to them that although help for them could have been in our backyard, you said no. You said no at a chance for OUR soldiers to heal and get well again.

  • 01coverUAC0080118001

    The commissioners of the town of Hope Mills had a meltdown at their regularly scheduled meeting July 23. Had you been in attendance, you would likely agree that the Hope Mills community has outgrown its elected officials, with only Mayor Jackie Warner and Commissioner Pat Edwards remaining the sole sources of sensibility, common courtesy, integrity and leadership. Together, these two women make serving the residents Hope Mills and looking out for the long-term future of the town their highest priority. For this, we are grateful.

    After that July 23 meeting and the controversy swirling around the Lone Survivor Foundation situation, the remaining commissioners – Jesse Bellflowers, Meg Larson, Mike Mitchell and Jerry Legge – are engulfed in a nonproductive quagmire of trite and tacky accusations, petty jealousies, child-like grudges and chronic miscommunications and misinformation.

    What makes this situation such an atrocity is that, except for the ongoing deceit, misdirection and rampant pettiness of these elected officials, there is no downside to the LSF project. It’s ALL good. However, that is contrary to what Lisa Carter Waring, Meg Larson and others are disseminating on the private Hope Mills Chatter Facebook page. In the spirit of being fair and balanced, here are some facts about the LSF project and the political meltdown as it exists today. I welcome all challenges or debate concerning the information below.

    FACT: The LSF expressed interest and remains interested in the construction of an approximately 10,000-square-foot facility in Cumberland County, preferably in Hope Mills, for conducting therapeutic and wellness retreats for active-duty military service members, veterans, and their families dealing with post-traumatic stress, mild traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma, chronic pain and related invisible wounds of war. Cumberland County was selected because of the demographics of previous LSF retreat attendees and for its proximity to Fort Bragg. Twenty-nine percent of the 2018 LSF attendees were from North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.

    FACT: The LSF did its initial due diligence on the Cumberland County location and found that residents, businesses and organizations were wholeheartedly behind the foundation locating the retreat facility here. Despite this growing support, finding the right location for the retreat proved challenging. The initial site in Linden had soil percolation issues and was deeded back to the original owners.

    FACT: The Fayetteville-Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation suggested the property in Hope Mills located at 4562 Calico Dr. This is the site of an old textile mill and dam referred to as Lake Bed #2. The property needed and requested as 19 acres out of about 67 acres of land – all owned by the town of Hope Mills.

    FACT: While only about 4 of the 19 acres are suitable for building – the rest being in a flood plain – the property meets all the needs and is perfect for the LSF retreat.

    FACT: The LSF followed proper protocol, working with the FCCEDC and its associates, Andrew Pennink, Teddy Warner and Robert Van Geons, as well as the town of Hope Mills, including Town Manager Melissa Adams, Town Attorney Dan Hartzog Jr., Mayor Jackie Warner and the Hope Mills commissioners. Initially, when the FCCEDC brought the project to the Hope Mills commissioners in a closed session June 4, the commissioners were enthusiastically supportive of the project.

    FACT: Unfortunately, within hours of the closed session, the information discussed in that session was leaked to Commissioner Meg Larson’s former campaign manager, Lisa Carter Waring – who also manages the private Facebook page called Hope Mills Chatter. Waring also owns property that is adjacent to the land requested by the LSF. She immediately launched a campaign of misinformation that questioned the feasibility of the project.

    FACT: At the next closed session meeting, the commissioners unanimously rejected the entire LSF proposal and flatly turned down the project. Even the self-proclaimed grandest veteran advocate, Commissioner Jesse Bellflowers, who professes an undying patriotic loyalty and dedication to all military veterans, couldn’t muster up the intestinal fortitude for a logical defense for the LSF or his military veteran brethren.

    FACT: The commissioners did not notify the LSF of their decision until weeks later.  At the July 23 town meeting, which the LSF attended, when asked why the project was rejected, the commissioners scrambled to find logical explanations. All their reasoning was baseless. That said, Bellflowers said the process was done “back ass wards.” It was not.

    FACT: All the proper policies and procedures were followed. Commissioner Mitchell surprisingly suggested that because Teddy Warner, Mayor Warner’s son, works for the FCCEDC, there may be a conflict of interest and further insinuated that he and the mayor may have some side deal going on from which they would both personally benefit.

    Larson’s comments and objections were all over the place. She obviously resents the mayor and doesn’t want to see her accomplish or get credit for anything.

    As for Legge’s conduct, he was pretty passive. He seemed distant from the controversy, as if he didn’t know what was going on. And who can blame him? There has been so much bad information, misdirection and misrepresentation put forth by the commissioners and Hope Mills Chatter Facebook page that the average Hope Mills citizen has no way of understanding or finding out the facts about important Hope Mills issues like this – issues that affect their future way of life and quality of life.

    FACT: The commissioners all concurred that the town meeting of July 23 “spiraled out of control.” They may have, but the citizens in attendance did not. I was there. What I saw was a room packed with their constituents – more than 75 enthusiastic and passionate Hope Mills citizens made up of active duty military, veterans, support organizations as well as friends and family – all in support of Hope Mills, our war veterans and the mission of the LSF. Yes, they were passionate. Yes, they were sometimes loud. Yes, they cheered and applauded frequently whenever something positive was stated about the LSF project. They came en masse because they wanted to be heard.

    FACT: Teddy Warner did not solicit or invite the LSF to Hope Mills. He works for the FCCEDC, which was assisting the LSF in finding a suitable site for their center.

    WHY? Because the FCCEDC knows it would be a good fit for Cumberland County to have the LSF locate here. It would enhance the overall profile of the county. Teddy works specifically for FCCEDC President Robert Van Geons. Pennink, also an advocate of the project, is the chairman of the board of FCCEDC. All were involved in bringing the LSF project to Hope Mills. For anyone to even think there was some sort of “inside conspiracy” going on only acknowledges and confirms their lack of knowledge and understanding of how economic development occurs.

    FACT: All standard operating procedures were properly followed by everyone involved. The first closed session was initiated by the FCCEDC and was informational, with a presentation from LSF Executive Director Terry Jung. No proposal was made, just an explanation of the organization, its mission and the project.

    FACT: After that meeting, the board was enthusiastic and optimistic, and all spoke favorably about the project. They led Jung to believe they wanted the project in Hope Mills.

    FACT: The mayor knew about LSF’s interest in Hope Mills. However, before the LSF could present any program/proposal, its representatives wanted to make sure the site was workable.

    FACT: LSF completed its due diligence, a process that included soil and terrain testing and several site visits. The FCCEDC has maps and information about all tracts of land available for economic development, both private and public. It is the FCCEDC’s job to provide information and assist potential investors interested in locating within Cumberland County.

    FACT: It is at this phase of the due diligence that the town’s attorney and town manager assist in the process. There were never any secrets. Nor was information withheld from the Hope Mills commissioners as alleged. Everyone was doing their job for the betterment of Hope Mills and Cumberland County.

    FACT: The McAdams Firm is working on a separate project, the Hope Mills Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Plan. For the most part, the fact-finding and surveys have been completed. Based on the residents’ comments, the project’s primary focus will be on the Hope Mills Lake Park, Heritage Park and the golf course. These were identified as priorities. This is still a work in progress. However, it has been acknowledged that there are many town-owned properties that could be considered for development in the future. However, town management is aware that cost and funding will be a major factor. A comprehensive site plan will be developed soon. Currently, the above mentioned three areas will take priority.

    Recently, a special town meeting was requested by Mitchell and Larson for Aug. 1 at 6 p.m. on the premise of discussing the Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Plan. It will also include a closed session to discuss a “personal matter.” Since the three areas of development have already been determined, this meeting is speculatively being viewed as a retaliatory delay tactic to postpone or scuttle the scheduled Aug. 20 public hearing about the LSF project.

    Even though Commissioner Bellflowers has supported this action, he is concerned. He wrote Mitchell requesting assurance that all discussions and actions regarding the LSF proposed project would take place in a public session. If the Aug. 20 meeting gets canceled, Bellflowers will lose his do-over opportunity to prove he hasn’t turned his back on his fellow veterans.

    In a recent memo, Bellflowers stated “… know, from the July 23rd meeting forward, ALL discussions and actions regarding the Lone Survivor Foundation proposed project will be conducted in open-session, with public input.” His credibility is on the line here after being accused by many of being a hypocrite for not supporting military veterans and advocating for the LSF project.

    The closed session is another matter. At first, it looked like it was shaping up to be an organized berating session of Mayor Warner, but she is an elected official, so that wouldn’t classify as a “personal matter.” So, who does that leave? The town attorney? The town manager? Both have performed their jobs flawlessly with dedication and pride.

    Again, most of this dust-up about the LSF is arising from personal issues each commissioner has against the mayor. And for what? Doing her job? For working hard and staying on top of the town’s business and looking out for what’s in Hope Mills’ best interest? Below are the facts concerning the feasibility of the Lake Bed #2 site. This information was easily accessible to all Hope Mills commissioners had they taken the time to do their jobs.

    FACT: The FCCEDC found the LSF the perfect location in Lake Bed #2, and it had everything to do with the suitability. The property was beautiful, quiet, serene and available. It’s good for Hope Mills, the veterans, Cumberland County and North Carolina as we would become known nationwide as a state that takes care of veterans.

    FACT: The land in question is split by a creek, and most of that is in a flood plain and not suitable for development. The 4-acre area that can be developed is what the LSF is interested in for constructing the retreat center. It even has a PWC lift station on property, sewage and electrical easements. The other needed 14+ acres will provide additional beauty, serenity and seclusion, all of which will be conducive to the therapy and treatments. The remaining 40+/-acres would remain with the town.

    FACT: The LSF offered to pay for the property; it was even willing to lease it. It wanted to work within whatever parameters the commissioners set forth to make this a win-win achievement. To this end, the LSF made an initial good-faith offer and expected further negotiations. That never happened. The project was rejected out of hand even after LSF offered to add a reverser clause so if the town were to ever build a dam in the future, LSF would return the property. With that said …

    FACT: Lake Bed #2 has no possibility of being reinstated as county reservoir. This was a misdirection put forth by Larson, Mitchell and the Hope Mills Chatter. Larson stated that she was “not willing to give it (property) away because of its potential value as a future reservoir.” She didn’t do her research. The records show that PWC, after evaluating the area, stated unequivocally that it would not consider damming up Lake Bed #2 as a reservoir. In addition, it would be financially burdensome with estimated costs of more than $10 million.

    FACT: Larson knew this going into the July 23 meeting. Mick Noland, PWC’s chief operations officer of the Water Resources Division, contacted Hope Mills through Mayor Warner and discussed both the 1999 and 2014 studies. Evaluations conducted by PWC and the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality since the completion of the 1999 and 2014 studies indicated that the Cape Fear River would be sufficient for a water supply well beyond 2050. Again, based on the study, PWC has no plans to recommend construction of reservoirs in the Hope Mills area. On July 18, Larson was advised of this decision to not pursue further evaluation or permitting of a reservoir.

    FACT: What has not been disclosed is that Hope Mills Chatter page administrator Lisa Carter Waring owns property in Cumberland County on Lake Bed #2 and would personally benefit if this development were to change in the future.

    FACT: The Hope Mills commissioners never notified the LSF after rejecting the offer. It was stated that Teddy Warner was told of the decision. Again, Teddy works for the FCCEDC and was never the contact for negotiations. Commissioner Mitchell directed Town Attorney Dan Hartzog Jr. to send a letter of notification to LSF. It was received weeks after the rejection.

    FACT: The LSF’s proposal was rejected in a three-to-one vote with Mitchell, Bellflowers and Larson against the project and Pat Edwards for it.

    FACT: When the open session resumed, the commissioners told the public they had taken no action. The residents of Hope Mills had a right to learn about the LSF project and comment on it.

    The purpose of LSF returning for the July 23 meeting was threefold: To inform Hope Mills residents of the real intentions of the LSF; to defend and salvage its reputation that had been maligned by the Hope Mills Chatter Facebook page; and to get an affirmation of public input. The meeting was democracy in action. The town hall was filled with tax-paying citizens who wanted to be heard. There was no mayhem, no circus, no rudeness or outright displays of outrage. Well, maybe Alex Warner did become a little overly sensitive, but only after his wife and son were maligned and mischaracterized. Honestly, if they assaulted my family like they did his, security would probably have escorted me from the building.

    FACT: The time is now to grow and brand Hope Mills as a renowned and respected Cumberland County community. That takes strong, respected leadership void of rumors, innuendo, suspicions and petty personal politics. It’s time to shed the negative cliché of “Hopeless Mills.” Mayor Warner is Hope Mills’ flagship as was Eddie Dees and Ed Deaver. She’s also a mother, grandmother, business owner and tax payer. Who better can relate to the residents of Hope Mills? Hope Mills does not need a leadership team of boastful braggarts, glamour girls, self-righteous authorities or comatose leaders from the ’70s and ’80s.

    If the Hope Mills commissioners turn their backs on the LSF project, the town and its tax-paying residents, its active-duty military population, the thousands of veterans who support the community, and more importantly, the opportunity to do something significant and really, really good for humanity, then you might as well take the “hope” out of Hope Mills.

    I’ll conclude this editorial piece with this not-so ironic development. On Aug. 9, Cumberland County is hosting the North Carolina League of Municipalities to conduct a session that will focus on ethics in government. In view of what is taking place in Hope Mills, you would think the timing for this event would be perfect. No so. In a strange and unprecedented move, most of the Hope Mills commissioners are boycotting the event and refusing to attend. Despite the opportunity to talk and mix and mingle with other successful state and municipal leaders, they are blatantly ignoring their responsibilities and commitment to represent the citizens of Hope Mills.

    It’s crazy. Even crazier, Commissioner Larson went on the record saying, “Ethics training is somewhat meaningless if it doesn’t transfer into our everyday behavior.” That’s a statement we all can agree on.

    FACT: The Lone Survivor Foundation is an awesome organization, and it does great things for so many. We know it will be successful. We can only hope it is here in our community.

    Stay tuned. Thank you for reading and trusting Up & Coming Weekly.

  • 17 Stephen Mantzouris 2If you’re wondering how it feels to stand across the court from John Isner, 2018 Wimbledon singles semifinalist, waiting for the 6-foot-10 behemoth to unleash a 130 mph serve, Stephen Mantzouris can tell you.

    Mantzouris was the No. 1 singles player for the Terry Sanford tennis team in 2001. His Fayetteville family is city tennis royalty, as the city tennis complex at Milton E. Mazarick Park is named in memory of his grandfather, a huge tennis enthusiast.

    Mantzouris and Isner crossed paths on the tennis court during the 2001 season, when Terry Sanford finally got by perennial power Raleigh Broughton in the 4-A dual team state playoffs and tackled Greensboro Page and Isner in the state finals.

    Dual team tennis is exactly what it sounds like. Just as in a normal high school regular season match, player Nos. 1 through 6 in singles and 1 through 3 in doubles are paired head to head in individual matches. The team that wins the most matches wins the match.

    Terry Sanford lost the final duel with Page 6-3, with Mantzouris bowing to Isner in their singles battle 6-4, 7-5.

    Mantzouris, who now lives and works in Raleigh as a family nurse practitioner after a brief stint in the U.S. Navy, said he faced Isner when the latter was only a sophomore in high school and yet to reach his full height of 6-10.

    “He was about 6-7 or 6-8, but his serve was huge,’’ said Mantzouris, who said he was about 5-7 at the time.

    Mantzouris said Isner’s serve alone took him to another level well above the high school players of his era.

    “You’ve got a 15-year-old kid with a kick serve that goes threefourths of the way up the fence,’’ Mantzouris said. “That’s what I remember the most.’’

    Mantzouris said that left him with a dilemma on how to attack such a lethal weapon. “Do I step back when he serves it at 130 miles per hour so I can have more time, or do I step forward because if I go all the way back he’s kicking it over my head and I can’t even return it?”

    Mantzouris chose to hug the baseline and block everything to get it in play. His hope was to avoid being aced and try and engage Isner in rallies, where Mantzouris was certain he had a definite edge.

    “I knew if I got in a rally we were getting close to even,’’ Mantzouris said. “His backhand was not as good as my backhand. He’s worked on his backhand a lot, and that’s made him the player he is, to strengthen his weakness so it’s less of a weakness and people can’t attack him as much.’’

    Now, Mantzouris said Isner is a 30-something adult who has had years of training at his considerable size and also has better balance and core strength, all reasons why he’s a world top-10 ranked singles player.

    The days of American men leading the pack in the ranks of world tennis are long gone, and Mantzouris isn’t sure why the sport is suffering a swoon here.

    “I don’t know if we don’t put enough money into juniors compared to other countries,’’ he said. “I know it’s not lack of opportunities. We are a very wealthy nation compared to a lot of other ones.’’

    One problem could be the lack of variety for Americans in the surfaces they play. “We pretty much play on hard courts all the time,’’ he said. “We don’t play on grass a lot or red clay. We play on green clay. Americans do best on hard courts.’’

    While Mantzouris and his Terry Sanford teammates lost their match against Page and Isner back in 2001, the 2001 season wasn’t a total disappointment for him. He teamed with fellow Terry Sanford player Bryant Tran to win the state 4-A doubles championship that season.

    “We’ll always be on that board at Terry Sanford,’’ Mantzouris said, referring to a large blue wooden board affixed to the fence at the tennis courts at Terry Sanford. It was created by longtime Bulldog tennis coach Gil Bowman, member of the Fayetteville Sports Club and North Carolina High School Athletic Association Halls of Fame. The board lists past Bulldog state champions.

    After Mantzouris left Fayetteville and entered the military his interest in tennis waned, but he found another channel for his sporting pursuits: mixed martial arts.

    While serving in the Navy in San Diego he was training at a local gym and was introduced to the sport. When friends who were involved in the Ultimate Fighting Championships found he was a nurse, he became involved in that sport doing corner work for some of the UFC competitors.

    But he admits he does miss his tennis days at Terry Sanford, especially his teammates and the camaraderie they shared.

    “You get in that team aspect and it’s fun to have that atmosphere,’’ he said.

  • 16 Weller Foundation 3When former Pine Forest football coach Gary Weller learned his former players Jimmy Keefe and Andy Dempster wanted to name a foundation after him aimed at providing scholarships to Pine Forest athletes, he said he wasn’t given a choice.

    “We are using you just like you used us,’’ said Weller, joking. “I distinctly remember him saying that. I did probably abuse them, but when I saw what they were trying to do, it was a great, humbling experience to get these scholarships out.’’

    Keefe, a Pine Forest graduate and Cumberland County commissioner, said the idea for the foundation started small about four years ago when some coaches at Pine Forest passed the hat to raise $500 for a scholarship for a Pine Forest student who’d been facing difficult times.

    The practice continued informally until Keefe and Dempster decided the project needed to get even bigger.

    “This is too good a story, helping out too many kids,’’ Keefe said. “We want to up it a little bit. We want to be a bigger part of more kids’ lives as far as scholarships coming through.’’

    That’s when he approached Weller about using his name and calling the project the Gary Weller Foundation.

    The choice of Weller to be the face of the project was obvious for Keefe and others involved.

    16 Weller Foundation 5Fourteen years ago, Weller was severely injured when he was run over by a motorist in a stolen vehicle. Multiple bones were shattered in his lower body, and he now uses a motorized wheelchair to get around.

    “That day in April 14 years ago changed Gary’s life, but it didn’t change Gary,’’ Keefe said. “He’s still a coach, he’s still a friend when you need it, and he’s still the first person to help you out when you have a friend in need.’’

    Another reason Keefe and others wanted to name the foundation for Weller was because of the investment he made into the Pine Forest football program when he became head coach some 40 years ago.

    “He really took a personal interest in a lot of kids,’’ Keefe said. “I know there were some kids who would not be as successful as they were today if it weren’t for the personal outreach Gary did as a coach and as a father figure. Doing little things makes big impacts for kids.’’

    Recently, Weller and Keefe presented a pair of $500 scholarships to two Pine Forest athletes, football and basketball player Julian Hill and wrestler Daniel Peede. Hill will attend Campbell University while Peede is going to the United States Military Academy at West Point.

    “It may be only a $500 or $1,000 scholarship now, but that may be the difference for that kid being able to improve themselves down the road,’’ Keefe said. “We hope to be able to be giving some big-number scholarships coming up.’’

    Scholarship winners are chosen by a committee headed by longtime Pine Forest football coach Bill Sochovka.

    The general requirements of the potential candidates are they must be a student-athlete at Pine Forest who has faced some kind of adversity and come out of it successfully.

    16 Weller Foundation 1Keefe mentioned a previous winner, Leah Evans, who was a cross-country athlete before being injured in a car accident and having to go through an extended period of rehab. She recovered and placed 24th in the 2016 Mid-South 4-A Conference crosscountry meet.

    “That’s the sort of criteria we look for,’’ Keefe said.

    Keefe said the foundation committee has set a goal of raising $50,000 in three years. One of the big steps toward that goal is coming on Oct. 13 when the foundation will host the first Trojan Challenge, a 5K military-style obstacle course on the Sturtz Family Farm in Linden.

    The entry fee is $60, and complete information is available at www.trojanchallenge.org. Participants will get a Trojan Challenge T-shirt and receive a medal when they finish the course.

    “We thought the Trojan Challenge obstacle course would be something different,’’ Keefe said. “We like the idea of an obstacle course. Some will have football drills, not to mention real tier-one obstacles.’’

    Keefe called the course a symbol of what Weller has had to go through since his injuries. “It’s not simply running and putting one foot in front of the other, but... addressing obstacles and beating them,’’ Keefe said. “I think Gary has certainly done that in the last 14 years.’’

    For those who may not be interested or able to tackle the obstacle course, you can make direct donations to the Weller Foundation on the challenge website.

    For the last two years, the Weller Foundation scholarship winners have been honored at a senior night ceremony in the Pine Forest gym. Weller presented the awards with Keefe and said it was a memorable experience each time.

    “The principal, David Culbreth, had the awards at night so the parents can come,’’ Weller said. “To be in front of that group and give this award is an awesome feeling. It humbles you to be able to do that.

    “I want to see it grow so we can give a substantial amount of money.’’

     

    PHOTO: Gary Weller, seated, and Jimmy Keefe, standing, present scholarships to Julian Hill (top) and Daniel Peede (middle). (Bottom) The Trojan Challenge, which will debut Oct. 13 at Sturtz Family Farm in Linden, will feature Special Forces-style obstacles.

  • 15 motorcycle BearI just got back from a four-day trip. I wrote this while sitting at Panera Bread eating a bear claw, which has nothing to do with the title of this article, but they are really yummy, and the title of this article is about bears. A few weeks back, my friends Bob, Bill (Harley fellows) and myself met up in Blowing Rock for a week of travel.

    In Blowing Rock, we stayed at the quaint Mountainaire Inn. As the evening rain pounded away, wine was the drink of choice to kill time before dinner.

    The next morning, Bob was up early and had wiped the rain off the bikes. He is such a gentleman. We headed north on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

    The Blue Ridge Parkway is the longest linear park in the U.S. and is 469 miles long. It was established in 1936, is one of the most scenic roads in America and is only four hours from Fayetteville.

    Heading north, we decided to visit the Appomattox Court House in Virginia. We arrived that afternoon. Here, General Lee surrendered to General Grant, an event that is forever engraved in America’s history.

    As we walked the grounds, dark clouds started to roll in, and we decided to head north. We headed to the Natural Bridge Inn at Natural Bridge, Virginia. The inn is across the street from the Natural Bridge rock formation, which is a 215-foot natural arch. The inn is a nice, cozy hotel with a nice bar and restaurant.

    That afternoon, I got word that I was a brandnew grandfather. Mom and baby Jacob were fine. They were at Walter Reed Military Hospital in Washington, D.C. After breakfast the next morning, I decided to take off to the district to see the baby. For breakfast we went to the Pink Cadillac Diner, which is not far from Natural Bridge on I-81. This place has great food and a super cool vibe for a diner.

    We agreed to meet up later that day in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Bill and Bob headed back to the hotel, and I headed to Washington.

    As I looked down, my tire pressure warning light was flashing. Sure enough, I had picked up a nail in my tire. I was able to plug it (you’ve got to love tubeless tires), and I was back on the road. The baby was so cute (I think I have to say that).

    After a few hours of visiting, I headed out and got stuck in Washington traffic. After a minute in traffic, I said, “Wait a tick, I’m on a BMW, we don’t get stuck in traffic.” I set my bike to its off-road mode and set the GPS for curvy and unimproved roads. In less than half a mile, I was off the interstate and headed through some beautiful little town of western Maryland on my way back to Harpers Ferry.

    The next morning, we spent several hours visiting historical Harpers Ferry. There is so much history there, from the western expansion to the armory attack in 1859. Prior to the Civil War, John Brown lead an attack on the armory to give guns to the slaves so they could fight for their own independence. A few days later, he was caught by General Lee and hung for his crime. By today’s definitions, he would be considered either a domestic terrorist or a civil rights leader.

    Around noon, we headed to Front Royal, Virginia, to ride the Skyline Drive through Shenandoah National Park. The Skyline Drive is 105 miles long and ends at Waynesboro, Virginia, where the Blue Ridge Parkway starts.

    Shenandoah National Park is home to a high concentration of black bears. There, we saw five bears on this single ride. I have ridden the Skyline over 50 times and have never seen a bear. Like deer, one jumped out in front of Bill, then a few miles later, one in front of Bob. I was volunteered to be the official photographer for this trip. While stopping to take pictures, as I was getting my camera out, I was mindful that I did not want to get laughed at on the 6 o’clock news nor for my last picture to be a close-up of a bear’s mouth.

    The last stop for this trip was in Waynesboro, Virginia. We stumbled on a great restaurant called Green Leaf Grill, which was a super find.

    This next morning, our trip would come to an end. I said goodbye to Bob before turning in. He was heading to Nashville and was planning to leave before I planned on getting up.

    That morning, Bill and I headed back. In total, we rode 1,275 miles in five days. This was my third trip with Bill and Bob, and all have been memorable. I have been blessed to have such great friends as riding companions.

    If there is a topic that you would like to discuss, you can contact me at motorcycle4fun@aol.com. RIDE SAFE!

  • 14 helping handGot a simple house cleaning or a real homeowner disaster on your hands?

    Big or small, Aprilmarie Fields of Fields Helping Hands in Hope Mills is ready to take on the challenge.

    Fields, who relocated to Hope Mills from Kentucky about four years ago, brought her Fields Helping Hands cleaning business with her and has many satisfied clients in and around Cumberland County.

    Fields and her crew will tackle just about anything, from standard vacancy and residential cleaning, some commercial cleaning, all the way up to what she calls hoarding situations.

    “That’s when you walk into the house and you can’t walk because there’s garbage on the floor,’’ she said. “It’s just piled up knee-high through the whole house. There are people that live like that.’’

    When tackling that kind of situation, Fields has a simple solution. “You take it one room at a time,’’ she said.

    She’s only had to deal with three hoarding situations in her years in Hope Mills and Cumberland County, she said. The typical job is a residential cleaning. “You go in the house and dust everything, vacuum, mop, like you would clean your own home,’’ she said.

    A vacancy cleaning involves scrubbing down the walls and baseboards along with the mini-blinds, as well as pulling out the refrigerator to clean behind it. “Every surface gets wiped clean,’’ she said.

    Fields also has a lot of requests from people who are connected to the military for what she calls a PCS clean. PCS stands for permanent change of station for someone who’s gotten orders to move out and relocate to a new assignment. “We do a vacancy clean so they can leave for their next station,’’ she said. Fields, who is retired from the military herself, said she also offers military discounts to her cleaning clients. 

    Fields said she normally books about three weeks to a month ahead, but in emergencies like PCS situations, she can try to work a case into the schedule.

    She normally works with her crew of 10 assistants from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. They will rarely work on Saturday but always take Sunday off.

    Fields said she’s willing to do cleaning outside of Cumberland County, but for extended trips there need to be at least two or three homes or places to clean.

    She provides free cleaning estimates. The cost isn’t based on the size of the area to be cleaned, it’s determined by just how big a mess the owner or tenant has left.

    “One person’s house could be the same size as another person’s, but the other person isn’t as clean as the next person,’’ she said. “It’s by the job.’’

    Fields said she’s never come across a hazardous waste situation during a cleaning job, but she’s even equipped to handle that up to a point, with protective clothing, masks and gloves as part of her traveling equipment.

    If you’re interested in talking to Fields about a cleaning job, check her Facebook page at Fields Helping Hands. She’s also listed in the Yellow Pages. Her phone number is 606-425-6117.

     

    PHOTO: Aprilmarie Fields and husband Larry

  • 13 Robins staying 1 of 2The rumors about whether or not the popular Hope Mills restaurant Robin’s on Main is moving have finally been put to rest, said owner Robin Burnum.

    “Robin’s is staying,’’ she said, referring to the restaurant’s current location on North Main Street.

    Burnum said she’ll be signing a five-year lease with property owner John Beasley on Aug. 1, at the same time she’ll be announcing some changes to her weekly hours and the restaurant’s menu.

    Burnum thanked Beasley for offering the extended lease after he had originally considered selling the business.

    “I would have hated to leave Hope Mills,’’ Burnum said. “Hope Mills has been my family for eight years, and I’ve grown a great business here.”

    Now, with the new five-year commitment, Burnum said she’s ready to begin work on some much-needed upgrades to the restaurant.

    The first and most important will be converting to gas for her grilling and replacing her undersized 24-inch grill with a larger model.

    She’s currently getting estimates on the cost for the work to add the new grill and said they are running between $10,000 and $15,000.

    She’s hopeful the process to install the new grill will only take a few days and that the work can take place during normal closings and outside of regular restaurant hours so she won’t have to close while the grill is being added.

    She’d love for it to be up and running when the new lease is signed on Aug. 1 but said the work may extend into September or October.

    The larger grill will allow her to turn orders around much quicker and get larger food orders prepared faster.

    Robin’s can handle as many as 80 customers at one time, and during the busiest periods, Burnum said,people have to wait in excess of an hour for their food.

    The business caters to the breakfast and lunch trade. Burnum said she’s tried to add evening hours, but customers just haven’t responded, so she’ll stick with what’s working.

    But, she’s planning a change in hours. Come Aug. 1, the restaurant will close on Sunday and only be open Tuesday through Saturday from 6 a.m. until 3 p.m.

    Currently, the restaurant is closed Monday, open weekdays 6-2, Saturday 6-1 and Sunday 8-1.

    Burnum said she’ll continue her special Thanksgiving dinner for first responders, and, once the larger grill is installed, hopes to provide other charitable meals for the community. Those plans have yet to be confirmed, she said.

     

    PHOTO: Owner, Robin Burnum.

  • Meetings

    For details about all meetings and activities, including location where not listed, call Town Clerk Jane Starling at 910-426-4113. Most meetings take place at Town Hall or the Hope Mills Parks and Recreation center.

    • Veterans Affairs Commission Thursday, July 26, 7 p.m.

    • Board of Commissioners Monday, Aug. 6, 7 p.m. in the Bill Luther Meeting Room at Town Hall.

    Activities

    • Hope Mills Area Kiwanis Club at Sammio’s, second Tuesdays at noon and fourth Tuesdays at 6 p.m. For details, call 910-237-1240.

    • Fall sports registration through July 28. $30 per child; $15 late fee after registration deadline. Season begins Sept. 8. Call 910-426-4109 for details.

    • Wine-Tasting, Cheese and AppetizersSaturday, July 28, 5-8 p.m. Held at the Boarding House Tea Room, 3903 Ellison St., at the corner of W. Patterson Street across from Hope Mills YMCA. Open to the public once there is a 10-person commitment. Mix and mingle in cozy and quaint surroundings. Tasty hors d’oeuvres and vintage treasures available. Call Carla at 910-527-7455 to make reservations.

    • Hope Meals Food Truck Rodeo Thursday, Aug. 2, 5-8 p.m. Live jazz, kids activities, vendors. Held in the big parking lot at Town Hall.

    Promote yourself: Email hopemills@upandcomingweekly.com.

  • 12 Booster baseball 4 Mark Kahlenberg After making it to the final eight in the state playoffs three of the last four years, the Hope Mills Boosters American Legion baseball team saw their 2018 season come to an earlier and abrupt end this month.

    The Boosters lost two in a row in their first-round playoff series, one by forfeit, to end the season 7-14 overall and 7-7 in Area II play.

    It was one of the earliest exits coach Mark Kahlenberg could remember for the Boosters since he began helping out as an assistant coach about eight years ago.

    Kahlenberg said the team began coming apart in the final weeks of the season because of a familiar problem. Some players were on vacation, some decided not to play the remainder of the season, and others didn’t show up for games consistently.

    “When everyone was there, we put a pretty decent team on the field,’’ Kahlenberg said. “We competed with most of the teams in the conference.’’

    The outstanding season Terry Sanford’s team had, advancing to the 3-A Eastern Regional championship series with Wilmington New Hanover, may have hurt the Boosters in the long run, Kahlenberg said.

    “When you get a team that makes that late run, plays that many extra games, we’re already two weeks into our season,’’ Kahlenberg said.

    After such a long season, Kahlenberg said it was understandable the Terry Sanford players who were headed to college might want a break before reporting to school, so they chose not to play for the Legion team this summer.

    Another problem for the Boosters was a sharp drop in offensive production. Will Rosser of Terry Sanford was the only Hope Mills player who batted over .300, hitting .389.

    The team batting average dropped to .233 this season. After hitting 30 home runs last year, Hope Mills managed just two this season. The 2017 team had 85 extra base hits. This year’s team had 20.

    Matthew Little from Cape Fear was the top Hope Mills pitcher. In 25.2 innings, he had a team-best 2.18 earned run average.

    Kahlenberg said the team greatly appreciated its new association with the Massey Hill Lions Club this season.

    “I had a lot less on my plate for all the home games,’’ Kahlenberg said. “They did the gate, the concessions, announcing and got ice and water for both teams.”

    One big improvement the club has already made for next year is Lion Club’s purchase of an old school bus to take the team to away games. Transportation was a real problem in the playoffs as some players were involved in a car accident en route to the first playoff game at Wallace. No serious injuries were sustained, but the accident resulted in Hope Mills having to forfeit the game.

    “Having transportation is exciting news for our program,’’ Kahlenberg said. “We will be able to get everyone together prior to arriving at the park.

    “This gives us more time together as a team and to talk baseball. I can’t thank the Massey Hill Lions Club enough for what they have added to our program.’’

    Looking ahead to next season, Kahlenberg said he plans to reach out to the schools that the Boosters will draw from to gauge player interest and get firm commitments from players.

    “We’ve got some work to do,’’ he said.

     

    PHOTO: Mark Kahlenberg

  • 11 python named georgeThis summer, the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex introduced a new traveling exhibit, “An Unlikely Refugee: The story of a python named George” to Fayetteville. The staff at the museum were more than happy to hold and feature an exhibit to help relay a true story of a snake, the Vietnam War and Fort Bragg. This exhibit will be on display through Dec. 2.

    The tale of George the Burmese python starts in 1963 when a U.S. Special Forces soldier rescued it from being the next meal of Cambodian mercenaries in Saigon, Vietnam. After the python was rescued, Master Sgt. Dewey Simpson and his soldiers brought it back to the camp, making the snake an unofficial pet and mascot, before taking her back stateside for a short stay at Fort Bragg due to the dangerous environment.

    George became the idol of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh for 25 long years after her move there, where thousands of children and adults got to see her up-close and personal. George the python played a significant role and made a huge impact on the children who came to see her during field trips to the museum at the time. The python’s presence educated a lot of visitors about her species, home and the realities of war at the time. And this is only a small fraction of the beloved python’s story.

    “An Unlikely Refugee: The story of a python named George,” a recent graphic novel, inspired the exhibition. Written by Morrow Dowdle and illustrated by the author’s husband, Max Dowdle, the novel tells the tale of war, life and other themes – all from the perspective of the python. The novel touches on a lot of themes with the tale of George, some darker than others, all the while remaining entertaining.

    The exhibition features illustrations from the graphic novel as well as information panels about George and her species, the Burmese python. It also includes some informative panels regarding George’s habitat and her journey from Vietnam to Fort Bragg before making her way to her final home in Raleigh.

    Several guests attended a special reception for the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex Saturday, July 7. Those guests included the authors of the graphic novel; Jamie McCargo, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences’ exhibit design curator; and Dana Gilooly, head of the NCMNS Museums Grant Program.

    George’s exhibition is on display until Dec. 2. The Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex is located on Arsenal Avenue in downtown Fayetteville. Admission is free, and George’s exhibition and more can be seen during regular operating hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday; and Sunday, 1-5 p.m.

    For more information, call 919-807-7300 or visit the museum’s site: www.museumofthecapefear.ncdcr.gov.

  • 10 free to be meSaturday, Aug. 4, at 9 a.m., radio hostess Rev. Felicia Thompson will host the Free to Be Me Empowerment Symposium at Simon Temple AME Zion Church. Thompson is partnering with FTM, Inc., a nonprofit organization designed to help people realize their full potential through the help and knowledge of Jesus Christ. This year’s symposium, which is themed “Free to Soar,” will encourage men and women to recognize what holds them back, break free from those things, and move forward to achieve their dreams and aspirations while being free to be themselves.

    This empowerment symposium was inspired eight years ago by a discussion Thompson had with a pastor’s wife who Thompson hosted on her radio show. Her show is, like the symposium, titled “Free to Be Me.” Thompson started her show to encourage, inspire and inform her listeners and the community, so the symposium was a natural progression of that goal. She said she wants to help the community “realize their gifts and talents, and network with one another. Then, there is nothing we all can’t do as a community in Cumberland County together.”

    This is the second annual empowerment symposium. The keynote speaker will be Pat Smith, wife of football player Emmitt Smith. Guest speakers include Cheryl Fortune, an up-and-coming gospel singer; Gina V. Hawkins, Fayetteville chief of police; and Dr. Deon Faillace, the first female general surgeon in Fayetteville.

    Each woman has experienced adversity in various aspects of her personal or professional life and will share stories of how she went through those challenges and came out stronger on the other side.

    In between speakers, guests will get a chuckle from comedian and host Chris Petty. There will also be light hors d’oeuvres, several giveaways and a vendor showcase for guests to browse. The event also gives attendees a chance to network and meet new people.

    At noon on Thursday, Aug. 2, Thompson’s weekly radio show, “Free to Be Me,” which airs on WIDU 1600AM, will have a special treat for listeners. During the live show, Thompson will give away free tickets for the empowerment symposium and will host a few of the event speakers, giving listeners a teaser of the discussion topics to come that Saturday. Previous guests and speakers will also call in during the show to talk more about the previous and upcoming symposium.

    “I pray that after leaving the Free to Be Me Empowerment Symposium, people feel more free and more liberated to be who they are in operating their gifts and talents,” Thompson said.

    She has high hopes and prayers that every attendee will feel more empowered, encouraged, inspired and informed. She said she hopes that when they leave they go out into their communities and be themselves, refusing to be held back from achieving every goal they set for themselves in their personal and professional lives.

    To learn more, or to register for the event, visit www.revfelicathompson.com.

  • 09 news Connelly“Cumberland County schools have a lot of potential for academic achievement and improved graduation rates as well as the overall social welfare of students.” These are the words of Cumberland County Schools Superintendent Dr. Marvin Connelly Jr. in an exclusive interview with Up & Coming Weekly. Connelly takes responsibility for the governance of 87 schools and 50,000 students as the new traditional school year gets underway.

    Cumberland County Schools made up the fourth largest school system in North Carolina until Winston-Salem Schools took over that position a few years ago. Connelly was chief of staff of the public schools of Wake County, the largest system in the state.

    “The challenges are the same. It’s just a matter of scale,” he said.

    Cumberland County and its school system have been in a no-growth posture for decades – unlike Wake County, which has grown beyond the county government’s capability to keep up when it comes to new schools. Some local officials have noted that lack of growth has eliminated the need for expensive new school buildings.

    “We hope that changes in time,” Connelly said. “We want to be optimistic for what the future holds.”

    Connelly hopes to develop what he called a strategic plan to improve academic outcomes for students and strengthen the organizational structure for faculties and staffs.

    “We want to make sure our students can communicate in a global society,” he said. “It’s more important today for students to be able to interact with their peers.”

    Connelly said he will get to know the community by taking part in a “listening tour” at seven locations around the county.

    Connelly is a long-time clergyman as well as an educator. He has served as senior pastor of Saint Augusta Missionary Baptist Church in Fuquay-Varina for 18 years. That’s one-half of the 36 years he’s been in the ministry. He said the Board of Education is aware of his dual occupations and has encouraged him to continue his work with the church.

    He promotes public education from the pulpit. The church’s June/July newsletter noted that the College Foundation of North Carolina is an excellent way to map out each year of high school and make plans to graduate with post-secondary and career-related options. Students should create an account to start receiving the benefits of this education tool, the program stated.

  • 08 news Robert wilkieIf confirmed by the Senate as secretary of Veterans Affairs, Robert Wilkie will have to deal with VA hiring practices and the over-prescribing of anxiety drugs. A new report from the nation’s leading veterans group said these issues may be undermining efforts to combat suicide among veterans.

    The American Legion just released a 20-page report soon after the VA came out with its own report showing little change in the veterans suicide rate in recent years.

    “VA has implemented numerous successful initiatives and programs,” the Legion report stated. “However, as an average of 20 veterans a day continue to take their own lives... much more must be done.”

    “The prime directive is customer service,” Wilkie said. He told a Senate committee the VA should be an industry leader in opioid intervention and suicide prevention. Wilkie grew up in Fayetteville and has held several top positions in government. He has repeatedly stated his opposition to privatization of the VA, whose budget has quadrupled in the last 20 years and stands at more than $188 billion. That makes it the second-largest agency in the federal government behind only the Department of Defense.

    Of concern to Legion officials are significant staffing gaps at VA medical facilities across the country. Department officials have acknowledged more than 30,000 full-time vacancies, particularly problematic shortages in specialties such as mental health care.

    American Legion leaders blame those shortfalls in large part on “the tedious hiring process” in the federal bureaucracy and urged more outreach and research into ways to improve the recruiting and retention process.

    About 74,000 veterans live in the 19-county area of Southeastern North Carolina served by the Fayetteville VA.

    “The shortage of employees can lead to overworked staff, poor patient experiences and lower quality of care,” the report stated. Keeping veterans in the VA care network has resulted in a significant decline in suicide, the report added.

    Legion officials also sounded alarms over VA physicians’ use of benzodiazepines, a class of antianxiety drugs that includes Xanax and Valium.

    “Over 25 percent of veterans newly diagnosed with PTSD are still being prescribed harmful and potentially deadly amounts of medications,” the report stated.

    The report also recommended further outreach by the VA to veterans with other-than-honorable discharges. Last year, VA officials offered emergency mental health intervention to those veterans for the first time. It also suggested more exploration of alternative mental health therapies such as “acupuncture, yoga, meditation and martial arts” for struggling veterans.

    Wilkie said that if confirmed, he would carry out the mandate of newly passed legislation that calls for expanding private health care for veterans. But, he said, private care would not replace VA, a longstanding fear among Democrats.

    At his confirmation hearing, Wilkie cited a raft of “administrative and bureaucratic” issues he said he has seen firsthand during the weeks he served as acting VA secretary. He said he would fix them by modernizing the agency’s cumbersome medical appointment system. Wilkie was appointed to the interim post in March.

    To contact the Veteran Crisis Line, dial 1-800-273-8255 and select option 1 for a VA staffer. Veterans, soldiers or their families can also text 838255 or visit VeteransCrisisLine.net for assistance.

  • 07 new digestThe Salvation Army is accepting applications from individuals and families who are in danger of experiencing a cooling-related crisis this summer. Limited funds are available, and households are served on a first-come, first-served basis.

    The program is administered by the Cumberland County Department of Social Services, but applications are made at the Salvation Army at 310 Dick St., Fayetteville, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

    Benefits cannot exceed $600. Households meet income eligibility if the total household income is equal to or less than 150 percent of the current poverty level. Each household will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine if there is a cooling crisis. Once a crisis is determined, an applicant will be evaluated for assistance through other emergency assistance programs.

    Additional information is available at the Salvation Army at 910-483-8119.

    Additional Fort Bragg gate is planned

    The North Carolina Department of Transportation is seeking public feedback on its proposal to widen and extend Odell Road in Spring Lake to relieve traffic congestion at Fort Bragg.

    The Army plans to build an additional access control point on Reilly Road near Odell Road. By extending and widening Odell Road to serve Fort Bragg’s new gate, NCDOT anticipates congestion on Bragg Boulevard will be reduced during commuter times.

    Odell Road would be extended from N. Bragg Blvd. (N.C. 24/87) to Reilly Road on post. NCDOT would add lanes in some spots along Odell Road to provide the entire roadway with four travel lanes. A raised median will be added along the road as a safety measure.

    Construction is scheduled to start in 2020. The department of transportation will accept comments on the proposal through Aug. 9 at 919-707-6023.

    Human trafficking arrest

    A collaborative law enforcement investigation has broken up an eastern North Carolina human trafficking ring. Fayetteville Police detectives along with members of the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, Durham County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation and other agencies executed several warrants at local massage parlors. They included Sunshine Studios on Hope Mills Road, Red Rose Studios on Cliffdale Road and Numi Day Spa Durham.

    “The offenses occurred between January of 2017 and July of 2018,” said Fayetteville Police Sgt. Shawn Strepay.

    Owner Angel Ming Lin, 46, of Winston Salem, was charged with promotion of prostitution and keeping a place for prostitution. Lin was apprehended in Raleigh and is being held in the Cumberland County Detention Center on a $1 million secured bond.

    Strepay asks that anyone with information regarding human trafficking contact Fayetteville Police.

    Alcohol consumption is rising in the military

    A recent Department of Defense Health Related Behaviors Survey indicates binge drinking has increased among service members. About one-third of service personnel surveyed met the criteria indicating possible alcohol use disorder, with 30 percent reporting that they binge drank in the past month. The figure was higher among Marines, 42 percent. The rates were down from a previously reported survey from 2011.

    This report came as beer and wine sales will be authorized at military commissaries. Until now, alcohol has been sold only at post exchanges.

    “One of the big success stories has been the emphasis on cigarette smoking,” said Sarah O. Meadows, Rand Corporation co-principal investigator for this report. For the first time, cigarette smoking in the military has declined to the point that it’s now lower than rates in the general population, according to the report. Overall, 13.9 percent of those surveyed indicated they are current cigarette smokers, which is down from the 24 percent in the 2011 survey.

    Defense officials have taken a number of steps to reduce smoking in the military, such as increasing the prices of tobacco in military stores, limiting areas where smoking is allowed and launching an extensive education campaign about the dangers of smoking.

    Summer Camp Assistance

    Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation has received funding support from the Cumberland Community Foundation and Florence Rogers Trust to operate summer camps at local parks. The Clark Park Nature Center, Lake Rim Park and Mazarick Park will share $8,000 in grants to help defray the cost of supplies and equipment. The camps are entitled “Outdoor and Summer Adventures,” “Growing Up Wild,” “Tiny Trailblazers” and “Survival Camp.” They are provided each summer by the joint parks and recreation department.

  • 06 Trump PutinWhen Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin met in Helsinki this week, it might have been useful if they had had a written contract to reference their previous understandings. No such written contract exists, but if it did, it might read like this imaginary July 2016 letter from Putin to Trump:

    In consideration of mutual objectives and the actions set forth below, we agree to work with you during the pending election and afterwards to make the world better by fostering improved relationships between our countries, each of us undertaking the following:

    1. We will influence the election in your favor by actively and creatively using our social media capabilities to diminish support for your opponent and create a drumbeat of negative disinformation about her.

    2. Using our intelligence-gathering resources and contacts, we will secure inside information about your campaign opponent and will release it at the best times to secure the maximum negative results by embarrassing the candidate, her staff, and her party, thereby destroying confidence and diminishing support for her.

    3. We will provide your campaign with other negative information about your opponent for you to use as you see fit.

    4. We will continue to keep secret any damaging information about you that we have collected over the years. We plan to provide this assistance without requiring specific items or actions from you in consideration for our belief that your victory and your administration would be better for both countries. However, we confirm to you our hope that upon the success of your campaign you will endeavor to give attention to the following:

    1. You would use your best efforts to remove sanctions and restrictions that have been unfairly applied against us in retaliation for our actions that were necessary to protect our people and our economy and to respond to aggressive threats from your country and its allies. We understand that the efforts with respect to restrictions will have to be done delicately and over time. But in light of the harm they unnecessarily cause our people and our economy, we hope you will be diligent.

    2. We hope you will understand and respect actions we have taken or may take to protect the rights, safety and aspirations of people in adjoining countries that were formerly under our control and who are bound to us by common language and heritage. Specifically, you will understand the necessity for our retention of sovereignty over such historic territories that have recently come under our control. In addition, we hope you will prepare your country to understand the justification for our actions.

    3. In exchange for our agreement to permit the reunification of Germany in 1990, your country and its allies promised that NATO would refrain from expanding into Eastern Europe. That promise was broken. As a result, NATO’s military infrastructure has encircled our country. Almost every one of NATO’s actions in regions close to our country is aimed at thwarting our interests. Your historic skepticism about NATO puts you in a position to explain to the American people the importance of dealing with this unnecessary threat to our country. We expect you will help bring about changes that reorient NATO to eliminate its threat to us.

    4. You will respect and cooperate with our anti-terrorist efforts in Syria and other Middle East countries.

    5. Understanding that it is in the interest of both our countries to deal with the European countries on a nation-to-nation basis, we expect you will support our efforts to lead Western European countries away from the dominating and counterproductive trade and economic blocs. These blocs work against both our countries’ aspirations to make favorable trade and other arrangements with individual nations. We hope you will help us break up these detrimental attachments.

    Agreed: July 2016

  • 05 KarlReal conversation once graced the societal landscape of America. It has become a relic held onto by a few people who know the great value of real conversation. For me, it is the experience where people exchange ideas, provide information or seek to convince others of an issue position on which they disagree. It can even occur when talking about topics of no importance. What makes real conversation is that it is conducted with civility, thought and respect on the part of all participants.

    We have come to a time in America when real conversation hardly ever shows its head. Look around. Turn on a television or radio and see the reports of protests and confrontations resulting from conditions that should be addressed through real conversation.

    Before working on this column, I was watching Peter Strzok testifying in a joint hearing before the House Judiciary and Oversight Committees. Strzok is the FBI agent who exchanged texts  with Lisa Page, an FBI attorney, that spoke harshly of then-presidential-candidate Trump and his supporters. Because both of them were involved with the Hillary Clinton and Russia collusion investigations, there is some concern that their actions in those investigations might have resulted from bias against Trump, the candidate.

    In my estimation, the hearing was a horror show that did absolutely nothing by way of getting to the truth. There was pure partisanship, anger, grandstanding by committee members, arguments and so on. All of the elements were present that make real conversation impossible.

    The “attack mode” of verbal exchange is pervasive. This is especially true in this age where many Americans apparently believe any grievance justifies a protest, even when doing so invades and disrespects the space of others. Consider what is happening to the president and to individuals who work in his administration. The following summaries of incidents are recorded in an article by William Cummings titled “The list of Trump White House officials who have been hassled over administration policy.”

    The article states:

    • “From spokeswoman Sarah Sanders’ expulsion from the Red Hen restaurant to a Senate intern shouting the “f-word” at the president, a number of Trump administration officials have been disrespected or hassled by political opponents in recent days.

    • Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., urged activists to continue hounding Trump Cabinet members wherever and whenever they find them.

    • Demonstrators converged on the home of White House adviser Stephen Miller in downtown Washington Monday to denounce Miller’s role as one of the architects of the administration’s ‘zero tolerance’ immigration policy.

    • The Department of Homeland Security secretary was confronted with chants of ‘Shame!’ as she tried to dine at an upscale Mexican restaurant in Washington amid the uproar over the administration’s policy of separating migrant families accused of illegally crossing the southern border.

    • Pence, who has never really been considered an ally of the LBGTQ community, was greeted by a display of rainbow flags by many of his new neighbors when he first moved to Washington as the vice president elect.

    • The president’s adviser and eldest daughter was called a ‘feckless (expletive)’ by comedian Samantha Bee during a monologue on Bee’s TBS show ‘Full Frontal’ about the separation of migrant families.”

    The quotes above refer to actions against Republicans. In an ongoing attempt to be balanced in my thinking and writing, I googled “conservative verbal attacks on liberals.” What came up were more articles talking about liberal attacks on conservatives. The resulting picture is one where it appears that most verbal attacks, and similar actions, are directed toward conservatives. However, the lack of real conversation is fed by all sides and by people of various affiliations and ideologies.

    Maybe part of our reason for discarding real conversation is due to our having lost sight of how it looks and of the tremendous positive impact that is possible from it.

    A sermon I heard in February 2018 has stuck with me because what was presented reminded me of the powerful possibilities in real conversation. The preacher was Rev. Stephanie Bohannon. Until June 2018, she was the associate pastor at First Baptist Church (Anderson Street) in Fayetteville. The sermon title was “Grace is Found at the Well.” The Scripture basis is John 4:4-26, 39. This is the account of Jesus, in Samaria, talking with a woman at Jacob’s well.

    Much of what Bohannon shared from this account can help us reclaim real conversation. Jesus is resting beside this well in Samaria. Being Jewish, it was unexpected that he would be in Samaria, because Jews did not associate with Samaritans. Productive conversation sometimes requires that we go to places and engage in circumstances that might be uncomfortable.

    A Samaritan woman comes to the well to draw water. Jesus asks her to draw a drink for him. She expresses surprise that a Jew would ask a Samaritan for water. This is where Jesus says, in verse 10, “If you knew the gift of God, and who is saying to you, ‘give me a drink,’ you would ask him, and he would give you living water” (HCSB).

    In response, the woman wants to know how he would draw water, given that Jesus does not have a bucket. Her question not only reflects thought, but shows her willingness to respectfully probe this comment by Jesus. Notice the respectful tone of this exchange. This condition of thoughtfulness, reasonable questioning and respectful tone are almost always absent from conversations addressing difficult issues of our time. These elements are essential to real conversation.

    Then Jesus tells the woman to call her husband. She responds that she has no husband. Jesus says (verse 17), “You have correctly said, ‘I don’t have a husband. For you’ve had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband.’” Some contend that Jesus was condemning the woman’s relationship. However, another likely explanation is that he was establishing his position in the thinking of this woman. Apparently, when Jesus, without knowing her, spoke accurately to the woman’s marital situation, she was able to recognize something special in him. She sees him as a prophet and goes on to question Jesus regarding places of worship. Real conversation requires conducting oneself in a fashion that invites respect and the expectation of productive discourse.

    Verses 28-30 give the result of this real conversation: “Then the woman left her water jar, went into town and told the men, ‘Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could this be the Messiah?’ They left the town and made their way to him.” This was the very positive result of real conversation.

    Bohannon closed by saying that, despite her story, Jesus offered that woman grace, love and acceptance. Even when we disagree, if we can, in our conversations, employ the elements exhibited by Jesus and this woman, while adding grace, love and acceptance, amazing results are possible.

     

    PHOTO CREDIT: Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

  • 04 letter to edito04 letter to editor TrudeauKarl Merritt’s opinion piece in Up &Coming Weekly’s June 27 edition is an attack on my native country, Canada, despite his claim “to share what I hope is productive and accurate thinking through of this US/Canadian tariff dispute.” The information he provides does appear to be accurate, but only to the extent that it corroborates his point of view... any information that would be favorable to Canada he pointedly refused to address.

    The dairy product dispute is an example of Mr. Merritt’s unbalanced views. Canada may have restrictive tariffs to protect her dairy industry; however, Mr. Merritt fails to mention what are the actual economics of that trade, and is money not “where the rubber meets the road” where any trade is concerned? A report by Brookings, dated June 13 of this year, revealed that in 2017 the United States exported $792 million worth of dairy products to Canada and imported $149 million from Canada. That works out to an over 500 percent trade imbalance in favor of the U.S. Mr. Merritt and President Trump chose not to make that information public. Why?

    Regarding the steel issue, Mr. Merritt again fails to provide all the pertinent information.

    The U.S. produced and imported the amount of steel reported by Mr. Merritt; however, it also exported more than 12 percent of the domestic production. Why, if steel is a national security issue, does the U.S. export any steel? By not doing so would it not lessen the dependence on imports? And, yes, Canada is the leading producer of steel imported by the U.S. at 17 percent – but note that Mr. Merritt avoids telling readers that the U.S. provides 60 percent of Canada’s imported steel.

    It is also revealing that Mr. Merritt fails to mention that the United Steelworkers Union opposed imposing tariffs on Canadian steel. Those who should most benefit from steel tariffs are opposed to including Canada as a tariff target. Ms. Holly Hart, the Union’s legislative director, said that the decision to impose tariffs on CANADA “is unacceptable and calls into question the design and direction of the administration’s trade policy.”

    Mr. Merritt then goes on to attack Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for possessing the same attribute that he (Mr. Merritt) praised Donald Trump for possessing, understanding “that his first responsibility is to the citizens” of his country, Trump the U.S., Trudeau Canada. Mr. Merritt even repeats the characterization of the Prime Minister made by the president when he called the Prime Minister “dishonest.” May I remind Mr. Merritt that Donald Trump himself publicly admitted to lying to Justin Trudeau about U.S./Canada trade.

    For Trump to call the Prime Minister “dishonest” is like the kettle calling the pot black, EH!

    And then there is the national security issue, which caused Mr. Merritt to write that “his (Trudeau) dismissal of our (U.S.) national security concern does not reflect serious consideration of that concern.”

    And yet, the aforementioned United Steel Workers Union legislative director, Ms. Hart, stated that “our history shows that there is no stronger ally and partner on national security than Canada.” The reality is that Canada and Canadians (although some of them reluctantly) acknowledge that the national security of Canada depends upon the national security of the U.S. Since World War II, our two countries have partnered to constantly address those mutual national security concerns. Fort Bragg is one example of that partnership with a Canadian general serving as a Deputy Commander of the 18th Airborne Corps.

    Prime Minister Trudeau correctly stated that Canadians have stood sidebyside with Americans throughout the 20th century and into the 21st. He mentioned World Wars I and II, Korea, the Gulf, and Afghanistan. He could have included Viet Nam. During the Viet Nam era, tens of thousands of Mr. Merritt’s fellow Americans did all they could to avoid the draft and military service as if the military was the U.S.’s 20th-century version of Europe’s medieval bubonic plague. At the same time, thousands of Canadians came to the U.S. and voluntarily enlisted with the U.S. Armed Forces. The service of Canadians in Viet Nam is remembered and honored by the Canadian Viet Nam Veterans Memorial in Windsor, Ontario. The memorial includes a monument on which is inscribed the names of Canadians killed in Viet Nam while serving as U.S. soldiers, marines, airmen and seamen. Those names can also be found on the Viet Nam Wall in Washington, D.C. The reality is, Mr. Merritt, that the blood of Canadian volunteers helped to pay for the national security of the U.S. just as the blood of American volunteers helped to pay for the national security of Canada during the early years of World War I and II, prior to the official entry of the U.S. into those two wars.

    Mr. Merritt, I was one of those Canadian volunteers. At the age of 18 I rode on a bus from Toronto, Ontario, to Buffalo, New York, and enlisted with the U.S. Army (January 1969). Less than a year later, I arrived in Viet Nam and spent 15 months with the 173rd Airborne Brigade, 14 of those months incountry.

    Mr. Merritt, where was Donald Trump when you and Canadians were serving your, and his, country? Oh yes, he was one of those Americans who dodged military service.

    – Michael Fleming

    Editor’s note from Karl Merritt – I greatly appreciate this response to my column in that it exhibits the kind of positive dialogue called for in this week’s column titled, “Real Conversation: A Relic.”

    – Karl Merritt

  • 03 PoliticsWe’ve all heard the old proverb, “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.” In a lot of cases, this means the problem talked about most loudly or the issue causing the biggest headache usually gets fixed first. I’ve found this to be true in Congress, and it’s why I’ve continued to be a loud – and persistent – advocate for issues important to our community.

    Last week, we got a little grease. The House of Representatives passed the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2019 (H.R. 6147) which included a provision I secured to address the maintenance backlog for unpaved roads in the Uwharrie National Forest.

    If you’ve been to this state treasure or you live in the area, you’ve seen how difficult it has been to maintain the roads through the Uwharrie Forest. Over the years, the roads have become severely eroded from travel, age and elements – causing tremendous problems for visitors and residents alike. In 2014, I successfully got Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to repair part of the roads after they sustained tremendous damage, but it continues to be an issue as more gravel has washed away.

    More than just a headache, it’s a real safety issue when first responders can’t reach people in emergencies. I’ve been on these roads after storms, and there’s no way fire trucks and ambulances can access these roads in bad conditions. That’s unacceptable and one reason why I’ve worked hard over the years to advocate on behalf of the Uwharrie National Forest and its upkeep.

    My provision brings much-needed attention to this issue by having the Forest Service work with the local community to identify priority projects. In addition, the funding bill included additional funding for the U.S. Forest Service’s Capital Improvement and Maintenance account – $50 million above last year’s levels. This program provides funding to pave national forest roads like the ones in the Uwharrie National Forest.

    As your voice in Congress, I will continue to work with local, state and federal stakeholders to make sure the Uwharrie National Forest has the best tools, resources and funding to maintain forest roads. While there is still more work to do, I am more confident than ever that we will finally be able to get this issue resolved once and for all.

    When it comes to issues facing our district, I will always be a prominent voice in discussions. It’s exactly why my casework team works tirelessly at our three offices across the district to assist you, and it’s why I travel the district meeting with folks every spare moment I have.

    That’s also why I’m bringing prominent federal officials to the district to see and hear firsthand what’s impacting our lives. In fact, in the next few weeks, I’m planning on having the head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Program travel across the district to talk about resources we need to combat the opioid epidemic and get our rural communities more access to high-speed broadband internet.

    Connecting our communities with federal officials in Washington is a critical part of my role as your representative, and I will continue being the squeaky wheel for our district’s priorities.

  • 02 pub penI’m surprised there has not been a TV network created just to accommodate what seems to be an overwhelming proliferation of incivility in America. There are literally dozens of networks that create programing about topics of every kind. There are programs about food, yoga, weird science, smoothies, exercise equipment, cars, trucks and gardening. I could go on, but you get my point. This being the case, it seems reasonable to have a network that could house channels that find companies willing to sponsor shows that disseminate insults, accusations and indictments with such authority that no one dares challenge the content for fear of retribution.

    Watching TV, especially the news and news-related shows, is like viewing the world after it became infected with a terrible virus.

    More and more, we seem to be subjected to behavior and media sound bites that are uncharacteristically and unjustifiably cruel, negative and combative. For the life of me, I cannot identify when decent, God-fearing Americans became so insensitive to and intolerant of each other’s rights, feelings and opinions. When did respect, courtesy, manners and politeness go out of fashion in America? When did logic, common sense and the art of compromise fall by the wayside along with respectable conversation and thoughtful debate?

    I guess a more critical question should be: How can we get it back?

    I refuse to think that this is not possible, even though we are subjected to senseless and hateful behavior daily.

    To my point, set aside for one moment your religion, race and personal political convictions. None of these things will matter if the America we live in, the nation that grants and allows us to enjoy those “unalienable rights,” collapses under the weight of ignorance, unbridled greed and crazy ideological self-aggrandizement.

    And, that’s all happening right now across this country. Imagine America, no, better yet, imagine Fayetteville without a police or sheriff’s department. With no EMS or fire department. Imagine a Fayetteville totally void of law enforcement and first responders. Imagine a Fayetteville where no one had to work to earn a living but had unrestricted access to other people’s possessions and personal property.

    With no law enforcement, there would be no jail or justice system. No laws. No rules. What would remain? A community of chaos overrun with criminals, murderers, rapists, child molesters and drug dealers – all having unrestrained access to everything you hold near and dear. I’m not talking about money, personal possessions, land or buildings. I’m referring to those constitutionally protected unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Those are the things that really matter, not red states, blue states, votes, money or power. Hate speak, intolerance and bad behavior are no different or more acceptable today than the refusing of four young black protesters at a lunch counter at a Greensboro, North Carolina, Woolworth store in 1960. Do we as Americans really want to go back there? I think not.

    So, what’s the solution?

    I have no idea.

    But, I do know this: We all would be better off remembering and practicing the golden rule. As a noun, it means “a principle implemented or followed to assure success.” Biblically, it has a more relevant meaning. It’s the willingness to love thy neighbor as thy self. We are all faced with injustices, injuries, disappointments, betrayals and frustrations. Handling these situations and loving those who we believe to be the source of the anguish may be the first step back to civility. We need to have patience and take the high road when facing adversity. We must harness our anger and need for retaliation. The golden rule would remind us to be tolerant and to seek peaceful solutions to problems. Ever since we were children, we have been told to follow the golden rule. Well, today that advice is as relevant as it ever was. Probably even more so. God bless America!

    Thank you for reading the Up & ComingWeekly.

     

    PHOTO CREDIT: Ben White on Unsplash

  • 01 CoverFort Bragg is home to many of our nation’s veterans. Many of them have sacrificed and shed blood for our country. Often, they have spent their adult lives serving. These heroes and their families deserve our thanks, and the Sandhills Purple Heart Dinner is designed to do just that. The Sandhills Purple Heart Committee presents the second annual Purple Heart Dinner Saturday, Aug. 18, from 5-8 p.m. at the Crown Complex Charlie Rose Agri-Expo Center.

    The event is open to the public and offers the rare opportunity to sit among dozens of heroes and hear their stories – and let them know just how much we appreciate their service and sacrifice. The focus of the dinner is to honor and thank Purple Heart recipients as well as Gold Star mothers and families of service members killed in action.

    The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the president to those wounded or killed while serving with the U. S. military. It is a heart-shaped medal within a gold border containing a profile of General George Washington. Above the heart appears a shield of the coat of arms of George Washington (a white shield with two red bars and three red stars in chief) between sprays of green leaves. It was established by George Washington in 1782 as the Badge of Military Merit. The Purple Heart’s order includes the phrase “Let it be known that he who wears the military order of the Purple Heart has given of his blood in the defense of his homeland and shall forever be revered by his fellow countrymen.” It truly is a badge of honor, one most would not set out to earn.

    “We want the community that the military lives and works in to honor the sacrifices that the military have made, whether it’s a Purple Heart because you’ve been wounded in action, a Gold Star mother who has lost a child, or if you are a family member of someone killed in action,” said Laura Downing, Gold Star mother liaison and a major with the Fayetteville Police Department. “It’s all military branches – Army, Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force. We recognize all wars and actions taken anywhere.”

    The dinner is inclusive, and the inaugural event was well-received. “Last year, we had individuals who fought in World War II, Vietnam, Korea and Operation Enduring Freedom,” Downing said.

    While this is the second dinner of its kind locally, it is not a new concept. “There are already several Purple Heart dinners that have been held around the state for years,” said Downing. “Wake Forest is in their 10th year, and Charlotte has done it one year.”

    Downing added that it is appropriate and especially meaningful to have a dinner in Fayetteville, considering the large military population here. “I think they were tweaking the other one before they brought it here because they knew this was going to be a much bigger event because of our population,” said Downing. “Last year, it was a huge success and there were military servicemen being honored from 20 years old to 80 years old.”

    “A lot of our Purple Heart recipients have never been recognized – especially by the community,” said Michael Johnson, chair of the Purple Heart Dinner.

    Johnson added that the organization has received requests from other cities like Goldsboro, Winston Salem and others.

    “Many Purple Heart recipients don’t make it to the first dinner because they are reluctant and don’t know what it is really about, or they think they have to speak or something like that,” said Johnson. “Once the word gets out about the first one, the second one is generally larger than the first.”

    At the event, each Purple Heart recipient – and their families, if they attend – are greeted. Families are escorted to their table. There is a private reception before the dinner just for the Purple Heart recipients. “It gives them a chance to sit and talk with each other about their experiences,” said Downing. “This is a safe environment, and there is a photo op for them to get their picture taken.”

    After the reception, the recipients are escorted by Junior ROTC Cadets into the main hall where dinner is served. “We have something called a ‘Walk of Honor,’” said Johnson. “Cadets in full uniform march out, and they have sabers. As each Purple Heart recipient comes out, they walk through the saber salute, and we announce who they are, where they served, what branch (they were in) and where they received their Purple Heart.”

    Several attendees have more than one Purple Heart. Some have had as many as five, six and seven Purple Hearts.

    “Last year, we had two Medal of Honor recipients present the gift that we have at the end of the saber salute when they come out,” said Johnson. “This year, we will have another Medal of Honor recipient to do that, and that means so much to a Purple Heart recipient.”

    Johnson added that this is a big part of the evening. “Instead of having celebrities or politicians come and speak, we chose to make this about the veterans, so we don’t have a keynote speaker.”

    Part of that is because not every Purple Heart recipient had a ceremony where they received their Purple Heart Medal. Johnson said, “A Purple Heart recipient who is a friend of mine said that the way he received his medal was he came back from the field in Vietnam and found it on his bunk, because in the fog of war, when you come back to base, you only have a few hours before you go out again. Again, most Purple Heart recipients have never been thanked by the community.”

    There are at least 476 Purple Heart recipients in the Fayetteville/Fort Bragg area. Reaching them all and having them all at the dinner may take time, but that is the goal. “Last year we had 160 Purple Heart recipients, and this year we have 69 so far,” said Downing. “We would love to have 200 recipients this year – that would be ideal. … This is the community’s way of saying thank you to Purple Heart recipients, and they do not have to pay for this; it does not cost them anything. Nobody that works on this event makes any money. We are all volunteers.”

    What the volunteers hope to see is a big turnout from the general public. You don’t have to know or be related to a Purple Heart recipient to attend. “We really want the community to come and buy a ticket to eat a meal with a hero,” said Downing.

    Sponsorships are available. For more information on that, contact Sarah Reid at 910-709-2858 or sandhillsphdinnersponsorships@gmail.com.

    There are three RSVP options on the website, www.sandhillsphdinner.com. The “Purchase Tickets” button is for the general public to purchase a ticket that will include a meal. The “PH RSVP” button is for Purple Heart recipients to let the event organizers know they will be attending. There is no cost, but registration is required so the veteran can be honored in the “Walk of Honor.” The “GSM RSVP” button is for Gold Star Mothers to register to attend the event.

    Ticket price for the public is $25. For more information, call 910-438-4100.

  • 19SPORTOne of the responsibilities that parents take most seriously is protecting their children from injury, whether it is buckling seat belts in a car or wearing a helmet while riding a bike. When their kids become teenagers and want to participate in sports or other activities, parents do everything they can to keep their sons and daughters from getting hurt.

    But not all injuries are caused by a twist, fall, collision or accident. Many are caused when young athletes repeat the same athletic activity so often that muscles, ligaments, tendons and bones don’t have time to recover – especially among middle school and high school students. These injuries can end promising careers, cost families tens of thousands of dollars, squash dreams and literally change lives.

    Examples include elbow and arm injuries to teenagers who play baseball or softball all year long, shoulder injuries to year-round swimmers, wrist and elbow injuries to gymnasts and stress fractures to soccer players.

    The culprit, most often, is what’s commonly known as “sport specialization,” the process of playing the same sport all year long with the goal of either gaining a competitive edge or earning a college scholarship. It involves intense, year-round training in a single sport.

    Research shows that sport specialization is putting teenage athletes at risk. According to a study commissioned by the National Federation of State High School Associations and conducted by researchers from the University of Wisconsin, high school athletes who specialize in a single sport are 70 percent more likely to suffer an injury during their playing season than those who play multiple sports.

    The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons says much the same. It reports that “overuse injuries” (injuries caused when an athletic activity is repeated so often that parts of the body do not have enough time to heal) are responsible for nearly half of all sports injuries to middle school and high school students.

    There is a solution. Young athletes should be encouraged to play multiple sports.

    When student-athletes cross-train, they work different muscle groups and joints, which, in fact, results in better overall conditioning. They also develop a new set of athletic skills like hand-eye coordination, balance, endurance, explosion and agility that are transferable to their primary sport. It’s no coincidence that 30 of the 32 first-round picks in the 2017 National Football League draft played multiple sports in high school.

    Parents can play a key role in preventing these overuse injuries by encouraging their kids to play multiple sports rather than pushing them to specialize in one sport. They will have more fun, will be less likely to suffer burnout and will actually become better athletes.

  • 18Toshiro Spivey E.E. SmithE.E. Smith came within one win of a worst-to-first turnaround in football last season.

    Deron Donald’s Golden Bulls tied for last place in the old Mid-South 4-A Conference in 2016, only to finish in a tie for second place in the Patriot Athletic Conference last season, going 9-4 and earning a first-round state 4-A playoff win over West Carteret.

    “We want to continue what we’ve started,’’ said Donald.

    Smith will be hard-pressed to repeat the performance this year as the Golden Bulls were seniorheavy in 2017 and suffered major graduation losses.

    “We had a big senior class and they all played vital roles in our success,’’ Donald said. “Right now we’re trying to find some true leaders, people that can carry the torch and keep it going in the right direction.’’

    Among the biggest departures was versatile quarterback Xeavier Bullock, who earned a scholarship at Fayetteville State University. He was one of two 2,000-yard passers in the Patriot Conference last season, throwing for 2,165 yards and 22 touchdowns with only five interceptions.

    The heir apparent to Bullock at quarterback is senior Angel Holden. Holden saw limited action last season, getting a chance to play quarterback when Bullock was briefly sidelined by injury. Holden completed eight of 15 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown while throwing no interceptions.

    “His approach and offseason preparation has been excellent,’’ Donald said of Holden. “We hope he can be the leader we know he can be and keep it going in the right direction.’’

    Smith’s top returner at any position is the talented Toshiro Spivey, wide receiver. Spivey had 37 catches for 612 yards and five touchdowns a year ago.

    “We’re counting on him to do a lot of good things for us,’’ Donald said.

    Spivey said he’s already been working with Holden during the spring to improve the chemistry between the two. “He can move, and he throws the ball very well,’’ Spivey said of Holden.

    As for the whole team, despite the graduation losses, Spivey thinks the Golden Bulls learned a lot from the experience of going from 3-8 to 9-4 in one year.

    “The key thing is the foundation is already laid,’’ Spivey said. “It’s all about building on it.’’

    Although the Golden Bulls will be young this season, Spivey thinks the team will make up for lack of experience with a bundle of speed and overall athleticism.

    By the time fall workouts officially open in a couple of weeks, Spivey is hopeful Smith will be cohesive. “I want everybody to know what we’re doing, what we’re fighting for,’’ he said, “everybody in one accord, one mindset.’’

    The key for everyone will be gaining maturity quickly, Donald said. “There’s no one area of concern,’’ he said. “We’ve just got to grow up and grow up fast.’’

     

    PHOTO: Toshiro Spivey

  • 17CFHS at NCHSOF with Jerry McGeeA group of student-athletes and chaperones from Cape Fear High School was among the 258 student-athletes from all over North Carolina participating in the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame’s Salute To Student-Athlete Program earlier this year.

    The program recognized students from across the state and exposed them to the many positive lessons to be learned from North Carolina’s outstanding sports heritage.

    Those attending from Cape Fear included student athletes Mark Burks, Jaylen Hudson, Matt Raynor, Walker Brittain, Amelia Shook and Taylor Melvin. The chaperones included Amey Shook and Kelly Melvin.

    A total of 39 different schools from 21 different counties across the state were represented by the student-athletes who attended the program.

    The two-day event included a special reception and attendance at ceremonies where the newest class of inductees to the N.C. Sports Hall of Fame were inducted at the Raleigh Convention Center. On the following day, the student-athletes toured the state’s hall of fame exhibition at the North Carolina Museum of History and participated in a seminar involving some of North Carolina’s most celebrated sports figures.

    Speakers at the seminar included former UNCChapel Hill basketball star Phil Ford, former professional football star Jeff Bostic and a special panel discussion featuring several members of the induction class.

    The student-athletes were invited to sign up for Hall Pass, a free program that offers special opportunities. Each Hall Pass member receives interesting information about the N.C. Sports Hall of Fame and the state’s sports heritage, including a monthly newsletter and special features in advance before the general public. Any student athlete can sign up to become a Hall Pass member by visiting www.ncshof.org and clicking on Hall Pass.

    N.C. Sports Hall of Fame members being inducted this year included golfer Donna Andrews, former major league baseball player Scott Bankhead, Olympic speedskater Joey Cheek, former Duke football star Wes Chesson, champion surfer and basketball standout Mindy Ballou Fitzpatrick, football coach and administrator Bill Hayes, college baseball coach Mike Martin, major league umpire Joe West and Charlotte Hornets executive Fred Whitfield.

    Posthumous inductees were high school coaching legends Jack Holley and Paul Jones, tennis standout Laura DuPont, former major league baseball players Hal “Skinny” Brown and Jakie May, and former N.C. State baseball all-American Chris Cammack of Fayetteville.

     

    PHOTO: L to R: Dr. Jerry McGee, Lilly Terwilliger, Mark Burks, Jaylen Hudson, Tyler Britt, Amelia Shook.

  • 16panthersDavid Tepper, new owner of the Carolina Panthers, met with the media last week after the sale of the team was finalized.

    One of the subjects he discussed was a desire to see the Panthers’ Bank of America Stadium host state high school championship games.

    Charlotte hasn’t hosted a football final since 1987 when Garner beat Charlotte Harding 40-21 at Memorial Stadium.

    I don’t have a problem with moving some state football finals to Bank of America Stadium, but not at the expense of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association ending its relationship with Duke, Wake Forest, NC State and UNC to hold championship games at their stadiums.

    The NCHSAA has eight football title games each year. The question would be who plays where.

    With Winston-Salem (Wake Forest) and Charlotte in the mix, you’d have two venues that would qualify as western in orientation. One thing that could enter into the equation is seeding. You could give “home” field preference, East vs. West, for the finals to whoever is the higher seeded team.

    The big plus with eight games, if you use all five venues every year, is two venues will only get a maximum of one game. Not having to share a stadium for a second game would be nice for the competing schools.

    It’s an offer worth exploring, and I thank Tepper for making it.

    On another note – congratulations to Jarvis Cobb, who has been named the varsity boys basketball coach at Douglas Byrd High School. Cobb comes to the Eagles after serving as junior varsity coach at Hoke County. In addition to coaching basketball, Cobb will teach career and technical education at Byrd.

  • 15Sidewalk3A long-awaited sidewalk project has started along Rockfish Road in Hope Mills. The only problem is it will create traffic congestion along the busy road that goes past major town buildings during the roughly two months the project will be in progress.

    Mayor Jackie Warner said it’s been about five years since the town got the initial grant to pay for the sidewalk that will cover about 1,100 feet alongside Rockfish Road near Town Hall and the Hope Mills Recreation Center.

    Most of the funding for the sidewalk came from a grant from the Department of Transportation, which Warner said was the first DOT grant Hope Mills had ever received.

    Unfortunately, there have been multiple delays with the project since its approval, from paperwork problems to engineering issues to having a tough time finding a contractor, as too many projects repairing damage caused by Hurricane Matthew were in the works.

    There was a time the town even considered giving the grant money back because of a possibility the sidewalk could be constructed and then Rockfish Road might one day be widened, forcing destruction of the new sidewalk.

    Warner said the town finally decided not to return the grant money and to use it for the purpose it was received.

    The sidewalk is part of a long-range goal to connect the Rockfish Road area with South Main Street and eventually Trade Street.

    Warner said the eventual aim is for people to be able to walk all the way from the area around Town Hall and the Recreation Center down to Hope Mills Lake and the Trade Street businesses.

    This ties in with the town’s multimodal congestion program, which is aimed at making the whole Main Street area pedestrian-friendly with more sidewalks and bike trails, giving the public more options for getting around so they can leave their cars at home and hopefully reduce vehicle traffic.

    Warner said it was easy to apply for the initial grant for sidewalks on Rockfish Road because of the neighborhood it was located in.

    “The number of kids that live in the neighborhood can walk to school or have access to the school, library and gym (at the recreation center),’’ she said.

    Hector Cruz, who heads up public works for the town of Hope Mills, said the construction crew is aiming to have the sidewalk done by mid-August, but he indicated he wouldn’t be surprised if it takes longer than that.

    Barring any major complications, Cruz said, the construction work will take place from around 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and traffic will be reduced to one lane while the crews are out.

    The major problem that will slow the work down, aside from weather delays, is the large amount of underground utilities in the area, including gas, fiber optics, water and sewer.

    “They are marked, but when you start digging, you find something else,’’ he said.

    He said the crew encountered fiber optic cables a couple of weeks ago that were marked, but the marking didn’t indicate how far below the ground they were. That forced the digging to stop, and an engineer had to be brought in to sort the problem out.

    Another problem will be that portions of the sidewalk will require the installation of storm drains. “It’s a matter of getting curb, gutter and sidewalk built,’’ Cruz said.

  • Meetings

    For details about all meetings and activities, including location where not listed, call Town Clerk Jane Starling at 910-426-4113. Most meetings take place at Town Hall or the Hope Mills Parks and Recreation center.

    • Parks and Recreation Advisory Monday, July 23, 6:30 p.m.

    • Board of Commissioners Monday, July 23, 7 p.m. at Town Hall in the Bill Luther Meeting Room.

    • Appearance Committee Tuesday, July 24, 7 p.m.

    • Veterans Affairs Commission Thursday, July 26, 7 p.m.

    Activities

    • Hope Mills Area Kiwanis Club at Sammio’s, second Tuesdays at noon and fourth Tuesdays at 6 p.m. For details, call 910-237-1240.

    • Fall sports registration through July 28. $30 per child; $15 late fee after registration deadline. Season begins Sept. 8. Call 910-426-4109 for details.

    • Wine-Tasting, Cheese and Appetizers Saturday, July 28, 5-8 p.m. Held at the Boarding House Tea Room, 3903 Ellison St., at the corner of W. Patterson Street across from Hope Mills YMCA. Open to the public once there is a 10-person commitment. Mix and mingle in cozy and quaint surroundings. Tasty hors d’oeuvres and vintage treasures available. Call Carla at 910-527-7455 to make reservations.

    Promote yourself: Email hopemills@upandcomingweekly.com.

  • 14Jackie WarnerIt was an idea first floated by Chris Rey, the former mayor of Spring Lake, when he became chairman of the Cumberland County Mayors Coalition about five years ago. Rey’s dream was to have a countywide meeting of all of the elected officials, from city and county government up to those serving in state office in Raleigh.

    Next month, that dream will finally come to pass when county leaders meet Thursday, Aug. 9, at the Crown Complex ballroom for ethics training and an economic development presentation.

    The August meeting was the brainchild of Cliff Turpin, mayor of Falcon, who currently chairs the Mayors Coalition. Vice-chair Jackie Warner, the mayor of Hope Mills, said Turpin made the countywide meeting a project when he first took over as chairman.

    “It was brought up that we have to go for ethics training and each municipality goes at their own chosen time,’’ Warner said. “Some municipalities don’t go together and don’t hear the same things.’’

    Warner said a plan was developed to bring all the county’s elected officials, from mayors to board members to state representatives, together for the ethics training.

    Warner said the idea is to show that all the municipalities and state and county government representatives are unified and want Cumberland County to flourish.

    “The conversations we’re having are some of the best conversations we’ve had since I’ve been mayor,’’ Warner said. “It’s amazing all the mayors can sit down and talk about each community, but we can also talk about Cumberland County as a whole. We’ve not done that before.’’

    Warner said the ethics training was planned well in advance so as many elected officials from the county as possible could clear their schedules and make sure to be able to attend.

    Warner hopes the Mayors Coalition has set an example for others who will be attending the meeting by checking loyalty to a particular political party at the door.

    “I’m coming as Hope Mills mayor, not as which party I belong to,’’ Warner said. “Working together for Cumberland County, we’ll all benefit. The Mayors Coalition has set the example for that. We are a mix of all parties, and what’s happened is we’ve been able to work not only together but effectively.’’

    The ethics training that will be part of the meeting next month is required by state law. Newly elected representatives get training geared especially for them while those who’ve been re-elected get a refresher course.

    The ethics sessions will be led by two live presenters, Frayda Bluestein and Norma Houston of the University of North Carolina School of Government in Chapel Hill.

    Warner said it’s important for local government leaders to hear the same ethics presentation.

    “If we’ve all sat down and listened to the same training, we’ll come away hopefully with the same set of values,” she said.

    The ethics topics cover a variety of areas, Warner said, from conflict of interest to open and closed meetings.

    “This is the accepted way you should be doing things,’’ Warner said. “With the public eye on us all the time, I think people need to be aware of what they can or can’t do or what they should do.’’

    Warner said ethics is about learning how to perform the job with the greater good in mind and not just performing political favors for the people who helped get you elected.

    “I have to make good decisions and our board has to make good decisions based on the whole city,’’ Warner said. “This ethics training shows you’ve got to make good decisions based on things you know are right, not on those tugs you’re being pulled by.’’

    The training also deals with situations when an elected leader should recuse himself or herself from a vote because of a possible conflict of interest. But Warner said there’s also a lesson to be learned about not wanting to vote.

    “You can’t arbitrarily say ‘I don’t want to vote for this,’ unless there’s a conflict of interest,’’ Warner said.

    Warner said she’s glad the upcoming ethics session will have live presenters so people can ask questions and everyone can hear the same answers.

    “The big reason for us getting this group together is so we can all meet each other and start thinking about a unified county, working together instead of in isolation,’’ she said.

     

    PHOTO: Hope Mills Mayor, Jackie Warner.

  • 13Fantasy lakeWith temperatures reaching well into the 90s, enjoy the summer with a little fresh air – and a lot of aquatic adventures. From epic water slides to relaxing river cruises, Cumberland County offers countless alternatives to your backyard pool in the way of affordable waterside fun.

    Home of the famous Tarzan Swings, Jump Tower and Master Blaster Slides, Fantasy Lake is the perfect place to find a little adventure. While the children cruise down the mellow Banana Slides, sit back and relax in one of several porch swings over the lake or grill out at one of three picnic areas on-site. Let your little ones discover Fantasy Land, a smaller version of Fantasy Lake perfect for elementary school-aged children. Fantasy Lake is located at 5869 Permastone Lake Rd. in Hope Mills. Tickets are $10 for ages 3-10 and ages 60 and up or $16 for ages 11-59.

    For a carefree day on the water, try a boat ride on the Cape Fear River. Captained by U.S. Coast Guard Commander Freddie Mims, these cruises come in 2-, 4- and 8-hour packages and vary in price depending on group size. Military and senior discounts, not to mention free rides for children under the age of 12, make these daytrips the perfect getaway for your family. Call 910-709-1758 for tickets and information.

    Grab your life jacket and test out your kayaking skills on the great Cape Fear. Cape Fear River Adventures in Lillington offers kayaking and canoeing, white water kayaking, rafting and lazy-river tubing. Enjoy a trip lasting anywhere from an hour to two days, or take a group of 12 or more on a teambuilding retreat. Open seven days a week mid-May through August, trips vary in cost according to the amount of time spent on the water. Call 919-495-5555 to reserve your trip.

    Waldo’s Beach features a family-friendly water park, fishing area and year-round RV campground. This exciting recreation area offers a variety of activities, to include waterslides, a lazy river and a shaded picnic area. The campground offers power and free Wi-Fi, not to mention hot showers and coin laundry machines to help you clean up after a long day at the pool. Daily water park tickets are $10 for ages 10 and under and $12 for ages 12 and up. Camp rates are $38 for a day, $245 for a week and $565-$595 for a month. Waldo’s Beach is located at 6742 Waldo’s Beach Rd. in Fayetteville.

    Fayetteville has several public pools that are open through Labor Day. Head over to Chalmers Pool at 1520 Slater Ave. to enjoy a six-lane lap pool, water playground and an open wading pool. For your little ones, try the Splash Pad at Kiwanis Recreation Center at 352 Devers St. The Keith A. Bates, Sr. Pool at 4945 Rosehill Rd. features a kiddie pool, a six-lane lap pool and a 24-foot enclosed water slide. The Westover Aquatic Center is located at 266 Bonanza Dr. and is home to an 8-lane competition pool, a water slide and a wading pool.

    The Spring Lake Outpost offers daily kayak adventures along the lower Little River. Veteran-owned and open seven days a week, the Outpost offers short-route trips, which are 3 miles long and take two hours to complete, and long-route trips, which are 6 miles long and take 4 hours to complete. Alternative adventures, such as Sunset Paddles and “Slo Glow,” are also available. Walk-up on the weekend or reserve your weekday trip at www.springlakeoutpost.com.

     

    PHOTO: Fantasy Lake in Hope Mills is home to the famous Tarzan Swings, Jump Tower and Master Blaster Slides.

  • 12FTCC employThe Career Development Center at Fayetteville Technical Community College is a place where curriculum and continuing education students, as well as individuals in the community, receive assistance in searching for and securing employment.

    The CDC benefits individuals by offering services such as job searches, career assessments, seminars, job fairs and information sessions with employers. The CDC also refers individuals to the Human Resource Development Employability Lab for additional assistance with services like resume writing, interviewing and improving workplace soft skills.

    The CDC also hosts employer seminars. The seminars consist of specific employers coming onsite at FTCC and talking with students about what it is that they are looking for in job candidates for their companies. The employers discuss the different skills, training and/or education needed in order for candidates to be ideal for a specific position within a company. Employers also often set up a Q&A forum where students can ask their own questions to employers.

    A great tool that the CDC uses to assist employers as well as individuals is the College Central Network. Employers utilize the CCN database to post company information and available positions as well as recruit candidates for employment. Students utilize the database to post their profiles and resumes and view available positions posted by employers. The ultimate goal of this database is to meet the needs of students and employers by housing helpful information.

    Another function of the CDC is collaborating with the different departmental areas and assisting with job fairs throughout the semester. Job fairs are an excellent way for students to meet with employers in their field of study. Students benefit from attending job fairs through opportunities to network, gain exposure and, in some cases, conduct on-the-spot interviewing.

    The CDC is located inside the Center for Business and Industry building at the Fayetteville campus, Room 135, and the hours of operation are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

    FTCC is currently registering students for fall classes in both curriculum (transfer) and corporate and continuing education (non-transfer) programs of study. Curriculum fall classes begin Aug. 20, and the class schedule for fall programs of study in corporate and continuing education is available at www.faytechcc.edu.

    The class schedule lists all the available programs and classes along with information about class start dates, cost, course description, location and more. From the home page of FTCC’s website, click “Corporate and Continuing Education” and then “Class Schedule” to see the broad range of programs available this fall.

    Visit with FTCC staff members face to face at our Fayetteville, Spring Lake or Fort Bragg campus locations for assistance with class registration, program selection, counseling and more.

    We look forward to opportunities to welcome new students, and we always enjoy seeing students return to FTCC for new learning experiences. Enroll in a class this fall and experience for yourself why FTCC truly is the smart choice for education.

  • 11Train 1 May 2018 1080x675Since the early 1800s, trains have captivated the collective American imagination, conjuring up dreams of freedom and the ability to bring economic prosperity to the country. Celebrate the history and magic of the railroad at Cape Fear Botanical Garden’s “Garden Railway” exhibit that runs daily through Friday, Aug. 31. The track includes approximately 450 feet of curves, bridges and plants in addition to the trains. It is set up in the Friendship Garden.

    Today, garden railways are a fun way for train enthusiasts to enjoy outdoor model trains year-round.

    “Alex Schleyer, who is a garden railway enthusiast, came out to the garden and did a presentation,” said Sheila Hanrick, director of marketing and events for CFBG. “He wanted to set up a garden railway out of the kindness of his heart, so people can see how garden railways can be done in their own backyards and the way it has been made to look as if it has always been there.”

    In a video on the garden website, Schleyer explains the installation process. “We used the actual process that real railroads do. The track is large enough that it requires drainage … (and) it requires ballast to hold track.”

    Now that the exhibit is open, there are several opportunities to expand on it and to draw in the community to enjoy it.

    Hanrick added that individuals would never know that it was just laid down for a temporary exhibit through August.

    “We will continue to add things throughout the summer,” he said. “There will be a day in July where we will have pedal cars that individuals can ride through foot power along a dirt path. We hope to incorporate a program with the Transportation Museum to get them out here to talk about how railway transportation changed agriculture for the United States. At that point, crops then could be transported across country. We are planning a whole lot around this train exhibit to get folks into the garden, find out what is here and just enjoy this beautiful setting.”

    While encouraging everyone in the community to come out, Hanrick said CFBG staff is especially excited to see children. “If children want to bring their little superhero or miniature toys, Alex, our conductor, will certainly let those toys go for a ride,” Hanrick said.

    CFBG hours of operation are Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday from noon-5 p.m. The last daily admission is 4:15 p.m. “Garden Railway” merchandise is available for purchase.

    Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 6-12, $9 for members of the military and senior citizens, and free for children ages five and under. It is also free for individuals with a garden membership.

    For more information, call 910- 486-0221.

     

    PHOTO CREDIT: www.capefearbg.org

  • 10FourthFriAs Fayetteville’s arts and local business-oriented culture has grown, so have 4th Fridays. 4th Fridays are a monthly, time-honored way to enjoy and keep up-to-date on the city’s artistic heartbeat while strolling downtown’s homey sidewalks. July’s 4th Friday falls on the 27th.

    “This month’s (theme) is an old favorite: A Midsummer Night Downtown,” said Sam DuBose, general manager of Cool Spring Downtown District. The theme refers to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” one of Shakespeare’s most popular works, in which mischievous fairies run the show.

    Elaine Kelly, owner of Turner Lane, is the chair for July’s 4th Friday. She said visitors should look out for a Fairy Door Scavenger Hunt, a Fairy Garden Market at the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum, a magic man show, craft experiences, themed magical food and drinks, outdoor musical performances, street players, face painting and other fairy/medieval-themed activities.

    The bulk of the events will take place Friday evening from 5-9 p.m., and the Fairy Door Scavenger Hunt will continue Saturday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

    The Fairy Door Scavenger Hunt presents magical quests spanning 34 downtown locations with over $500 in prizes for all ages. Fairy Journals with maps and instructions for the hunt can be found at participating downtown businesses, which include Turner Lane, Rude Awakening, Pressed – A Creative Space, City Center Gallery & Books, and many others.

    See a full list of participating businesses by searching the event page “Midsummer Night Downtown” on Facebook.

    There will be more to see and do the evening of the 27th than just themed activities, though.

    The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County will debut its new exhibition, “10:10:10” from 7-9 p.m. Annah Lee, director of artistic programs at Artspace in Raleigh, acted as its juror. She selected 10 artists to receive 10 linear feet of exhibition space to curate at the Arts Council gallery.

    “This exhibition is unique in that the artists not only select which works they would like to install, but they actually do the installations themselves along with the other artists. What will result is 10 self-curated exhibitions,” said Janet Gibson, Arts Council director of marketing and communications.

    Selected artists include photographers, illustrators, 3D artists, interior designers and art educators. They range from being self-taught to holding Masters of Fine Arts. “10:10:10” runs through Aug. 18.

    Headquarters Library will host a singalong to traditional American work songs from 6-9 p.m. in the Pate room. The singalong is part of “The Way We Worked,” an exhibition created by the National Archives and made possible in Fayetteville by the North Carolina Humanities Council. Light refreshments will be served.

    Cape Fear Studios will host its “6 by Exhibit” from 6-8:30 p.m. Artists were invited to submit work of any medium, so long as one of the creation’s dimensions measures 6 inches.

    From 6-9 p.m., the Market House will feature a temporary show titled “Vintage Postcards.” View original documents like receipts, bills and letters that help tell the story of business development in Fayetteville.

    From 7-9 p.m., Fascinate-U Children’s Museum invites families to visit its craft table and create a free seashell critter with recycled plastic eggs.

    Call CSDD at 910-223-1089 or visit www.theartscouncil.com to learn more about 4th Friday.

     

    PHOTO CREDIT: Downtown Alliance

  • 09baseballStadium rendering 1 12The city of Fayetteville has begun collecting data and seeking public opinions during a downtown parking study. Input is being collected through stakeholder committee meetings, public forum opportunities and an electronic survey. The survey is available online at www.surveymonkey.com/r/Parking_Fayetteville.

    The parking study will evaluate current and future parking demands, especially those prompted by baseball games at the new Hay Street stadium. Regulations and performance comparisons to other cities in North Carolina will also be considered. The city received a revitalization and economic development grant to conduct the downtown parking study.

    At this point, city officials believe there are enough existing and planned future parking spaces downtown to accommodate baseball fans. Officials believe 1,500 to 2,000 additional vehicles will go downtown for a typical ballgame. One question is whether the city is running a risk of expecting some people to walk three or four blocks to the stadium. City traffic engineer Lee Jernigan said that is not the case, and that parking studies should confirm that.

    Park and ride opportunities are a possibility, said Jernigan. “FAST or a private company could provide mini-bus shuttle service,” he added. That’s another one of the things the parking study may determine as to need.

    Currently, on-street parking restrictions vary from two to three hours, but they only apply during business hours, Jernigan noted. The city doesn’t use parking meters, but parking enforcement officers patrol the downtown area.

    Finding a parking spot for a ballgame will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Downtown parking lots should fill up rapidly, at least those owned by the city. They include the Airborne & Special Operations Museum and Festival Park lots, among others.

    Owners of private lots near the stadium have not yet been asked by the city to make them available after business hours, according to Jernigan. Limited spaces at the parking garage, which is now under construction next to the train station, will be for disabled and handicapped parking. Most of those spaces will be for tenants of the new hotel and Prince Charles apartments.

    Chances are that city-operated parking lots and the Franklin Street parking deck will be paid parking for special events. Jernigan noted that during the recent Dogwood Festival, people did not object to paying fees. He said motorists will also be charged parking fees during the upcoming International Folk Festival in the fall. “This is a dynamic process for us, which will be tweaked as we go,” he said.

    City officials hope the parking study will be ready for review by the end of the year. The new stadium is scheduled to open for ballgames by April 2019.

  • 08Marvin Connelly JrThe No. 2 man with the state’s largest public-school system is now No. 1 with the fifth largest school system. Dr. Marvin Connelly Jr. was formally sworn in as superintendent of Cumberland County Schools last week.

    Connelly was named to the position by the county school board back in April, succeeding former superintendent Dr. Frank Till, who resigned in June 2017. Associate Superintendent Tim Kinlaw was the system’s caretaker over the last year and plans to retire. Connelly’s salary is $220,000.

    Connelly said he was attracted to Cumberland County because of the success and opportunities in the school system, which he said has a good reputation.

    “I think the experience I have had is a good match for what Cumberland was looking for in a leader,” he said. Carrie Sutton, chairwoman of the board of education, said the board is honored, proud and grateful to begin a new journey with Connelly.

    Connelly was a military intelligence officer in the 82nd Airborne Division and served in the first Gulf War with a unit stationed in Germany. After his service in the Army, Connelly became a  teacher’s assistant and then a teacher in special education classes. He then became an assistant principal and principal before becoming an assistant superintendent and chief of staff for Wake County Public Schools.

    He holds a bachelor’s and two master’s degrees from North Carolina State University and a doctorate in educational leadership from East Carolina University.

    Connelly is a North Carolina native. He has begun a whirlwind tour of all the county’s schools.

    “We’ll be... out in the community, listening to the citizenry, meeting with schools, visiting all schools,” he said.

    He’s also taking time to meet members of the staff of the school system. Connelly is talking to everyone about some strategic goals that he would like the school system to work toward over the next five years.

    Cumberland County has 87 schools and enrolls about 50,000 students. It’s one-third the size of Wake County schools.

    In his Ph.D. dissertation presented to the faculty of the Department of Educational Leadership at East Carolina University in July 2012, Connelly wrote about partnerships among schools and faithbased organizations. He said in part that “as school system leaders seek to expand partnerships with community and faith-based organizations, it is essential that student achievement be the focus of the partnerships.”

    He asserted that such partnerships should focus on mentoring as compared to partnerships that focus on tutoring. He concluded that “to be successful, partnerships among schools and faith-based organizations should focus on student academic and behavioral outcomes.”

    He echoed those thoughts in his acceptance speech last April, saying, “Together with the students, parents, teachers, system leaders, community partners and the board, we will establish a strategic plan to attain new levels of excellence for all of the students in the Cumberland County Schools.”

     

    PHOTO: Dr. Marvin Connelly Jr.

  • 06Kirk deViere07meredeithCumberland County Democratic Senate nominee Kirk deViere is taking on one of the Republicans who redrew the district lines in what has become known as political gerrymandering.

    deViere said he will hold a series of community meetings to help residents better understand their district. Senate District 19 encompasses most of rural Cumberland County and parts of the city of Fayetteville.

    “Our team decided we needed to go into the community and bring people together to share their concerns, solutions and have their voices heard,” deViere said. “I’m going to meet the people in their own neighborhoods and listen to their frustrations.”

    He said his meetings will be held in Hope Mills, Gray’s Creek, Pearce’s Mill, Stoney Point, Eastover, Godwin, Wade, Stedman, Vander, Cedar Creek and some neighborhoods in Fayetteville.

    deViere is a former Fayetteville city councilman. He is opposing four-term Republican Sen. Wesley Meredith, who is also a former member of Fayetteville City Council. Both men are Army veterans and own local businesses.

     

    Cumberland County Schools safety enhanced

    The Cumberland County Schools system has spent $2 million on security upgrades. The projects, which were scheduled over a three-year period, were stepped up after a gunman killed 17 people at a high school in Parkland, Florida, in February. Upgrades have been completed at all but half a dozen elementary schools, and that work should be finished before the start of the traditional school year.

    CCS Associate Superintendent Tim Kinlaw told The Fayetteville Observer that securing some campuses was challenging because nearly all classroom doors opened to the outside rather than a hallway. Chain link fences had to be built around all the buildings at those schools.

    “Every school is different,” he said. “Our newer schools are easier because they were built with security in mind.”

    The school system, which is the fifth largest in the state, has 52 elementary schools, 18 middle schools and 17 high schools. Kinlaw said elementary schools will have buzzer systems with cameras so visitors can be seen by school officials before they are admitted to the building.

    Kinlaw said he understands that fences and gates are not pleasing to the eye. The upgrades are meant to give staff members time to lock down campuses when need be to protect students and faculties.

    Air drops resupply troops in Afghanistan

    U.S. forces in Afghanistan are being supported by way of an unconventional supply line familiar to Fayetteville/Fort Bragg residents. Supplies have been increasingly delivered to remote areas of the country via cargo aircraft and parachuted into Afghanistan to sustain operations against the Taliban this summer.

    More than 327,000 pounds of supplies were airdropped into Afghanistan by the end of May this year, with the bulk of those drops occurring in April and May, according to numbers provided by U.S. Central Command’s Combined Air Operations Center.

    That number stands in stark contrast to 2017, when the Air Force air dropped only about 33,000 pounds of supplies.

    Officially, the Air Force said the spike signals an increase in combat operations against insurgent forces. Capt. Mark Graff, an Air Forces Central Command spokesman, could not expound on where the airdrops were focused, but he did say supplies are not distributed evenly across the country.

    Airdrops are often used to resupply or build up smaller and more remote outposts, which heavily dotted Afghanistan before the drawdown in 2014.

    Bomb squad robots

    Then North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation has three new robots to join the battle against violent crime. With 64 calls since January, the members of the SBI Bomb Squad welcome the new robots that weigh about 70 pounds, can go up and down stairs, have six cameras, can lift about 15 pounds and can cut wires. They have the capability to remotely locate and neutralize improvised explosive devices in confined spaces, such as aircraft, buses and trains.

    “These new robots will be small enough to enter tight spaces where bomb technicians had to go before,” said Tim Luper, commander of the SBI Bomb Squad.

    The unit serves all 100 counties in North Carolina as needed, and assists local authorities in situations involving IEDs, weapons of mass destruction, suspicious packages, homemade fireworks and other explosive hazards.

    “The whole reason the bomb squad exists is for public safety,” Luper said.

    The three robots were purchased through a $153,000 grant from the Governor’s Crime Commission.

     

    PHOTOS: N.C. District 19 Senate candidates Kirk deViere & Wesley Meredith

  • 05Minotaur Louvre CA3837By now, you may be sick of the all the genetic testing ads promising to let you know your family history in return for paying them for the right to sell your genetic code to some third party. Like Esau selling his birthright to Jacob for a mess of pottage, go ahead and sell your genetic history to a corporation. Watching these ads got me to thinking about what a delight it would have been if the Minotaur had sent in his genes to be sorted out by a gene company.

    Take a ride back to ancient Greece, where men were men and Minotaurs were something else. To refresh your Greek mythology, the Minotaur had the head of a bull, the body of a man, lived in a labyrinth and liked to eat people. His genetic background was fairly wild. Since you obviously have nothing better to do than to waste a bit of your time reading this column, let us look at how the Minotaur came to be.

    Back in the golden days of yesteryear, on the island of Crete, there was a king named Minos. Minos and his brothers all wanted to be king of Crete. There was more than the usual sibling rivalry going on. Minos figured if he could get Poseidon, the god of the sea, to send him a snow-white bull, it would show his brothers that Minos ought to be the king. Minos told Poseidon that if Poseidon sent him the white bull, Minos would kill the bull in Poseidon’s honor. Not much of an honor for the bull, but this was before PETA had arrived on the scene.

    Poseidon sent the white bull to Minos. Turned out Minos thought the bull was so pretty that he didn’t want to kill it; he sacrificed one of his regular bulls instead. This treachery did not sit well with Poseidon. In fact, Poseidon was cranky about it. You would not like Poseidon when he is angry.

    Being a god, Poseidon can do about anything. He decided to get even with Minos by making Minos’ wife Pasiphae fall in love with the white bull. The story gets a little R-rated here. If you are sensitive, stop reading now. Pasiphae had her master builder, Daedalus, make a hollow wooden cow into which she climbed. She made sweet, sweet love to the white bull and became pregnant. Pasiphae then gave birth to the Minotaur.

    The Minotaur was ugly, even by Greek standards, and only ate humans. His eating habits would soon wipe out the population of Crete, leaving no one for Minos to be king over. After consulting the Oracle, Minos had Daedalus build the labyrinth to keep the Minotaur from eating everyone. For reasons too complicated to go into today, Minos kept the Minotaur in his labyrinth by sending seven boys and seven girls into the labyrinth to be eaten by the Minotaur every seven years.

    Along comes a hero, Theseus, who promises to kill the Minotaur to stop the eating of the boys and girls. This seems certain death for Theseus because even if he killed the Minotaur, he would be lost in the labyrinth forever. Naturally, Minos’ beautiful daughter Ariadne falls in love with Theseus. She comes up with a plan to help him get out of the maze by giving him a ball of string to unroll as he goes into the labyrinth. Pretty clever lady.

    Theseus goes into the maze and kills the Minotaur despite not having a Minotaur hunting license. He finds his way back out by following the string Ariadne gave him. Theseus shows his gratitude to Ariadne by taking her away on a cruise on the Love Boat where everything is exciting and new. For a while, anyway, as the great Meatloaf once sang: “Though it’s cold and lonely in the deep dark night/ I can see paradise by the dashboard light.”

    Ariadne tells Theseus, “Stop right there!/ I gotta know right now/ Before we go any further/ Will you love me forever?/ Will you never leave me?/ Will you make me so happy for the rest of my life?/ Will you take me away and will you make me your wife?”

    Theseus, being worked up, promises to love Ariadne until the end of time. Then in the afterglow of the moment, Theseus starts praying for the end of time. When the end of time doesn’t appear, Theseus dumps Ariadne on the island of Naxos and goes his merry way back home without her. Men are no damn good.

    So, what have we learned today? If you promise a sea god something, keep your promise or your spouse may take up animal husbandry and not in a good way. Promises made in the heat of passion sometimes cool off in the first cold blue light of morning. Beware of Greeks bearing string. Minotaurs should always floss after every meal. Stay out of labyrinths unless you have a ball of string.

     

    PHOTO: Theseus and the Minotaur. Detail from an Orientalizing polychrome stamnos made in Mégara Hyblæa, 660–650 BC. From Selinunte, Sicily.

  • 04ProudLike you, I am proud to be an American – extremely proud. As my family and I celebrated Independence Day, we reflected on the many blessings of living in the United States of America, and we thanked God for guiding our nation. We prayed for our service members, our veterans and their families – the very people who continue to make our Fourth of July celebrations possible. I saw so much patriotism and love for this great country. It was incredible.

    There are infinite reasons we should all be extremely proud to be an American, and number one is our service members. One of the greatest honors of my life is representing Fort Bragg, the epicenter of the universe and home of the Airborne and of the Army Special Operations Command.

    As part of my job being Fort Bragg’s congressman and providing oversight to the Department of Defense to ensure our soldiers have what they need, I spent time this past week in Germany visiting the U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Special Operations Command Africa, and Special Operations Command Forward-North and West Africa, which is led by the fearless Green Berets of 3rd Special Forces Group who also call Fort Bragg home. I was able to gain a greater knowledge of our military operations in Africa and the trials and opportunities our troops are facing. I also engaged with senior commanders to take a deep dive into our role in the region and U.S. interests.

    Additionally, I was able to talk to soldiers from the command level all the way down to the individual operational detachment alphas and gain insight into the issues our soldiers are facing throughout the chain of command. This information will allow me to make sure our Special Forces have all the support and resources they need. I especially enjoyed my time getting to know many of these brave men and women and showing them my gratitude.

    Words simply don’t do it justice. These patriots are away from their families, and they represent the best of us. We are so thankful for their service and sacrifice and that of their families back home. I ask for your continued prayer over them as they serve to protect our nation.

    As a member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, I attended an Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly in Berlin, Germany, along with parliamentarians from Europe, Russia and Central Asia, plus the United States and Canada. While there, I offered an amendment urging the release of Pastor Andrew Brunson of North Carolina, who has been held in custody in Turkey for nearly 650 days. I will continue to use my position as a commissioner to ensure Pastor Brunson comes home and to advocate for human rights, free speech, democracy and freedom of religion. These are the very values that we uphold, that make America so great and that make me extremely proud to be an American.

  • 03caveOutdoor adventurer and writer Jon Krakauer’s account of the 1996 rogue storm disaster that was Mount Everest mountainclimbing that year literally kept me up at night. Eight people, including the leader of Krakauer’s own expedition team, died on the world’s highest mountain, where bodies remain frozen to this day. I have never forgotten his description of a man, thought lost, stumbling into camp with one arm frozen perpendicular to his body.

    I had the same reaction to what could have been the tragedy of the Wild Boar soccer team in a cave in northern Thailand, until it wasn’t. Once the rescues began, I woke up several times a night to check online for the latest update. I suspect I am among millions – maybe billions – who were doing the same thing.

    Hearts around the world leapt when the first four boys got out, sang with the extraction of the next four a day later and soared when the remaining four boys and the coach reached daylight and fresh air one day later.

    The Wild Boar story had heartwrenching dramatic elements. Missing children and frantic parents. Found children in profound danger in one of the most challenging caves in the world. Brave rescuers working against the clock and steep odds – children who could not swim; cold, murky and rising waters with rushing currents strong enough to rip off divers’ face masks; tight spaces;  diseases caused by cold, damp conditions, rodents and bats; decreasing oxygen levels in the cave where the Wild Boars were trapped; and perhaps most daunting of all, the pressing reality that such a rescue had never been attempted before and was more likely to fail than to succeed.

    In truth, the rescue was a miracle, given what we now know.

    In a world racked with division and distrust, the mission worked in part because of cooperation of people from many nations, including the United States, and many agencies, organizations and individuals doing all sorts of jobs. According to TheWall Street Journal, 10,000 people were involved in the rescue effort, including volunteer cooks serving 5,000 meals a day. Seven hundred oxygen tanks were rounded up, with 500 of them being placed inside the cave every 25 meters. The tanks had to be retrieved, refilled with compressed air and replaced time and time again. Medical personnel rallied, including a doctor who stayed inside the cave monitoring the boys’ conditions until they were taken to safety.

    With monsoon rains underway and more coming, rescuers began pumping water from the cave and ultimately pumped 1 billion – yes, with a “b” – liters of water out of the cave.

    Because the boys are young, the adult, full-face masks to be used in the evacuation were tested on local volunteer children in a swimming pool. By pulling the five straps as tight as possible, rescuers decided to give the masks a go.

    As the drama unfolded, speculation abounded about which boys would be rescued first and who would remain in the cave until rescue divers could rest, eat and return with replenished air supplies. Would the weakest go first or the strongest? In the end, the Wild Boars decided themselves. The Wall Street Journalreported the boys in the cave gave the Thai SEAL divers a list of their names in the order to be evacuated.

    Most chilling of all is this. The pumps that extracted a billion liters of water from the flooded cave failed hours after the last boys and their coach were pulled to safety, sending torrents of water back into the cave.

    The New York Times put it this way. “Many of the divers and residents of the nearby northern Thai town of Mae Sai saw the last-minute flood as a sign that divine protection had ceased only after all were safe.”

    “I still can’t believe it worked.” Thai General Chalongchai Chaiyakham’s reaction resonated in ears around the world.

    Now that it is all over, readers are paging Jon Krakauer with this message: “Please, please write this book!”

     

    PHOTO CREDIT: Air Force photo by Capt. Jessica Tait

  • 02BestofFayburst2018For more than two decades, Up & Coming Weekly has told this community’s stories. We champion successes, support causes and initiatives and celebrate everything good about Fayetteville and Cumberland County. Once a year, though, we reach out to our readers through our Best of Fayetteville readership survey to ask what you love most about this area.

    Do you have a favorite car wash/stylist/restaurant? Do you just love a particular nonprofit organization/entertainment venue/veterinarian? Now is your chance to tell us about it.

    Voting lasts through the month of July. Visit our website, www.upandcomingweekly.com, and fill out a ballot online. Or, find a paper edition of Up &Coming Weekly and fill out the ballot and mail it in.

    Once all the votes are counted, we throw a big party congratulating the winners, and we publish an entire issue celebrating them that resides on our website and in businesses all year long.

    The Fayetteville Observer is currently running an entirely different program called the Reader’s Choice awards. This is NOT the same as Best of Fayetteville.

    We launched the Best of Fayetteville readership survey during the month of July to avoid conflicting with The FayettevilleObserver’s Reader’s Choice Awards, which is its advertising/sales promotion. This annual sales program has been in existence for 24 years, and until last year, the Observer ran it during September and announced its winners in October.

    Even though our two programs are completely different in nature and purpose, to avoid reader confusion, we voluntarily agreed in 1997 to launch our Best of Fayetteville readership survey during the month of July and announce the winners in September. We haven’t changed.

    The ballots are out now, and in September, we hope to see you at our complimentary Best of Fayetteville party as we congratulate the people, organizations and businesses that YOU name the “Best of the Best.”

    Up & Coming Weekly does not pre-sell advertising to promote or nominate specific businesses and organizations for Best of Fayetteville. However, we do encourage them to promote themselves and encourage their friends, family and customers to vote in Best of Fayetteville. Up & ComingWeekly does not sell or require businesses or organizations to participate with advertising purchases in pre-contest special sections to get their business officially printed on the ballot.

    Up & Coming Weekly does no preballot advertising sales. After the survey is complete and the ballots are tallied, there is only ONE winner in each category. The winners are given the opportunity to purchase advertising/marketing programs to thank their customers and supporters and to market and brand their companies, capitalizing on and taking advantage of their Best of Fayetteville achievement. These Best of Fayetteville advertising programs are unique and significantly discounted so winners can take full marketing advantage of the honor. Winners have only one opportunity to participate in these advertising programs – and it’s after they’ve won.

    In addition to the beautiful wall plaque awarded to each Best of Fayetteville winner, they can use the official Best of Fayetteville logo in all print advertising, radio, billboard, TV or social media advertising.

    Best of Fayetteville is an exclusive designation. The way we manage it is what makes this program credible. Is it perfect? No. However, it has developed into one of this community’s most respectable and prestigious awards. It is the only readership survey that is partnered with the Greater Fayetteville Chamber and the Better Business Bureau.

    If you have any questions about whether you’re participating in the Best of Fayetteville readership survey or someone else’s advertising program, take a good, long look at the ballot. If the ballot has names already printed on it, it is NOT the Best of Fayetteville.

    So, what are you waiting for? Cast your vote and let your voice be heard!

    Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • 01coverUAC0071818001Just outside of Hope Mills, at 7 Branch Farm in Lumber Bridge, North Carolina, horses, cattle and people thrive on 37 acres of farmland. It’s a place steeped in the cowboy spirit: love for the land, adventure, gritty hard work and integrity. And, in 2014, it became the first venue in North Carolina to celebrate National Day of the Cowboy.

    The late Wyoming U.S. Sen. Craig Thomas first sponsored National Day of the Cowboy in 2005 as a way to celebrate cowboys’ and cowgirls’ contribution to America’s culture and heritage. Since then, celebratory rodeos have taken place across the nation every fourth Saturday in July.

    Enjoy 7 Branch’s fifth National Day of the Cowboy rodeo Friday or Saturday evening, July 27 or 28, or Sunday afternoon, July 29.

    Buddy Blackman, general manager of 7 Branch, said he expects a crowd of 1,500 to 2,000 people at each show, with Saturday likely being a standing-room only event.

    “It’s to remember our heritage,” he said. “You don’t see a whole lot of cowboys walking around nowadays. This is keeping the spirit of the Old West alive.”

    Blackman is the son of Ron Payne, who started the farm nine years ago with only eight acres of land and a dream to build a horse farm. Today, with the help of his children, it’s grown to 37 acres and hosts several training and rodeo events each year.

    The National Day of the Cowboy rodeo includes traditional favorites like barrel racing, team roping, cowboy mounted shooting, and, of course, bull riding. Throughout each rodeo, Blackman said, there will be a total of about 50 cowboys and cowgirls competing for special belt buckles — a mark of honor — and prize money. This includes 20 bull riders.

    There will also be fun, modern parts of the show. Cowpaty the Rodeo Clown will perform, a professional who’s been at work since age 11, along with the Carolina Stars Trick Riders. Carolina Stars is a duo comprised of former Dixie Stampede performers Leslie Reed and Lori Graham. They’ll perform death-defying stunts on Leslie’s new Palomino Quarter horse and Lori’s Appaloosa mare.

    The audience will be engaged throughout the show, but Blackman is bringing back one activity that invites direct audience participation (and squeals): Bull Bowling. He first introduced the popular rodeo activity last year, and it was a hit.

    Audience members are invited to enter the arena and stand in white circles drawn in the dirt in a bowling pin formation as a Brahman bull is released into the space. Last man standing is the winner.

    “Some people have a theory that by standing completely still, the bull won’t charge at them,” Blackman said. “Sometimes it’s true; last year, the bull ran by several people to go after the people who took off running.” Blackman said it’s an event that gets the adrenaline pumping while remaining relatively safe. “We have professional bull fighters out there to control things,” he said. “We’re not going to let a bull get someone down.”

    Overall, Blackman said, the three-hour rodeo event is fast-paced and action-packed.

    Friday and Saturday night, gates open at 5 p.m. and the rodeo starts at 8 p.m. Blackman recommends arriving early, as the lines will be long around 7 p.m. There will be food vendors, information and plenty to see and do as visitors wait for the rodeo to start once they’ve entered, Blackman said. Sunday’s rodeo kicks off at 2 p.m.

    Tickets cost $15 and can be purchased at www.Dayofthecowboync.com. Cape Fear Valley’s Friends of the Cancer Center will benefit in part from ticket sales. You can get free tickets a couple of different ways, though. Camping World of Fayetteville, the event’s title sponsor, is giving free tickets to visitors who come do a walkthrough. Camping World is located at 5117 US Hwy 301 S in Hope Mills. WKML 95.7 is also offering listeners a chance to call in and claim free tickets in the weeks leading up to the event.

    Visit www.7brancharena.com to learn more about the farm, and click “Calendar” for a list of smaller, more training-focused events throughout the year.

  • The annual East-West All-Star games and North Carolina Coaches Association Clinic returns to Greensboro the week of July 16-19.

    The clinic annually draws thousands of high school coaches in various sports to Greensboro for clinic sessions with a variety of speakers covering sports specifics and changes in the rules.

    In conjunction with the clinic, the East-West All-Star games are held in boys and girls basketball and boys and girls soccer and football.

    Schedule for the All-Star games

    Group ticket rates are available in advance of the All-Star games. Call 336-379-9095 for details.

    • Basketball: Monday at Greensboro Coliseum. Tickets: $10 adults, $5 students. Parking: $5, Coliseum main lot. Game times: Girls at 6:30 p.m.; boys approximately 30 minutes after the girls game.

    • Soccer: Tuesday at Macpherson Stadium, Bryan Park Soccer Complex. Tickets: $10 adults, $5 students. Parking: Macpherson Stadium lot. Game times: Girls at 6:30 p.m.; boys at 8:30 p.m.

    • Football: Wednesday at Greensboro Grimsley’s Jamieson Stadium. Halftime fireworks display. Tickets: $10 adults, $5 students. Parking: Free in main parking lot. Representatives of the Oasis Shrine will be taking donations for the Shriner’s Crippled Children’s Hospitals. Game time: 8 p.m.

    Cumberland County All-Stars Profiles

    At press time, only two athletes were scheduled to take part in the games, Talia Parrous of Terry Sanford for East girls soccer and Greg Walker of Seventy-First for East football. There are no Cumberland County coaches on the staff of any of this year’s all-star teams.

    21Talia Parrous Terry Sanford soccer• Talia Parrous, Terry Sanford East girls soccer 5-foot-6, forward.

    Coach: Karl Molnar

    Highlights: All-State as a senior. Scored 31 goals and had 23 assists. As a junior, Parrous was All-State, All-Region, All-Conference and the Cape Fear Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year and Fayetteville Observer Player of the Year. She scored 25 goals and had 14 assists. As a  sophomore, she had 24 goals and six assists. She also played basketball. She was a member of the National Honor Society, the Twelfth Man Club, Friends Club, French Club and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She signed an athletic grant-in-aid with UNC-Wilmington to play soccer. She will most likely major in sports management or nutrition. Her mother is her role model.

     

     

     

    22Greg Walker Seventy First• Greg Walker, Seventy-First East football 6-foot-2, 260, offensive line.

    Coach: Duran McLaurin

    Highlights: As a senior, Walker was All-Conference, All-Region and All-910 All-Star. He won the Prestigious Helmet Award and had 18 pancake blocks. As a junior he was named Most Valuable Offensive Lineman. He signed an athletic grantin- aid with Johnson C. Smith where he will major in business. Coach Kellikai Aipia is his role model.

  • 20Ernest King WestoverErnest King, a 1992 graduate of Westover High School, is returning to his alma mater as head football coach, and he’s facing a pretty difficult challenge.

    King, who was the former coach at E.E. Smith and has been at St. Pauls the last couple of seasons, replaces Craig Raye, who served one year as coach of the Wolverines.

    King takes over a Wolverine team that went 4-8 last year and lost to powerful Southern Nash in the first round of the state 3-A football playoffs.

    The timing of King’s return to Westover is complicated by how limited he’ll be in assessing his team before the first official day of fall practice on July 30.

    There are two mandatory dead periods in July. One already took place the week of July Fourth. The second is the week of the North Carolina Coaches Association clinic and East-West All-Star games starting July 16.

    That gives King barely two weeks to see what he has returning. Further complicating matters, he’s got to hire almost a full staff of assistant coaches. The only coach back from last season is head wrestling coach Bennie Tillman, who assisted with football last season.

    King also needs to establish some continuity quickly as he’s the third head coach of the Westover football program in three seasons.

    “The biggest thing is discipline,’’ he said. He plans to stick with the basics, teaching the fundamentals of offense, defense and special teams. By the second week of July, he hopes he can take his team to a seven-on-seven pass skeleton with another team to get a better evaluation of his available talent.

    Another concern for King is getting his players into the weight room. “I want to try and get the kids stronger as much as possible,’’ he said. “We’ll lift during the season.’’

    King said he’ll have to use the non-conference portion of Westover’s schedule to get the team ready for league play.

    “We’ll take it week by week,’’ he said. “We will evaluate our kids every day in practice, see what types of schemes we need to run.’’

    He expects to move players to different positions as needed, do what’s best for the team and try to keep things simple. “Some kids may not buy in,’’ he said. “The ones that do, we’ll continue to coach them up and try and get them better each week.’’

    King said one of his biggest intangibles is getting the Wolverine football players to believe in Westover pride. “Hopefully me being a product of that environment and knowing what the demographics are, I can turn it around and get those kids out,’’ he said. “I may have to go out in the neighborhood and meet the kids in the hallways to get more kids out that normally don’t play football.’’

  • 18Jake Thomas Cape Fear football coachFor the Cape Fear football program, this is the year 1 A.J., as in after Justice Galloway-Velazquez.

    The talented Cape Fear athlete is now a Campbell University freshman, after leading the Colts on the best four-year run of football in school history, a record of 43-13 that included a conference title, a 4-A state runnerup and Eastern 4-A runnerup finish.

    “It’s definitely going to be an adjustment for us and some of our guys,’’ said Colt head coach Jake Thomas. “They’re handling it pretty well.’’

    A player who will be fully in the spotlight for the Colts this fall is Cayden McKethan, who stepped in at quarterback for Galloway-Velazquez last year when he was battling injuries.

    A sophomore this fall, McKethan completed 38 of 64 passes for 260 yards and two touchdowns.

    “He’s got a good grasp but it’s a work in progress,’’ Thomas said. “He’s not as big as Justice (McKethan is 6-feet-0, 195 pounds). He’s got good size, (he’s) a good athlete and (has) decent arm strength. He’s a smart football player.’’

    Aside from replacing Galloway-Velazquez, Thomas has concern about the wide receivers and the secondary, where the Colts will be replacing a lot of losses. “We don’t have a lot of experience returning at those positions,’’ Thomas said. “We’re working on basic alignments, communication and knowing your assignments.’’

    There are some bright spots for the Colts going into the fall, Thomas said. Those areas include the defensive and offensive lines, linebackers and running backs. “For the most part, all those  guys are back, so we feel good about them,’’ Thomas said.

    Coming out of the spring, Thomas hopes his players will be able to grasp the team’s top three running and passing plays, as well as being able to line up in the right defense in response to the opposing offensive formation, along with reacting to any offensive motion.

    Thomas welcomes back a number of players who are expected to play key roles this fall.

    One of the biggest is Jaylen Hudson, who will be moving from linebacker to free safety. Hudson has already been getting college football offers.

    Mark Burke will move from linebacker to strong safety, and T.J. Hale will move to a starting cornerback spot.

    19Austin Hunt Cape FearRounding out the top returnees are Sincere Hale and Caleb Krings in the line, along with linebacker Austin Hunt.

    Hunt is returning from an ACL injury that sidelined him last year. He and the other five players Thomas mentioned will serve as the Colt captains.

    “Austin is doing good in the weight room and looks good out there,’’ Thomas said.

    Hunt hasn’t been cleared for full contact and expects to be held out throughout the fall practices, possibly until the start of regular season, just to make sure he’s fully healed.

    “It’s great to be with the guys once again,’’ Hunt said. “My lateral movement and speed is back and I’m still physical like usual. The hardest part is the pain and soreness and my knee getting tired. I’ve got to build my endurance back up.’’

    Watching from the sidelines last season, Hunt saw room for improvement in Cape Fear’s pass rush. “I wasn’t too pleased with the sacks last year,’’ he said. “Run-wise, we’re pretty decent.’’

    Hunt said the formula for winning again this fall is simple. “We’ve got to play as a team,’’ he said. “Everybody has to hold the rope. Everybody has to make big time plays for us. “We can’t lag behind. We’ve got to take two steps forward every day.’’

     

    PHOTOS: (T-B) Jake Thomas & Austin Hunt

  • 16Bruce McClelland Terry Sanford footballWith the loss of a talented senior class led by record-setting twins Christian and Andrew Jayne, Terry Sanford head football coach Bruce McClelland worked with a lot of new faces during this year’s spring football practice.

    But McClelland is hopeful he’s got enough talented players returning to make another run at the Patriot Athletic Conference football title.

    The Bulldogs were 11-2 last season, losing only to Cape Fear in league play en route to the championship and falling 42-41 to Jacksonville in the second round of the 3-A playoffs.

    With Christian Jayne throwing often to Andrew Jayne last season, the Bulldogs were best known as a passing team, although they certainly were able to run the football.

    Coming into the fall, McClelland said he has an open mind as to what kind of team the Bulldogs will be this year.

    “I feel my duty is to work with the personnel I have,’’ McClelland said. “We’re going to run a similar offense. If we have the backs, we’ll run the ball. If we have guys that step up at wideout, we’ll throw it. But we’re going to lay all the cards on the table.’’

    One of the big questions McClelland has to sort out is who will be the Bulldog quarterback this season.

    Davidjohn Herz, a star pitcher for the Bulldogs’ Eastern 3-A finalist baseball team last season, came off the bench in some critical situations to spell Christian Jayne last year.

    While he may be the front runner for the job, McClelland said there will be an open competition for the starting job this summer and fall between Herz, who is a senior, and junior Jacob Knight. “Those two will have all summer to battle, and the scrimmage games,’’ McClelland said. “We’ll go from there. Whoever gives us the best chance to win will play.’’

    McClelland will also be looking for a new core of leaders on this team, but he’s got some solid candidates back from last year, players like running back Leonard Mosley, offensive and defensive lineman Tanner Morris and the versatile Dante Bowlding.

    17Dante Bowlding Terry Sanford“The good sign of the spring is the definite transition of leadership,’’ McClelland said. “It seems seamless with Dante and Tanner and the senior class stepping up. These guys are ready to work. That’s not a coaching thing. That’s a leadership thing.

    “We can appoint whoever we want to be the leaders, but the kids are going to follow who they are going to follow.’’

    McClelland called Bowlding one of the best football players he’s ever coached, and an even better young man. “You’ll see him all over the field,’’ McClelland said. “He returns punts and kicks. His primary position is safety, but he’ll play some slot and wideout. He’s going to give us the versatility to run multiple sets, offensively and defensively.’’

    Bowlding said as a junior he had to play a leadership role for the Bulldogs and doesn’t expect it to be different this season. “We’re mainly focused on trying to teach the new guys,’’ he said. “We’re obviously not as big as we were last year, but as long as you play with a lot of heart, it shouldn’t matter.’’

    He thinks a lot of teams may look down on the Bulldogs because of the loss of the Jayne brothers, but he warns that’s not a good idea.

    “No team should really look down on you,’’ he said.

     

     

    PHOTOS: (T-B) Bruce McClelland & Dante Bowlding

  • 15Hope Mills swimmers 1Bathers were allowed to resume swimming in Hope Mills Lake just before the town started a series of celebrations in honor of the lake’s return earlier this year.

    While the whole community is enjoying the restoration of the town’s iconic centerpiece, town manager Melissa Adams said town officials are working behind the scenes to make sure the lake water is safe and to instruct people on how to have the best possible experience when going in the water.

    The final test of the water that determined it was safe for swimming was conducted June 25 by Micobac Laboratories of Fayetteville.

    Adams said the tests have been looking for fecal coliform bacteria, which is found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals, especially the geese that have come to call Hope Mills Lake home.

    Adams said the June test showed levels of the bacteria well under the state minimum for a body of fresh water like the lake.

    The state of North Carolina doesn’t require the town to test the water of the lake, but Adams said the town has elected to do it to ensure the safety of the public.

    The next step, Adams said, will be developing a policy for regular testing of the lake water to make sure the bacteria remains within safe limits. They will also come up with a plan for what to do should the test results show a higher concentration of bacteria.

    Adams said the new plan may have been presented to the board prior to the writing of this article at a Board of Commissioners meeting scheduled for July 9.

    “It may just be an initial draft, if we haven’t gotten approval by the town attorney or the state hasn’t given their blessing,’’ Adams said. “We may put it back on the agenda for another day for approval.’’

    Adams expects the policy will include things like when the testing will take place, what will be tested for and what the town will do if the test results exceed state limits for bacteria.

    As for the ongoing problem of the geese, which appear to be at the root of the problem of the previous high readings for bacteria, Adams said the town has already decided not to use the services of a firm in Moore County that provides border collies to chase off the geese.

    A possible temporary fix to the problem was provided by the recent lake celebration activities, Adams said. “With so much activity at the lake that’s going to keep them a little bit at bay,’’ she said.

    Adams said the town continues to have a problem with people feeding the geese at the lake. She implored them to stop because it keeps the geese coming to the lake for food, food that is actually bad for them.

    “It is imperative that the public stop feeding the geese,’’ she said. “It’s very bad for them. It causes them to have diarrhea.’’

    Adams said the owner of the border collies they considered using to chase off the geese warned them that if the feeding continues, geese will continue migrating to the lake because it’s a source of food for them.

    Something else that could deter the geese from coming to the lake is a bulkhead the town commissioners have debated having built along the grassy lakefront. The bulkhead would serve as a barrier to prevent the geese from having easy access from the grassy front shore of the lake into the water.

    “That would help deter the geese,’’ Adams said. “They don’t like barriers.’’

    Even if the bacteria levels in the lake are low, people still need to take precautions when swimming there.

    The state of North Carolina has published safety guidelines for swimming in bodies of fresh water, and Adams said the town plans to use those to help educate the public.

    “People can take simple precautions to protect themselves,’’ Adams said.

  • Meetings

    For details about all meetings and activities, including location where not listed, call Town Clerk Jane Starling at 910-426-4113. Most meetings take place at Town Hall or the Hope Mills Parks and Recreation center.

    • Lake Advisory Committee Tuesday, July 17, 6 p.m.

    • Parks and Recreation Advisory Monday, July 23, 6:30 p.m.

    • Board of Commissioners Monday, July 23, 7 p.m. at Town Hall in the Bill Luther Meeting Room.

    • Appearance Committee Tuesday, July 24, 7 p.m.

    • Veterans Affairs Commission Thursday, July 26, 7 p.m.

    Activities

    • Hope Mills Area Kiwanis Club at Sammio’s, second Tuesdays at noon and fourth Tuesdays at 6 p.m. For details, call 910-237-1240.

    • Fall sports registration through July 28. $30 per child; $15 late fee after registration deadline. Season begins Sept. 8. Call 910-426-4109 for details.

    • Wine-Tasting, Cheese and Appetizers Saturday, July 28, 5-8 p.m. Held at the Boarding House Tea Room, 3903 Ellison St., at the corner of W. Patterson Street across from Hope Mills YMCA. Open to the public once there is a 10-person commitment. Mix and mingle in cozy and quaint surroundings. Tasty hors d’oeuvres and vintage treasures available. Call Carla at 910-527-7455 to make reservations.

    Promote yourself: Email hopemills@upandcomingweekly.com.

  • 14Sebrina Wilson 1When asked how she planned to celebrate her Jack Britt softball team winning the state 4-A fastpitch championship last month, Buccaneer softball coach Sebrina Wilson said she was going to spend the summer doing something that sounded anything but celebratory.

    She’ll be teaching driver’s education.

    Not exactly a trip to Walt Disney World for a ride on Space Mountain, but Wilson said it’s something a lot of coaches in Cumberland County Schools choose to do with what would normally be their summer vacation.

    Wilson also teaches driver’s education in the fall. In the spring, while softball season is in full swing, Wilson drives before the school day starts so she’ll be free after school to coach the softball team.

    Her summer schedule, which started June 18 and will continue until school resumes in August, consists of classroom instruction in driver’s education from 7 a.m. until 11 a.m. and actual  driving time with student trainees from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

    “I like having a three-day weekend because it’s been a long school year with softball going into June,’’ she said.

    For classwork, Wilson and her fellow driver’s education teachers use the Drive Right curriculum, which takes students through the controls of the car and the rules of the road, including all manner of situations that might come up on the highway. Students have to pass a 100-question test as well as a sign test similar to the one given at driver’s examination offices operated by the state of North Carolina.

    Her classes vary in size from 25 to 40 students. Most of them are just under 15 and haven’t actually attended high school before, arriving from middle school. There are often older students in the class, some who have waited until later to take the course and others who have transferred in from another state where they only have a state permit to drive and need to take the North Carolina course.

    After the mandatory 30 hours of classroom instruction, the final, crucial part of passing driver’s education is the required six hours of driving time. How quickly that progresses is a decision made by both instructor and pupil, Wilson said. “If they are not comfortable leaving the parking lot, you don’t put them on the open highway,’’ Wilson said.

    That isn’t done until both pupil and instructor feel the student is ready for the experience of being on a real highway.

    “A lot of the kids have some sort of driving experience because we have so many four-wheelers, go-karts and golf carts,’’ she said. “They have a little bit of knowledge on how to do some of the things. They’ve just never been in a vehicle to apply them.’’

    Wilson usually spends the first day of driving in the parking lots at Jack Britt. If things progress smoothly, the second day can take the young driver into the neighborhood by the school, followed by open highway driving on the third day.

    In the final days of driving, they’ll experience the Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway and get a taste of exit and entry ramps. Wilson also takes her students to downtown Fayetteville for a drive around the Market House to experience city traffic.

    The only control Wilson or any other instructor has over the car is a brake. There’s only one steering wheel, and that’s for the student.

    There is a lot of pressure on the instructor because if there’s an at-fault accident, the penalty falls on the instructor as the only licensed driver in the vehicle.

    “It makes you stay alert,’’ Wilson said. “We can’t be distracted. It’s made me a better driver. I focus on a lot more things on the highway and it forces me to teach the kids how to focus more.’’

    For Wilson, that means all cellphones are put out of reach before driving begins. “We don’t want you texting or being distracted,’’ she said.

    Wilson said she sees similarities between her job in driver’s education and her role as a softball coach.

    “In softball, you try to teach them and coach them to make the right decisions,’’ she said. “You have to be more tactical because you want to make sure the kid has the best experience. That’s what we really try to do.’’

     

    PHOTO: Sebrina Wilson

  • 13swimmingWas there a connection between the 1950s Nigerian movement for independence and the civil rights movement in Winston-Salem?

    Elaine Neil Orr’s new novel, “Swimming Between Worlds,” is based on this premise. The North Carolina State University professor grew up as a child of American missionaries in Nigeria. Her experiences gave a beautiful and true spirit to her first novel, “A Different Sun,” about pre-Civil War Southern missionaries going to Black Africa to save souls.

    Instead of slaveholding Southerners preaching to Nigerian blacks, the new book contrasts the cultural segregation of 1950s Winston-Salem with that in Nigeria.

    Although Nigerians were coming to a successful end of their struggle for independence from Great Britain, they were still mired in the vestiges of colonial oppression.

    Set in these circumstances is a coming-of-age story and a love story. These themes are complicated, and enriched, by the overlay of the Nigerian struggle and the civil rights protests in Winston-Salem.

    The main male character, Tacker Hart, had been a star high school football player who then earned an architectural degree at N.C. State. He was selected for a plum assignment to work in Nigeria on prototype designs for new schools.

    Working in Nigeria, this typical Southern, white male became so captivated by Nigerian culture, religion and ambience that his white supervisors fired him and sent him home. Back in Winston-Salem, the discouraged and depressed Tacker takes a job in his father’s grocery.

    The female lead character, Kate Monroe, is the daughter of a Wake Forest history professor. Her parents are dead. After graduating from Agnes Scott College, she left Atlanta and her longtime boyfriend, James, to return to Winston-Salem and live in the family home where she grew up.

    How Tacker wins Kate from James is the love story that forms the spine of this book. But there are complications created by a young African-American college student who is taking time off to help with family in Winston-Salem.

    Tacker and Kate first meet Gaines on the same day. After Gaines buys a bottle of milk at the Hart grocery store, white thugs attack him for being in the wrong place (a white neighborhood) at the wrong time. Later on the same day, Kate spots an African-American man holding a bottle of milk, walking by her home in an upper class white neighborhood. She thinks he probably stole the milk. She is terrified and immediately locks her doors and windows. She shakes with worry about the danger of this young black man walking through her neighborhood. The young man is, of course, Gaines.

    It turns out that Gaines is the nephew of Tacker’s beloved family maid. Tacker and his father hire Gaines to work in the grocery store, and he becomes a model employee.

    But Gaines has a secret agenda. He is working with the group of outsiders to organize protest movements at lunch counters in downtown retail stores.

    Gaines sets out to entice Tacker to help with the protests – first, only to allow the store to be used at night for a meeting place. Then, over time, Tacker is led to participate in the sit-ins.

    In Nigeria, Tacker had found his black colleagues and friends to be just as smart, interesting and as talented as he was. He found them to be his equals.

    Back in Winston-Salem, he had at first slipped back into a comfort level with the segregated and oppressive culture in which he grew up. His protest activities with Gaines put his relationships with his family, with Kate, and his possible employment at an architectural firm at risk.

    Tacker’s effort to accommodate his growing participation in the civil rights movement with his heritage of segregation leads to the book’s dramatic, tragic and totally surprising ending.

  • 12youthcampFayetteville Technical Community College’s Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Small Business, along with Wells Fargo, presents the 2018 Youth Entrepreneurship Camp. It is set for Monday, July 30, through Friday, Aug. 3, from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. on the campus of FTCC. Friday’s schedule is 8:30 a.m.-noon. The camp is open to rising seventh- through ninthgraders who are interested in future business and entrepreneurship goals.

    “This will be the ninth or 10th year of having rising seventh-, eighth- and ninth-graders for five days – and it is a fun camp – but they actually learn something in the process,” said Kent Hill,  FTCC director of the Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Small Business. “We have a lot of simulations and games, and the students come up with a team business plan or an individual project in which they will compete.”

    Successful entrepreneurs will speak to the students and share their insights about their journey with their businesses. “We have a lot of young guest entrepreneurs and they will speak to the students,” said Hill. “We have a young man from Athens, Georgia, who is building a really big business, and he is a freshman in high school.”

    Hill added they have had young people take hobbies and monetize them into income streams to help pay for things they want or to save for college.

    “We have had the most awesome support from Wells Fargo, and it is not just financial support, it is their involvement,” said Hill. “One of the things the kids do in their teams is to pitch their elevator speeches to get funding from Wells Fargo bankers.” Hill added there is a panel of Wells Fargo bankers who gently coach the students. He said it is a blast to watch the students in action.

    “Some of the students who are goofing off get in front of the bankers and get really serious and are really focused,” said Hill. “They are pretty good salespeople when money is involved, and that is a pretty good motivator.”

    “We also have some fun games and competitions, and they will compete for prizes,” said Hill. “We are doing something different this year in which the students will tie-dye their own camp T-shirt.”

    Hill added the students will also tie-dye additional shirts that they can sell. They will have to buy them from FTCC and sell them for a profit.

    “We try to feed them a dozen or more potential businesses that they can reasonably operate in school profitably as a student, legally,” said Hill. “We really want this to be meaningful and want these young people to go out and say they have some alternatives.”

    Applications can be found online at www.facebook.com/FTCCSmallBusinessCenter or at http://tiny.cc/ftccsbc. The camp fee is $52 and is due by July 20. It includes a camp T-shirt and lunch Monday through Thursday.

    For more information, contact Hill at 910-678-8462.

  • 11Smith Ezekiel Ezra Caldwell V4 IAAbout every second Saturday between March and November, the community is given an uncommon opportunity to time travel.

    Residents and out-of-town visitors receive the exclusive chance to hear and learn about Fayetteville’s nearly 300-year-old history while they ride in a horse-drawn canopied carriage. Led by volunteers who double as tour guides, passengers cruise through the Cool Spring Downtown District on a 45-minute historic tour that can take them as far back as the early 18th century in Fayetteville’s ever-evolving narrative.

    Mark Regensburger, president and chief executive officer of CSDD, said these monthly expeditions distinguish the city’s downtown district from more urban-feeling zones found in cities like Charlotte, Raleigh and Winston-Salem, despite Fayetteville’s current ranking as North Carolina’s fourth-largest metropolitan area.

    “It feels more homey,” Regensburger said. “Having that tie with the horse and carriage rides gives us a different ambience, a different feel, and you feel like you might’ve stepped back in time.”

    Dr. Hank Parfitt, co-owner of City Center Gallery & Books and organizer of the tours, said sharing stories from the city’s dynamic past is fun for both the riders and their tour guides.

    “Our tour guides – they’re not just railing off a bunch of facts,” Parfitt said. “We’re telling stories about people and events that took place in Fayetteville.”

    July’s historic tour, which takes place the 14th, will be guided by Bruce Daws, the city’s historic properties manager. It’s a rare occasion to learn about and see the home of Ezekiel Ezra Smith – better known to locals as E.E. Smith.

    A man of many hats, Smith was born in Duplin County, North Carolina, in May of 1852. Smith wasn’t formally educated during his childhood because of his skin color. Despite that obstacle, he went on to earn both his bachelor’s degree and doctorate from Shaw University and left a legacy as a diplomat, serviceman, principal and longtime president of Fayetteville State University.

    After receiving his bachelor’s degree in 1878, he took a position as principal of an elementary school in Goldsboro. He would eventually serve as principal of a high school in Asheville after obtaining his doctorate.

    Soon after taking the position in Goldsboro, Smith was selected to serve as a major in North Carolina’s Home Guard in 1880. In 1898, he joined a North Carolina regiment of black troops that, though never called upon, was formed to go into battle during the Spanish-American War.

    He was appointed head of the Howard School, now known as Fayetteville State University, in 1883. Five years later, he served as the consul to Liberia, notably improving U.S. relations with the foreign country.

    He returned to Fayetteville in 1899 and served as the president of FSU for nearly 50 years. He held that position for the remainder of his life.

    Smith’s 19th-century Fayetteville home was purchased by the city two years ago and is being restored, making this tour a unique occasion for people to see this historic landmark.

    Parfitt said longtime residents of Fayetteville are always able to gain new knowledge when they participate in a historic tour. “They always come away shaking their heads saying, ‘Wow. I didn’t know that.’ That, to me, is a lot of fun to hear (coming from) someone like that who already knows a lot about Fayetteville,” he said.

    Newer residents have the chance to gain a little more, Parfitt added. “For someone who has just moved to the community, it helps ground you in this community you’re now going to call home.”

    Spots for the July 14 historic tours, which run from 9 a.m. to noon, can be reserved at City Center Gallery & Books at 112 Hay St. or by phone at 910-678-8899.

  • 10JUMANJIEnjoy a night under the stars, complete with entertainment and refreshments, at Screen on the Green & Food Truck Rodeo, a funfilled night for the whole family. The event takes place the second Friday of the month through August. Screen on the Green is hosted by Mendoza Park in the town of Spring Lake from 6-10 p.m., and it’s free to attend. July’s event occurs this Friday, the 13th.

    Fans of dinner-and-a-movie will love having tasty options at the ready from food trucks selling fare on-site during the event. There will be a variety of foods available, including tacos.

    This month’s film is “Jumanji.” The show starts as soon as the sun goes down.

    The following month, Screen on the Green will feature “Coco,” Aug. 10, at the same time.

    Come early and make some memories by enjoying the amenities Mendoza Park has to offer, including three baseball/softball fields, picnic areas, a large playground with swings, slides and deck systems, a large open space, a walking area and park benches.

    Then, grab a blanket, a lawn chair, or whatever makes you comfortable, and enjoy “Jumanji” on the big screen.

    For more information about Screen on the Green, call 910-436-0011 or visit www.spring-lake.org. Additional details are available on the town of Spring Lake social media pages on Facebook and Twitter.

  • 09Highland House Outside3When Highland House Rehabilitation & Healthcare, Inc. opened its doors in 1968, it had the same goals it does today – caring for friends and neighbors. The facility originally had 52 beds. It has expanded twice since then, once in 1971 and again in 1991. In celebration of its 50th anniversary, Highland House is hosting an open house Friday, July 27. There will be barbecue, door prizes and special guests and speakers.

    Samantha Inczauskis is the director of transitional services at Highland House Rehabilitation & Healthcare. One of the many things she loves about working there is the fact that it is a locally owned facility.

    “It is not owned by a conglomerate – that is one of the most outstanding things,” she said. “This house that started 50 years ago is still serving the community. It allows the facility to make decisions based on the needs of our patients versus what someone in another city or state thinks is the right thing to do.

    “One of the things that impressed me most is the family-oriented nature of the people who work here. We are a very clean facility, and the care that our nurses, CNAs and med techs provide is something that really stands out to me. It is why I took this job.”

     

    In addition to spacious rooms, planned diets and dining options, Highland House offers a quiet environment with amenities guests and residents can enjoy. These include:

    • Four patio gardens
    • Barber and beauty shop
    • Complete pharmacy services
    • Private phone hook-up available
    • Televisions in every room with cable TV included
    • Planned activities and community outings
    • Resident and family councils
    • Religious, inspirational and educational programs
    • Daily housekeeping and laundry services
    • Financial services and social services from pre-admission to discharge
    • Nutrition and dietary consultation and planning
    • Private spaces for resident/family gatherings
    • Pet visits

    Motivated by compassion and committed to providing the best care possible, the staff at Highland House work hard to meet the needs of their patients and residents. And with the variety of services offered there, that is not always an easy task.

    “We have 53 beds for assisted living. We have 16 beds dedicated to short-term transitional rehab, and the rest of the 159 beds are for longterm care and patients requiring skilled nursing,” Inczauskis said.

    Knowing that quality of life is also an important part of healing and happiness, the facility works with volunteers to offer activities for residents. The facility also partners with local groups, including the Tokay Rockers, and participates in the community, including partnering in a lot of the Fayetteville Parks and Recreation department senior sponsored activities.

    “We do blood pressure checks every month at the senior center right before bingo the first Thursday of the month,” Inczauskis said. “We are always looking for volunteers, too. There are many ways to engage with Highland House.

    “We are trying to be more active in the chamber, and we support senior-focused nonprofits like Better Health. Our medical director is part of the Cape Fear Valley Senior Health Service. Just like any other facility, we participate in the referral system.”

    The July 27 open house celebration starts at 5 p.m. “We hope people come and see what we are about,” Inczauskis said.

    To learn more about Highland House, visit www.highlandhousenc.com or call 910-488-2295. Highland House is located at 1700 Pamalee Dr.

  • 07Ft Bragg CommissaryCommissary officials are lowering prices on popular items and attacking the problem of poorly stocked shelves as part of a nationwide effort to bring military customers back into their stores. Discounted shopping is the big benefit for qualified shoppers. The Defense Commissary Agency wants to regain its customers’ trust as it deals with a 20 percent decline in sales over the last five years.

    Interim Agency Director Robert Bianchi gave an example of customers seeing individual items such as bananas priced higher in a commissary than a civilian store. That leaves the customer with an impression that the rest of the commissary prices are just as high, even though shopping there should, on average, save them 23.7 percent.

    “Hopefully... we’ll tamp down some of that perception (commissary customers) may have about some of our pricing,” Bianchi said.

    One change customers will notice right away is bright orange “YES!” labels and signs that highlight reduced prices on about 100 types of items frequently bought by commissary shoppers.  “YES” is short for Your Everyday Savings. With different brands and sizes covered, that means deals on about 500 items such as baby food, pet food, bottled water, toilet tissue, nutritional shakes, potato chips and other snacks, plus flavored iced teas, pasta, cheese, yogurt, cereal, coffee and more.

    Plans call for an expanded selection of natural and organic items, and officials are considering offering more meal kits and prepared-food options for shopper convenience.

    There’s also another 100 private-label commissary-brand products on the way. The 500 items available now under the year-old “YES” program have accounted for $40 million in sales, Bianchi said.

    Over the last year, commissary officials have been implementing a new pricing program that allows them to mark items up or down rather than sell them at cost (plus a 5 percent surcharge for overhead), as they did for decades. Some defense officials have sought for years to reduce the amount of taxpayer dollars that go to commissary operations, about $1.3 billion a year. By law, variable pricing can help defray those dollars so long as the system maintains an overall level of savings of 23.7 percent when compared with civilian grocers.

    Coming soon: Beer and wine. “The availability of beer and wine  at military commissary stores will increase customer satisfaction and convenience, and align with common commercial grocery store practices,” said Robert Wilkie, DoD’s undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, in a recent memo quoted by Military Times. Commissary alcohol prices will be comparable to those at military exchanges, he said. Wilkie, a Fayetteville native, was recently named by the president to become Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

  • 06homeless campThe 2018 Point-in-Time Annual Homeless Count estimates 372 people were homeless in Cumberland County during a 24-hour period Jan. 24-25. That’s 70 fewer than in the 2017 report. An estimated 31 percent were under the age of 18. The Point-in-Time count is a 24-hour snapshot of homelessness in the community. The information is used to assess local homeless assistance systems, to plan and structure programs to meet existing needs and to inform the public.

    The count is mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which provides the city of Fayetteville and county of Cumberland millions of federal dollars annually. The goal of the Fayetteville-Cumberland County Continuum of Care on Homelessness is to significantly reduce homelessness in the community and “to develop and improve communitywide systems so homelessness is rare, brief and nonrecurring,” said chairwoman Laressa Witt.

    Cumberland County is required to prepare and submit a one-year community development action plan that describes projects and activities expected to be implemented and funded with entitlement funds and competitive awards received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Cumberland County Community Development Interim Director Dee Taylor outlined the agency’s 2018 action plan:

     

    • Increase the supply of affordable permanent housing/permanent supportive housing units for households with incomes 30 percent or more below the area median income.
    • Increase emergency beds.
    • Improve the communitywide centralized intake/coordinated process and/or one-stop day resource center.
    • Increase the income (earned and benefits) for those who are in temporary housing.
    • Increase services for homeless persons with mental illness and/or substance use disorders.
    • Strengthen discharge planning coordination for those coming out of institutions (e.g. correctional, mental, etc.).
    • Expand transportation options (work/appts).

    The goals and outcomes identified in this action plan are taken from the five-year consolidated strategic plan, which describes how federal funds and other resources will be spent and what other actions must be taken to address the need for affordable housing and other homeless needs over the five-year period. The county will continue efforts to partner with local developers to increase the supply of affordable housing units by encouraging them to designate a percentage of units for extremely lowincome persons.

    Community development continues to create expanding affordable housing opportunities for low and moderate-income citizens. However, because the county has a strong military presence, the transitional nature of the military population and the housing market ensures that affordable housing will remain a significant need for years to come. The aftermath of Hurricane Matthew in 2016 also contributes to a greater-than-usual housing shortage for the most vulnerable members of the community.

    In partnership with other agencies, including the city of Fayetteville, nonprofit organizations, the real estate industry and concerned citizens, officials say they will continue to be creative in efforts to provide decent, safe, affordable housing for families and individuals. Many of these individuals and families will also need long-term comprehensive case management and continued mental health services to maintain self-sufficiency and avoid becoming homeless again.

  • 05Police apartmentsFayetteville police interrupted what might otherwise have been a deadly assault last week. Police Sgt. Charles Cochran shot Lemuel Bunn, 40, of Roanoke Rapids, after Bunn repeatedly stabbed a woman in her home at Treetop Garden Apartments off Raeford Road.

    Police said the assailant had Stephanie Williams, 34, in a headlock when officers forced their way into the apartment. Police Chief Gina Hawkins said Bunn held a knife in his other hand and refused to drop it when told repeatedly to do so by officers. That’s when he was shot. Bunn died later at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.

    Williams, who is pregnant, had called 911 to say she was being held hostage. She is listed in good condition at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, where she and her unborn child are recovering.

    The State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the shooting. Hawkins said FPD internal affairs is also investigating to verify that policies and procedures were followed. Cochran is on paid administrative duty during the investigation, which is standard policy.

     

     

    Death row killer loses appeal

    The U.S. Supreme Court has once again declined to hear the case of convicted serial killer and rapist Ronald Gray, a former Fort Bragg soldier sentenced to death 30 years ago.

    Gray was convicted in one of this community’s most sensational crimes – a series of murders and rapes in Fayetteville and on Fort Bragg.

    The high court first declined to review Gray’s case in 2001. Two years ago, a federal judge removed a stay of execution that had been in place since 2008, potentially clearing the way for the Army to schedule Gray’s execution, which former President George W. Bush authorized.

    Gray filed numerous appeals in recent years claiming errors during his military trial and subsequent appeals. Many of those appeals have been dismissed or delayed by a U.S. District Court in Kansas, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the Army Court of Criminal Appeals and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.

    Gray is the longest-serving inmate on death row at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

    A former resident of Fairlane Acres Mobile Home Park in Bonnie Doone, Gray was convicted of rapes and murders that were committed in 1986 and 1987 on Fort Bragg and in Fayetteville. He murdered taxi driver Kimberly Ann Ruggles, Army Pvt. Laura Lee Vickery-Clay, Campbell University student Linda Jean Coats and Fairlane Acres resident Tammy Wilson. A Fort Bragg court-martial sentenced him to death in 1988. A year earlier, a civilian court sentenced him to eight life sentences. His execution would likely take place at the U.S. Federal Penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana.

    Fall police academy

    The Fayetteville Police Department is doing a different kind of recruiting. Residents who are interested in attending the next Citizens Police Academy can sign up on the FPD’s website, www.FayPD.com, or using the FayPD mobile app. Applications should be submitted no later than Aug. 28, to allow time for processing.

    The weekly series of classes will begin Tuesday, Sept. 11. The Academy will meet every Tuesday, from 6-8 p.m., at the police training center off N. Eastern Boulevared with the last meeting being held Nov. 6. Residents of Fayetteville who want to know more about police department operations are encouraged to attend.

    “Information provided should foster community relationships intended to make for a safer city,” said Community Affairs Sgt. Shawn Strepay. “The Fayetteville Police Department is looking forward to another successful, informational and exciting Citizens Police Academy.”

    Lawn watering schedule

    July is Smart Irrigation Month, and Fayetteville’s Public Works Commission urges residents to give their irrigation systems the day off by following PWC’s year-round odd-even schedule for outdoor watering. If your street address ends in an even number, water your lawn on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. If your street address ends in an odd number, water your lawn on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

    Rain sensors are devices that can be attached to an automatic irrigation system to monitor rainfall levels. PWC is offering a bill credit of up to $50 for installing rain sensors. When the weather is wet, the sensor temporarily overrides the controller to prevent unnecessary watering to save money on water bills.

    Duke Energy wins major award

    If you’re a reservist looking for an employer that will accommodate your military duties, you need not look any further than the latest list of recipients of a prestigious Pentagon award. Fifteen organizations were recognized with the 2018 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. One of them is a North Carolina utility.

    “Our National Guard and Reserve members are a vital part of our national defense and deserve as much support as our country can provide,” Defense Secretary James Mattis said in a news release.

    The honorees include Duke Energy. Each year, guard and reservist employees and their families nominate employers for DoD Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve awards. The 15 companies getting the highest honor were chosen from more than 2,350 nominations. They will be recognized in a ceremony at the Pentagon on Aug. 24.

  • 04KarlThe explosive situation that has developed in this country regarding the separation of parents and their children who illegally enter America is showing the sad condition of our nation. It is revealing the wholesale incompetence and hypocrisy that dominate our human affairs, in general and, for this discussion, Congress. These are just two of the negative descriptors of our troubling situation that demands concern and action on the part of every American.

    The situation at hand is that, as has been the case for many years, individuals are illegally crossing the southern border and entering our country. Consider the following from an article titled “Illegal Immigration is a Crime” (www.fairus.org/issue/illegal-immigration/illegal-immigration-crime): “Each year the Border Patrol apprehends hundreds of thousands of aliens who flagrantly violate our nation’s laws by unlawfully crossing U.S. borders. Such illegal entry is a misdemeanor, and, if repeated after being deported, becomes punishable as a felony.

    “Illegal immigration causes an enormous drain on public funds. The seminal study of the costs of immigration by the National Academy of Sciences found that the taxes paid by immigrants do not begin to cover the cost of services received by them. The quality of education, health care and other services for Americans are undermined by the needs of endless numbers of poor, unskilled illegal entrants.

    “Additionally, job competition by waves of illegal immigrants desperate for any job unfairly depresses the wages and working conditions offered to American workers, hitting hardest at minority workers and those without high school degrees.”

    Being apprehended when illegally entering the country is a misdemeanor crime. The parents whose children were separated from them were being held under the misdemeanor condition. Some of these parents illegally entered the country, but then claimed they were seeking asylum because of conditions in their home country. American law requires that persons seeking asylum must be physically present in the U.S. or seeking admission into the country at a port of entry – not illegally breaking in.

    Given that it is a crime to enter the country without permission, how we got to the point of investing so much financially, and otherwise adversely impacting bona fide Americans, in caring for people who break into America requires examination.

    A segment on NBC’s “Today Show” provides tremendous insight regarding how we got here. It can be viewed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Uv_UdHHfno. By way of summary, the Trump administration instituted a “zero tolerance” policy. That policy means any person apprehended entering the U.S. without required approval will be prosecuted. Those persons apprehended will be held in custody until a judge decides whether they will go to prison. There is an appearance before a judge within a few days of apprehension, but it is months until the accused faces a judge for a decision regarding imprisonment.

    The separation happens because children are not allowed to stay in prison with a parent. Children must be transferred from the Border Patrol to Health and Human Services within three days of apprehension. A child not being allowed to be held with parents is one obstacle to the president’s efforts to enforce immigration laws. At this writing, separations have been halted based on an executive order signed by Trump.

    What happened when President Barack Obama tried to address the problem of families illegally entering the country explains the other component of the difficulty Trump is facing as he tries to stop the assault on our southern border. The following is from an article by Dara Linddara on Vox.com titled “The Trump administration’s separation of families at the border, explained.” The article says, “When the Obama administration attempted to respond to the ‘crisis’ of families and unaccompanied children crossing the border in summer 2014, it put hundreds of families in immigration detention – a practice that had basically ended several years before. But federal courts stopped the administration from holding families for months without justifying the decision to keep them in detention. So, most families ended up getting released while their cases were pending – which immigration hawks have derided as ‘catch and release.’ In some cases, they disappeared into the U.S. rather than showing up for their court dates.”

    The quote above says, “In some cases, they disappeared into the U.S. rather than showing up for their court dates.” Consider the following from an article, March 19, 2017, by Mark Metcalf titled “Courting Disaster.”

    “U.S. immigration enforcement and adjudication are failing. American immigration courts have the highest failure to appear rates of any courts in the country. Over the last 20 years, 37 percent of all aliens free pending trial failed to appear for their hearings.”

    Being apprehended entering America without permission is a crime. When these offenders are released into the country while awaiting trial, many of them do not appear for their court date. To enforce the law and protect this nation, the Trump Justice Department implemented a “zero tolerance” policy. That means offenders will not be released into America to await trial. Given that children cannot be held in detention with parents, separations result. Since there is a high no-show rate by those illegal aliens who have been allowed to be free while awaiting a court appearance, Trump recognizes the need to keep, in custody, those who illegally enter the country.

    Despite this clear and present danger, in response to the outcry regarding children and law-breaking parents being separated, the physical security and economic and fiscal stability of legal American citizens is thrown to the wind.

    That “throwing to the wind” is happening all around us. As of this writing, Republicans in Congress are flailing all over the place trying to pass legislation that will address this parent/child separation crisis along with the larger issue of illegal immigration. If something of substance and fairness for American citizens is passed, I will sincerely apologize to Republican members of Congress.

    In my estimation, Democrats are even worse – much worse. It shows in this quote attributed to Sen. Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader, in an article by Susan Jones titled “Schumer: ‘There’s No Need’ for Immigration Legislation; Republicans Are ‘Feeling the Heat.’”

    “Another reporter asked Schumer if the time might come when ‘Democrats would be willing to work with the Republicans’ on a ‘narrow’ immigration bill.

    “‘Let’s hope we never get to that,’” Schumer responded. ‘Let’s hope the president does the right thing and solves the problem, which he can do. That’s the simple, easiest and most likely way this will happen. How many times has immigration legislation passed in this Congress? How many times? Zero.’”

    Schumer is saying Democrats will do nothing, absolutely nothing, to address the outrage over the separation issue and celebrates that Republicans are “feeling the heat.” This response is consistent with Democratic conduct from day one of the Trump presidency – obstruct and produce nothing, other than stalemate and confusion. All of this is about political posturing, not about serving the best interest of American citizens.

    The flailing of Congressional Republicans on this, and other issues, coupled with the obstructionism and do-nothing conduct of Congressional Democrats, show Congress to be incompetent.

    Beyond being incompetent, hypocrisy reigns. A prime example shows through in a video of Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D, CA) at www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvRZdNoHEf8. In 1993 and 1994, she made exactly the same case for dealing with illegal immigration as Trump is making. Now, in 2018, Feinstein introduces legislation (the Keep Families Together Act) as reported by Eliza Collins in an article titled “No Republicans support Senate bill that would stop child separations at border.”

    Collins writes, “Every Senate Democrat is now a cosponsor of the legislation, which would prohibit children from being separated from their parents within 100 miles of the U.S. border except for instances of abuse, neglect or other specific circumstances.”

    If children cannot be separated from parents, those parents cannot be held for prosecution, and we are back to releasing them in “catch and release” mode. This legislation is from the same Feinstein whose views of illegal immigration in the 1990s agreed with Trump’s position of today. Feinstein is just one example, among many, of the hypocrisy raging in Congress.

    This combination of congressional incompetence and hypocrisy threatens the very survival of America as a place of liberty, freedom, security, opportunity and prosperity. If those of us who are adults are not willing to save America for ourselves, do it for coming generations, even those yet unborn.

  • 03BoomParenthood has been and remains both an ongoing reality and the most pivotal experience of my life. Other people have told me the same, both mothers and fathers. Parenthood changes people from the moment a little one arrives, and the job never ends until the parent draws that final breath. Even then, the parent’s mark remains on the offspring, however old they may be.

    Demographic trends are facts, neither good nor bad, but indications of what is going on in a society. Demographers have told us that in the United States, millennials, mostly children of baby boomers, have surpassed boomers in sheer numbers, but that millennials are not having as many children as their parents did. What we have not known as clearly is why.

    The New York Times recently commissioned a survey to explore that why, with interesting results. Demographers had posited that economic worries were keeping our national birthrate down, but it remains at a record low for the second straight year, despite economic gains. It turns out that economic uncertainty is a big part of the picture, but not the whole picture.

    People who are having fewer children than they might have wanted cited the high cost of child care, but they also want more leisure time and more time with the children they do have. They also worry about domestic politics, climate change and issues with their partners. Thirteen percent are honest enough to say do not think they would be good parents.

    People who say they want no children at all say leisure time is the most important factor to them, along with economic, political and global concerns. They also cite career importance and concern about being good parents. Some say simply they have no desire to be parents.

    What is so striking about the survey is that it would not have been given to prior generations of Americans because, for most of human history, people – specifically women – have had little or no choice about becoming parents. It is easy to forget that baby boomers are the first generation ever to have had reliable choices about parenthood with government approval of “The Pill” in 1960. It was not perfect and there were negative side effects, but it worked, and women flocked to it. That was fewer than 70 years ago, a long time for an individual life, but a mere blip in demographic history.

    Parenthood, and specifically motherhood, is now a choice, and women are treating it that way for all sorts of reasons. The burdens of childcare and home responsibility continue to rest more heavily on mothers than on fathers. In addition, childrearing can interrupt a woman’s career or professional life, resulting in an earnings penalty on motherhood.

    As women have pushed for gender equality in the workplace and throughout our culture, fertility rates have declined, a fact not unnoticed by social scientists. The Times quotes Philip Cohen at the University of Maryland, who studies and writes about family issues. Cohen noted succinctly, “There is no getting around the fact that the relationship between gender equality and fertility is very strong: There are not high-fertility countries that are gender equal.”

    The U.S. is now easing into the club of industrialized nations, many in Europe, with fertility rates below replacement levels with only 60.2 children born to every 1,000 American women. Millennial preferences and uncertainties are not the only reason. We also have declining unintended pregnancy rates and higher rates of long-acting contraception methods, such as IUDs.

    At the same time, it remains true that most American women will have children. As economist Oliver Thevenon said in the Times, “Whether the young generation will catch up later is not certain, but will depend on their capacity to combine work and family.”

    So far, millennials seem to be having trouble with that.

     

    PHOTO: Photo by Brittany Simuangco on Unsplash.

  • 02woke1Amid the Black Lives Matter movement in 2014-16 came a resurgence of an age old concept – one that is vital not just to individuals, but to communities everywhere. Being “woke” or “staying woke” became the battle cry for the cause.

    The word “woke” and the phrase “stay woke” have continued to gain popularity since then, and in ways that involve more and more Americans. Originally, “woke” or “stay woke” referred to advising African-Americans to stay aware and focused on those issues that pertain to racial or social justice. The African-American Vernacular English expression “stay woke” means stay focused on issues of importance and do not get distracted by meaningless diversions.

    Now, the word and term are catching on in a broader sense. Are you woke? Are you staying woke? What is the level of your wokeness? I guess we can thank millennial activists and social media for launching this term into our mainstream vocabulary. For this brief editorial, I am going to define the word “woke” as a byword for general social and political awareness. Even though the phrase was used almost exclusively in the context of Black Lives Matter referencing racial concerns and concerns over social justice, its broader meaning began taking hold around 2015.

    The term morphed into a more general term meaning just being aware of your surroundings. So, using this more generic definition of “woke,” I ask: Fayetteville and Cumberland County, are you woke?

    In other words, are you aware of the social and political environment? And, if you are woke, what are you doing to get involved and to influence the outcomes of these social and political  situations? Or, are you going to choose not to be woke, meaning that you intentionally make an effort not to be aware of your social or political surroundings or the elements that influence them?

    Unfortunately, the majority of our local population is not woke. And, it really isn’t their fault. It is difficult to stay woke in our community when we lack the traditional vehicles of communication that are enjoyed by other communities. It’s difficult to stay woke when you don’t have a local TV station or other traditional media outlets providing a continual thread of unbiased news and information. Yes, Fayetteville and Cumberland County is a news media and information desert. It is way too easy for people not to stay woke. In fact, it takes major effort to stay woke.

    I do feel that Fayetteville and Cumberland County do a great job when it comes to being aware of social issues like addressing homelessness and fighting hunger and drug-related problems.

    I’ll conclude by saying that the leadership of Fayetteville and Cumberland County are highly aware of the factors affecting the social, political and economic environment of our communities. The question is whether they will communicate with each other to convert this awareness into positive and tangible initiatives.

    Let’s all hope so. There is so much opportunity for growth in our community, not only economically, but for love, fairness, understanding, tolerance, goodness and happiness. It all starts with a conversation. Not an indictment.

    Thank you for reading Up & ComingWeekly. You can bet that we are woke! And, the fact that you are reading this publication means you are, too.

  • 01coverUAC0071118001The greater Fayetteville area is graced with several outstanding theaters, each offering something unique to local audiences. In the heat of a Carolina summer, here are some performances to look forward to once the weather cools and the curtains rise on a great variety of theatrical productions.

    Cape Fear Regional Theatre

    Cape Fear Regional Theatre has been entertaining Fayetteville since the early 1960s. CFRT resides in a three-story complex where is serves more than 42,000 patrons each year, including almost 7,000 students.

    The 2018-19 season opens Sept. 20 with “Music City.” This modern country musical is set in Nashville and tells the story of three young songwriters who are broke but ambitious. With great music, grit and a lot of heart, this show has all the makings of a hit with notes both old and new. The show runs through Oct 7.

    Oct. 25-Nov. 11, “Peter and the Starcatcher,” based on the 2004 novel of the same name, tells the backstory of Peter Pan, Captain Hook and the rest of the characters from the much-loved story. In true Peter Pan “never grow up” spirit, the adventure includes pirates, friendships and, of course, heroes.

    Little Orphan Annie captured America’s heart in the 1920s in a comic strip in the New York Daily News. By 1930, she had her own radio show. She was in films in 1932 and 1938. She took Broadway by storm in 1977, and she’ll be onstage Jan. 24-Feb. 17, along with Daddy Warbucks, for a fun-filled adventure at CFRT.

    Dalton Trumbo. He was a screenwriter and novelist. He was blacklisted and sent to prison for standing up to the House Un-American Activities committee in 1947 when the committee investigated communism’s influences in the film industry. A member of the Hollywood Ten, he continued to work using pen names and winning awards. This two-character play runs Feb. 28-March 17.

    Bekah Brunstetter’s “The Cake” tells the story of a North Carolina native who comes home to get married. Her choice of partners causes quite the stir. A comic drama, “The Cake” will onstage April 4-21.

    Rhythm and Blues close out the season with “Memphis,” a Broadway show with four Tony Award wins in 2010, including Best Musical. Take a journey to 1950s Memphis with its African-American clubs for a tale of unlikely fame and forbidden love.

    For tickets and more information, visit www.cfrt.org.

    Gilbert Theater

    The Gilbert Theater prides itself on being a semi-professional theater that produces creative, innovative plays and events to stir audiences and students of its conservatory to explore and contemplate the human condition through the talents of local and guest artists.

    “Godspell” opens Gilbert’s season Sept. 21 and runs through Feb. 17. Based on the Gospels of Matthew, Luke and John, “Godspell” turns parables into a musical.

    A perennial favorite, “It’s a Wonderful Life” runs Nov. 23-Dec.16. Based on the 1946 movie starring James Stewart, the play tells the story of George Bailey and his guardian angel, Clarence. Bailey is ready to give up and end it all until Clarence shows George that each life really does matter.

    Feb. 1-17 features “Doubt,” which played on Broadway in 2005 and 2006, winning the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award for Best Play. Set in the fictional St. Nicholas Church School in the Bronx in 1964, Sister Aloysius suspects Father Flynn of being inappropriate with an altar boy. She pulls out all the stops to make her case, wreaking havoc along the way.

    C.S. Lewis’ classic “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe” opens April 5 and runs through April 21. In the land of Narnia, talking animals and mythical creatures are the norm as Lucy, Edmund, Peter and Susan Pevensie take on the White Witch.

    “The Laramie Project” closes the season, running May 30-June 9. In 1998, gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard was murdered in Laramie, Wyoming. The play retells the story based on hundreds of interviews with citizens of the town.

    Visit www.gilberttheater.com or call 910-678-7186 to learn more.

    Sweet Tea Shakespeare

    Founded in 2012, Sweet Tea Shakespeare’s mission is to “celebrate the wonder of Shakespeare’s inventions of language, story and stagecraft by providing simple, elemental, magical theatre experiences of his and other remarkable works in an accessible atmosphere of beauty and community.”

    Aug. 21-Sept. 2, “The Comedy of Errors” plays at the 1897 Poe House at the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex and continues Sept. 5-8 at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. One of Shakespeare’s early plays, mistaken identity and a bit of slapstick combined with wordplay and puns make this a must-see.

    Modifying plays to accommodate improvisation and audience participation, the LIT series will perform at various locations throughout October and November, including at Paddy’s Irish Public House Oct. 4, 11 and 18, and at Fainting Goat Brewing Company Oct. 25. Taking the tragedy of “Othello” and making it a bit lighter, the troupe said of the show: “The lighter signatures of the LIT series blend with the darker notes of the story for a bold and satisfying new flavor with an element of jealousy.”

    Dec. 6-8 and 13-15, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church hosts “Behold: A Folk Christmas Cantata.” Celebrate the season with STS’ musical performance. With a full slate of Christmas songs to share, the cantata is sure to get you in the Christmas spirit.

    STS presents “Sweeney Todd” Jan. 17-Feb. 2 at Fayetteville Pie Company. Sweeney Todd first appeared in a story called “The String of Pearls” in 1846. A relatively modern story for the troupe, don’t miss the misadventures of the Demon Barber of Fleet Street and his partner in crime, Mrs. Lovett.

    “Maid Marian,” part of STS’ Honey series, plays April 25-28 at Fayetteville State University and May 2-5 and 9-12 at the Poe House. The Honey series showcases women through shows with strong female casts. What will that mean for this interpretation of the Robin Hood story?

    The season ends with “Richard III” and “The Merry Wives of Windsor” in repertory June 4-23 at the Poe House.

    Learn more about STS at www.sweetteashakespeare.com or by calling 910-420-4383.

    Givens Performing Arts Center

    Located at UNC Pembroke, GPAC offers great variety this season, opening with an artist-inresidence performance of the farcical historical romance “The Three Musketeers” Sept. 20-21.

    “Jessica & Niels Magic and Juggling Variety Act” presents mind-blowing magic and zany comedy bits on Sept. 28. Jessica Jane Petersen has appeared on Penn & Teller’s “Fool Us” TV show. Niels Duinker is a Guinness World record juggler, who currently holds the record for most cups (14) juggled at once.

    The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra: A Night of John Williams is set for Oct. 5. From “Harry Potter” to “JAWS,” “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones,” the music of John Williams is some of the most celebrated in movie history.

    As a part of UNCP’s homecoming celebration, GPAC presents “Hotel California: A Salute to the Eagles” on Oct. 19. With three decades of experience, this band has performed with such groups as REO Speedwagon and The Doobie Brothers.

    “Comte Dracula: A New Musical Drama” was written by Lumberton native and award-winning composer of classical and Broadway music, Mark Andersen. “Comte Dracula” is an original musical making its world premiere on the stage of GPAC Oct. 27.

    A perennial favorite, “UNCP Holiday Extravaganza” takes place Nov. 30. The faculty, staff and students of the UNCP music department present their 10th annual concert of holiday favorites. Proceeds go to music scholarships at UNCP.

    “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” takes the stage Dec. 2. Come and get in the holiday spirit with Rudolph, the Abominable Snow Monster and all your favorite characters.

    Enjoy the hit songs of Motown Jan. 12 with “Good for The Soul – Motown Revue.”

    Feb. 20, “Cinderella: The Broadway Musical” brings Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Tony Awardwinning “Cinderella” musical to the Sandhills.

    The Russian Ballet’s “Sleeping Beauty” returns to GPAC March 11. Formed in 1989, The Russian Ballet has achieved worldwide acclaim for its performances.

    The Red Hot Chilli Pipers, a Scottish bagpipe band, will rock GPAC March 20. Not to be confused with the world-famous American rock band, The Red Hot Chili Pipers hail from Scotland and have become well-known for their incredible covers of songs by Journey, AC/DC, and even songs like “Amazing Grace.”

    Four members of the original “Jersey Boys” cast make up The Midtown Men. Join this dynamic group of Tony Award winners and nominees for a memorable night of classic 1960s hits April 15.

    For more information about the shows or to become a season subscriber or renew past subscriptions, call the GPAC Box Office at 910-521-6361 or visit www.uncp.edu/gpac.

  • 14Brian Randolph head coach Bigger, faster, stronger.

    Those three words dominated the theme of spring workouts at Jack Britt High School this year as head coach Brian Randolph sought to avoid a repeat of what happened last fall when his Buccaneers lined up against Sandhills Athletic Conference powers.

    “Last year we had a huge issue with getting pushed around in games when we played the bigger teams,’’ he said. “We wanted to get bigger, faster and stronger. Coming out here in the spring, we wanted to get better at the fundamentals, getting the small things right.’’

    The Buccaneers didn’t get everything wrong under Randolph in last year’s season. They finished 6-6 overall and 4-3 in the Sandhills, which was good for a tie for fourth place with Pinecrest. They scored a big win over perennial power Richmond Senior and advanced to the state 4-AA playoffs where they suffered a first-round loss to Raleigh Millbrook.

    Heading into the summer workouts, Randolph expects his defense is going to have to carry the Buccaneers this fall until some offensive holes can be filled.

    “I think we’ll have a pretty good senior class coming back, especially on defense,’’ he said. That depth is highlighted by the return of four linebackers and a couple of solid defensive linemen.

    15Michael MatthewsLosses at the skill positions will complicate things on offense. Among players Randolph will be counting on there are quarterback Brennan Shortridge, who returns after throwing for 1,524 yards and 13 touchdowns.

    Chancellor Johnson, younger brother of former Buccaneer star Eric Johnson, is back at running back as is a speedy Cornell Raynor.

    A key jack of all trades returns in Michael Matthews, who will be called on to play multiple positions on offense and defense, but he’s getting college offers as a linebacker.

    “We want to work on getting better as a team, becoming a family,’’ Matthews said. “We want to be the best we can be. We feel like we’re going to have a great season.’’

     

     

    PHOTOS: (T-B) Brian Randolph & Michael Matthews

  • 12Bill Sochovka CoachWhen Pine Forest football coach Bill Sochovka had his team fill out goal sheets in February, most of them listed winning the state championship as a priority.

    Sochovka asked them to take it a step further, telling them it was fine to want to win the title, but better if they listed ways as a team they can make it happen. “Having that goal is great, but knowing the plan to get there is more important, everybody being on the same plan,’’ he said.

    Sochovka feels that so far, this year’s team is more focused. “We have a lot of guys who are more team players, playing both sides of the ball, not afraid to step up and do things they haven’t done before,’’ he said.

    He cited quarterback Richard McEachern Jr. as an example. The Trojans are changing to a 4-2-5 look on defense, and McEachern is being moved to free safety because he’s smart enough to handle the switch, Sochovka said.

    “That says a lot about him being a senior, being able to step up and make a difference,’’ Sochovka said. “Sometimes you get a kid at his age that says, ‘No, I’m a quarterback and I don’t want to do both.’ He’s willing to do that.’’

    One area where the Trojans need work is the offensive line. Sochovka said he fired his old offensive line coach, himself, and brought in Andy Karcher from Triton.

    13Dominic RobertoHe thinks the 4-5-2 defensive alignment fits his personnel better. Last year’s offense found itself running the ball, and he plans to stick with that same philosophy this fall with returning running back and outside linebacker Dominic Roberto leading the way.

    Roberto saw limited action at running back behind all-conference selection Lavonte Carter, rushing for 177 yards and two touchdowns.

    “He’s got a lot of hard offers from Southern Conference and Big South teams,’’ Sochovka said. “Furman likes him at running back, Elon likes him at linebacker.’’

    Another player who’s had a good spring is slot receiver D.J. Jones, Sochovka said. Jones caught 14 passes for 246 yards and three touchdowns last season.

    Roberto said the main thing the Trojans need this fall is leadership on the field and he hopes to provide some of it. “I’ve got to come out here and lead the team, guide them,’’ he said.

    “I think if we work hard and condition hard, we can compete with anybody.’’

     

    PHOTOS: (T-B) Bill Sochovka & Dominic Roberto

  • Meetings

    For details about all meetings and activities, including location where not listed, call Acting Deputy Town Clerk Tiffany Gillstedt at 910-426-4112. Most meetings take place at Town Hall.

    • Board of Commissioners Monday, July 9, 7 p.m. at Town Hall in the Bill Luther Meeting Room.

    Activities

    • Hope Mills Area Kiwanis Club at Sammio’s, second Tuesdays at noon and fourth Tuesdays at 6 p.m. For details, call 910-237-1240.

    • Fall sports registration through July 28. $30 per child; $15 late fee after registration deadline. Season begins Sept. 8. Call 910-426-4109 for details.

    • July 4th Celebration Wednesday, July 4, various locations in the town. Parade, kids activities and fireworks. Call 910-426-4107 for more information. Town hall will be closed this day.

    • Food Truck Rodeo Thursday, July 5, 5-8 p.m. Held in the big parking lot at Town Hall.

    • Wine-Tasting, Cheese and Appetizers Saturday, July 28, 5-8 p.m. Held at the Boarding House Tea Room, 3903 Ellison St., at the corner of W. Patterson Street across from Hope Mills YMCA. Open to the public once there is a 10-person commitment. Mix and mingle in cozy and quaint surroundings. Tasty hors d’oeuvres and vintage treasures available. Call Carla at 910-527-7455 to make reservations.

    Promote yourself: Email hopemills@upandcomingweekly.com.

  • 10Sgt. Lee Sumners and BooThe town of Hope Mills recently lost a trailblazing member of the police force who was loved by both her fellow police officers and members of the community she interacted with.

    Boo, the town’s first full-time police dog, passed away at the age of 18. She became the town’s first police dog in 2005 and served 10 years before going into semi-retirement when her health prevented her from doing all the things a police dog is asked to do.

    She continued to serve in a mostly ceremonial role, making public appearances for tours of the police department and other community events, until she passed away.

    Hope Mills Police Chief Joel Acciardo said Boo was a special dog with a great disposition.

    “You could bring Boo in for a kindergarten class tour and she would let the children run all over her, pet her, jump on her back, and she would just lay there and love it,’’ he said. “You could put her in a field situation where she was doing a track and she would be the most fierce, protective animal you ever saw in your life.’’

    Boo worked most closely with her handler, Hope Mills Police Sgt. Lee Sumners. Acciardo said Sumners was unable to be interviewed about his work with Boo because he was still trying to deal with her passing.

    “Boo was a trailblazer,’’ Acciardo said. “When you’re going into new territory, everything is a milestone. That made her very special. There is a bond between that handler and the animal. They become a team.’’

    Acciardo said Sumners was responsible for Boo’s medical care, hygiene and training, everything associated with her needs and well-being.

    When she wasn’t living with Sumner, she stayed in a police department truck, but it’s air conditioned and always running, Acciardo said. “They are never in a non-climate controlled environment when they’re not actually working,’’ he said.

    When the police department’s new public safety facility is completed, it will include a kennel that will be the workplace home for all future Hope Mills Police Department dogs.

    Boo was replaced in 2014 when the department added a new dog, Ringo, to the team. Like Boo, Ringo comes from a kennel in the Netherlands that specializes in breeding police service dogs, according to Hope Mills Deputy Chief Dave Servie.

    Ringo already made a name for himself with Hope Mills Police in 2016 when he helped officers locate the weapon used to murder Andrew Jacob Derenzy.

    Boo and Ringo are both what are known in law enforcement circles as a patrol certified dog.

    Servie said they are typically called on to track, detect narcotics or specific articles like a gun or wallet, or protect their handler. Both Boo and Ringo reported for work daily with the handler and were used for whatever need arose.

    While Ringo has adapted well to his new role with Hope Mills Police, Acciardo said there’s no question Boo will be missed by everyone.

    “Boo just absolutely loved people,’’ he said. “You couldn’t ask for a better ambassador, when you’re having a class of fourth graders come through, to represent the department’s canine team.’’

     

    PHOTO: Boo, left, with her handler, Hope Mills Police Sgt. Lee Sumners, right.

  • 01Cover UAC0070418001“Standpoint: A Group Exhibition” at Gallery 208 opens Tuesday, July 10, with a reception from 5:30-7 p.m. It showcases a joining of 11 artists who work as higher education art faculty in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

    Higher education art faculty in this city are like all other universities and community colleges faculty. As members of the faculty they have three roles: teaching, service and scholarship. In the area of teaching, each day is different, with unexpected situations to resolve and new material or techniques to research and apply. Service can be for the department, the university, the community, professional service or all four. Then there is scholarship, the making of new works of art if you’re a faculty member who teaches a studio class.

    What’s unusual is that many of the full-time fine art faculty from competing schools in Fayetteville have come together to build their personal relationships as practicing artists – not as educators – by creating a comradery of support and even to have an occasional potluck dinner together.

    It all began with an idea after the director of Ellington-White Contemporary Gallery, Calvin Mims, brought several artists together to talk about initiatives for the community and what the faculty needed. Mims started by inviting full-time and part-time art faculty from Fayetteville Technical Community College, Methodist University and Fayetteville State University to do the recent group show titled “Higher Ed Fayetteville Art Faculty Exhibition.” That lead to a couple of potluck dinners and discussions about enrichment for each other as artists.

    “Standpoint: A Group Exhibition” at Gallery 208 is the result of those discussions over dinner. The artists from academe include Vilas Tonape from Methodist University; Callie Farmer, Katey Morrill and Robin Teas from Fayetteville Technical Community College; and Shane Booth, Dwight Smith, Vicki Rhoda, Jonathan Chestnut, Skylor Swann, Dwight Smith and yours truly from Fayetteville State University.

    The 11th artist is Christopher Happel. Happel is employed at Ellington-White Contemporary Gallery and is a recent graduate from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, focusing on the medium of sculpture. The group, New Vision Collaborative, wanted Happel to be part of the first-year initiative since he is a millennial among seasoned artists. All were interested in the insights of a young millennial who is also a dedicated artist. For Happel, he’s happy to be able to interface and exhibit with experienced artists and educators.

    “Standpoint: A Group Exhibition” includes a lot of variety since each artist brings his or her own expertise, style and purpose for creating works of art. Two works were selected by each artist for the exhibit; the range of media includes paintings, drawings, sculpture, ceramics and prints. “Standpoint: A Group Exhibition” is the kickoff event for a year of collaboration among the participants in what they’re calling the New Vision Collaborative.

    After one year of collaborating with each other in workshops to share technical information, provide support for artists to try new mediums, and to offer group critiques and discussions, another exhibition will take place June 2019 at Ellington-White Contemporary Gallery titled “Standpoint: 365.”

    The Fayetteville area has embraced many art initiatives and alliances to improve the arts locally over the years. But, this group of artists/educators has one common goal – to enrich themselves and maybe others along the way. Dwight Smith from FSU noted, “We have a connection between the three schools – a passion for the arts, and intellectual exchange.

    Calvin Mims commented, “All of the artists in this group are continually engaged in the pursuit of excellence.”

    Callie Framer, a printmaker from FTCC, reminded our group that students have us (their teachers) and each other to critique their work. Yet, as professionals, it would be helpful to have professional critiques. For students, seeing us exhibit together offers a good example of the continued efforts of local art faculty. Faculty can share techniques and strategies about how to stay creatively focused instead of falling victim to teacher burn-out.

    Already, during the dinners, members of New Vision Collaborative have had discussions about relevant websites and ways to engage the public with unfamiliar styles. The next meeting will include creating a calendar of events for the group and more events for the public to attend.

    Skylor Swann, a new ceramicist at FSU, noted he was interested in participating since he wanted to share new research, process and materials. As well, he is interested in looking at what artists are not doing and examining his own personal growth as an artist. He said, “We all bring something different to the collaborative – life experiences and viewpoints.”

    Jonathan Chestnut brings his interest and knowledge of technology to the collaborative. Chestnut teaches the computer graphic classes at FSU and has always been interested in sculpture. During the last eight years, in addition to teaching, his focus has been on ways to apply technology to fine art. From laser cutters to 3D modeling, Chestnut has influenced artists in his department to use technology. In “Standpoint: A Group Exhibition,” Chestnut is exhibiting layered wall reliefs created by using the laser cutter at FSU.

    Vicki Rhoda, the new art education instructor at FSU, was quick to point out how “we share with the community an identity and our expertise. By having exhibitions, we are demonstrating our belief in the importance of art and how art is a constructive interaction among people in public spaces.”

    So, it will be an interesting year for New Vision Collaborative, culminating in the 2019 exhibition at Ellington-White Contemporary Gallery. The group is not interested in becoming a nonprofit organization but will remain open to change and choices. The year ahead will include discussing ideas in think-tank formats, sharing websites and suppliers, conducting workshops and critiques amongst the group, and planning events for the public to attend. By the end of the year, the artists will have been enriched and come to understand what works and what doesn’t work before expanding the group.

    Calvin Mims was more than happy to have Ellington-White Contemporary Gallery be the central place for the group to meet and plan the activities. Mims said, “I think it’s important the New Vision Collaborative is thinking about what is missing in the community when it comes to the visual arts. As contemporary artists, it’s important the public sees the value and importance of contemporary art in a community. As well, your students will see that you do what you are encouraging them to do. So, coming together and having a presence in our community is relevant.”

    The public is invited to attend the opening reception of “Standpoint: A Group Exhibition” at Gallery 208, located at 208 Rowan St., from 5:30-7 p.m. July 10. The show will be up until early September. The gallery hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, call 910-484-6200.

  • 09vetslinkedin copyPresident John Kennedy stated, “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” Fayetteville Technical Community College has long been a leader in providing education to military service members of Fort Bragg and surrounding communities. Since the founding of the college in 1961, there has been a special relationship with neighbors from the college’s military and veteran community.

    The college’s mission statement is to “Serve our community as a learning-centered institution to build a globally competitive workforce supporting economic development.” The mission of the college provides a clear purpose in ensuring that our local military members and their family members have the necessary education opportunities to meet their career goals.

    In 1974, the college opened its Fort Bragg Center to provide better access to numerous technical and vocational programs. The Fort Bragg Center, located on Fort Bragg at the Bragg Training and Education Center, is a one-stop shop for all the services an aspiring student would need to enroll at FTCC. The staff members are either veterans or dependents or have a family member serving. This staffing characteristic provides FTCC’s Fort Bragg office with a unique understanding of the issues facing service members as they pursue their education-related goals. The staff takes extra time to educate students about the process for admissions and class registration.

    FTCC repeatedly earns top designation marks as a “Top School” or “Top 10 Gold Category College Award” for best community colleges serving military and veterans. FTCC is a leader in Credit for Prior Service, specializing in converting military training to college-level credit. The CPL effectively jump-starts the service members’ education pursuit, allowing quick completion of educational training in the shortest amount of time possible. The college offers a CPL online tool that provides an estimated credit the student may earn. Paralleling the effort of providing college programs, FTCC opened the Transition Tech Program, which provides tuition-free certifications to veterans. The Transition Tech Program includes courses in collision repair, computer and information technology, logistics, CDL truck driver training, pipe welding, solar technology, EMT Basic, telecommunications and others, providing an intense, shortened training experience with time focused on industry certificates and credentials that prepare the student to enter the civilian workforce.

    If you are looking for a way to capitalize on the valuable military training you have earned or would like additional information about FTCC and the more than 250 programs of study available, visit with the Fort Bragg Center inside the Bragg Training and Education Center. FTCC values the hard work and dedication needed to accomplish military training and experiences. FTCC is honored to help service members maximize their military service through programs of study that focus on military occupational specialty areas.

    Visit or learn more at www.faytechcc.edu/militaryveterans to discover why FTCC is the smart choice for education.

  • 08AfricanWorldPeace copyLoving Hands International and Culture & Heritage Alliance present the African World Peace Festival Friday, July 13 – Sunday, July 15 in downtown Fayetteville.

    “This is our fourth year of putting together the African World Peace Festival,” said Isabella Effon, president of Culture & Heritage Alliance. “We want to bring cultural awareness and educate our children about the continent of Africa and let them know it is not just a country.”

    Effon added the festival also includes the Caribbean community to let children know they have Africans and Afro-Cubans who have migrated and now become a part of the population.

    The event will feature the African World Peace Festival with entertainment and music as well as a 5K Peace Run and Cape Fear Valley’s Take Charge of Your Health event.

    Friday, July 13, is the kickoff from 6–10 p.m.

    Saturday, July 14, at 7 a.m. is pre-registration for the 5K Peace Run. The run starts at 8 a.m. There will be free health screenings provided by Cape Fear Valley’s Take Charge of Your Health at 11 a.m. These screenings are for diabetes, blood pressure and sexually transmitted diseases. The music festival starts at 2 p.m. and will end at 10 p.m. The headliner is Kevin Lyttle. There will also be cultural performers.

    “This year for the health screenings we want to reach out as much as possible to let Wilmington Road, B Street and surrounding areas know they are a part of the Cool Spring Downtown District,” said Effon. “We want them and the surrounding communities to come and participate in the free health screenings.”

    The event continues Sunday, July 15. “From noon-7 p.m. is the gospel concert,” said Effon. “It will feature traditional drumming and contemporary gospel music, and we will have vendors until 5 p.m.”

    Loving Hands International and Culture & Heritage Alliance are nonprofit organizations that focus on the needs of the poor in Ghana and West Africa as well as the local needs in the Fayetteville and Fort Bragg area. “Our cause is to give back to the community and also to reach back to students in Africa,” said Effon. “We have been collecting books for schools, hospital supplies and first-aid supplies to send over there.”

    Effon added that in the Fayetteville/Fort Bragg area, the organization facilitates canned food drives for Operation Blessings during the summer.

    “Come join our community event with all of us celebrating diversity and benefitting our community,” said Effon.

    The cost of the 5K run is $25 for children and $30 for adults. The music festival is free and open to the public. Bring your lawn chair and umbrella to enjoy the music. Food vendors will be on-site. If you want to volunteer, become a vendor or sponsor, or if you have a question, call 910-728-2186.

  • 06city council Fayetteville SkylineFayetteville City Council members are divided on whether to expand terms of office from two to four years. District 7 Councilman Larry Wright broached the idea several months ago. Now the governing body has decided to put the idea to a vote of the people. Mayor Pro-tem Ted Mohn made the motion, which was seconded by Wright. Council has indicated it would abide by the voters’ decision.

    Council voted 6-4 to place the “yes or no” issue on the November ballot. If passed, the longer terms of office would apply to the 2019 municipal election. Presumably, the members would serve staggered terms, but the measure did not include that provision. Fifth District Councilman Johnny Dawkins and 9th District Councilman Jim Arp said they do not favor four-year terms, but they voted for the referendum anyway. Members Dan Culliton, Bill Crisp, Kathy Jensen and Tisha Waddell voted against it.

    “We’re rushing into this issue,” Waddell said. Crisp said the timing wasn’t good.

    The referendum in November will also include a formal resolution asking that the state legislature modify the city charter to allow recall elections. Only the general assembly can do that, but the city has authority to change city council terms of office. Some members wanted to separate the issues, but all seemed to favor the recall provision. It stems from the recent attempted bribery allegations involving recently resigned District 2 Council member Tyrone Williams.

    At its recent meeting, city council also debated whether to continue its financial commitment in support of the planned $65 million North Carolina Civil War and Reconstruction History Center planned for Fayetteville. New District 4 member, D.J. Haire, questioned the city’s $7.5 million commitment to the foundation funding the center. Fayetteville and Cumberland County governments have pledged a total of $15 million contingent on a commitment from the state as well as millions in private funds already raised.

    The foundation asked the city to donate four acres of property abutting the historic Fayetteville Arsenal site where the facility is to be built. Council agreed but will follow up with a property appraisal so that its value can be deducted from the $7.5 million pledge. The 60,000-square-foot history center is planned at the end of Arsenal Avenue in Haymount on the grounds where the antebellum facility once stood. It was destroyed by Union Gen. William Sherman on his march north from Atlanta.

    Education is the center’s goal. It will house exhibits, classrooms and research areas for visitors. So as not to be thought of as a museum, the center will not have weapons of war and battlefield depictions. Another dimension of the project is the development of digital educational material for students in all grade levels that can be accessed online, in the classroom, at home or anywhere in the world.

  • 04a modest proposalWatching the news about the startling situation on America’s southern border regarding separating children from their parents got me to thinking about our old friend Jonathan Swift. Some folks say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. So, I am sincerely stealing an idea from Jonathan Swift from his 1729 essay about what to do about the children of the poor people of Ireland.

    For those of you who may not have been English majors, allow me to briefly summarize Johnny’s proposal. He was concerned about the plight of the Irish poor who could only survive by begging. His suggestion was that Irish children be sold to be eaten. To quote him, “I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child well-nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked or broiled: and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee or a ragout.”

    When his essay came out, some folks did not realize that it was satire. Undoubtedly there will be some of my gentle readers who may take offense to Johnny’s essay and likewise this very column. Kindly be aware that no migrant Hispanic children were harmed in the writing of this column, although the same cannot be said of 2,300 Hispanic children separated from their parents on the Mexican border.

    I am not suggesting that migrant children be eaten. As Nixon once said, “That would be wrong.” However, seeing the fenced wire cages the children are being contained in did remind me of the treatment of calves who are destined to be veal. You keep the calves in one place, don’t let them move around much, and they are much tenderer and tastier than free range calves. I hope that whoever is in charge of storing the incarcerated children did not take Jonathan Swift literally.

    The cages also reminded me of the “Twilight Zone” episode where benevolent space aliens come down to Earth with cures for diseases and all manner of misery. They start taking humans to a new paradise planet where the humans are told they can start a new and better civilization. Earth scientists manage to translate the title of a book the aliens left behind as “To Serve Man,”  which sounds pretty nice. Sort of like a summer camp in an abandoned Walmart Superstore. Unfortunately, “To Serve Man” turns out to be a cookbook.

    But what should be done? Laura Ingraham compared the Walmart Supercenter where the children are being housed to summer camp. Our compassionate friend and former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski said, “Womp, Womp!” when confronted by a story about a 10-year-old girl with Down syndrome who had been separated from her parents. Sympathy abounds in Corey’s breast. The government is calling the detention centers where babies and toddlers are being kept “Tender Age Shelters.”

    George Orwell would be proud of that phrase. As you may recall, George once said, “Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.” “Tender Age Shelters” is a triumph of political language. I salute whoever came up with that phrase. Both sides of the immigration debate cannot hear each other over their shouting opposing slogans. Sad.

    The news last week began with TV personality Samantha Bee making an ill-considered remark calling Ivanka Trump a feckless cupcake due to Ivanka’s silence on the new zero tolerance policy requiring child/parent separation at the border. Great offense was taken by the Right, as no name-calling has ever come from our president about his perceived enemies. Perhaps if Bee had referred to Ivanka as a feckful cupcake, then all would have been well.

    Under the law of the Conservation of Energy, the total amount of feck in an isolated system remains constant. Feck can neither be created nor destroyed, it can only be transferred from one form of feck to another form of feck. Either one is full of feck, or one is without feck. Feck is in the eye of the beholder. If you have feck, you are a good person. If you are without feck, you are a bad person. Too bad Bee didn’t understand the distinction. Or, as a disinterested observer might say, “What the feck?”

    I leave you with these conflicting thoughts.

    Let he who is without feck cast the first stone. Ask not for whom the feck tolls. It tolls for thee.

  • 03ChangeYears ago, in another life, I attended a presentation by a well-known and respected North Carolina demographer whose talk was entitled “The Browning and Graying of North Carolina.” He addressed our state’s growing diversity and aging population to an audience of “mature” North Carolinians, mostly white and mostly over 50. The demographer expounded on when white people would become a minority in North Carolina and what an aging population means for the workforce, health care and our culture. The United States Census Bureau says this will happen nationally in 2045, though our demographer said earlier in North Carolina.

    Suddenly, a man in the audience shouted, “I just don’t believe that!” The demographer brandished another chart, and again the man blurted, “I just don’t believe that!” Patiently, the demographer talked about trends that were long since underway, but when the man shouted for a third time, the demographer looked calmly at the audience and asked us to look to our left and look to our right. “Are any of you people going home tonight to have a baby?” he asked pointedly. The answer was laughably obvious.

    Score one for the foresighted demographer.

    Newly analyzed data from the National Center for Health Statistics show that in 2016, more whites died than were being born in North Carolina and 25 other states. This was true in only four states in 2004. Part of this has to do with North Carolina’s aging population, but other factors include declining birth rates for millennial women since the Great Recession and deaths by despair – drugs, alcohol and suicide – especially among whites between 30 and 59. The change became apparent in rural areas before it became a statewide fact. For example, in Martin County in northeastern North Carolina, deaths now exceed births for both whites and blacks. In the 1990s, Martin County had 12 public schools, but that number has declined with the loss of about 40 percent of its school-age population.

    Writing in The New York Times, Sabrina Tavernise said this. “The change has broad implications for identity and for the country’s political and economic life, transforming a mostly white baby boomer society into a multiethnic and racial patchwork.” Pundits of all stripes speculate about what the change means for our politically divided nation, with many asserting that a younger and more diverse electorate will bring a more progressive agenda. Maybe so, but there is certainly no assurance of coalitions forming among diverse groups or that they will even vote with the same frequency that older, whiter voters have over time. Donald Trump is our president, and Democrats in New York just turned out an established and ranking member of Congress in favor of a young woman of Puerto Rican heritage. At 28, she will be the youngest woman ever elected to Congress. Both political realities prove that anything is possible.

    What I understood the demographer to be saying all those years ago to the rude and disbelieving man is that population trends are like tides. They start, and they build until they wane, or until some other trend overtakes them. They are neither positive nor negative. They are just facts to be dealt with, not handled. We can no more change them than we can change our world’s rising sea levels.

    The browning and graying of our state and country is the latest chapter in the evolution of a still-youthful nation. It will continue no matter how you, I or the grumpy old guy feel about it.

  • 02Center Pub penFor decades, I have used thiscolumn to opine about issuesthat affect the quality of life inthis community. On some rareoccasions, I have yielded thisspace to local civic and politicalleaders and organizations whose messages for a betterFayetteville and CumberlandCounty resonate. The substanceof the messages conveyed mirrorsthe same valued missionand mandates that have madeUp & Coming Weekly a uniquecommunity newspaper. Thisweek, I’m sharing informationfrom one of the most importantprojects and opportunities everto grace our community, theNorth Carolina Civil War &Reconstruction History Center.This is the information you needto be in the know about thiswonderful project. Enjoy.

    A town hall meeting, “Toward a More Perfect Union: The N.C. Civil War History & Reconstruction Center,” sponsored by the history center and Fayetteville State University, will be held  Thursday, July 12, at 7 p.m. The event will be in the Rudolph Jones Student Center on FSU’s campus, 1200 Murchison Rd. It is free, and the public is invited to attend.

    The town hall, which will be moderated by FSU Chancellor James Anderson, will provide a public forum where the audience will be invited to ask questions. The center’s architect, Victor Vines, and its exhibit designer, Jerry Eisterhold, will answer questions and discuss future plans. Other representatives from the center will also be present to answer questions.

    Planners say the town hall meeting is intended to give an overview of the N.C. Civil War History & Reconstruction Center to those who will reside closest to it, within Cumberland County and surrounding areas.

    Ground for the first phase of the center was broken April 18. The facility will reside at 801 Arsenal Ave. in Fayetteville, the present site of the Museum of the Cape Fear and the site of the Fayetteville Arsenal. The arsenal was originally built by the U.S. government. At the beginning of the Civil War, it was taken over by the Confederacy. The arsenal was used to produce weapons for the Confederate Army until it and The Fayetteville Observer newspaper building were destroyed by Union Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman during his Carolinas Campaign in March 1865.

    The first phase of building involves rehabilitating three existing Civil War-era homes, including the John Davis House, which will be used as headquarters for the center’s Digital Outreach Education program. Progress is underway.

    Also planned on the grounds is a 60,000-square-foot building with construction set to begin in 2020. The building will replace the existing Museum of the Cape Fear.

    If built as envisioned, the center will cost $65 million. Of that amount, $27 million has been raised, with $7 million raised privately, $5 million from the state of North Carolina and $7.5 million each from the city of Fayetteville and Cumberland County.

    Once complete, the center will be owned and operated by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

    This is a great opportunity for ourcommunity. We hope to see all our Up &Coming Weekly readers there to learn moreabout this future Fayetteville/CumberlandCounty venue and how it will positivelyimpact our community.

    Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • 10 cover insetIn May, after a national search that included 85 applicants, Cape Fear Regional Theatre announced its new artistic director: Mary Kate Burke. Burke will be the theater’s third artistic director in its 55-year history, following founding artistic director Bo Thorpe and exiting artistic director Tom Quaintance.

    Burke moved to Fayetteville from her home in New York City to take the position and officially started July 1. She is originally from Connecticut and graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas with a BFA in theater studies (concentration in directing). She brings almost 20 years of experience as a director, dramaturge, assistant director and artistic director to her new position with CFRT.

    Why Fayetteville?

    Burke said she spent a lot of time looking at CFRT’s programming when she applied for the job. “That was probably the biggest draw for me,” she said. “There’s this theater that programs things like ‘Caroline, or Change’ … and the next season they’re doing ‘Disgraced.’ It felt like it was being produced in a very smart way.... The voice that the community responds to in the arts is … bold and adventuresome, and I found it really appealing.”

    The other draw, Burke said, was the warmth she felt from the Fayetteville community. She said the reception and support she received in Fayetteville was different from the sometimes “sharp-elbowed” fight for people in the arts to be acknowledged in NYC.

    “It’s been one of the most welcoming experiences of any theater that I’ve led,” she said. One CFRT board member made a particularly striking impression on Burke. Of the board member, who preferred to remain unnamed, Burke said: “She’s the most generous human being I ever have met. I even mentioned one time that I liked her iron, and she sent me a discount that Macy’s was running on the iron. You just don’t see that level of consideration of other people … it’s very distinctive, and I’m excited to be a part of that.

    “Everyone is really motivated to make the transition a success, and also, everybody knows about the theater. That’s a huge (benefit) for an artistic leader coming in.”

    Burke’s Passions

    Burke’s journey with theater began as a young performer onstage. “My older sister was in a production of ‘The Music Man,’ and they needed some little kids to run around the stage, so I was one of those little kids,” she said. She became involved with theater more seriously in high school.

    At a certain point she realized that, while she enjoyed acting, she was more excited by a different aspect of theater. “I really liked understanding why people did what they did,” Burke said. “To me, that was more interesting than having eyes on me.”

    She started focusing on directing, and in her senior year of high school, Burke directed her first full-length show. “We ended up doing an original children’s musical about recycling that toured all the elementary schools that (my theater teacher) let me direct,”  Burke said.

    A love for children’s theater stuck with her. As the producing artistic director for Millbrooke Playhouse in Pennsylvania from 2009-11, Burke commissioned two new musicals for children. One of them outsold its box office goals by 700 percent and transferred to NYC. A few years ago, Burke led the effort to create autism-friendly performances for the children’s series as the director of programming for the New York Musical Theatre Festival, the largest musical theater festival in the United States. 

    She plans to carry this passion into her position as CFRT’s artistic director. She said she wants to make sure children’s theater thrives. “I think theater can teach a lot of things that are helpful life skills for children, including... how to work backward and accomplish a goal and how to work with other people,” she said. “And I think the connectivity of theater in what is an increasingly technological world has a value that you can’t place a price tag on.” She added that CFRT already has a long, prized history of children’s theater programming. “I’m going to continue to build off of that,” she said.

    She said a focal point in her interview process with CFRT was the relationship between the arts and the military. Burke wants to make theater more accessible to the Fort Bragg community. Her goal, she said, is to use children’s theater as a means of easing the transition for military families. “It can be something that helps people feel like a part of the community even if they’re shifting communities frequently,” she said.

    Burke also wants to focus on “homegrown stories. Stories that are about …the South and about the regions theaters are in, I think, is an important part of what a cultural institution does for a community. I’m excited to jump into this in the following season,” she said.

    The Role of Local Theater in Fayetteville’s Growth

    Burke believes a good local theater exists in supportive relationships with the institutions around it and invites people from outside the community to enjoy its unique offerings. These ideas, she said, are catalysts for growth.

    Burke is brainstorming strategic decisions with her growth goals in mind. “We’ve shifted one of our ‘Dreamgirls’ performances to a Wednesday matinee to see if we can start to build some bus tourism in the area,” she said. She said bus tourism is a great opportunity for institutions in Fayetteville to build more symbiotic relationships and foster an awareness of each other to tourists. “You can make your marketing dollars go further because you’re putting a visit to the museum with a visit to the theater with a meal, and that’s a day trip,” she said. “Because all of the infrastructure already exists in Fayetteville, it’s primed to now move into the execution phase of a marketing strategy around that.

    “One of the things I have witnessed as somebody who is new to the community is how much there is to do here.” Burke cited the city’s many museums, the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra and the Cape Fear Botanical Garden as a few examples. “The theater itself is a real asset to the culture of the community, and so I want to continue to build off the incredible work that has already been done,” she said.

    Burke said she’s impressed that business people in Fayetteville are very aware of and invested in the value of the arts and culture. “When I sat down with some of the key stakeholders of the theater, who aren’t board members but are business people, I was so impressed with how they’re thinking about the arts in tandem with commerce as an economic engine. It’s a really exciting place to be at this moment in the city’s trajectory.

    “It really does feel like a community that’s primed to... jump into its next moment in terms of  self-identity.”

    CFRT’s 2017-18 Season

    The theater’s upcoming season is a “Season of Discovery.” Its first show, “Dreamgirls,” opens this September, followed by a unique combination of laughter-inducing and conversation-starting shows, from “Seussical” to “Disgraced.”

    “I think the best theater really reminds people to take advantage of the time we have,” Burke said. “I love that a whole bunch of strangers can come together and share an experience … whatever their differences and backgrounds may be. … it creates a kinder world.”

    To learn more about CFRT’s mission and its upcoming season, visit www.cfrt.org. To learn more about Mary Kate Burke, visit www.MaryKateBurke.com.

     

    PHOTO: Mary Kate Burke, CFRT's new Artistic Director.

  • 16 Justice Galloway VelazquezYou can see the this year's composite football schedule for Cumberland County Schools. 

    The biggest change isn’t directly visible looking at the schedule, as many of the teams will face each other this year. But as we’ve reported before, the 10 schools will be split into two new conferences.

    Gone are the old Mid-South 4-A and Cape Fear Valley 3-A Conferences.

    Most of the county schools will now be in a combination 3-A/4-A conference called the Patriot Athletic Conference. These include 4-A members Pine Forest and South View with Overhills from Harnett County.

    Moving to the 3-A ranks to join Cape Fear Valley holdovers Westover, Terry Sanford, Douglas Byrd and Gray’s Creek are 3-A newcomers Cape Fear and E.E. Smith.

    The remaining two county schools, Seventy-First and Jack Britt, are headed to the new Sandhills Athletic Conference, a 4-A league that includes old Southeastern 4-A members Richmond Senior, Scotland, Pinecrest, Hoke County, Lumberton and Purnell Swett.

    Here are a few odds and ends that jump out from the new schedule:

    • Cape Fear faces a tough non-conference schedule as it travels to Clinton and Wilmington New Hanover and faces a home game with its toughest Mid-South rival from last season, Seventy-First.  The good news for the Colts is star quarterback Justice Galloway-Velazquez is out of the walking boot he was wearing following surgery on his damaged ankle and will hopefully be back at full speed by the time Cape Fear opens the season on Aug. 18.

    • Douglas Byrd will be getting a slight break in its non-conference schedule as it faces a pair of 2-A teams, Fairmont and South Columbus, in its first two games.  Both teams made the state playoffs last year, South Columbus reaching the fourth round and Fairmont the second round.  Fairmont is under the direction of former South View and Terry Sanford assistant Kevin Inman.

    • Douglas Byrd, E.E. Smith and Westover are the only county schools with six home games this year. Due to a quirk of moving to new conferences and starting new two-year schedule agreements, the other seven schools only play at home five of 11 games this year in the regular season.

    • The award for longest trip on the non-conference schedule goes to Pine Forest, which will head to Concord for its second game of the year. Concord, a member of the tough South Piedmont 3-A last year, was 8-4 and finished in a three-way tie for second, one game back of league champion Concord Robinson. According to MapQuest, that’s 113 miles one way from Andrews Road in Fayetteville to Burrage Road N.E. in Concord. Drive time is estimated at two hours and 27 minutes.

    16 Bryan Till• Former Terry Sanford coach Bryan Till may be at Richmond Senior this fall but he will not be a stranger to Cumberland County Schools. Till’s Raiders will make two trips back to Cumberland County, visiting Pine Forest in the non-conference season and coming to Jack Britt for a Sandhills Conference Game.  Seventy-First will also head to Rockingham to play Till's team in another Sandhills game.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    PHOTOS: Justice Galloway-Velazquez & Bryan Till

  • 15 James Martin on Science and ReligionCan a former North Carolina governor bridge the gap between science and religion?

    James G. Martin gives it a try in his new book “Revelation Through Science: Evolution in the Harmony of Science and Religion.”

    Why would Martin want to take on the task of showing that the discoveries of science pose no threat to Christianity or any other religion?

    Martin is a Davidson and Princeton trained chemist. He is a champion of the scientific method and, without apology, endorses the discoveries his fellow scientists have made, including the Big Bang theory of the origin of the universe and basics of the theory  of evolution.

    He is also the son of a Presbyterian minister and himself a lifelong Christian. He believes the Bible is “the received word of God, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe and of any life it holds, on earth or elsewhere. I believe the Bible is our best guide to faith and practice.

    “I believe there is, and can be, no irreconcilable conflict between science and religion, for they are revealed from the same God. Even more than that, as a Christian, I believe that God is most clearly revealed in the life and teaching of Jesus Christ. Furthermore, I firmly believe that a loving God intended us to have the capacity to observe and interpret nature, so that we would grow in understanding the majesty and mystery of His creation and all that followed.”

    How can Martin reconcile his scientific truths with the biblical account of a six-day creation or with the related belief that the earth was created about six thousand years ago?

    He admitted that he would sometimes avoid discussion of these questions when he was involved in electoral politics. For instance, as governor he visited the small town of Hobucken on Pamlico Sound. He stopped at the local fishing supply store at R. E. Mayo Company and saw a “monstrous skeletal whale head standing right outside the store.”

    Martin remarked to some of the local people, “Wow! That whale must have lived and died there millions of years ago!”Martin said everything got quiet. Then, one person responded: “No, sir, we reckon she couldn’t have been there more’n six thousand years!”

    “No,” Martin wrote, “I did not stand my ground and debate the age of the earth with these fine gentlemen. I knew what I knew, part of which was that they knew what they knew, and this debate was not winnable.”

    Now Martin is ready, not to debate, but to explain that scientist’s conclusions about the time of creation (13.7 billion years ago) and the age of the earth (4.5 billion years ago) are firmly based. More importantly for him, they are not in conflict with religion, including the creation accounts in the book of Genesis.

    In his 400-page book, Martin lays out a seminar for the “educated non-scientist,” explaining the awesome complexities and orderliness of our world. He gives details of the sciences of astronomy, physics, biology, evolution, geology, paleontology, organic chemistry, biochemistry and genomics, including efforts to spark living organisms from inert chemicals.

    With every scientific advance or explanation of how the world came about and works now, Martin said there is a further revelation from the Creator.

    Does he assert that these advances prove the existence of God?

    No, but throughout the book he points out what he calls “anthropic coincidences” that made for a universe that “was physically and chemically attuned very precisely for the emergence of life, culminating thus far in an intelligent, self-aware species.”

    If the discussions of science and religion are too complicated for some readers, they should not put down the book before reading its final chapter in which Martin describes his personal journey of faith, study, service, and tolerance and respect for the opinions of those who see things differently.

  • 14 NC new normalState legislative leaders this week dismissed a report by their own nonpartisan legislative staff showing the latest round of tax changes will create a budget shortfall of more than a billion dollars in two years, growing to $1.4 billion two years after that.

    The projections came in response to a request made by Democratic leaders in the Senate during the budget debate warning about the impact of the tax cuts, the bulk of which will go to corporations and wealthy families.

    The analysis prompted headlines about a looming budget gap and revenue problems. Democratic leaders said it confirmed Governor Roy Cooper’s characterization of the Republican budget as irresponsible.

    The response by Republican leaders, including the office of Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger, was to first irrelevantly blame Democrats for past budget problems and then to promise that no shortfall was looming because Republicans would simply cut spending to make up the difference.

    They are technically right, as the state constitution requires a balanced budget. But missing from the headlines and the reaction to the budget news is what the projections really mean: that we are experiencing a dangerous new normal in North Carolina.

    No longer does everyone assume the budget will increase spending to keep up with the state’s needs. Not too long ago, funding for increased enrollment at public schools, community colleges and universities was automatically built into budget assumptions. But now lawmakers must decide every year if they want to pay for the additional students who show up at school. Many Republicans boasted during the budget debate that they did fund the enrollment increases, though in the university system’s case, they asked for more budget cuts back in return.

    The memo from the legislative staff projecting the shortfall assumed “inflationary increases for salaries and other line items” and “spending consistent with a current services approach.”

    In other words, the projections of the billion-dollar shortfall is based on lawmakers’ keeping things just like they are, which is spending well below historical levels as a share of the state’s economy.

    The analysis also assumes lawmakers will make investments to keep up with increased health care costs and retiree benefits and some of the projected changes in Medicaid.

    It does not include any significant new investments in anything, no big teacher raises to reach the national average in salaries, no reasonable increase to help state workers, no new initiatives in child care or K-12 education, not even an effort to fund the class size mandate for public schools passed by the General Assembly without the funding to pay for it.

    No, the analysis used by the legislative staff is a bare bones budget that continues the inadequate spending levels of recent years — but it still results in a massive budget shortfall.

    That is the real story here. Not that the unwise Robin Hood in reverse tax breaks is pushing the state towards a budget crisis, but that Republican leaders are clearly planning even more cuts to education, health care and essential human services.

    Raises for teachers and state employees will never be significant, not in the scenario they have created. Inflationary increases will not be fully funded and Republicans will demand credit when they are even partially paid for.

    State leaders used to build increased investments into the budget plans and whatever was left over was invested in new programs or bigger raises or more help for children.

    Now, budget cuts are instead built into the budget by the big tax breaks given every year. There is no assumption that schools will be adequately funded or that teachers will get a raise or that at-risk children will have access to pre-K programs.

    All that will be decided every year, AFTER the tax cuts are paid for. It’s a dangerous new normal, indeed.

  • 12 Alzheimers walk SocialGraphicShare WALKAlzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and the only cause of death among the top 10 in the U.S. that cannot be prevented or cured. More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, and that’s why McKee Homes presents July events for Alzheimer’s. 

    “All of our events have the same intended goal, which is to help the Alzheimer’s Association bring awareness and funds to this disease and one day put an end to it,” said Julie Russo, vice president of community relations of McKee Homes, LLC. 

    “Purple is the color for Alzheimer’s Awareness and we encourage everyone to wear purple to the events,” said AnneMarie Ziegler, marketing chair for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s committee. 

    Alzheimer’s Walk Kickoff Party at 7p.m., July 21 at the SwampDogs Stadium.

    Purple jerseys will be worn by SwampDog players and will be auctioned online the day of and also during the game. Proceeds will benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. 

    Paint the Town Purple Facebook Contest runs June 26-28. Post your best “purple pic” or Facebook Live video. Connect your post to Alzheimer’s awareness by using the hashtags #PTTP and #ENDALZ. The post must be dated between June 26 and July 28. Promote your purple posts to win  a prize. 

    Paint the Town Purple Distribution Event from 1-8 p.m., Friday, July 28, at McKee Homes, 109 Hay St. This is a community effort to get the word out about the walk on Sept. 9. Free-floating pickup for the distribution of posters and flyers is from 1–5 p.m. Starting at 5 p.m., every hour on the hour there will be a mini training session on the distribution  process. 

    Purple 4th Friday Events On Friday, July 28, the Walk to End Alzheimer’s Committee and the Joe McKee Memorial Foundation sponsor Downtown Fayetteville’s 4th Friday. Ziegler said many Downtown merchants will wear purple that night and pass out bracelets and save the date cards. ARRAY Magazine hosts a fundraising night at Wine & Design, 113 Donaldson St., starting at 6 p.m. All attendees will receive a door prize. If they wear purple, they’ll get an extra ticket for a prize drawing, with many items donated by Downtown businesses. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Alzheimer’s walk. Visit www.wineanddesign.com and click on the July 28 calendar block to register. 

    2017 Fayetteville Walk to End Alzheimer’s at 9 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 9, at SwampDogs Stadium. Registration is at 9 a.m., ceremony at 10 a.m., and the walk begins at 10:30 a.m. Over the past six years, the Fayetteville Walk to End Alzheimer’s has raised $350,000. To volunteer, email Ashley Schaus at fayendalz@gmail.com. For more information about the events, email Julie Russo at Julie@mckeehomesnc.com.

  • 11 St JohnsFayetteville Symphony Orchestra’s last season comprised an exciting search for a new music director and conductor. In April, at a speakeasy-themed reveal party, FSO proudly announced that Stefan Sanders had taken the position.

    When Sanders was an auditioning candidate last year, he met FSO president and CEO Christine Kastner. Kastner said he asked her about the region’s history. “As the week went on, we discussed more and more Carolina things because he was really trying to get to know the community,”  Kastner said.

    When Sanders was hired, they both agreed a Carolina-themed season would be perfect for his first year with the FSO. “This theme gave me an opportunity to really dig into the rich history and culture of North Carolina and Fayetteville, programming music that our audiences can relate to as well as discover something new from,” Sanders said.

    Six concerts, starting in October and ending in April, promise to transport listeners from the pirateriddled Carolina coastline of the past to the Appalachian Mountains in the spring.  

    “Cape Fear” • Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017

    Explore the world of pirates and shipwrecks, both in myth and history, embedded in the Carolina coastline. Look forward to Wagner’s “Overture to The Flying Dutchman” along with music from “Hook” and “Pirates of the Caribbean” for this family-friendly evening. Kastner encouraged guests to come dressed in their best pirate costume. “Yes, I’m serious,” she said. She added that children who come in costume will get to march in a costume parade. 

    “A Carolina Holiday” • Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017 

    Enter a lush, nostalgic, merry world of sound where every Fayetteville native’s dream of a white Christmas can finally come true. The repertoire includes music from “The Nutcracker” and the classic holiday film “Home Alone.” Fayetteville Academy’s children’s choir, which has traveled to competitions at Disney World, will sing with the orchestra for por
    tions of “The Nutcracker.” A certain red-suited guest will be in the lobby handing out candy canes.

    “The French Connection” • Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018

    The FSO String Quartet pays homage to Lafayette’s legacy in the beautiful nave of St. John’s Episcopal Church for the first chamber concert of the season. Sanders described chamber concerts as “having a more intimate feel.” Kastner agreed. “It’s a smaller group of musicians, but it’s also a much smaller venue,” she said. “With two violins, a viola and a cello, you can actually distinguish the sounds of the instruments and … you’re close enough to... watch the individual musicians.” The musicians perform Maurice Ravel’s iconic “String Quartet,” considered to be a cornerstone piece of French impressionism. 

    “Music of the New World” • Thursday,  Jan. 25, 2018

    The Fayetteville Symphony Brass and Woodwind Quintet perform American works by Stephen Foster, George Gershwin, Elmer Bernstein and more. The Symphony Brass is composed of two trumpets and a French horn, trombone and tuba, while the Woodwind Quintet is composed of a flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon and French horn. The second chamber concert of the season will also be held in St. John’s, which seats 300 people. “We usually come very close to selling out these concerts,” Kastner said. 

    “1867-2017: A 150-Year Celebration!” • Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018

    FSO partners with Fayetteville State University to celebrate the school’s sesquicentennial anniversary. World-renowned opera soprano Angela Brown joins
    the orchestra to perform pieces that explore and honor the influence of African-Americans on music from 1867-2017. Composers to be played include Gershwin, Scott Joplin, Stephen Price and William Grant Still.  

    “Americana” • Saturday, March 10, 2018

    Celebrate being American with “American Salute” and music from classic American films “Apollo 13” and “Forrest Gump.” “I think there will be (at least one thing) in that concert everyone’s heard before, and so I think it will be really accessible for the audience,” Kastner said. The Fayetteville Symphony Youth Orchestra joins the FSO onstage for portions of the concert. The winner of the Harlan Duenow Young Artist Concerto Competition, to be announced this spring, also has a solo performance. 

    “Appalachian Spring” • Saturday,  April 21, 2018

    “Gone to Carolina” ends in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Aaron Copland’s “Appalachian Spring” and Jean Sibelius’s “Finlandia” evoke hiking on the Appalachian Trail. Guest soloist Alex Jokippi, principal trumpet of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, also performs an original piece composed for him by Finnish violinist and composer Jaakko Kuusisto. “He is a brilliant musician, wonderful person and dear friend,” said Sanders of Jokippi. 

    “Once the concert is happening, it isn’t about anyone in particular — staff, musicians, conductor — it is purely about the music,” said Julia Atkins, FSO director of artistic operations and marketing. “By the end, everyone goes home happier, refreshed and even nourished.... It is a goal we set for ourselves for every concert, and it’s amazing to see those results.”

    “The FSO and I are devoted to being a part of what makes Fayetteville so special,” Sanders said. “This coming season begins a new chapter in the FSO’s 61-year history, and I am beyond excited to share all of this great music with you!”

    All concerts are at 7:30 p.m. with venue varying. Visit www.fayettevillesymphony.org to purchase tickets and to learn about special events outside of the season’s regular concerts.

     

    PHOTO: FSO’s chamber concerts this season will be performed in the beautiful nave of St. John’s Episcopal Church.

     

  • 09 Fayetteville Plant Subject of ControversyNorth Carolina environmental officials have received data from the first rounds of water sampling in the Cape Fear River to test for the unregulated chemical GenX. The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality received the first sets of water quality data from the Test America lab in Colorado for further analysis.

    The data comes from water samples collected June 19-29 near the Fayetteville Chemours facility, which makes GenX, and from water treatment facilities in the Fayetteville and Wilmington areas.

    The industrial chemical is produced at a plant just inside Bladen County from Cumberland County. DuPont began using the compound called GenX to produce many consumer products, including Teflon. Chemours, a DuPont subsidiary that makes GenX, insists it’s safe, but it has been linked with cancer and other serious health problems. Little is known about the relatively new industrial chemical’s health effects. There are no U.S. regulatory guideline levels for GenX.

    Test samples first collected three years ago detected the chemical in the water supply for southeastern North Carolina at levels considered to pose a low risk to humans. Chemours said it would capture, remove and safely dispose of the wastewater that contains GenX from the Cape Fear River.

    But the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality and the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services will continue to investigate the issue. Once the analyses are completed, both agencies will share the results and updated health risk assessments with the public. It will be of special interest in Wilmington, where some officials charge that the river water  is contaminated. 

    Officials have collected water samples in 12 locations near Fayetteville and Wilmington and are wrapping up a fourth round of tests. A 13th location upstream of the Chemours facility — Fayetteville PWC’s Hoffer Water Treatment Plant — was added to the sampling regimen. State officials will base future sampling decisions on the results. Separate samples were sent for analysis to two labs capable of detecting GenX at low concentrations: Test America and the EPA’s lab in the Research Triangle Park. Both labs continue to receive and analyze data from the water samples collected and will make that data available to state officials during the coming days and weeks.  

    “Our goal is to make the public aware of our findings as soon as possible,” said Michael Regan, secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality. “We will continue to report the results of the analyses in the coming days and weeks.”

    Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen said public health staff is working with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and academic researchers to better understand any possible health risks associated with GenX.

    “There is limited information available … but we are working every day with our federal partners and academic researchers to better understand everything we can about this unregulated compound,” Cohen said.

  • 08 GarbageWhen City of Fayetteville garbage trucks and those that serve rural areas hit the road four days a week, they eventually end up at the Cumberland County Landfill on Ann Street, not far from Downtown. The 300-acre property was opened in the 1980s. More than 80 acres are currently in use for two so-called cells, one to contain household waste and the other for commercial and industrial waste.

    County government owns and operates solid waste facilities. It just spent $8 million preparing two new Ann Street landfill cells, having closed two others and topping them with a foot of dirt. The new cells are opening this week. “They’ll have a total capacity of a million cubic yards of trash,” said Solid Waste Manager Jerod Roberts. Each new cell is lined with plastic to prevent contents from leaching into the earth. Eighty thousand tons of household garbage and trash of all sorts are buried in these cells each year. About half of the land is still available with a life expectancy of at least 16 years, said Roberts.

    A county enterprise fund amounting to millions of dollars a year supports the landfill, a yard waste processing facility and 17 rural roadside disposal sites. Additionally, the department accumulates between $700,000 and $1 million a year in a fund balance, or surplus. That money is used to purchase expensive equipment and to maintain the facility while providing for future needs. The annual solid waste disposal fee went up July 1 from $48 to $56. That’s in addition to a significant fee increase for city residents. But, remember, the city collects the garbage; the county disposes of it. Many other fees have gone up also, including the cost of individually disposing of household trash and other items.

    Additional fees are also charged for commercial and industrial waste. It’s $38 a ton compared to $20 for a pickup load of household trash. Roberts chuckled when told during an interview that a tax by any other name is a tax. Watch out for what’s called a special handling fee. It’s $100.

    The county sells two kinds of mulch at the yard waste processing center, 771 Wilkes Rd. Screened compost costs $20 a pickup load. Red mulch is $60 a pickup load. Cumberland County’s roadside container service surprised Roberts when he came to town in November of 2016. He previously worked in Virginia and Maryland and had never seen such a large network of rural disposal sites. “They’ve been around so long though, we could never change that,” he said. Roberts said about 40 percent of all the garbage taken in by the county is generated at the 17 convenience sites — 80,000 tons of the total 180,000 tons disposed of annually.

    A complete schedule of solid waste fees is available on line at www.co.cumberland.nc.us/solid_waste. aspx. For more information, call (910) 321-6920.

  • 06 Play to WinI predict next year’s Fayetteville City Council will bite the bullet and raise your property taxes. That’s my prediction. Here’s why.

    The Council kicked the can down the road and passed an election-year budget. If you notice, two Council members who are not running for re-election were ready to give City Manager Doug Hewitt what he wanted: a tax raise to recoup the money the City is losing from lowered property values and then a little more to sweeten the spending pot.

    A majority of those running for re-election would have none of it. Instead, they let Hewitt slip in a $60 annual hike into your garbage collection fee. But they never cut spending. Instead, the budget had enough padding to allow a 1 percent increase in spending. It befuddles me. How can you earn less money but spent more? Well, does government ever spend less?

    Here’s my problem with how this tax and spend culture works … and I’ve been yelling about this for years. We cannot forever dip into the property tax well for new spending programs. I know the City says property taxes don’t pay for everything and that there are other sources of revenue. That may be true, but tell that to the retiree on fixed income whose property taxes (or fees) keep going up.

    The City has ambitious spending plans for all sorts of amenities. I worry that we are focusing on the icing of a half-baked cake. Don’t get me wrong,  I like icing. But it needs a sturdy  foundation. Here’s what I want our City Council members to do: Take charge and recruit meaningful industry — build a foundation. I’m not talking retail, but the kind of industry that invests in high-dollar facilities they won’t  easily abandon.

    Let’s recruit the kind of industry that pays enough for people to raise a family and buy a house. Let’s chip away at Fayetteville’s above-state-average unemployment rate. Let’s build a strong tax base.

    Here’s an idea. Let’s spend a few hundred dollars on a first-class plane ticket and invite Joe Max Higgins to Fayetteville. We can put him up at one of our finest hotels, show him the sights at Fort Bragg, Fayetteville State University and Methodist University and maybe even take him to a SwampDogs baseball game. Then we put him in a conference room with our best and brightest and pick his brains for a couple of days.

    Joe Max Higgins is not a character from “Talladega Nights” or the son of a preacher man, although he is the son of an Arkansas sheriff.

    But that’s not what makes  Higgins special. Here’s his claim to fame. Since 2003, he’s brought more than 6,000 manufacturing jobs to the poorest area in the poorest state in the nation, Mississippi. It’s an area the locals call the Golden Triangle.

    It had at one time a 20 percent unemployment rate, and other than Mississippi State Bulldogs, there was not much left in the area after the Sara Lee slaughterhouse and a couple of other factories bailed in the late 1990s. Cotton and textiles also left.

    Civic leaders hired economic developer Higgins away from Arkansas for a hefty annual salary, and like a bulldog himself, he went to work.

    So far, he’s recruited an automated steel mill where former sawmill workers tripled their salary; a helicopter plant where 200 workers build 50 helicopters a year for military and law enforcement; a truck motor plant using robotics operated by 500 employees; and a tire plant, just like we have in Fayetteville.

    Part of Higgins’ success comes from his winning kick-butt attitude. Just look at his GTR LINK Facebook page displaying four championship rings with the following inscriptions: Airbus, Dynamic Steel, PACCAR and Yokohama Tires.

    The tagline says it all: In the Golden Triangle, We Play to Win. Maybe here in Fayetteville we can play to win and not depend on the whim of retail therapy to ensure our future.

     

    PHOTO: Since 2003, Joe Max Higgins (right) has brought more than 6,000 manufacturing jobs to the poorest area in the poorest state in the nation, Mississippi.

  • 05 From RussiaRecent events involving our fearless leader President Trump and his merry band of Russophiles spurred me to think about “From Russia With Love,” my favorite James Bond movie. This was the second in the James Bond series and starred the greatest Bond ever, Sean Connery. The plot in “From Russia” is actually more believable than the widely varying explanations coming out of the White House regarding its relationship with Russia in 2017.

    We recently learned of the fascinating versions of alternative facts as told by Donald Trump Jr. about his once-forgotten meeting with the lovely Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya, Jared Kushner the imperial son-in-law, and Paul Manafort the campaign chairman.

    According to one version of the story that Don Jr. was peddling, the purpose of the meeting was to get some secret dirt from the Russians on Hillary’s campaign. He didn’t know who he was going to be meeting with, but he thought it was important enough to get Jared and Manafort involved. They apparently didn’t ask who or what the meeting was about either. According to Don Jr., Natalia’s story about Hillary dirt did not hold up, evolving into a touching story about the adoption of Russian orphans. If you believe Don Jr.’s story, I have a martian slave colony under a pizza parlor on the angry red planet I would be willing to sell you at a discount.

    Let us wallow for a moment in 1963 nostalgia, which is when “From Russia” graced the silver screen. The photograph of the lovely Russian lawyer, Natalia, reminded me of Tatiana Romanova, the dazzling Russian spy who set a honey trap for James Bond by sleeping with him. Unknown to Tatiana and James, a rogue criminal outfit called SPECTRE secretly filmed Tatiana and James making whoopee for the purpose of blackmail.

    As you may recall, there is a dossier story floating around from the Russian spyworks that makes reference to a video made of The Donald and some high-class Russki hookers. Yet another case of life imitating art. Perhaps there really is nothing new under the Moscow moon.

    A great character in “From Russia” is Colonel Rosa Klebb, who defected from the Commies to join SPECTRE. Rosa is one tough cookie. She wears sensible work shoes that have switch blades dabbed in poison, the better to kill you with. She takes no guff from anyone. As the saying goes, Ms. Klebb would rather climb a tree and tell a lie than stand on the ground and tell the truth. She reminds me of Kellyanne Conway.

    The McGuffin in “From Russia” is the Russians’ top-secret Lektor decoder machine. SPECTRE wants James Bond to steal it, and then SPECTRE will kill James to take the machine. In Trumplandia, the McGuffin was secret information from the non-colluding Russians on Hillary’s campaign that supposedly revealed that she and the Democratic National Committee were taking money from the Commies.

    SPECTRE’s ace-killing machine, who was to assassinate Bond once James purloined the Lektor decoder, was a giant, blond, lean and mean killing machine named Red Grant. Grant cannot be stopped. No rules apply to him. He off’s Russians, Brits and Turkish gypsies without any human emotion. He reminds me of a clean-shaven version of Steve Bannon. I suspect Bannon eats live puppies  for breakfast.

    My favorite presidential tweet o’ the week was the one The Donald sent out right after the G20: “Putin and I discussed forming an impenetrable cyber security unit so that election hacking and many other negative things will be guarded.” This was the equivalent of King Kong tweeting: “Chiquita Banana and I discussed forming an impenetrable banana security unit so that bananas will be guarded.” Trump left his tweet dangling in cyberspace just long enough for his hapless Secretary of the Treasury Mnuchin to come out and announce that Trump’s proposed “U.S./Russia cyber security partnership was a very significant accomplishment.” Then Trump hacked off Steve Mnuchin’s feet by tweeting that “The fact that President Putin and I discussed a cyber security unit doesn’t mean I think it can happen. It can’t.” The Donald giveth, the Donald taketh away.

    As Doonesbury once accused George H.W. Bush, apparently Trump’s advisors have put their manhood in a blind trust. What does Trump really believe? The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind. The answer is blowing in the wind. Turns out you do need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.

  • 04 Draining the SwampDid you know the U.S. House of Representatives has passed more than 150 bills this year? No, I didn’t hear that on the news, either. Did you know that President Trump has signed 43 bills into law?

    Just before July 4, the House of Representatives took action to crack down on “sanctuary cities” by passing the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act, which withholds certain federal grants from sanctuary cities and allows crime victims to sue sanctuary cities. We also passed Kate’s Law, named for Kate Steinle, who was murdered by an illegal immigrant shielded from federal custody by San Francisco’s sanctuary city policy. Kate’s Law increases penalties for deported felons who illegally return to the United States.

    In June, President Trump signed legislation I cosponsored to drain the swamp and restore accountability at the VA. On any given day, my dedicated staff is managing 400-500 active cases for local veterans who are unable to receive adequate or appropriate care at the VA. The Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistle-blower Protection Act makes it easier to fire incompetent employees, increases protections for whistle-blowers and streamlines the hiring process to help recruit experienced  management.

    Did you hear that Congress passed legislation to end taxpayer-funded bailouts of Wall Street? The Financial CHOICE Act, which I co-sponsored, does what President Obama did not, bringing an end to taxpayer-funded bailouts and imposing the toughest penalties ever for Wall Street fraud. The Financial CHOICE Act also lifts unnecessary regulations, which have devastated community banks and credit unions. North Carolina lost 50 percent of its banks under Obama-era regulations, which in turn made it harder for small businesses to access the capital needed to grow and create jobs.

    On 13 additional occasions this year, the U.S. House of Representatives joined me in voting to repeal costly and unnecessary Obama-era regulations. Through these votes, we have supported the growth of small businesses and jobs, protected our Second Amendment rights, provided clarity for farmers, protected the unborn, made it easier for states to require drug testing to receive unemployment benefits and given states more flexibility in education.

    While national media has largely ignored our work in Congress, I am grateful Up & Coming Weekly has provided coverage of our efforts to support the local community. This includes helping secure more than $1 billion in Hurricane Matthew disaster assistance and ongoing efforts with HUD Secretary Ben Carson and House Appropriations Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen to secure additional funding for remaining needs. This year, President Trump signed my legislation to help improve National Weather Service radar coverage in our Congressional District, and a key House subcommittee approved my legislation to help Robeson County develop a much-needed community facility.

    There is one major item the national media did not ignore. My House Republican colleagues and I fulfilled our promise and passed legislation to repeal and replace Obamacare. Frankly, maintaining the status quo is not an option. Ninety-five out of 100 North Carolina counties have only one Obamacare carrier, Blue Cross, which has seriously considered exiting the market. Nationwide, 38 counties are projected to have no Obamacare options next year. Aetna, United Healthcare, Humana, Anthem and various Blue Cross plans have all exited Obamacare markets. The American Health Care Act ends Obamacare’s costly regulations, protects those with pre-existing conditions, makes the most significant reforms to Medicaid in 50 years and restores your freedom to choose the health coverage best for you and your family.

    This year, I have been hard at work with President Trump to drain the swamp, restore economic freedom and protect our values at home and abroad. Even if the national media ignores our efforts, rest assured my colleagues and I are committed to make America great again.

  • 03 Heading to DCSummer is in full swing. That means a lot of students are on summer break, and many of you are preparing for your long-awaited, much-deserved vacation. Growing up in North Carolina, I always loved fishing on Gaston Lake and going on camping trips with my Granddaddy and Grannie. From the Carolina shores to the mountains and my Aunt Phiena’s house in Lumberton, we made incredible memories that I’ll never forget.

    Of course, the best vacation spots can be found in our beautiful state, but one destination that has a lot to offer kids and families all year long is Washington, D.C. There are countless museums, historic monuments and memorials that teach children and grown-ups alike about our nation’s history.

    Whether you’re going for a quick business trip, a family vacation or with a school group, my office can help you make arrangements for some of the more popular attractions in our nation’s capital. Take a look at the following list to see how we can help make your trip memorable and assist you with  tour requests.  

    The U.S. Capitol

    The U.S. Capitol is a monument, a working office building and one of the most recognizable symbols of representative democracy in the world. My office has guided thousands of North Carolinians on tours of the U.S. Capitol. These congressional staff-led tours are available for Eighth District constituents.

    The White House

    Requests for White House tours must be submitted through your representative or senator. Because the White House is a popular tour destination and receives more requests than any other location in D.C., White House tour requests typically need to be submitted three to six months in advance, with three weeks being the minimum requirement. 

    The Bureau of Engraving and Printing 

    Here, you’ll learn all about U.S. paper currency. You even get to overlook the production floor and see money being printed.

    The Library of Congress 

    The Library of Congress is the world’s largest and most open research library. The architecture and art are incredible, and there is a lot to learn. 

    The Kennedy Center 

    Take a tour of the Kennedy Center to learn why this national cultural center was established, as well as to see the Hall of Nations, the main theaters and dozens of works of art given to the center.

    These tours are an excellent way to learn more about our nation’s incredible history, and they are available at no charge to you. All tickets are provided to constituents in the Eighth District on a first-come, first-served basis.

    Due to the large number of visitors  — especially during the busy summer months — please request them as early as possible. Call my office at (202) 2253715 or visit Hudson.House.gov to plan your trip.

    While in Washington, be sure to stop by your office that I work in: 429 Cannon House Office Building. My staff and I look forward to welcoming you to our nation’s capital and helping you create amazing memories with your family.

  • 16 Copy of SCHEDULE0621 4

  • An annual rite of summer, the North Carolina Coaches' Association’s East-West All-Star games, will be held again this month in Greensboro. The games were founded in 1949 by North Carolina High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame coach Bob Jamieson of Grimsley High School in Greensboro.

    Currently five games are played each summer, boys’ and girls’ basketball, boys’ and girls’ soccer and football. The games are held in conjunction with the annual North Carolina Coaches’ Association clinic, which takes place during the same week at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex. This year’s games and clinic are scheduled July 17-20.

    The basketball games are Monday, July 17, at 6:30 p.m. for girls and 8:30 p.m. for boys in the Greensboro Coliseum.

    Soccer will be held Tuesday, July 18, at MacPherson Stadium, home of the professional Carolina Dynamo team. Girls are at 6:30 p.m., boys at 8:30.

    Football will be played Wednesday, July 18, at 8 p.m. at Grimsley High School’s Jamieson Stadium at Joe Franks Field.

    Here are capsule profiles of Cumberland County coaches and athletes scheduled to take part in this year’s East-West games. This list was compiled as of Friday, June 30, so any additions or drop-offs that took place after that date are not included.

    17 nick andersonFootball

    Anderson was a twotime All-Cape Fear Valley 3-A Conference selection for Terry Sanford. This past season he was first-team AllCape Fear Valley and was also named to The Fayetteville Observer’s All-Cape Fear region team. He served as team captain for the Bulldogs.

    Terry Sanford finished 9-4 overall and 4-2 in the Cape Fear Valley, sharing third place in the conference standings with Southern Lee. Terry Sanford advanced to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 3-AA playoffs where it defeated Northwood 44-21 in the opening round but lost to Cape Fear Valley rival and league co-champion Lee County 35-3 in the  second round.

    PHOTO: Nick Anderson, Terry Sanford. Offensive tackle: 6'3", 292

     

     


    17 rashaunHines was twice selected to the All-Mid-South 4-A Conference team and made The Fayetteville Observer All-Cape Fear region team this past season. Hines was a key blocker for back-to-back 2,000-yard rushers for the Falcons. His blocks helped to account for over 4,500 yards of total offense. He recorded 14 pancake blocks in his senior season.

    The Falcons finished in second place in the Mid-South Conference last year, 9-3 overall and 5-1 conference, their only league loss coming to regular-season and Eastern 4-A Champion Cape Fear. Seventy-First was eliminated in the first round of the state 4-A playoffs by Southeast Raleigh, 28-14.

    PHOTO: Rashaun Hines, Seventy First. Offensive line: 6'0", 285

     

     

     

    17 rayvinGirls Basketball

    Griffin was a star for Smith both on the court and in the classroom. In her final season at Smith she led her team to a 19-7 overall record and a 12-0 mark in the MidSouth 4-A Conference.

    She averaged 13.6 points per game while hitting 67 percent of her free throws. She pulled down 4.1 rebounds and had 1.6 steals and 1.9 assists per game. She led Smith to victory in the Cumberland County Holiday Classic and was named Most Valuable Player. She was also first team All-Mid-South. Griffin was an Up & Coming Weekly scholar athlete this year. She was ranked in the top 12 of her graduating class and compiled a 4.3 grade-point average.

    She will attend Winston-Salem State University this fall and major in exercise science. She graduated summa cum laude and is an North Carolina Academic Scholar.

    PHOTO: Rayvin Griffin, E.E. Smith Guard: 5'9"

     

     

     

    17 asiaHenderson had an outstanding senior season for the Tigers, earning Mid-South 4-A Conference Player of the Year honors. She made The Fayetteville Observer’s All-Cape Fear region team and was North Carolina Basketball Coaches Association first team All-District.

    She made the Carolinas All-Star team and was AllConference in volleyball. On the basketball court, she averaged 16.0 points per game, 14.0 rebounds and five blocks. She finished her career with over 1,000 points. She holds school records for blocks in a season, blocks in a game and rebounds in a game. She had three career triple doubles (points, rebounds and blocks).

    South View was second in the Mid-South Conference last season, 17-10 overall and 9-3 in the league. The Tigers lost to Knightdale 49-44 in the first round of the 4-A playoffs. Off the court Henderson served as senior class president. Originally committed to the University of Texas-El Paso, Henderson will attend Wichita State this fall, getting a release from UTEP after the coach there was hired by Wichita State.

    PHOTO: Asia Henderson, South View. Forward: 6'2"

    17 nattlieMcArthur was a star high school player at her alma mater, South View, from 1995-99 where she played under veteran head coach Brent Barker. She went on to college stardom at Fayetteville State where she holds school records for steals and assists. She returned to South View as an assistant coach under Barker from 1999-2009, helping guide the Tigers to the state 4-A championship in 2007. In 2009, she became head girls’ coach at Jack Britt. In 2015, she led her team to the Robeson County ShootOut championship. She was also named The Fayetteville Observer’s All-Cape Fear Region coach of the year and the MidSouth 4-A Conference coach of the year the same season. In 2014, she led her team to the Cumberland County Holiday Classic championship, a first in school history. This past season Jack Britt was 15-9 overall and 7-5 in Mid-South 4-A Conference play, finishing third in the league standings. Britt lost to Wilmington Hoggard 48-32 in the first round of the state 4-A playoffs.

    PHOTO: Nattlie McArthur, Jack Britt Head Coach East girls' basketball

     

  • 16 motorcycleLet's face it, motorcycling is a dangerous mode of travel. Last week, my wife and I were at a motorcycle shop, and we purchased her a new Klim Induction Jacket. I believe it is one of the best brands on the market. The jackets are covered with protective D30 elbow, shoulder and back pads. The induction is made for hot weather and made with Klim’s Karbonite Mesh. The Karbonite Mesh is Klim’s proprietary mesh material made for abrasion resistance. It is stitched together with Rhino Thread, another proprietary material that is some of the strongest thread I have come across.

    The jacket comes with a free personalized, high-quality, plastic emergency ID card you register online. The pocket in the forearm area of  the jacket is designed specifically to carry this card. It is marked so that first responders know there is emergency information in the pocket.

    As we talked with the salesperson about how smart it was for them to put the pocket there, he asked me if we had iPhones. We do. He pulled his out, and asked us if we had set up our emergency contact information in the phone.

    I have always seen the “Emergency” button on the bottom left of the Lock screen but I have never hit it because I believed it was just to call 911. The emergency button contains a host of important information. If you choose to populate the information, it will show your emergency contact information, medical notes, allergies and blood type, and it will allow for you to register as an organ donor. 

    To populate the  information, do the following:

    1. Open the Apple Health app, which is installed on all iOS devices running iOS 8 and later. This app can’t be uninstalled.

    2. Tap on “Medical ID” in the bottom right corner.

    3. Tap “Create Medical ID.”

    4. At the very top, make sure the “Show When Locked” feature is turned on (to green). Fill in as much information as is relevant to you. If you have no known allergies or aren’t taking medication, it still helps to write “None” or “None known” so that medical personnel don’t assume you’ve overlooked these fields.

    5. Make sure you assign at least one person as your emergency contact person. You must save that person’s name and phone number in your Contacts app for the Health app to be able to include it.

    6. Hit “Done” to save. Now here’s how to test it to make sure it worked, and to make sure you know what to look for if you ever have to find someone else’s ICE information.

    Lock the phone. Now, wake it up, but don’t fully unlock it with the pass code or Touch ID. When you slide to get to the pass code screen, you should see “Emergency.” Press it, and a new screen appears with a number keypad to dial, as well as “Medical ID” in the bottom left. Press “Medical ID,” and your information should appear along with a phone icon that, when pressed, will automatically dial your ICE contact . Note that while you can find ICE apps in the App Store, they are not accessible from a locked phone. You should always lock your iPhone with a pass code or TouchID for security reasons, meaning these ICE apps are useless in a real emergency. Use the Apple Health app instead.

    For Androids, depending on which phone you have and which version of Android you’re running, you might have an emergency contact feature in your phone’s setting. Check there first. It might be under a sub-menu such as “My Information.” In many cases, the end result is a free form string of text that scrolls across your locked screen.

    If you can’t find an emergency contact field within the settings, there are apps for adding ICE info, but you’ll need one that has a widget accessible from the lock screen. Note that not all versions of Android support lock screen apps anymore.

    For Android 4.2 and later, the ICE: In Case of Emergency app seems promising (I haven’t personally tested it). It has a lock screen widget and lets you save important information as well as ICE names and numbers. Some user feedback suggests that it may disable alarms, however. If you use your Android as an alarm clock, you might want to consider other options before shelling out four bucks for this app.

    Keeping good emergency information is not only important to your own safety but can help provide your family with peace of mind.

     

  • If you are willing to be both entertained and disturbed by your summer vacation books, I have four new volumes for your consideration: two books by important photographers and two literary mysteries that raise important public policy issues.

    First, the photographs.

    If you grew up in the rural South of yesteryear and remember the landscapes, the crops, the tractors, the people, the country stores and churches, you will identify with UNC-Chapel Hill Professor William Ferris’s book, “The South in Color: A Visual Journal.” In the introduction Ferris wrote, “As a photographer of the American South, I sought the Holy Grail — that single image that captures the region in its fullest, most engaging expression.”

    His 100 color photographs document life in the South while he was growing up in the latter half of the last century. The striking photos of ordinary scenes include farm fields, families and churches. Lovely, but they also disturb as they illustrate the racial divisions that characterized the South. His beautiful and unsettling images mark Ferris as a true artist with an important message.

    Earlier editions of Waynesville’s Kevin Adams’s “North Carolina Waterfalls” sold more than 65,000 copies. That is an amazing report, but easier to understand when the reader and viewer see his photographs of hundreds of our state’s enchanting waterfalls and read his detailed and compelling descriptions of the falls, how Adams approached his task, and the dangers to these treasures from human activity.

    Adams teaches nature photography seminars and leads popular waterfall photography tours. He is the author and photographer of a series of earlier books about scenic Western North Carolina. His new edition of  “North Carolina Waterfalls” includes 300 full color waterfall profiles and, in addition, 700 descriptions of other nearby falls. “The two years I worked on this project were grueling, but they reminded me just how much North Carolina’s waterfalls are in my bloodstream,” Adams wrote. The resulting combination of lovely photography and accompanying background information makes for a classic.

    Now, the question-raising fiction.

    In award-winning poet, novelist and former Duke professor Elizabeth Cox’s latest novel, “A Question of Mercy,” actions of a mentally challenged teenaged boy begin to frighten other children and alarm their parents. Set in the North Carolina of the early 1950s, we learn the family’s side of this situation through the voice of Jess Booker, the teenaged stepsister of Adam, who suffers from a disabling mental condition.

    At first, Jess is Adam’s unwilling and uncomfortable caregiver. Then she warms to Adam and becomes his advocate, arguing against her stepmother’s determination to send him to a state institution where he would be subject to radical medical treatments including lobotomy and sterilization. As Adam comes to understand what is in store for him, he becomes desperately sad. After a walk with Jess along the French Broad River, Adam disappears. When Adam’s body is found downriver, Jess, who has run away on a long journey of her own, becomes a murder suspect, and the novel’s story becomes, in part, a murder mystery.

    The central character of Hickory’s Angela Pisel’s debut novel, “With Love from the Inside,” is Grace Bradshaw. She knows the exact minute she will die. On death row for murdering her infant son, her last breath will be taken on February 15 at 12:01 a.m. Out of appeals, she can focus on only one thing — reconnecting with her daughter Sophie, who has moved on to a new life, convinced that her mother was guilty. Over time Sophie learns facts that show her mother was innocent and unfairly convicted. With the help of her mother’s lawyer, Sophie fights against all obstacles to stop the execution. Whether she succeeds or not, her life is forever changed, as will be the lives of many readers who will be moved by Pisel’s poignant debut.

  • 15 John Hood ArticleWhile there is no shortage of opinions and controversy about how best to improve schooling, virtually everyone agrees that the quality of teaching is the critical variable.

    To improve schooling is only to contribute to the future success of students, not to guarantee it. Formal education is only one influence on child development. Kids who grow up in single-parent families, in poverty and in unsafe neighborhoods — conditions that are highly correlated with each other, by the way — have disadvantages that won’t necessarily be dispelled by access to good schools.

    That’s no argument for inaction, however, or for changing the focus to policy issues other than education. For example, government policy may have played a role in disrupting the traditional two-parent family, as conservatives persuasively argue, but it’s far from clear what government policies could reverse the damage.

    The same constraint doesn’t apply to education. There is an emerging body of compelling empirical evidence suggesting that teacher quality significantly affects student performance and that certain qualities or policies are more likely than others to improve the quality of teaching.

    In a new paper published in the Journal of Economic Surveys, a team of Dutch scholars analyzed the academic research on teacher quality conducted since the 1970s by researchers across the developed world. The authors picked only high-quality studies, excluding those with inadequate statistical controls or other defects. Then they summarized the results.

    One of them will be familiar to readers of this column: teachers with graduate degrees are no more effective than teachers without them. This is one of the most replicated findings in modern education research — which makes it all the more outrageous when the North Carolina legislature is attacked for getting rid of teacher bonuses for acquiring graduate degrees.

    Naturally, there were clear beneficiaries from the practice, which was in place for decades before the General Assembly ended it in 2013. Most of them worked in North Carolina schools of education. Paying teachers to get degrees produced a steady stream of revenue to these schools, even as it produced no detectable improvement in student learning, because most of the advanced degrees teachers acquired were in education, not in particular subjects. 

    As it happens, the Dutch researchers did find at least some evidence that math and science teachers with graduate degrees in those fields — and only those fields — are more effective than peers who completed their educations as undergraduates. Similarly, while most studies of teacher certification find no differences in effectiveness between teachers who obtain certification through the traditional university route and those who obtain alternative certification, having a credential for math instruction is a notable exception.

    The findings on certification, by the way, might come as a surprise to those who’ve read about North Carolina students faring worse when taught by teachers with alternative certifications. Keep in mind that those reports did not, by and large, attempt to adjust for other differences between the teacher populations. In other words, those who pursue alternative certification differ from other teachers in ways that have nothing to do with the certification process. If you don’t adjust for demographics and other factors, you can’t draw meaningful conclusions.

    When it comes to teacher experience, most studies find a link between experience and effectiveness, but it’s not necessarily a linear relationship. That is, the relationship can’t be depicted with a straight line on a graph. The Dutch team concluded that “most studies find significant learning gains for the first couple of years of experience, but hardly any later on in the teacher’s career,” although there are a few counterexamples in the literature.

    What does appear to matter, then? Based on the studies to date, the subject-matter knowledge of teachers, their performance while in college, and the rigor of the colleges they attend are important considerations. North Carolina policymakers should structure our recruitment, compensation and retention policies accordingly.

    All of which assumes, perhaps unrealistically, that we can debate the issue of teacher quality on the basis of evidence, not politics or specialinterest pleading.

  • 14 FTCCPaying for a postsecondary education (college or trade school) is an investment. It requires planning. It takes money. So talk with your family openly and early. If you’re a high school student, talk with your school’s guidance counselor who has helpful information about planning for a postsecondary education. At Fayetteville Technical Community College, contact the Financial Aid Office to receive brochures and pamphlets that describe all types of available financial aid programs.

    While every student wants scholarships and grants, not everyone can cover the entire cost of college or career school through those options. Loans can make your education possible and affordable. However, when exploring loan options, consider federal student loans before any private loans. Federal student loans have lower and fixed interest rates, generous repayment plans, no prepayment penalties and no credit checks (except for PLUS Loans).

    In contrast, private loans, which may be aggressively marketed to students through television ads, mailings and other media, are substantially more expensive than federal student loans. They generally have higher, variable interest rates that may substantially increase the total amount you repay, and the interest rate you receive might depend on your credit score. Private loans can also have prepayment  penalty fees.

    After exploring the various non-loan and low-interest loan choices, another option is to reduce the cost of attending college. Start at a less expensive school or community college, such as FTCC, before transferring to a four-year college. Credits earned at FTCC in the College Transfer program will transfer to most colleges and universities in the United States. Debt adds up quickly, so keep a watchful eye on it. If you’re concerned about too much debt, consider the following:
    • Search for more scholarships and grants

    • Work while attending school

    • Change your spending habits

    You can use a credit card to help you establish and build a credit history, but you must use credit cards wisely. Use it only for emergencies and do not spend more than you can afford to pay. If you don’t have a checking account, open one and learn how to balance your checkbook.

    Here are a few more tips to help save money while  in school:
    • Buy used books instead of new ones whenever possible.    

    • Take advantage of free activities (concerts, plays, art exhibits) sponsored by your school.

    • Resist impulse buying. When you shop, use coupons and look for sales.  

    • Stay healthy to reduce medical bills and loss of class time.    

    • Understand your cellphone plan. Stay within your free minutes.

    For more information about financial aid programs, visit Fayetteville Technical Community College. Our admissions team will be happy to assist you in exploring your options. You can also find valuable information about financial aid and other opportunities at FTCC by exploring our website at www.faytechcc.edu.

    Excerpts from this article include information from the U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid, Student Experience Group, Your Federal Student Loans: Learn the Basics and Manage Your Debt,  Washington, D.C.

  • 13 CFBGSummer at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden is a special time. The plants are in bloom and there is a wide variety of events for patrons of all ages to enjoy. One of these events is a summer series called Third Thursday. On July 20, the family-friendly Third Thursday is titled Garden Folk. The evening will feature folk music and author Mark Weathington, who wrote “Gardening in the South.” Admission is free with membership or paid admission. 

    The music will be provided by The Parsons. “The Parsons are a folk band that have been performing for over 25 years,” said Taryn Hughes, marketing manager at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden. “Caroline Parson is a gifted songwriter, singer and bassist. Jon plays the banjo, guitars and mandolins. They will be performing from 6-9 p.m.” The gates open at 5 p.m. for this event. 

    The other half of the evening surrounds Mark Weathington and his book. Weathington is the director of the North Carolina State University’s J.C. Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh and an expert gardener. He has years of experience in a variety of regions. He has worked at coastal botanical gardens and at nurseries in  the mountains.

    This extensive experience allows him to easily address region-specific issues that can pop up in southern gardens. His book is intended for gardeners with some experience, but he will be available to answer all manner of questions. This is an opportunity to share a passion for gardening and maybe get some answers to difficult gardening questions.

    In addition to the entertainment planned for the evening, Third Thursdays also invites patrons to enjoy the garden in a different light. The area is always beautiful, but enjoying the familiar trees and flowers in the cool evening is an entirely new way to appreciate what it offers. Additionally, each Third Thursday is a unique event with a different theme each month. In August, the theme is Latin Soirée. 

    Another way to enjoy the Cape Fear Botanical Garden’s evening beauty is the regular Wine & Whimsy events. The painting class is also held on the third Thursday of every month from 6-8 p.m. This month, the painting features dragonflies. Wine, beer and snacks are available for purchase during the event. All artistic supplies and instruction is provided. Reservations are required as the class is limited to16 participants. All participants must be ages 16 and older. The class is $20 for members and $25 for nonmembers. 

    These are just two examples of events that the Cape Fear Botanical Garden offers. Events span a variety of interests and are held varying times of day to fit a variety of schedules. Many events are focused on education, nature appreciation and health. Some events are specifically geared toward engaging children. Find out more at www.capefearbg.org.

    PHOTO: Jon and Caroline Parson

     

  • 11 Cross Creek ChordsmenIt’s hard to resist a good four-part harmony. And why would you want to? On July 27-29, Fayetteville’s own Cross Creek Chordsmen, an award-winning chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society Choral Group, will perform at Fayetteville Dinner Theatre’s “The Fantasticks.”

    The group was named District Chorus Plateau A Champions at the 2017 Carolinas District Spring Convention. They will present a repertoire of current hits as well as traditional four-part harmonies dating back to the 1800s and early 1900s. “We sing a lot of classics, but we have modern pieces, too,” said group spokesman Joshua Gray-Heim. “We do ‘Sweet Adeline.’ We do Michael Bublé. Any song can be turned into a four-part harmony.”

    Gray-Heim added that the group is delighted to be a part of Fayetteville Dinner Theatre’s production and to share their passion for music and the community. “At the Barbershop Harmony Society, our goal is to bring harmony and music from a past time and keep it alive by sharing our passion for music and our brotherhood,” he said. “We are proud to be sponsored by Pressed: a Creative Space for this event and look forward to revealing our new uniforms at the Fayetteville Diner Theatre production. ”

    The longest-running off-Broadway show of all time, “The Fantasticks” is the perfect show for Fayetteville audiences. Playing off the talents of a strong cast, this musical comedy has a clever storyline with lyrics written by Tom Jones and ageless music and songs by Harvey Schmidt.

    The cast is composed of local and regional talent. The Fayetteville Dinner Theatre is being billed as a unique theater experience, which means the evening will include much more than a great show performed by talented actors.

    The evening begins with a V.I.P. reception and wine-tasting and sale at 6 p.m. hosted by Cape Fear  Vineyard and Winery.

    At 6:30 p.m., a three-course, duel-entrée dinner will be served by the Ramada Plaza staff while Cross Creek Chordsmen entertain the guests.

    “The Fantasticks” opens immediately following dinner. There will be prizes and surprises at intermission and a post-show meet-and-greet with the actors. The FDT and CFVW will give away a grand
    prize each evening. Prizes include a dinner for two at the winery with a complimentary bottle of wine, a flight of all seven of CFVW’s wines and a twonight stay in the cabins on the lake at CFVW.

    Proceeds from “The Fantasticks” benefit the Kidsville News Literacy and Education Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit, for securing reading and educational resources for Cumberland County children. CFVW will also donate all proceeds from the wine-tasting and sale to the foundation.

    Show dates are July 27, 28 and 29. Tickets cost $75 per person with discounts for seniors 65+ and active duty military. Tickets are available from 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. at the FDT Box Office at the Ramada Plaza. Call (910) 391-3859 for details.

    To make reservations online or to learn more about the show, visit www.fayettevilledinnertheatre.com. To learn more about CFVW, visit www. capefearwinery.com.

    On Aug. 12, Cross Creek Chordsmen fans are invited to join the group for an  ice cream social — classic barbershop style. “We will provide ice cream and toppings and entertain guests,” GrayHeim said. For more information about the ice cream social, message Gray-Heim on the group’s Facebook page.

  • 10 tracing your rootsSons of the American Revolution is a nonprofit organization that is popular across the United States. By focusing on their connection to the birth of this nation, members of the organization work to prolong and promote the history of the United States, explained Bob Ervin, past president of the Le Marquis de Lafayette Chapter of Sons of the American Revolution. They want to remind people where of there lineage.

    On July 13, at Headquarters Library, SAR and the Daughters of the American Revolution offer a presentation about genealogy.

    Membership requirements for SAR and DAR are specific. As explained by Ervin, it is based on male lineage of origin. “To be a member of the organization, it’s the same for the Daughters of the American Revolution; people must prove lineage to someone who supported the American Revolution” he said. “(Those ancestors could have been) involved in many ways, like soldiers, furnishing supplies or attending certain committees.” 

    The organizations meet regularly and are engaged in supporting the local communities. They support programs that develop leadership, such as the Boy Scouts, Junior ROTC and ROTC. They offer scholarships every year and even recognize patriotic actions of local businesses. On Flag Day every year, they also organize a flag retirement ceremony to retire old American flags honorably. 

    On July 13 in the Pate Room of Headquarters Library, SAR and DAR offer another type of community outreach.

    “We are holding our regular meeting and having a genealogist who will talk about how to start tracing your lineage and will make a presentation about it,” Ervin said. “It is open to the public and a great opportunity to start asking questions. The genealogy library in a room upstairs will also be available, and there are ladies up there who will help people do their research.” 

    Ervin’s love of history started early on as a history major in college, though he originally focused on the Civil War until five or six years ago. “I traced my lineage to eight great-great-great-grandfathers in the Civil War, and then I decided to go ahead and trace further,” he said. “I was able to prove lineage to become a member, and since then I’ve proven lineage to 11 other patriots, and I’ve proven 22 patriots for
    my grandsons because they have it from their father’s and mother’s sides.” After exploring his own family’s history, Ervin began helping other men prove their relation to patriots.  For many, the idea of this research and sifting through old historical documents can be intimidating. Ervin said that, thanks to the databases available on the internet and the local resources available in person, the research is not so unmanageable.

    “Learning how to research genealogy is a process,” he said. “It is kind of like a puzzle. When you first dump out all the pieces, you think, How in the world am I going to figure this all out?! I usually start building the outside and then start working on the middle, and that is kind of like genealogy. Start with what you know. Look at your parents. What are their names and then their parents, and just start putting things together. It can still be intimidating, but there are people at the SAR, the DAR and the libraries that will help.” 

    For those interested in exploring their connections to America’s history, the genealogy seminar begins at 6 p.m. at the Headquarters Library. In addition to the presentation from the genealogist, there will be SAR and DAR members available to help answer questions. Ervin emphasized that the library has been incredibly helpful and noted that it offers numerous resources for research.


  • 09 author showcaseLocal authors from all over the Sandhills area are set to gather at the Cumberland County Headquarters Library for a free meet-and-greet with readers July 23, from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Pate Room.

    The showcase is designed for community members to learn more about the books they are reading and the authors who wrote them. Once the authors make it through the application process, they’re granted free space to connect with the community.

    Jane Casto, Cumberland County Library headquarters services manager and showcase presenter, said attendees will have the chance to purchase books and get them signed.

    In the past, the local author showcase was held during Fayetteville’s 4th Friday event in July. Casto said this year the event is strategically set to be held on a Sunday to “give authors extra time to talk and hopefully get people to buy their books.”

    The showcase traditionally includes a variety of authors and books, including books that were self-published, borrowed from a series, poetic and written for children. This showcase, specifically, will include 16 authors with many self-help books thrown into the selection, Casto said.

    “The Local Author Showcase was started in response to the increase in independent and self-published writers in our area,” Robin Deffendall, information services librarian, said. “The requirements of the library collection development policy make it harder for these authors to place their books in the Cumberland County Libraries, and our programming guidelines do not support author readings by self-published authors either. We initiated the Local Author Showcase to support and give a forum for these authors to reach their audiences.”

    Casto said there’s “just as much, if not more interest” from people to read locally-written and published literature, and “there are a lot of ways in which this is very valuable to the community.” She said gathering local authors draws readers who want to meet the authors, but it also draws aspiring authors who want to gain inspiration or advice from those with more experience.

    Information about the following groups on writing will also be available at the event: Write On, Right Now; Spilled Ink, a group for teen authors; and HerStory: Women Writing  Memoirs.

    Deffendall also serves as the coordinator or — as she said she likes to call herself — “The Final Authority” for Write On, Right Now. This group, comprised of in-process writers, she said, strives to support each other “in any way possible.”

    The showcase is sponsored by Friends of the Library, an organization that “supports the library in fulfilling its literary, educational, technological, community and cultural purposes,” according to the Cumberland County Public Library and Information  Center website.

    Casto said the authors will give back to the library by donating 20 percent of their book sales during the showcase to the Friends of the Library.

    Find more information about becoming a friend of the library on the Cumberland County Public Library website under the “GIVE NOW” tab or by calling (910) 483-7727.

     


  • 08 Woodpecker news articleIn the shadow of large artillery ranges and parachute drop zones, a tiny, rare butterfly flourishes. And experts say the U.S. military gets the credit. The frosted elfin is a butterfly with a 1-inch wingspan. It has found homes at several defense installations, including Fort Bragg, because of the way the military manages open spaces, said Robyn Niver, an endangered species biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

    The Military Times brought the phenomenon to light this month. “Military training requires vast open areas, so these bases are some of our last great wild places,” Niver said. Fort Bragg’s artillery impact areas and parachute drop zones are ideal homes for the dainty butterflies to thrive. In addition to Fort Bragg, the little brown butterfly was confirmed at Westover Air Reserve Base and Camp Edwards in Massachusetts and Fort McCoy in Wisconsin.

    The common thread among the bases is the way they manage vegetation through controlled burns, which create the perfect conditions for wild blue lupine and indigo to grow, the frosted elfin caterpillar’s two host plants.

    Frosted elfins can be found from New England to Florida and as far west as Texas. They are not on the federal list of endangered species, but they are headed there, Niver said. Several states already list them as protected, and they have disappeared completely from others.

    Twenty years ago, environmentalists found that longleaf pine trees that dominate hundreds of acres of training areas at Fort Bragg were breeding grounds for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. The Army undertook a program, which remains in effect today, to protect  the species.

     

  • 07 Trash Truck news storyTurn a switch, and the lights come on. Push a handle, and the toilet flushes. Take the garbage to the street, and it’s gone. For many of us, life is that simple. But we all depend on hundreds of employees of the City of Fayetteville and the County of Cumberland to take care of business for us.

    In computer science, “garbage collection” is a term  that refers to a form of automated memory management. For homeowners, garbage collection is something we all do once a week: take out the trash. It’s important that residents appreciate the difference between collection and disposal. Locally, the City of Fayetteville or private haulers collect household garbage. The County of Cumberland disposes of it. In part one of a two-part series, Up & Coming Weekly is focusing on collection.

    In the city, homeowners pay for trash collection as part of their yearly property taxes. Environmental Service is what’s called an enterprise fund. The cost of collecting garbage is offset in part by a fee tacked on to annual tax bills, and the fees don’t cover the entire cost. It’s a major expense for any big city. Beginning July 1, the so-called solid waste fee went up from $44 to $108 per residence per year.

    “The estimated solid waste fee revenues for FY18 (including projected collections of current year fees, past due fees from prior years and interest) are $6,718,613,” said city spokesman Nathan Walls. A subsidy from the general fund this year was reduced from $8 million to $4 million. That’s one reason city council didn’t raise the property tax rate. “For Fiscal Year 2018, the budget was generated assuming services for 62,672 households,” added Walls. Fully-automated trucks are now used for neighborhood trash collection, which, according to officials, has reduced the payroll by 50 workers in recent years. Apartment dwellers and business owners don’t pay this fee because they use private garbage companies.

    The city used to call their pickup service the sanitation department. Then it was the solid waste department. Now, it’s the environmental division of the public service department. “To collect household trash in a more economical and efficient manner, the city asks residents to follow guidelines,” said the  city’s website.

    These regulations are often misunderstood or confusing for a sizeable percentage of citizens. Officials believe well over half the single-family homes in Fayetteville are rentals.

    City Ordinance 22-10 outlines the regulations. Green and blue city-approved roll-out garbage and recycling carts must be placed at the curb one to two feet from the street. Handles should face the house. Carts are to be placed at least four feet from each other and other objects. Trash bags left on the ground or in non-approved containers will not be collected. Resident-generated construction debris will cost an additional $50 fee. Debris generated by contractors will not be collected, and that includes carpeting. Next week in part two, the focus will be on what happens to the garbage once it’s collected.

  • 06 News DigestFayetteville City Councilman Jim Arp thinks it’s time Fayetteville built a new city hall. The three-story city offices at 433 Hay St. are undergoing $4.5 million in renovations to carve out additional office space. City Hall was opened in 1992. Arp has mentioned his idea at least twice in public meetings recently.

    “We ought to find space for a larger building outside the immediate downtown area,” he said. He cited Harnett County’s government complex, which was built away from the congested downtown area of Lillington, the county seat. The future baseball stadium across from City Hall on Hay Street is going to put public parking in the vicinity at a premium.

    A city-owned parking lot adjacent to the train station will be lost to developments associated with the ballpark. City Council rejected an idea from City Manager Doug Hewett that a multi-million dollar parking garage be built behind City Hall. Arp’s idea for a relocated city hall hasn’t gotten any traction from colleagues.

    Bright Future for Industrial Vocations

    Not all wellpaying jobs require a four-year college degree. Cities across North Carolina will need an estimated 700 building inspectors over the next couple of years, officials say. Many experienced employees who’ve had long careers in local government are retiring. Fayetteville Deputy City Manager Kristoff Bauer fears there may not be enough qualified people to replace them.

    “These folks earn good wages,” Bauer said. Building, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning inspectors earn $30,000 a year to start. Experienced level-three inspectors make $50,000 plus a year. They are responsible for all aspects of commercial and residential building plan review on new construction, alterations, modifications and additions to existing structures; and inspections on general construction, plumbing, heating, mechanical, and electrical installations. “We have to get them trained now,” Bauer said.

    That’s where Fayetteville Technical Community College comes in. “We provide the workforce development pipeline,” said Stefanie Schroeder, FTCC’s dean of corporate and industry training. The city has not developed “a succession training program” with FTCC, according to Schroeder, but the college stands ready to help. FTCC has curriculum and continuing education programs in the trades and also taps into “a strong skill-set of soldiers” at Fort Bragg who are leaving the service, Schroeder added. Fayetteville Interim Inspections Division Director Michael Bailey talks with FTCC student groups as time allows. Bailey said the City of Fayetteville currently employs 25 inspectors, many of whom will be retiring soon.  

    Fayetteville Technical Community College Approved for VA Yellow Ribbon Program

    FTCC has been approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs to participate in the Yellow Ribbon G.I. Bill Education Enhancement Program. The agreement permits FTCC and the VA to provide matching funds for tuition expenses that exceed either the annual maximum cap for private institutions or the resident tuition and fees for a public institution. The institution can contribute up to 50 percent of those expenses and VA will match the same amount. The objective is to cover all or a portion of the outstanding amount of established charges not covered under the Post 9/11 GI Bill. FTCC will be involved from August 1, 2017 to July 31, 2018. Visit www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/yellow_ribbon/Yellow_Ribbon_Info_Schools.asp to learn more.

     

  •  05 Biblically speakingWho Studies the Bible?

    Lots of people enjoy reading the Bible. Pastors spend a lot of time studying the Bible in preparation for Sunday’s message. But others who teach the Bible, like Sunday School teachers or small- group leaders, also spend a lot of time thinking about the Bible. You don’t have to be a teacher to study the Bible. In fact, all Christians should study God’s word.

    Should I study one book or read it all?

    Reading the entire Bible is a worthwhile endeavor. But let’s be honest, that’s a lot to bite off at once. Besides, there are a lot of historical and cultural issues to study so that you can understand all the Bible. Granted, every Christian should seek to read the Bible at least once and maybe even once a year.

    It’s also beneficial to study a single book of the Bible. Focusing on one book allows the reader to understand the original author’s purpose. It takes time to study the background of a book, but it’s important to know the author, audience and occasion of a book. It is also helpful to study “Chapter 3” after reading “Chapter 2.” It did come in that order for a reason!

    Where Do I Start?

    This question often baffles Bible readers. With 66 different books, is it better to start with the Old Testament or the New? Maybe a Gospel
    about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus? Or perhaps a shorter book like Philippians?

    If you are ready to jump into a Bible book study, where do you start? Right now, I am working through the Gospel of Mark. It’s a relatively short book at 16 chapters. Plus, there is a lot of action. But there are shorter books, like Philippians, Colossians and 1 John.

    A goal might be to read and study all 66 books of the Bible. But if you’re interested in getting a full sweep of the entire Bible, consider studying a shorter list of specific books. For example, the book of Genesis is important to the entire biblical story. Many Christians have found great comfort in reading the Psalms. The Gospel of John displays the story of Jesus’s life beautifully. Studying some of these major books helps put the entire Bible into context.

    Bible book studies are important. Our Biblical Studies degree requires students to take courses in the following books: Genesis, Daniel, John, Romans and Hebrews. We believe these books are significant in understanding the Christian faith and doctrine.

    For more information, visit www.ccbs.edu or give us a call at (910) 323-5614.

     

     

  • 04 Legally SpeakingOnce again, North Carolina is faced with daunting numbers concerning its children and their education. These numbers have to do with dropouts, and the numbers are not good. According to the National Center for Education Statistics in North Carolina, last year we had 11,000 students drop out of school. This school year, we will lose over 250 students a week to dropping out.

    If we just knew those figures, it would be enough to cause alarm. But what we have learned, and what many do not fully grasp, is the cost.

    Consider that we now know that a dropout makes $10,000 a year less than a person who completes their high school education and over $36,000 less than a person with a bachelor’s degree. The unemployment rate is 15 percent higher for dropouts.

    These statistics should raise concerns for us. They demonstrate we must get a grip on why we are losing our youth, and this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

    A dropout is likely to live a shorter period. He or she is likely to be less productive. A dropout is nine times more likely to be a single mother.

    A dropout is less likely to marry or participate in civic affairs.

    Dropouts are less likely to vote or participate in the democratic process.

    But the most disturbing facts are that dropouts make up more than 80 percent of our prison population, and over our lifetime will cost society over $292,000 apiece. Imagine what we could do with the excess funds if we simply cut the dropout rate in half and kept those students in school to finish their degrees.

    If all dropouts in the nation from the class of 2011 had earned diplomas, the nation would benefit from $150 billion in income over their working lifetimes.

    These statistics are devastating, to say the least, but they are only statistics. There are other factors to consider, including the quality of life that each of us has, both the citizen who is working hard and building themselves up and the dropout, who has little or no chance to do so.

    By changing this, we not only change the statistics stated above, but we also change the quality of life for all citizens, including dropout and their children. We must act now to end this incredible plague on our communities by keeping young people in school. The remedy begins with our legislators, who have done little over the past several sessions to address the issue.

     

  •  03 KarlAnyone who takes even a cursory, but honest, look at the overall efficiency and effectiveness of Cumberland County government and the municipalities in the county will certainly conclude we must do better.

    The County Commissioners recently passed a budget that included spending reductions and a sizable property tax increase to offset a $27 million shortfall. Economic development throughout the county, including municipalities, is nowhere near what is needed nor is it reasonable to expect. In spite of an overall decline in property values, Fayetteville did not increase the property tax rate, but did increase some fees. There has been a battle underway between Fayetteville and the county over which of them should manage a proposed consolidated 911 call center. Then there is the controversy of several years regarding division of sales tax revenue among the county, Fayetteville and several other municipalities. Add annexation squabbles to this mix.

    This listing is by no means all-inclusive, but is more than sufficient to indicate the need for a course correction in how governing happens in the municipalities and at the county level. I am convinced it is time for a move to unified government in Cumberland County. That is, one government, one governing body. This possibility was raised several years ago by a few visionaries in our area, but went nowhere. That is the case just about every time the idea is raised in America. How can this be? Mike Maciag answers in an article titled “Governments Resisting the Urge to Merge.” He writes: “Government fragmentation has long been tugged at by two competing interests. On the one hand, many argue consolidation cuts costs and allows officials to better coordinate efforts. Citizens, though, are often emotionally attached to their local governments.”

    The remainder of the answer is that people in power are very seldom willing to give up that power even in the interest of what is good for citizens. This seems especially true of politicians who will defy common sense for the sake of holding onto power.

    The track record of unified governments is impressive. Look to Athens-Clarke County, Georgia; Nashville, Tennessee, with Davidson County; or Kansas City, Kansas, with Wyandotte County. In a 2012 article titled “Cities, Counties and the Urge to Merge,” Mark Funkhouser wrote:

    “Things have worked out better for Kansas City, Kansas, and Wyandotte County, according to Dennis Hays, who has been administrator of that unified government since it was created 17 years ago (and who before that was the city’s administrator for three years). Before the consolidation, he says, ‘we were slipping into the deep abyss, and if we hadn’t done consolidation when we did, who knows where we’d be?’ Since then, he says, the quality of services has improved, thanks to economies achieved by combining duplicative departments. Taxes have been cut by 15 percent, and the combined workforce has been reduced by 20 percent. But in Hays’ view, having a single policy-making body willing to take on the tough decisions has made the biggest difference, resulting in real improvements to the local quality of life. ‘We are an older blue-collar community, and now we are seeing young people wanting to move into Wyandotte for the first time in decades.’” When introduced to the “unified government” concept during those discussions several years ago, it made sense to me. When the effort went nowhere in our county, I gave it very little additional thought until a recent experience. During a meeting of Cumberland County United, Shivani Kohut mentioned concern among residents of her neighborhood regarding a conditional rezoning application pending in the Jack Britt High School area of Cumberland County. The request was to rezone parcels at the intersection of Lakewood Drive and Rockfish Road. A yet unidentified grocery store would be built. There is also the possibility of other businesses being established in  the location.

    Listening to Kohut’s comments and the response of Arnold Roberts Jr., who spoke on behalf of the developer, I wanted to know more about this situation. I attended a neighborhood meeting on May 22 where residents of the area surrounding the parcels subject to the rezoning application were in attendance. Two representatives of the developer attended and spoke. At the time of this meeting, the application had been reviewed by city staff with a recommendation to the Zoning Commission that it be denied. In spite of the staff’s recommendation, the Zoning Commission recommended that Fayetteville City Council approve the rezoning application. A public hearing before City Council was scheduled but later canceled because the rezoning application was withdrawn. Applicants indicated it would be resubmitted at some future time. Even though the application was withdrawn, watching this process was eye-opening for me.

    City staff was clear in presenting reasons for recommending, to the Zoning Commission, denial of the application. Here are the key points recorded in that recommendation:

    1. The property is surrounded mostly by a mix of low-density residential, institutional (schools) and commercial.

    2. The City’s land use plan and the County’s Southwest Cumberland plans call for residential development on this property.

    3. Traffic is a major concern with a shopping center and two schools adjacent to these properties.

    4. The overabundance of properties throughout the city that are vacant and already zoned for commercial use.

    Against this backdrop of detailed reasons for staff recommending denial and meeting attendees reporting no reasons were given for the Zoning Commission recommending approval of the application, the neighborhood meeting was held. In that meeting, Shivani Kohut used a PowerPoint presentation to detail several community objections to the project. Among these were the following:

    1. Parking lot = additional light pollution into residential area, trash, incoming/outgoing traffic, hazards for walking children

    2. No conditional specs over retail use and out parcel use = future protests over unsavory retail choices? 

    3. Clearing/development = loss of natural habitat and existing tree canopy, displacement of birds  and others

    4. People will be hesitant to buy into area — excessive development occurring simultaneously has unpredictable impact on community

    5. Proposed traffic revision will not address congestion toward schools and city — wider roads needed.

    6. Increase in crime and traffic accidents in surrounding areas

    7. Flooding is a major concern — flooding with every storm as drains back up will worsen with more paving over of land

    8. No environmental impact studies, traffic impact studies, only claims of preliminary assessments (claims made by attorney/developers)

    During the neighborhood meeting, one lady told of having standing water in her yard after a heavy rain. Whatever drainage was in place was not working properly. She called several governmental entities, but all of them said they were not responsible for her area. Similarly, a gentleman who lives in the neighborhood talked of finding, at the entrance to his development, a bag that turned out to contain an illegal substance. Law enforcement personnel from at least three agencies came out, but none of them acknowledged responsibility in this situation. In neither of these cases did anybody ever acknowledge responsibility.

    Given that the area in question is not in Fayetteville, why is the city involved in this process? For a business or development that is outside the city limits to get sewer service, it must be annexed. With annexing comes zoning enforcement. Further, since the citizens affected by this project live in the county and are not eligible to vote in Fayetteville, they are at the mercy of a city council over which they have no political influence.

    From the troubling indicators in the opening paragraph of this column to the, at best, blatantly questionable treatment of the Jack Britt area in general and the course of this rezoning application in particular, something is wrong.

    I would argue we have too many governmental entities in this county, and consolidation is the answer. Will it happen? I doubt it. Doing so would require vision, selflessness, courage and common sense. These have become rare traits in America.

     

     

  • ShowImage 2.jpg pub penOn Saturday, District 3 City Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Mitch Colvin informally announced his intentions to challenge incumbent Fayetteville Mayor Nat Robertson. To quote USMC Private Gomer Pyle: “Surprise, surprise, surprise!” And, what a surprise it was. Needless to say, this development has many involved Fayetteville citizens and political observers scratching their heads and wondering how this will affect the future of Fayetteville. Their concerns are justified.

    First of all, it was common knowledge in political circles that Colvin was not interested in seeking the mayor’s spot this time around. In addition, he had pledged to support Robertson in his bid for a third term in office. Robertson was counting on it.

    Secondly, unlike the ugly and mean-spirited 2013 mayoral race between Val Applewhite and Robertson, no such hostility, conflicts or transgressions seem to be present between Colvin and Robertson.

    This begs the question, why is Colvin entering the race? Why, after years of touting the many successful achievements impacting and improving Fayetteville’s quality of life and economic development, would he question or challenge Fayetteville’s present leadership and direction? And, without provocation? Even more disturbing is why Robertson’s challengers are two sitting Council members. What’s the beef? Under Robertson and the current council, Fayetteville has enjoyed a lower crime rate, a safer city and across the board quality-oflife achievements. These achievements include the $35 million Parks and Recreation bond and the $33 million baseball stadium, which is a potential $60 million economic development driver for the City and all of Cumberland County. Not to mention a vibrant downtown community that is finally coming of age. In other words, what’s not to like? Or, what’s not to dislike?

    deViere versus Robertson. Ok we get it. There are noticeable philo
    sophical and leadership style differences that manifested themselves over the last year. But, Colvin? There are no such traces of animosity, internal conflict or leadership depravity. This too begs the question, what’s Colvin’s motive? How can he, or deViere for that matter, attack the leadership and achievements of a Council on which they both serve? We’ll find out as this political drama unfolds. In the meantime, hope for the best but prepare for the worst in the long run. Unexplainable situations like this don’t usually work out for the best. And then there’s that old Fayetteville haunt that we never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.

    Voters need to pay attention. Fayetteville’s future is at stake here. And, the stakes are high. Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

     

     

  • UCWBack16Westover has tapped a coach from one of the best known football families in Fayetteville to head its program.

    Craig Raye, the younger brother of longtime NFL assistant coach and Michigan State quarterback Jimmy Raye, takes over from Stephen Roberson, who left earlier this year for another high school job in South Carolina.

    Raye, a 1978 graduate of Michigan State, brings a wealth of college coaching experience to the Wolverine campus, starting as a college coach in 1982 with stops at North Carolina A&T, Wichita State, Purdue, Western Carolina, Wesleyan University and Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

    He’s been out of coaching for a year but was excited for the chance to return to his native Fayetteville and coach at Westover. “Having played and grown up there, it was a special treat,’’ Raye said.

    He hopes to relocate to Fayetteville by the middle of July. That won’t give him much time to work with the Wolverines during the offseason as the week of July 17-21 is a dead period because of the North Carolina Coaches Association clinic in Greensboro.

    During a recent visit to Fayetteville, Raye met with Wolverine assistant coach Justin Sherrod who has been running offseason practice. “I told him to continue,’’ Raye said.

    He also had time to sit down with Sherrod and get an overview of what Westover ran offensively last season. “It’s a system I’m very familiar with, the spread offense,’’ Raye said. “That’s what we ran at Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The key is terminology.’’

    Having been a recruiting coordinator for much of his college coaching career, Raye hopes to be able to share with his players guidance on what recruiters are looking for and how to best prepare themselves for a chance to play at the next level.

    He also plans to tap into his connections and the connections of his older brother, Jimmy, with players who have gone on to the NFL.

    “I hope to get some of the guys I’ve coached and met through Jimmy and continue to bring them into Fayetteville,’’ Raye said. “We want to do some things for the community and have all that knowledge rub off.

    “I may even have Jimmy come out and visit with the team so these guys can see what an old quarterback looks like.’’

    The elder Raye broke color barriers in college football when he started as quarterback at Michigan State and is best remembered as the Spartans’ quarterback against Notre Dame in the famous 10-10 with the Irish in 1966.

     

    PHOTO: Craig Raye

  • Recently, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, Motorcycle Research Group/Center for Automated Vehicle Systems and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation conducted a study of 100 riders. Together, they logged over 366,000 miles on the riders’ bikes. The test went from two months to two years. It recorded 30,844 trips. Whenever a bike started and stopped equaled one trip. These trips represented 9,354 hours of riding and 100.6 years of motorcycle time, for a total of 336,667 miles.

    The study showed what many of us have suspected. We crash more from our own doing than from someone else’s.

    Motorcycle statistics are slow to come in, and nonreported crashes never make it to paper. This study collected data by installing GPS tracking, cameras facing out and back at the rider, and kinematic impact measuring equipment. These algorithms involved data mining in which kinematic data measured lateral and longitudinal acceleration. These conditions were developed to indicate extreme situations where a potential of a Crash or a Near-Crash (CNC) exists.

    A sample of the group ranged in demographics and experience using various motorcycles. All participants did a basic course and eye exam to establish a baseline. Of those in the groups, 65 percent reported passing at least one riders course.

    There were 30 crashes and 122 CNCs for a total of 152 events. Of the 100 participants, the number of CNC events per rider ranged from 0 to 13. Of the riders, 55 experienced at least one event.

    What the study says about our riding is that we do not know how to stop, make right-hand turns or judge speeds.

    The most common case for crashes was ground impact at low speed. This was defined as “two-wheeled vehicle falls coincident with low or no speed (even if in gear), due to issue not defined in other incident type categories. The rider allows the bike to lean while it is being stopped, just beginning to move from a stop, or making a turn at low speed. Vehicle upright stability is lost due to lack of input by the rider to counter the effect of gravity.” This is the scientific way of saying that we do not know how to start, stop or hold up our motorcycles.

    Also, the study showed that capsizing your bike leads to other problems. This reveals a breakdown in the rider’s ability to execute a task, baseline proficiencies, or a temporary reduction in readiness to ride.

    The largest risk of a CNC is a motorcyclist whose motion, path or speed is affected by an intersection that is uncontrolled in the participant’s direction of travel (no signal or other signage in the participant’s direction). Being inattentive, aggressive or frustrated sharply increased the risk. The study found that parking lots are a hazard as well.

    The study showed that we have trouble with hills. The data showed that any maneuver on a grade should be practiced. Riding on an uphill grade doubles the risk of CNC, and riding on a downhill grade increase this risk four times.

    The study stated that “whether called a turn, corner or curve, changing direction requires special attention.” The study showed that riding into a right turn doubles the risk of a CNC compared to riding on a straight roadway. This type of event includes taking the right curve too wide or at excessive speed and crossing over the lane line into the oncoming lane (termed a near-crash due to the evasive maneuver required to regain control and proper lane position).

    The study results indicate that 67 percent of all single-vehicle CNC events involved curve negotiation, and 63 percent of those were run-off-road or lane line crossing cases.

    The study concluded: “There is rarely a single cause of any crash. Usually, there are many factors that interact, or combine, to result in a crash. You do not want to ignore even minor factors because you want to break the chain of events that may lead to a crash.”

    If you want to be a better and safer rider, find an empty parking lot and practice those basic maneuvers. Practice stopping, decreasing speed to a full stop, accelerating from a stop, turning left and right from a stop, making a right-hand turn and swerving to avoid a collision. Remember space is your friend and for most of your riding, it is something you can control. 

  • UCWBack14On July 14, the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry Armory & Museum opens its doors for an informative and family-friendly open house. Fayetteville’s military history reaches back long before Fort Bragg opened, and these 224 years of history will be on display during the open house.

    “The Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry was formed in 1793 under an act of Congress called the Militia Act, signed by President George Washington,” Heidi Bleazy, a museum specialist, explained. “In a time before Fayetteville’s large military post, Fort Bragg, the FILI mustered, drilled and prepared to serve the defense needs of the state and nation. They were the military escorts of Lafayette when he was here in Fayetteville in 1825.” 

    Being able to trace its inception back to local families in 1793 is significant for the FILI. “It is the oldest militia unit in continuous existence in the South and one of the oldest in the country,” Bleazy said. “Known as the ‘Corps of Gentlemen,’ today, members still come from the community. Some are active duty and retired servicemen.”

    The group served in the War of 1812 and some conflicts throughout World War I. Since the FILI has existed continuously for such a long time, the museum has captured a unique local perspective on a staggering amount of American history.

    The FILI Museum is a private museum. Normally tours are by appointment only, so the open house July 14 from noon until 4 p.m. is a unique opportunity to explore the treasures inside. Bleazy described it as “a chance to meet some of the museum staff and learn about what militia units, specifically the FILI, did and do, as well as view artifacts from several different wars. A walk through the FILI Armory & Museum features the well-known Lafayette Carriage.”

    Also July 14, the Fayetteville Area Transportation & Local History Museum will open another historical site in Fayetteville not usually open to the public: The Market House Museum, which resides on the building’s second floor.

    “The Market House is an iconic building for Fayetteville, built in 1832 to replace the statehouse that burned in the Great Fire of 1831,” Bleazy said. “It is Cumberland County’s only National Landmark. Not only is the Market House itself important to the travel and trade history of this community, but the site is where North Carolina ratified the U.S. Constitution and became the 12th state; (where) the University of North Carolina was chartered; and (where) Lafayette addressed the citizens of his namesake city.”

    The Market House Museum open house is part of an overall effort to open the second floor of the building to the community more often. It is an important part of the local history that interested community members should be able to see. According to Bleazy, this event isn’t just exciting for community members. “Museum staffs are always excited to host events like this,” she said. “So many people enjoy learning and sharing and are often surprised at the big and little stories that make Fayetteville’s history intriguing, unique and  worth exploring.“

    The FILI Museum is located at 210 Burgess St. For more information, visit www.fili793.com.

     

    PHOTO: Peek into Fayetteville’s past at the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry Armory & Museum open house.

  • UCWBack13Ruth Nelson, the director of Sweet Tea Shakespeare’s upcoming production of “Cymbeline,” which opens July 6 at the Museum of the Cape Fear’s Poe House, discovered her love of theater early in life.

    “I started acting in church plays at the age of six, so you could say I’ve been involved with theater on and off for 26 years,” Nelson said. “In college, theater was supposed to be my extracurricular activity. My main interest(s) (were) writing and music, but I eventually double majored in theater and I got my masters in acting. It really became an important part of my life.”

    Nelson got involved with Sweet Tea Shakespeare in 2012 as the company was just beginning. She became an actor and a company member. “Each company member has a different job; mine is dramaturgy,” she said. “It’s a kind of funny word, but my title is Master of Words. I’m in charge of the words. Shakespeare can be a challenge, and I help the actors and the director translate the text for the audience,” she explained. “Cymbeline” is her first foray into directing for the company.

    “Cymbeline” is not one of Shakespeare’s most well-known plays, but it certainly is a unique one. Nelson described it as “Shakespeare’s forgotten fairytale.” It is whimsical and combines many elements recognizable in his other works. It walks the line between tragedy and comedy without fitting neatly into either category.

    “Of his works, it is kind of in the realm of ‘The Tempest,’” Nelson said. “It is odd and has these elements of the supernatural. There’s a moment when the gods come down from the heavens and talk to the characters.  It is otherworldly, but it deals with real life problems like family drama, the loss of a loved one and redemption. It is both incredibly human and otherworldly.”

    Instead of being entirely historically accurate or reinterpreting the show through a modern lens, as is extremely popular with Shakespeare, Nelson is approaching the show as a “timeless fairytale.” There will be a mixture of modern, fairy tale and medieval accents. Just like the story itself, this production will not fit neatly into any defined categories. 

    “The great thing about performing at the Poe House, our summer home, is that it is beautiful, especially when all of the flowers are in bloom,” Nelson said. “It does most of the work creating a magical setting for us. We don’t have to make these huge sets. The challenge is making arrangements to capitalize on the natural beauty and fold it into the show.”

    For those unfamiliar with live theater and Shakespeare, a Sweet Tea Shakespeare performance is a fantastic introduction. Nelson wants to remind audience members that Shakespeare intended his work to be performed. Reading “Cymbeline” and seeing it come to life onstage are two completely different experiences, and seeing actors breathe life into unfamiliar language presents the story in totally new way.

    “Don’t be intimidated,” Nelson said. “It is our job to make sure you are having a good time. It is like coming over to our house. We will make sure there’s something there for you to enjoy.”

    For tickets and information, visit www.sweetteashakespeare.com

  • 0GolfTourneyWhen service members leave the military, they have help transitioning to the civilian world. They have access to job training, they get help with their resumes, they learn about interview processes and more. “It’s all about helping service members get prepared for that next phase in their lives,” said retired CSM Ron Thompson.

    On Friday, July 14, Transition Assistance Services will host a golf tournament to benefit Fort Bragg military spouses with career training. The training will be provided by Fayetteville Technical Community College.

    “All of the funds raised go to training military spouses at FTCC,” Thompson said. “What we’re doing is helping families that are transitioning and changing careers. Many service members have spouses that maybe didn’t have a career while their soldier was serving. We help them get ready for their civilian lives.”

    Thompson went on to say that the program so many service members use to prepare for life after the Army is called the Transition Assistance Program. It focuses on getting transitioning soldiers a job, among other things. Spouses often go through the TAP program but don’t have the same guarantee of getting a job at the end. That’s what makes this tournament special.

    “We’re going to help spouses get jobs,” Thompson said. “We have companies we’ve partnered with, and they will hire spouses after they complete this training. Some of the classes are two weeks; some last six weeks or two months.”

    FTCC routinely offers programs that include things like forklift driver certification, CDL licensing and more. Thompson noted there are 12 to 15 programs at FTCC geared toward this kind of training.

    “Some of the courses only get your resume ready, others come with the expectation of a job at the end of the training. (For) the three we’re doing — you have a job when you get done with this training.”

    One program involves working in a shipyard, one involves repairing wrecked cars and one involves training for a  CDL license.

    “We just want to take care of soldiers and their families,” Thompson said. “I spent 30 years in the Army, and I just want to help. Spouses are at home a lot of times taking care of the family while their soldier is serving our country. So, when the soldier gets out of the Army, what skills do they have? Maybe they want to start a second career. Giving them the skills that will help them get a job and be successful at it will be a success story for these families and for  the military.”

    Thompson added that he sees TAP as a great program because it helps soldiers who come in, and maybe after three to five years, they realize that the military is not for them. “They leave, and we help them find a job,” Thompson said. “When we help soldiers and their families, we are all  better for it.”

    All proceeds from this tournament will be used to pay for training military spouses. The golf tournament is at Anderson Creek Golf Club in Spring Lake. Check-in and lunch are at noon. There’s a shotgun start at 1 p.m. and registration costs $400 per team. For more information or to register your team, contact Ron Thompson at (910) 578-3660 or email Ron5150t@yahoo.com.

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    UCWFront11Alex Munroe used to take his dog to play and swim in a beautiful lake in Elizabethtown. When the idyllic property came up for sale, Munroe didn’t hesitate. He could have kept the picturesque secret for himself. Instead, he developed a venue he could share with the community: Cape Fear Vineyard and Winery.

    It’s been a little over a year since CFVW opened its doors and it is quickly becoming the premier destination for things like fine dining, weddings, events and getaways — and for good reason.

    “We are so close to the Fayetteville community,” Monroe said. “We are accessible. For someone looking for a nice ‘daycation,’ there are not many places around (where) you can do so many things.”

    Fine Dining The menu at CFVW is all farm-to-table and changes seasonally. “We like to keep it fresh,” Munroe said. “You can come have great food. We pair every meal with our wine, and we develop our wines around our menu. The house wines used here have been developed to go with North Carolina vegetables, meat, poultry and pork. We took a lot of care developing (them).”

    Events The scenic grounds, unique waterside venue and welcoming staff are all reasons to plan a wedding, family reunion or other event at CFVW. Lakeside lodging, one of the largest camellia exhibits in the state, the ballroom, a lakeside amphitheater and a pavilion are perfect for making memories.

    Outdoor Entertainment “We are proud to be members of the North Carolina Agritourism Project,” Munroe said. “The average child is three generations removed from farming. So, most children today have never picked up a chicken egg from under a chicken or seen a chicken up close. Here, they can see llamas, mini horses, mini donkeys, swans, peacocks and Flemish rabbits, which are the largest in the world. We have blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, grapes and over 200 rose bushes. We have an 18-acre lake and beautiful land preserved around us. We also have honey bees; we are making our honey.”

    Art “After 9/11, New York City was shut down. Do you know where people went?” Munroe asked. “They went to museums.” CFVW is home to works by modern masters including Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall and Salvador Dali. “Studies show that when people look at art, it triggers the same emotional response in the brain as when a small child looks at their mother,” Munroe said. “That had an impact on me.”

    The collection also includes artworks by celebrities including Grace Slick, Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Ronnie Wood, Phyllis Diller, Muhammed Ali, David Lee Roth, Sylvester Stallone, Sophia Loren, Jaques Cousteau, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Johnny Cash, Mr. Brainwash, Red Skelton, Dom Delouise, Sid Caesar, Burt Reynolds and many more. “They may not be professionally trained, but these pieces give you a chance to know these celebrities differently,” Munroe said.

    It’s in this spirit that CFVW chose to partner with the Fayetteville Dinner Theatre to present “The Fantasticks.”

    The longest-running off-Broadway show of all time, this musical comedy  is the perfect show for Fayetteville audiences. Playing off the talents of a strong cast, it has a clever storyline with lyrics written by Tom Jones and ageless music and songs by Harvey Schmidt.

    Director Jeanne Koonce, Purple Door Productions, sees the intimate setting of the dinner theater as providing another major strength for this production. The show is funny, romantic and intimate, and all with only eight characters.

    The cast is composed of local and regional talent many theater enthusiasts will recognize. The Girl, Luisa, is played by Fayetteville resident Amber Jansen, a junior at Massey Hill Classical High School.

    The Boy, Matt, is played by Ryan Ransom, a St. Pauls native and a music/ theater student at UNC Pembroke.

    El Gallo is played by Clay Rogers. He is a native of Fairmont and employed by Givens Performing Arts Center in Pembroke.

    A strong supporting cast includes Robeson County natives Matt Jacobs and Steve Chambers as the meddling fathers and Denver McCullough as Henry, the old actor. McCullough has performed in many local and regional productions at Cape Fear Regional Theatre and the former Fort Bragg Playhouse. UNCP student Dakota Hammonds plays Henry’s sidekick, Mortimer. UNCP alumni Winona Oxendine is cast as the mute and the stage manager.

    The Fayetteville Dinner Theatre is being billed as “A unique theater experience.” Defined, this means the evening will include much more than a great show performed by talented actors.

    The evening begins with a V.I.P. reception and wine-tasting and sale at 6 p.m. hosted by CFVW. The winery will showcase seven of its wines.

    At 6:30 p.m., a three-course, duel-entrée dinner will be served by the Ramada Plaza staff while the theater guests are entertained by Fayetteville’s own Cross Creek Chordsmen, an award-winning chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society Choral Group. According to spokesman Joshua GrayHeim, the group will present a repertoire of current hits as well as traditional four-part harmonies dating back to the 1800s and early 1900s. 

    “The Fantasticks” opens immediately following. There will be plenty of prizes and surprises at intermission as well as a post-show meet-and-greet with the actors. The FDT and CFVW will give away a grand prize each evening worth hundreds of dollars. Prizes include a dinner for two at the winery with a complimentary bottle of wine, a flight of all seven of CFVW’s wines and a two-night stay in the cabins on the lake at CFVW.

    Proceeds from “The Fantasticks” benefit the Kidsville News Literacy and Education Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit, for securing reading and educational resources for Cumberland County children. CFVW will also donate all proceeds from the wine-tasting and sale to  the foundation. 

    “With an awesome show, talented actors, a V.I.P. reception, an exclusive wine-tasting, a great dinner, door prizes, entertainment by the Cross Creek Chordsmen, and all culminating with a post-show meetand-greet and grand prize giveaway, this will truly be ‘a unique theatre experience’” said FDT producer and Up & Coming Weekly Publisher Bill Bowman. “It’s all about giving the audience what they pay for. Value. Fayetteville residents appreciate good theater and great entertainment, and that is what we are going to provide for them.”

    Bowman also expressed his appreciation and thanks to the FDT supporters and sponsors: Ramada Plaza, Allegra Printing & Imaging, Five Star Entertainment and Women’s View Magazine.

    Show dates are July 27, 28 and 29. Tickets cost $75 per person with discounts for seniors 65+ and active duty military. Tickets are available from 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. at the FDT Box Office at the Ramada Plaza. Call (910) 391-3859 for details.

    To make reservations online or to learn more about the show, visit www.fayettevilledinnertheatre.com. To learn more about CFVW, visit www.capefearwinery.com.

    PHOTO: Cape Fear Vineyard and Winery offers a variety of dining and entertainment venues.

     

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    UCWFront10Bud Light, in partnership with the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival, presents its free summer concert series featuring On the Border: The Ultimate Eagles Tribute Band, Friday, July 14, at 7 p.m. in  Festival Park.

    “This concert is expected to be our largest Fayetteville After 5 event,” said Sarah Suggs,  marketing and events coordinator for the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival. “We have had On the Border before; they are an Eagles Tribute Band and a Fayetteville favorite.” Suggs said the opening performance would be Quilted Sky. Quilted Sky is a cover band and is local to the area.  

    On the Border is from Charlotte, North Carolina. They perform shows all over the United States at major festivals, music venues, casinos, theaters and other events. The band was crowned “The Greatest Eagles Tribute Band in the World” by AXSTV and Katie Daryl. The group consists of Tracy Maples, Tim Giovanniello, Bill Morgan, Andy Young, Scott Sobota and Bob Orazi.

    The concert is a fundraiser for the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival organization. “We put on events throughout the year, and the purpose is to raise money for the next event so we can  continue to put on these free concerts for the community,” Suggs said. “Fayetteville After 5 events were started three or four years ago and would take place on the fourth Friday. Now the events are scheduled for the second Friday of summer months.”

    There is more than great music at Fayetteville After 5, though. The event will feature food trucks from My Daddy’s Barbeque, Brain Freeze Ice Cream, Hibachi Express, King Queen #1 Haitian Cuisine, Kona-Ice, My Boricua Kitchen, Queso Monster, Tropical Island Concessions, Flavapaloza, Ragging Rooster, Bowls on a Roll, Tony’s Concession and Babann’s Southern Fried Chicken. A concession stand will be on-site and beer will be sold. “We encourage people to get there early because we are expecting a large crowd,” Suggs said. “We look forward to great music, food and fun.”

    Admission is free. Gates open at 5 p.m. No outside food or beverages are allowed within the park. The public is encouraged to bring blankets and chairs. For more information, call (910) 323-1934.

    PHOTO: On the Border - The Ultimate Eagles Tribute Band is set to perform at Fayetteville After 5 on July 14.

     

     

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    UCWFront09Drug overdose deaths have become so common in America that they hardly make the news. But the abuse of medically prescribed opiates and the reemergence of illegal heroin are alarming trends that have gotten the attention of communities everywhere. Fayetteville even established a Mayoral task force to combat  opioid abuse.

    “I’m excited to learn that Fayetteville is a leader in implementing innovative programs to combat this crisis,” said NC Attorney General Josh Stein during a recent meeting here.

    Opioids are used to treat moderate to severe pain that may not respond well to other pain medications. Codeine, Morphine, Percocet, Fentanyl and heroin are in that class of drugs. Heroin, of course, is illegal but less expensive on the street than  the others.

    One of the significant effects of an opioid overdose is respiratory depression and/or arrest. Patients’ breathing slows or stops, which will eventually lead to death. Naloxone, also known by the trade name Narcan, is used to counteract life-threatening situations by allowing an overdose victim to breathe normally. It is non-addictive and now available without prescription in North Carolina.

    Fayetteville Police were among the first in the state to be equipped with naloxone. It was authorized in 2013 by a change in state law that cleared the way for law enforcement to carry and administer naloxone.

    “Our officers have saved 78 lives using naloxone in the last two years,” said Police Captain Lars Paul. Initially, the PD used medicinal injectors of Narcan that were donated to the department. Since then, $11,000 in drug forfeiture money was used to purchase Narcan nasal spray, which is far less expensive. 

    While police and EMS can administer naloxone to overdose patients, Fayetteville firefighters cannot. They are first responders who often arrive on the scene of medical emergencies before others. And all city firefighters are trained EMTs. Violent withdrawal symptoms can sometimes cause patients to be combative. Brian Pearce, Cape Fear Valley Medical Center Emergency Medical Service director, said that firefighter safety was the primary consideration in determining whether to authorize them to administer naloxone.

    He said “firefighters can deliver appropriate patient care for opioid overdose patients in a safe manner without administering naloxone.” But, he added, it’s up to the fire department to decide if personnel should carry naloxone. Pearce administers laws and regulations of the county medical director.

    “We have been trained in life support measures to increase the survivability of patients until they receive the correct level of advanced care that they may need,” stated Fire Department spokesman, Battalion Chief Michael Martin. Fire crews administer oxygen using bag valve masks, which breathe for patients when they cannot effectively breathe themselves. Fire Chief Ben Major was not available for comment, but it’s his decision whether to authorize firefighters to carry and use naloxone. “All they have to do is work with us to come up with a plan and protocols for administration and education and obtain the funding to purchase the naloxone,” Pearce said. “Then we would update the county EMS plan, and they would be allowed to administer naloxone.”

     

     

  • UCWFront08If Fayetteville Mayor Nat Robertson hoped that by announcing early he was seeking re-election would discourage others from entering the Mayor’s race, he miscalculated.

    District 2 City Councilman Kirk deViere has decided to seek the position. Robertson defeated deViere in the 2013 municipal primary election. Many political pundits thought he would do one more term serving District 2 before seeking the mayor’s seat. The twoweek City Council filing period for the fall elections is underway, and it’s doubtful the mayor’s race will be the only contested seat. At this writing, at least two incumbent members of Council, Bobby Hurst and Ted Mohn, have said they would not seek  re-election.

    DeViere came to Fayetteville with the Army about 20 years ago. He currently owns and operates 219 Group, an advertising and marketing firm headquartered in downtown Fayetteville. His announcement came in the form of a three-minute YouTube video posted on Facebook.

    In his public address, he said all residents must work together to make Fayetteville a better place to live. He referred to “inequalities across the city” and suggested that more community amenities must be developed that will bring back people who’ve been fleeing the community, claiming that Cumberland County is losing population, unlike virtually all other metropolitan areas of North Carolina.

    He also spoke of what he called “decaying neighborhoods” and streets in need of desperate repair. He was supported by his wife Jenny who affirmed that they are committed to the race and the community.

    PHOTO: Mayor Nat Robertson and Councilman Kirk DeViere

     

  • UCWFront07Fayetteville’s new chief of police will hit the ground running when she starts her new job next month. Gina Hawkins, 49, the deputy chief of the Clayton County, Georgia, Police Department, was selected by City Manager Doug Hewett.

    He acknowledged during a news conference that his choice might initially appear unpopular since many ranking members of the Police Department’s command staff supported Interim Chief Anthony Kelly. “Selecting the new chief is one of the most difficult decisions I have been faced with since becoming the City Manager and one that I don‘t take lightly,” Hewett said. “I am exceedingly grateful for Kelly’s service as interim chief,” he added. Kelly meanwhile pledged his continued best efforts and support to the new chief as her senior assistant chief.

    Hewett described Hawkins as a multifaceted criminal justice professional with 28 years of comprehensive experience. She holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice from Georgia State University and a master of science in management from Johns Hopkins University. She is a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police at Boston University and is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

    Hewett outlined distinctions he said set Hawkins apart from the other finalists: a diverse skillset which includes the ability to listen to others, attention to detail, the ability to adapt and evolve, ease of connecting with people, a sense of humor and an education, which includes advanced degrees. Her starting pay will be $140,000.

    PHOTO: Gina Hawkins, Fayetteville’s new chief of police

     

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    UCWFront06The City of Fayetteville received an additional $1.85 million in grants from the Golden LEAF Foundation to provide relief for projects related to Hurricane Matthew recovery efforts.

    This new funding will be applied to the following projects: $993,000 for additional debris removal from four creeks — Branson Creek, Blounts Creek, Hybarts Branch and Buckhead Creek. Spruce Street drainage will  receive $873,831.

    These grants are in addition to a $1.2 million grant the City received in April that paid for the removal of debris from Cross Creek and the replacement of a road at Rayconda destroyed during Hurricane Matthew. The City is now applying for additional grants in the third round of funding, asking for $2.5+ million for bank stabilization (City’s Cross Creek Cemetery #2) along with more than $800,000 for storm debris removal from Beaver Creek, Little Cross Creek tributaries and Bones Creek. Neighborhoods affected by these tributaries are Chestnut Hills, Hollywood Heights, Beaver Run, Cliffdale West and the Washington Drive community.

    “Golden LEAF has again come through for us in a big way to assist with our Hurricane Matthew recovery efforts in Fayetteville,” Mayor Nat Robertson said. The Golden LEAF Foundation is committed to using the funds entrusted to it by the General Assembly through the Disaster Recovery Act of 2016.

    Cape Fear River Contamination Inspection

    The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality has inspected the Chemours Fayetteville facility and verified that the company is now containing wastewater from its byproduct GenX, thereby preventing further discharge of the unregulated chemical compound into the Cape Fear River. DEQ officials verified during an on-site inspection that Chemours is redirecting the wastewater into temporary storage tanks at the Fayetteville facility.

    “We are holding Chemours accountable for containing the compound as we continue to investigate the presence of GenX in the Cape Fear River,” said Michael Regan, secretary of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality.

    The state is investigating reports of GenX presence in the lower Cape Fear River at Wilmington. Chemours previously discharged wastewater from the process into the Cape Fear for many years.


    Breached Dams Meetings Set This Month

    The City of Fayetteville is holding meetings this summer for residents whose neighborhood dams were destroyed by Hurricane Matthew. These meetings will be held for the following neighborhoods at the listed dates, times and locations:

    • Mirror Lake Dam: City Hall, Tues., July 25, 6 p.m.

    • Devonwood: City Hall, Tues., July 25, 7:30 p.m.

    • Gables, Strickland Bridge, Loch Lomond and all other city private dams: City Hall, Thurs., July  27, 6 p.m.

    • Arran Lakes: Lake Rim Recreation Center, Tues., Aug. 1, 6 p.m.

    • Rayconda: Lake Rim Recreation Center, Tues., Aug. 1, 7:30 p.m. 

    The City is working with homeowners’ associations to encourage turnout at the meetings and to solicit feedback. That feedback will be presented to City Council at a future meeting.


    Free Lunches for Kids This Summer

    Cumberland County Schools are helping to keep children healthy while school is out, recognizing that for some, daily school lunches are a necessity. CCS’ Child Nutrition Services is providing free meals to area children this summer.  Meals are served at 17 locations around Cumberland County, Monday through Friday through July 28. Anyone 18 or younger is welcome. The meals are free.

    “Children can receive nutritious meals … by visiting open feeding sites or attending camps, church programs and other organizations that participate in the Summer Feeding Program,” said Beth Maynard, Executive Director of CCS’ Child Nutrition Services. Each year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture partners with CCS’ Child Nutrition Services to provide the meals to children when school is out for the summer.


    Local Real Estate Broker Earns Distinguished Designation 

    Grant-Murray Real Estate, LLC., of Fayetteville announced that Rishi Shah completed training to earn the designation as Certified Commercial Investment Member. The distinction denotes that Shah has completed advanced coursework in financial and market analysis and demonstrated extensive experience in the commercial real estate industry.

    Shah has been a Broker Associate with GrantMurray since November 2014. He earned a degree in economics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He’s a native of Laurinburg and grew up in Fayetteville. Grant-Murray is a full-service commercial real estate and investment brokerage firm. 

     

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    HIT: Fayetteville’s 15th annual Blues-N-Brews Festival was a resounding success. It’s the Cape Fear Regional Theatre’s major fundraiser. Thousands turned out at Festival Park and paid $40 each for small glasses resembling shot glasses on steroids to sample the many craft beers available and enjoy the concert.


    MISS: The departure of newspaperman Andrew Barksdale from The Fayetteville Observer is a loss for our community. Andrew spent 17 years reporting on local government for the Observer. He was a good journalist. Barksdale is a casualty of the purchase of the newspaper by GateHouse Media, headquartered in suburban Rochester, New York. He said he’s been looking to change jobs for quite a while. He resigned to take a job in public relations with the state Department of Transportation in Raleigh.


    HIT: Imagine this: A motorist driving along Pinecrest Drive was actually doing 25 mph, the speed limit. I was behind her. When she turned onto Morganton Road, she stepped it up to 35 mph, also the speed limit. I was in no hurry, but you can imagine how impatient everyone else was.


    MISS: The Bragg Boulevard construction detour near downtown was a flop. DOT set up signs, orange barrels and cones directing inbound traffic to turn left onto the Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway over to Ramsey Street and then downtown. A smarter and much shorter detour was to turn right onto the MLK over to Hay Street, only three-tenths of a mile, and then downtown. Motorists had to figure that out for themselves … and many did.


    HIT: Thanks to the merchants and restaurants who give seniors their discounts without customers having to ask for them. In most cases, it’s obvious when seniors are making purchases and are therefore entitled to their 10 percent discount. Not all places give the discounts unless requested by the customers.


    MISS:  Pretty soon, the new downtown FAST Transit Center will open. It’s more than a year behind schedule. Greyhound will also use the terminal. Something’s missing, though. There isn’t any public parking on the property for visitors or families. There are a few parking spots on the street.


    HIT: City Councilman Ted Mohn speaks his mind no matter what. He said he isn’t going to seek re-election, which may be why he’s so willing to be more straightforward these days. Not only does Mohn say it like it is, he’s the Council’s resident numbers analyst. Maybe we can persuade him to run again.

     

     

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    UCWFront04With some fanfare, the Fayetteville City Council last Monday unanimously adopted its FY2018 budget without a tax increase.

    That’s great for incumbent Councilmembers who face opposition during the upcoming fall municipal election and didn’t want to face the ire of property owners. But it’s not so great for citizens next year when the Council’s ambitious spending spree comes home to roost.

    I predict there will be a call for a major tax increase next year. As Councilman Jim Arp recently told a civic group, he never knew of any governmental entity that asked for less money than in previous years.

    So, the tax rate remains at 49.95 cents per $100 valuation. City Manager Doug Hewett wanted to bump the tax rate to 52.7 cents. The 2.7 cent hike would make up for what the City will lose because of declining property values.

    Lower property values result in a 4.6 percent loss in property taxes. However, budget analysts estimate the City will gain 1.75 percent in personal property taxes and another 3.5 percent in motor vehicle taxes. They also project a 4.1 percent growth in sales taxes.

    According to budget gurus, the 52.7 cent tax rate would get the City the same amount from property taxes it got last year, and property owners wouldn’t really shell out more money.

    But City Council balked at the idea of “raising” taxes, even to a revenue neutral state. Instead, they let Hewett come up with increasing fees.

    What’s the difference between taxes and fees, you may ask? Well, fees aren’t deductible on your federal tax returns. And, I’ve never heard of fees going down. I’ve always considered them a euphemism for taxes.

    Hewett asked for and got a 59.26 percent fee increase for picking up your garbage, recyclables, leaves and pine straw, and on occasion some of the big stuff you haul to the curb.

    The increase from $44 to $108 is $64 a year. It’s still a good deal for getting stuff taken away from your house unless you live in the western part of the City. That’s the area swallowed up by the 2005 Big Bang annexation, and where the City touted its green rollout garbage can as part of a deal of a lifetime for those being annexed.

    That’s a $5.33 per month increase that people in the annexed areas were initially told would be part of their City taxes.

    The stormwater fee also increased, from $45 to $51. I can’t argue with that. We need all the help we can get to stem flooding in Fayetteville. Hurricane Matthew proved that. But most people won’t see a direct benefit, except for an occasional street sweeper or drain-clearing project. The proposed $2.26 million for stormwater drainage projects just won’t spread across a city the size of Fayetteville.

    Overall, the FY 2018 budget increases spending by about 1 percent over last year. There are some big-ticket items on the horizon. There’s the $33 million downtown baseball stadium; $3.6 million for a parking deck at City Hall; $400,000 for land for short-term downtown parking; and $529,000 for operating costs for the soon-to-be-completed $11 million downtown transit center that’s already $400,000 over budget.

    Hewett and his budgeteers will have an interesting and perhaps stressful time coming up with a hold-the-line budget next year. Then again, it’s not a municipal election year.

     

     

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    UCWFront03North Carolina is known for many fine food products — the world’s best barbecue, hush puppies and collard sandwiches come to mind immediately. What could be better than a big ol’ collard sandwich washed down with a frosty glass of iced tea seasoned with a tasty chemical called GenX?

    GenX is thoughtfully provided by DuPont & Chemours Fayetteville Works nestled beside the Cape Fear River. Remember what happened when your mother got angry with you? If she called out your full name, you were toast. When GenX’s momma gets mad at GenX, she yells out GenX’s full name, which is Perflouro-2-Propxypropanic Acid.

    It turns out the public didn’t know until this month that GenX has been swimming in the Cape Fear River since 1980. Through one of those Catch-22 loopholes that the federal regulators create to help favored industries, GenX did not have to meet any clean drinking water standards. Because GenX was produced as a byproduct of another chemical and not made intentionally, the Feds didn’t have any requirements to keep it out of your children’s drinking water. There is some indication that drinking GenX-infused water might not be good for you from a health standpoint. But, since it got into drinking water legally, no harm, no foul.

    The North Carolina General Assembly just passed House Bill 576, which is better known as the Garbage Juice bill. This is an appetizing concept the Landfill Lobby sold the legislature.

    Let’s say you own a dump. Dumps ooze nasty cootie-filled liquids called leachate as the garbage rots. If you own the dump, you can’t just let the garbage juice run off into the local creek. Those soreheads in charge of clean water make you either keep your garbage juice on-site or haul it off to be disposed of in some poverty-stricken locale that lacks the political clout to keep it out. Either of these options is expensive. Can the General Assembly help the dump owners? Why sure.

    Instead of hauling the garbage juice off, let’s just spray it into the air with giant fans called aerosolizers. In theory, the wind will carry away the suddenly clean water, and the solid cooties will just fall like toxic snowflakes back into the dump. What could go wrong? The inventor of the giant fans contributed $5,000 to State Senator Trudy Wade, the main sponsor of the Garbage Juice Bill. Of course, this $5,000 had nothing to do with Senator’s Wade’s sponsoring the Garbage Juice Bill. The bill requires the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality to approve the use of the giant spray fans. Some soreheads think the garbage juice sprayed into the air will drift off-site and deposit cootie-filled water droplets on neighbors, cats, dogs and children.

    Some sissies think the GenX and Garbage Juice will make North Carolina a less attractive place to live. Fortunately, Sterling Cooper has come up with an ad campaign to make North Carolina pollution hip.

    Here are some of the slogans:  Wow! I could have had a Garbage Juice. Garbage Juice, good to the last drop. If it tasted any better, it would still be in the dump. I’d like to buy the world a Garbage Juice. Things go better with Garbage Juice. Garbage Juice — the pause that refreshes. Have a Garbage Juice and a tumor. Behold the power of Garbage Juice. Garbage Juice — something special in the air. Garbage Juice — the fabric of our lives and the lining of our stomachs. Garbage Juice is forever. Every kiss begins with Garbage Juice. Garbage Juice— it’s magically delicious. Garbage Juice — melts in your liver, not in your hands. The Champagne of bottled Garbage Juice. All the Garbage Juice that’s fit to drink. Garbage Juice hits the spot. Silly rabbit, Garbage Juice is for kids. Garbage Juice tastes good like dump leachate should.

    As John Lennon once sang, “Garbage Juice is all you need.” Drink up and don’t complain. The government knows best.

     

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    02VirtualRealityWedding season is in full swing, and I have already attended several with one more next month in a public park and one in September in the country music capital of the world, Nashville, Tennessee. Each has been or will be accompanied by several other festivities, including but not limited to engagement parties celebrating engagements that might last years, bridal showers, bachelor/ bachelorette trips with friends, dinners and afterparties. Wedding dresses are chosen with as much anticipation as selecting a groom. Wedding trips are often exotic — islands in the Pacific or off the coast of South America or in romantic Paris. 

    Today’s weddings encompass much more of everything — planning, time, people and certainly expense — than a mere stroll down the aisle.

    My own nuptials decades ago were a relatively low-key affair. We decided to wed in June and did so three months later, in September. My father walked me down the aisle of a downtown Fayetteville church. I wore a white silk dress stitched for me by a lovely seamstress with a storefront on Yadkin Road. My groom and his brother got new suits for the occasion, and my only attendant, my sister, wore a dress we picked out just because we liked it. Our reception was in the yard of my aunt and uncle’s home, and my father and I did not have to choose music for a “father-daughter dance,” since we had no band. No one came from far away except a former roommate and her new hubby who came from England, but only because he worked for the airline and they could fly for free. My groom and I escaped to Charleston (with dead fish hidden under the car’s hood courtesy of a mischievous cousin) for a few days, followed by a week at Topsail Beach.

    We thought it was all grand!

    But my groom and I belonged to the baby boomer generation. Today’s young couples are millennials, and they are putting their stamps on the marriage process  — and, surely, on the institution itself. Engagements are announced on Instagram and Snapchat, and occasionally on Facebook, although that is more a medium for Boomers now that millennials have started moving on. Ditto for shopping expeditions, parties, food-tastings, makeup sessions and on and on and on — all shared via social media. We can all participate in the experience from courtship to honeymoon in ways no one ever imagined as my groom and I drove along, wondering why the car smelled so fishy.

    Among the stranger marriage developments, I have lately encountered guests who attend weddings by Skype or FaceTime, both billed as the next best thing to being there. These would require some dexterity as to holding the phone or computer for a relatively long time, and I wonder whether the “guest” on the receiving end of the wedding technology dresses up in wedding finery for the call, or whether he or she just  wears pajamas?

    Strangest of all is an NPR story I heard recently involving “virtual” attendance at weddings and other family occasions. The “guest” puts on special 3-D glasses just like the movies and “attends” the event, feeling like he or she is there. One woman interviewed for the story wept as she “attended” an event in her grandfather’s home nations away. The problem is, no one there knew she felt like she was in the room as she boohooed thousands of miles away.

    All of that said, Millennial couples embarking on marriage face the same learning curves couples of all prior generations faced. We marry not just a person, but families who can guide and support us over time. We all have to learn to be kind to each other, to compromise, to plan and dream for our joint futures, to plan financially and responsibly, and if we are so blessed, to bring up children who are productive and loving. We all have to learn that sometimes our spouses are our lovers, sometimes our friends and sometimes just our roommates who don’t want to do the dishes or mow the grass either. We all have to learn that our spouse whom we have promised to share our lives with is not perfect, but then neither are we.

    I am OK with nuptial progress — Skype, FaceTime and such, even though I would have a hard time staying focused on a little screen for an entire wedding and reception with toasts, dancing and long-distance festivities.

    But I am concerned about how to bring my lips to a flute of “virtual” Champagne... 

     

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    UCWFront01Well, Kirk deViere’s YouTube announcement last week that he intends to give up his District 2 City Council seat and enter the race for mayor makes it look like Fayetteville residents are going to experience a spirited municipal race and election this fall.

    Two-term incumbent Mayor, Nat Robertson, has much going for him, including years of experience, a grassroots kinship with the Fayetteville community and a long list of municipal accomplishments with an even longer list of Republican friends, donors and supporters. On the other hand, Florida-born outsider deViere was introduced to Fayetteville via his 10-year Army tenure and affiliations through Fort Bragg. He consequently and consciously adopted Fayetteville as his “hometown.” Here, he built his reputation, his businesses and his home. With his marriage to one of Fayetteville’s local and most prominent favorite daughters, Jenny Beaver, he is now in the process of raising a Fayetteville family.

    With these two worthy contenders having much in common, it practically assures an exciting and competitive race. Matter of fact, they have so much in common it makes you wonder why they are vying for the same position and not combining their experience, intellect and passion into building a leadership coalition that would expedite Fayetteville’s growth and prosperity for all citizens. It has been said that Fayetteville is a tale of two cities  — the “haves” and the “have-nots.” Well, I’m not sure I buy that. Fayetteville is one city, and it should be governed as one city. Robertson and deViere are both good men. A close look at these two candidates reflects many positive similarities.

    Both candidates love the Fayetteville community and are committed to making it a better place to live, work and raise  a family.

    Both are honest, intelligent and reasonable with a lot of common sense.

    Both are free-thinking and can articulate and communicate their ideas  succinctly.

    Both understand the importance of long-term planning and leadership.

    Both have positive visions for the Fayetteville community.

    Both have demonstrated an extreme work ethic.

    Both have extensive “hands-on” business experience.

    Both are entrepreneurial and have owned businesses.

    Both are familiar with the pressures of making an employee payroll.

    Both are logical and creative thinkers.

    Both are family-oriented: Robertson has two successful grown children raised in Fayetteville and deViere has chosen to raise his children in Fayetteville.

    Both their wives are local women of substance who have successful professional careers. Both women are involved and active in the community and extremely dedicated to and supportive of their husbands.

    Both want to see Fayetteville grow and prosper both economically and socially.

    And, both contenders know the agony of defeat, having each lost a previous mayoral campaign.

    So, on the surface, we have two substantially qualified candidates who undoubtedly and passionately have the City of Fayetteville’s best interest at heart. Personal leadership style and philosophy may end up being the only real contentions between the two. Let’s hope so. We do not need the overwhelming vitriol that was present when Robertson ran against and defeated real estate agent Val Applewhite in 2013. Many people felt that was fueled because Applewhite’s priorities were misaligned and that she was running for all the wrong reasons.

    No one can predict what will take place in the coming weeks. Will it be a dignified and respectable mayoral race between two dignified and respectable city servants? 

    No one knows, but, I sincerely hope so.  No doubt both candidates want to be leaders and accountable to the people. I’m hoping for an aggressive but positive and respectable campaign — one where the winner becomes mayor and the loser remains an involved supporter and advocate of the Fayetteville community.

    No doubt The Fayetteville Observer and the local radio talk shows will try to keep the election conflicted. They think it sells more papers and gains listeners. I doubt it. The fact is, our local daily newspaper doesn’t have many reporters left in the newsroom, if any, who have a qualified local historical and political perspective of Fayetteville, let alone of the candidates. And, with its local editorial page editor living two counties away in Chatham County, you can be sure his opinions and insights will be shallow and antagonistic.

    The local radio talk shows will tend to follow their same “unfair and unbalanced” format. My best advice to the candidates and the community is to resist, resist, resist. This means Fayetteville residents must do their due diligence by vetting each candidate. Talk openly with and candidly to these two highly-qualified mayoral candidates. Then vote your conscience. Don’t depend on the media.

    Our community is on the verge of greatness. Fayetteville residents want it, and we deserve it. 

    I close this editorial with excellent advice to all the 2017 candidates intending to affect Fayetteville’s future and quality of life. To paraphrase Gen. George Patton, lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way. Anything else and you are impeding progress.

    I thank both Mayor Robertson and City Councilman Kirk deViere for their service to our community. And, I thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly. 

     

  • UCWBack17As the American Legion Area II regular season ends, the Hope Mills Boosters are again in contention for a trip to the state tournament, which will be held at Pitt Community College this year, July 20-25.

    Through a June 28 win over Jacksonville, Hope Mills still held a piece of first place with an 11-1 Area II record, 12-3 overall. Their main rival, also with a single league defeat, is perennial power Wilmington Post 10.

    At this writing, Hope Mills had road games left with Wilmington and Wallace, which is also in the title picture, and a home doubleheader with Whiteville. Whiteville was knocked out of the regular-season title picture when it forfeited multiple wins for using an ineligible player. Morehead City announced it won’t take part in this year’s playoffs.

    Hope Mills rolled to an 8-0 start before facing strong opposition in a recent tournament in Florence, S.C. They took a five-inning 10-0 loss to Garner and lost a slugfest with defending state and regional American Legion champion Rowan County, 11-9.

    “We didn’t see our real good competition until after that eighth game,’’ said Hope Mills coach Mark Kahlenberg. “Garner was a solid team with good pitching and they hit the ball well against us.’’

    Pitching was Hope Mills’ biggest problem in the loss to Rowan County. “I think we had 11 or 12 walks against them,’’ Kahlenberg said.

    Walks have hurt Hope Mills all season, Kahlenberg said. In the Florence tournament they walked 30 in three games. For the season the total is 67 in 15.

    “That’s 4.5 per game,’’ he said. “We’d like to get that number down to maybe one or two free passes a night. We’d prefer none, but one or two a game you can deal with.’’

    The 18-man roster for Hope Mills includes players from South View, Jack Britt and Purnell Swett.

    Among the better county pitchers for the team are Andrew Sabalboro of South View and James Howell, D.J. Bishop and Zach Knapp of Jack Britt. Howell and Sabalboro both have earned run averages of zero. Bishop has a win and has allowed only two hits. Knapp is 2-0 with 18 strikeouts in 11.2 innings.

    Knapp is among the offensive leaders with a .367 average including three home runs and eight RBIs. “He’s consistently been in the 5-6 slot in the order,’’  Kahlenberg said.

    If Hope Mills can finish either first or second in the final Area II standings, it will get a first-round bye for the state playoffs, which begin July 7.

    The teams that don’t get byes, Nos. 3-6, will match up in best-of-three series. The winners of those will face the top two teams in another best-of-three round. The top-seeded team gets the lowest-seeded survivor of the first round.

    The two teams that win in the second round are automatically guaranteed berths in the state tournament. The coaches of those teams will then decide if they’ll have a one-game playoff or a series to determine which team is No. 1 seed from Area II for the state tournament.

    Kahlenberg would like to get one of the byes but said it won’t be the end of the season if they don’t. “We feel confident if we don’t have that first-round bye we’re going to have enough pitching and we hit the ball well enough that we’re going to make it to the second round at least,’’ he said.

    “Maybe we can get in a couple of practices and stay fresh for that second-round matchup, whoever it  may be.’’

    EDITOR’S NOTE: The critical Friday, June 30th, Hope Mills at Wilmington Post 10 game was postponed by rain. This put the remaining Hope Mills regular-season schedule in jeopardy as both teams were to end the regular schedule on July 3 and open the playoffs July 7.

    PHOTO: Mark Kahlenberg & Zach Knapp

  • news8For early settlers having a river was a key to the success of a city. It connected the town to the outside world and provided a means for trade. The rivers brought wealth and news to small towns from around the world. This ability made rivers one of the most important features of a landscape for centuries. This was true for the Cape Fear River as well. The Cape Fear River spreads throughout the Coastal and Piedmont regions of North Carolina. The river is 202 miles long and flows through 27 counties. The river helped to create Wilmington, a wealthy and busy port city. On Aug. 6, the Fayetteville Area Transportation Museum will offer a Cape Fear River Presentation and Boat Tour.

    The river was first discovered by the French explorer Giovanni da Verrazano in 1524. Over the years explorers continued to travel along the river and map it. Eventually, they also began to establish settlements along its banks. Brunswick, founded in 1726 by Maurice Moore, was the first permanent settlement along the banks of the Cape Fear. In fact, it was only 12 miles from the mouth of the river. Many settlements rose along the riverbanks, but almost as many failed. Wilmington and Campbellton were the most successful and long-lasting of the settlements. 

    It is clear that the history of the Cape Fear River is varied. The river has influenced the path of cities as they have grown up around the banks. Millions of people and hundreds of years have imbued the region with countless stories. Entire lives have played out on the banks of this river. Even now, 27 percent of the state’s population are within the Cape Fear River system.  This basin is one of the most industrialized portions of the state. Ironically the Cape Fear River basin, a 35-mile section, also boasts an incredible amount of wildlife. The estuary is brackish, so it provides saltwater animals both habitats and breeding grounds.

     The history if the Cape Fear is long and varied and Fayetteville has certainly not escaped the river’s pull. The river has shaped Fayetteville’s history through wrecks, floods and economics. On the Cape Fear River Presentation and Boat Tour, a  knowledgeable guide will present an engaging history of the Cape Fear River. This will include boats, ships and events on the river that have intersected with North Carolina’s and Fayetteville’s history.  After the presentation, which will take place at the museum, guests will drive to Campbellton Landing. At the Landing, attendees will board a boat and take a tour of the Cape Fear River.  

    This is a family-friendly event. Children above the age of 10 are welcome to attend. Registration is required prior to the event in order to participate. In order to register, call 910.433.1944. More information can also be found at the website http://www.fcpr.us/home.aspx. The boat tour will begin at 6:30 p.m. and end at 9:30 p.m. 

  • FTCCFayetteville Technical Community College has a long history of providing educational programs to citizens of the community. Fort Bragg is one of those important communities that FTCC serves. FTCC has had an office at Fort Bragg and has provided high-quality vocational, technical and curriculum courses since 1970. FTCC’s purpose statement is as follows: “To improve the educational base of society, FTCC encourages life-long learning and strives to prepare students for further workforce and educational experiences.” This purpose guides FTCC in working hard every day to improve its educational programs and the delivery of them. 

    FTCC takes to heart the opportunity to provide two-year associate programs tailored to fit the busy schedule of its military service members, veterans and dependents. As a leader on the cutting edge of providing credit for prior learning, FTCC ensures that our military members are awarded the college credit for their military occupational specialties, military education and work experience. Credits are awarded in accordance with the American Council on Education and FTCC Deans of Academics. FTCC is committed to jump-starting the service member’s education as quickly as possible and providing them with an educational plan that will lead them to academic success. 

    One of the quickest routes to a degree developed by FTCC is the Associate in General Education. Sixty-five credit hours are required to earn an Associate in General Education or specialty degree. Up to 48 hours can be satisfied with ACE and Prior Military Learning Assessment credit. Seventeen hours, or 25 percent of the degree must be completed through FTCC on site or online. FTCC fulfills the requirements for an associate’s degree that is regionally accredited, nationally recognized and fully transferable to various four-year bachelor’s degree programs.

    FTCC provides multiple platforms for the service member to attend classes. The classes are provided in the traditional 16-week format and shortened 8-week class format. These classes are delivered as face-to-face, online, hybrid and flexible, self-paced courses.  FTCC self-paced courses allow service members the most flexible option to complete studies and assignments around the military schedule. With over 200 educational programs to select from, FTCC has something for everyone. 

    To ensure that our service members’ college credits are transferable upon reassignment, FTCC became part of the Service members Opportunity Colleges degree program for the Army. SOCAD consists of colleges that offer associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs on or accessible to Army installations worldwide. SOCAD colleges form networks in which each college accepts credits from all the others. SOCAD guarantees that soldiers and their adult family members can continue toward completion of degrees even in light of multiple transfer assignments by the Army. 

    Whether a service member is starting a career in nursing, gunsmithing, automotive collision repair, criminal justice, business, humanities, computer technology or any of our other program areas, FTCC has something for you. Call 678-1050, visit our website at www.faytechcc.edu, or visit us at the Bragg Training and Education Center for help in setting you on the path for success! 

  • parlorThere is a wonderful new growth at the Museum of the Cape Fear. The historical complex is comprised of Arsenal Park, the 1897 Poe House and the Museum. These three historical sites have exhibits that explore the local history in engaging and interactive way. 

    The newest addition to the complex is an exhibit in the museum called Parlor to Parlor. “People should expect to see an in-depth look at funeral traditions and practices in the Cape Fear region. This includes some unsettling images and artifacts for some people, such a child’s coffin with a window opening for viewing the body,” Heidi Bleazey the museum specialist explained. Parlor to Parlor explores a cultural aspect of history that we don’t often see in permanent exhibits. It fits into the overall story of the Museum of the Cape Fear because it specifically looks at funeral practices in our region, using photographs and artifacts from the area.”

    Death has been a constant in human history, but the way that it is handled has changed and evolved through years and cultures. “I think the most surprising tradition/information in the exhibit is the early embalming table and equipment,” Bleazey said. “Embalming started during the Civil War in an effort to preserve soldiers’ bodies so that they could be returned to their families for burial. Another somewhat ‘creepy’ tradition is the hair jewelry and wreaths. Most people today are squeamish about using hair from a deceased loved one in a crafty display or wearing it as a piece of jewelry.”

    One major difference was the significance of the parlor, hence the name of the exhibit. “The concept of the funeral has always been the same, it was a way to pay your respects to the dead and the family. Funerals were conducted by the family minister, but they took place in the family home parlor. The body was dressed and prepared for viewing and burial by the family rather than funeral home staff. Another big difference was the ritual of mourning, especially the dress code. Widows were expected to wear mourning attire for two and a half years.” Bleazey said.

    In many ways, the funeral traditions evolve because the society changes. Looking at how people handle death can show how they lived life as well. “I think when we look at funeral practices from the past, it becomes evident that society was much more comfortable with death and the rituals surrounding it than we are today. It would seem very odd to most people if a family were to lay out a loved one’s body in their own living room today,” Bleazey says, “People died much earlier and from a variety of diseases and causes that are preventable today, making death a regular occurrence for people in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today we find it shocking and deeply upsetting if a young child passes away or even if an adult passes away before a ripe old age.”

    For more information visit http://museumofthecapefear.ncdcr.gov/

  • news7Cops across America are hurt every day. A dozen officers were gunned down in a two-week period this month in Texas, Louisiana, Michigan and Kansas. The Democratic National Convention held in Philadelphia this week put a lot of pressure on the city’s police department as the Republican National Convention did last week in Cleveland. John McNesby, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge in Philadelphia, says he thinks attacks on police officers similar to the ones in Dallas and Baton Rouge will continue until there is a political solution to the problem. 

    “Unless somebody starts to do something and starts backing the police, this is going to continue,” he said. Fayetteville Police Chief Harold Medlock agrees. “It’s terrifying,” he said, of the cop killings this month.

    Like law enforcement agencies everywhere, Fayetteville police are conducting their daily lives differently since Dallas. 

    “We’re doing all we can to make sure they’re safe,” said Medlock. “These officers are leaving their families every day and going to work.” 

    The chief has been personally attending daily assemblies as officers prepare to hit the streets allowing them to express their concerns. 

    “It’s an opportunity for me to listen to them and reassure them that the vast majority of people support law enforcement,” he added. He saidthat two more experienced officers resigned this week to go into other lines of work. There is an element of fear because, while others run from gunfire, law enforcement officers rush into the fight, Medlock said. “They fight through the fear because that’s what we do.”  

    The silver lining through all the violence is that there has been an outpouring of support from ordinary citizens, and that’s gratifying Medlock said. He notes the day has come that urban police forces in the U.S. are now armed with long guns as well as side arms. Many of Fayetteville’s patrol officers are equipped with semi-automatic, high-capacity rifles. Others are assigned 12-guage shotguns. They are required to take familiarization training courses on a regular basis. The weapons are carried in gun racks in their cruisers, not in the trunks of the cars as they once were. All members of the department are required to wear body armor, including plainclothes detectives, whenever they are conducting investigations out of the office. Two patrol cars respond now to each and every call no matter how routine, which is a word Medlock doesn’t like to use. That way, he says, he keeps the same number of cars on the street but can provide immediate backup, “and there has been no decrease in response time. We’ll do that until we can go back to responses that ordinarily require only one officer,” Medlock said. 

    Chief Medlock points to a statistic that he believes shows that the FPD has turned the corner on the de-escalation of police use of force, which has a calming influence on the community. “In the last 18 months,” he said, “there have been 92 instances in which people were armed with guns or were threatening us with guns, and not once did officers resort to the use of deadly force.” He attributes the change to training and the professionalism of the city’s more than 400 cops. Prior to Medlock taking office as chief of police in early 2013, there had been a dozen officer-involved shootings, most of which were fatal, in a three-year period dating back to 2010, according to departmental records.

  • news6What are opioids, also known as opiates, and why are they commonly prescribed? When an over-the-counter pain medication such as aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen isn’t strong enough, doctors often prescribe an opioid. They are controlled, highly addictive narcotic drugs that reduce the intensity of pain, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Depending on the nature of the pain, a physician might recommend one of these drugs: Hydrocodone (Vicodin), Oxycodone (Percocet), Morphine (Kadian, Avinza)or Codeine. These drugs are regulated and can be expensive. Another popular, but illegal, opioid in common use is heroin.

    Morphine is often used before and after surgical procedures to relieve severe pain. It is often used to comfort patients being treated for end-stage, terminal cancer. Hydrocodone products are most commonly prescribed for a variety of painful conditions, including dental, arthritic and injury-related pain. Codeine is commonly prescribed for mild pain. In addition to their pain-relieving properties, some of these drugs — codeine and diphenoxylate (Lomotil) for example — can be used to relieve coughs and severe diarrhea, according to the NIDA. 

    Heroin comes in different forms. It can be a white or brown powder or a black, sticky goo. It’s made from the seedpod of the Asian poppy plant. It can be mixed with water and injected with a needle. Heroin can also be smoked or snorted. All of these ways of taking heroin send it to the brain very quickly. Regular use of heroin can lead to tolerance, which results in users needing more and more drug to have the same effect. At higher doses over time, the body becomes dependent on heroin. Heroin is used by millions of addicts around the world who are unable to overcome their dependency knowing that if they stop, they will face the horror of withdrawal. Health problems from heroin use include miscarriages, heart infections and death from overdose. People who inject the drug also risk getting infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. 

    Efforts to increase opioid use and a campaign touting the alleged under treatment of pain continue to be significant factors in the escalation. Many arguments in favor of opioids are based solely on traditions, expert opinion, practical experience and uncontrolled anecdotal observations, according to the Pain Management Center of Paducah, Kentucky (PMCP). This evolved into the introduction of new pain management standards by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. In 2000, there was an increased awareness of the right to pain relief, the introduction of consumer organizations supporting the use of opioids in large doses plus aggressive marketing by the pharmaceutical industry. PMCP contends these positions are based on unsound science and blatant misinformation, and accompanied by the dangerous assumptions that opioids are highly effective and safe because they are prescribed by physicians. 

    The 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that an estimated 22.6 million, or 8.9 percent of Americans, aged 12 or older, were current illicit drug users. The escalating use of therapeutic opioids shows hydrocodone topping all prescriptions with 136.7 million prescriptions in 2011. Opioid analgesics are now responsible for more deaths than those resulting from both suicide and motor vehicle crashes. Sixty percent of deaths occur in patients who have been given prescriptions based on guidelines set by medical boards. Forty percent of deaths occur in individuals abusing the drugs obtained through multiple prescriptions and doctor shopping. The PMCP authors of “Opioid Epidemic in the United States” conclude that the obstacles that must be surmounted are inappropriate prescribing patterns which are largely based on a lack of knowledge, and inaccurate belief of under treatment of pain.

  • news1Fayetteville City Council has decided to move forward with construction of a minor league baseball stadium. But, members have not decided on its cost, probably because there’s more to it than a ballfield. The City hopes to develop a multi-purpose sports facility to also accommodate football and soccer. Stadium Committee Chairman Mitch Colvin told Up & Coming Weekly that Council has discussed costs, but did not arrive at a figure during its closed meeting on July 19. “There is unanimous support of Council to move forward on the memorandum of understanding and develop financial models with community partners,” Colvin said in a prepared statement. He said the city will meet its commitment to have a memorandum of understanding prepared for the Houston Astros owner no later than Aug. 19. The MOU is a non-binding letter of intent. It covers an estimated dozen or so elements that Council has declined to make public. The stadium is planned for construction on City-owned property behind the former Prince Charles Hotel downtown.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    news2Awareness Encourages Interest      

    Longtime journalist Jason Brady is intent on changing voter apathy. He and two friends who get together for breakfast on Saturday mornings have formed a fledgling nonpartisan citizens group called the Cumberland County Awareness Network. Brady, Ed Williams and James Baker, were “amazed at people being clueless about what’s going on in the community,” he said. Their online newsletter says “They have no titles or positions…they’re just three people willing to work on informing friends and neighbors about important things going on in our community.” 

    The group is holding a forum July 30 on this year’s upcoming Cumberland County Commission election. It will be in the Pate Room
    of the main library downtown. “The hope is interest will encourage awareness,” said Brady, 63, who was a Fayetteville Observerreporter from 1982 to 1989. He served as the City of Fayetteville Public Information Officer from 1990 to 2006, and has been involved in civic activism ever since.

     

     

     

     

     

    news3Cops on Bikes                            

    When Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams was preparing his city for the 2016 Republican National Convention, he drew on the experience of Fayetteville Police Chief Harold Medlock when he was a deputy chief in Charlotte. Medlock had the responsibility of providing security for the 2012 Democratic Convention in the Queen City. “We deployed several hundred cops on bikes based on the advice of Denver police in 2008,” said Medlock. Bicycle officers are not only more maneuverable, but they are seen as friendlier and less intimidating. He tells Up & Coming Weekly that Charlotte had a $50 million federal security grant to work with. Literally, hundreds of officers on loan from departments across the country were equipped with bicycles, “and they took them home with them after the convention,” Medlock added. “I recall six or eight cops from Fayetteville were among those on bike patrol.”  

    He routinely uses bike patrols in Fayetteville. “The bikes also offer a less tangible benefit: making officers more approachable,” he said.

     

     

     

     

    news4N.C. Airman dies while on deployment   

    A North Carolina Airman has been identified by the Defense Department as dying while supporting Operation Inherent Resolve. It’s the military operation against the Islamic State in the Central Command theater of operations. 

    1st Lt. Anais A. Tobar, 25, died July 18 of non-combat related injuries in Southwest Asia, the Defense Department said in a news release. The cause of death was not made public, nor did the DoD specify the nature of the accident or where it occurred. Tobar, a native of Miami, Florida, was assigned to the 4th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro. The squadron is responsible for equipment maintenance of the largest F-15E Strike Eagle fighter wing in the Air Force. 

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    news5Special Operations Aviation Commander      

    Brig. Gen. John R. Evans Jr. is the new commander of the Army Special Operations Aviation Command at Fort Bragg. He replaces Brig. Gen.
    Erik Peterson. 

    Evans is a distinguished special operations aviator with ties to North Carolina. He graduated from Appalachian State University in 1988 and spent his early Army career at Fort Bragg, where he served as an aviation liaison officer in the 82nd Airborne Division. 

    He most recently was deputy commanding general for support of the 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea. USASOAC is a subordinate unit of U.S. Army Special Operations Command, providing command and control for all of the Army’s special operations aviation units. Peterson was promoted to major general and now serves in the U.S. Army Office of Deputy Chief of Staff in Washington D.C.

  • If confession is good for the soul, I have one to share with you to keep my soul on the up and up.

    I am a Facebook voyeur. 

    margaretThat is a term I recently learned, referencing people who enjoy reading others’ posts but who rarely, if ever, post anything themselves. All I ever do on Facebook is wish a friend “Happy Birthday,” and I do that sporadically. I am not interested in sponsored posts or pictures of other people’s lunches, but I do enjoy seeing what my friends are up to and what is being said on issues of the day.

    Earlier this month, I came across a post by a blogger, Samantha Metheny, who came to our Fayetteville/Cumberland County community with what sounds like trepidation. She worried that there would not be enough to do — that she and her family would have to drive to find culture and entertainment as we say in the South, “up the road.”

    Now resident Samantha has changed her tune.

    On Facebook, she addresses others who are coming to our community and offers a list of community highlights and notes, “There are tons of things that could be added, but this is a great starting point.” She features community institutions, among them the Cape Fear Regional Theater, the Cape Fear River Trail, the downtown Farmers Market, the Field of Honor, the Cape Fear Botanical Garden and Fascinate-U Children’s Museum. She is also complimentary of community festivals — Dogwood, Blues and Brews, International Folk, When Pigs Fly, as well as various commercial enterprises offering produce picking, ice cream licking, wine tasting and outdoor adventures.

    A quick Google turns up other offerings from the Convention and Visitors Bureau, Trip Advisor and several organizations and individuals. 

    Margaret to Samantha. Thank you.

    I celebrate all of this and have enjoyed quite a bit of it myself, including zip lining. Shocking, even to me, although the berries and wine are right up my alley. I also love the fact that our community offers every ethnic and national cuisine most of us can think of, even if some of those restaurants lack ambiance beyond bare countertops and florescent lighting.

    That being said, there is room for improvement. 

    I am not alone in wanting civic and political leadership that is more diverse and more willing to take reasonable risks for long-term gain. 

    One way to encourage this goal may be for younger citizens to step forward and run for public office. By young, I mean the 30 – and 40-somethings whose ideas and energy levels are certainly different than those of us who have been around for a bit longer than that. I see reluctance of younger folks to engage in leadership and/or governing in many aspects of our community life — in nonprofit organizations, in faith institutions and certainly in elective office. 

    Many younger folks have told me that their careers are demanding and time consuming, that their children are involved in sports teams requiring parental time and travel and that, frankly, their families come first.

    I understand all of that. Our family of five had two working parents and three active children, and there is no question that both work and family life can be challenging. Together they can be overwhelming, and our first responsibilities are always to those whom we love. 

    There is also an “ick” factor attached to elective politics, more so in presidential election years and especially in this ugly and divisive cycle. Many people have an instinctive negative reaction to the thought of jumping into the political process, memorably expressed to me by one of my friends who, when I told her I planned to file for public office, exclaimed, “Eew! Why do you want to be with ‘those people?’”

    The reality is that there will never be a perfect time or avenue for anyone to step into a leadership role, whether in an organization or in political office. Life is messy and complicated, and it is always easier to let someone else shoulder the responsibility. It is always easier to tell ourselves we will do that “when the children are older” or “when life slows down.”

    The danger — and I see this far more often than is comfortable in our community — is that when capable, creative and courageous people do not offer themselves for public service in some way, we all suffer. Decisions that affect all of us are going to be made one way or another, and our community is going to be better off if decisions about schools, spending and public policies of all sorts are made by people from all walks of life, of all ages and with varied skills and life experiences.

    The hard truth is that in community life — like all other aspects of life — we get out of it what we put into it.

  • pub penGolf has long been a popular recreational sport here in Fayetteville and Cumberland County. At one time, Fayetteville was actually a popular destination for northern golfers fleeing harsh winters and seeking to get a head start on their home course competitors. 

    Today, local golf course owners and managers want to revive that popularity and enthusiasm for golf in Fayetteville — not just to boost business and economic development — but to make sure the local history and tradition of golf in Cumberland County is not lost. After all, Scottish-born Donald Ross, one of the most renowned golf course architects of all time, left his mark here in the mid 1940s when he designed not one, but two local golf courses in Cumberland County: the popular private Highland County Club and the lesser- known public Stryker Golf Course at Fort Bragg. With the exception of golf resorts like Pinehurst, I  doubt if any communities our size  nationally can boast of having two Donald Ross courses.

    One of the ways the local golfing tradition is maintained is by the preservation of the Cumberland County Golf Classic Championship. Created in 1968, this 48-year tradition is preserved and maintained by golf course managers who love the sport and the Fayetteville community. Bringing Stryker Golf Course and military golfers into the tournament is a great start to preserving its heritage. This is what this week’s cover story is about. The tournament, the game, the players, the history and tradition. Tee it up and enjoy! 

    Thank you for reading, Up & Coming Weekly.

  • cover

  • coverBack for its 48th year, the Cumberland County Golf Classic/Championship is hosted by Cypress Lakes Golf Course, home of the late L.B Floyd and PGA Hall of Fame inductee Raymond Floyd and sibling LPGA golfing notable, Marlene Floyd. This is the annual tournament young, aggressive, upcoming golfers, casual golfers and competitive “seasoned” veteran golfers have looked forward to every year for nearly five decades. It’s the end of summer finale that will determine who claims the 2016 title of Cumberland County’s best golfer. 

    The competition is stiff, and even though there are many other tournaments locally and across the state, it is the Cumberland County Golf Classic/Championship that matters most to local golfers. It is the tournament people talk about around the water cooler at the office, before and after church and when they see each other at the grocery store. It’s the tournament they remember because it has become a golfing tradition. This event is about much more than golf; it’s about spirited competition. It’s about community, excellence, camaraderie and witnessing local golf history in the making. PGA Tour professional and local Fayettevillian Chip Beck won the Cumberland County Championship title in both 1974 and 1976 before he turned 20 years old. The tradition continues on this year with a new and exciting twist.

    For the last several years, the responsibility of hosting this grand tournament has fallen solely on the shoulders of the host golf course. And, even though the local courses have accepted the responsibility on a rotating basis each year, the course managers and PGA pros saw participation and attendance steadily dwindling. They decided to work together to ensure that the tournament, not only remains a highly anticipated event, but also to reestablish the integrity and prestige of the tournament assuring that this golfing tradition continues and remains a part of Cumberland County culture.

    Gates Four Country Club Manager Kevin Lavertu, along with PGA golf pros Robert Wilson of Cypress Lakes and Mike Monk of Kings Grant decided to come together to form a golf tournament coalition for the purpose of jointly organizing and planning the 48th Annual Cumberland County Golf Classic/Championship. It was a game changer with the biggest change being that they have involved all five of the county’s golf courses in the planning and execution of this year’s event. This year, they take full responsibility for it with each course committing itself to being all about teamwork, cooperation and coordination, assuring a first-class, high-quality and well-run tournament where they can treat local area golfers to great golf and a good time. 

    According to Monk of Kings Grant, which hosted the 2015 event, this effort and subtle changes are going to make a world of difference. He is passionate about the game of golf and sees this tournament as an investment in the community as a whole. “In the past years, we have seen participation dwindle down as much as 60 percent. Obviously, these are dangerously low numbers to maintain a quality event. We see this as a way to promote play in Cumberland County and to accentuate golf in Cumberland County. We have a lot of good courses and a lot of great players who come out of Cumberland County. Gary Robinson, the Carolina Senior Golfer of the Year and Brian Dreier, 2012 Cumberland County Champion, are both members here at Kings Grant. A lot of golfers want to see this tournament survive and move forward and be the best tournament it can be. We want to put Cumberland County on the map. This year, contestants will experience great golf, a good value and a much-improved difference. We are confident they will appreciate and enjoy the changes we have implemented.” 

    Monk’s philosophy is also one of inclusion. That is why he reached out to fellow Methodist University graduate and PGA Pro Jeff Johnson at Fort Bragg’s Stryker Golf Course and invited them to participate. Johnson was elated since the Cumberland County Golf Classic was a big part of his youth. He played it as a young adult and knows firsthand what a great experience it is. When he became manager of Fort Bragg’s Stryker golf course, he set about to make it the kind of course that would add a new dimension to the tournament. 

    “I feel like we have finally arrived. Our conditions are on par with the other courses participating in the classic, and I am happy to be a part of that community and to be on that level.” Johnson sees this as a win-win for both local and military golfers. “I think we have a lot of really good players that don’t always play in Cumberland County and hopefully this will encourage them to try some of the other courses and meet other local golfers. Something a lot people don’t realize is that Stryker is open to the community, so we hope to see more golfers come out play on our course. Our superintendent, Craig Manning, was instrumental in turning this course around and we want to share that with local players,” added Johnson.

    Lavertu was on board from the very beginning in preserving the Championship. Gates Four will host the 2017 Championship. He will also host the inaugural Pairings Party and Opening Ceremonies that are set for Sept. 15, the evening before the tournament. “The Pairings Party is a great way to get everyone excited about the tournament,” he said. “People come and we will have prizes, food, putting competitions and fun things like that to get everyone relaxed and excited about the tournament. This year the courses are working together to attract more golfers and grow the event.” 

    The Pairings Party will mark the official opening of the tournament with special guests including past tournament winners and local city, county and state dignitaries.GOLF BUTTON

    This year Cypress Lakes has the honor of hosting the first Cumberland County Championship in its new format under the direction of PGA Golf Professional and Course Manager Robert Wilson. Played over a three-day period from Sept. 16-18, it will remain a 54-hole stroke play event. The U.S. Golf Association rules of golf and etiquette are in effect. As in previous years, there are four divisions: A Championship Division, Open Division, Senior Division and Super Senior Division. The tournament remains one of the best values for Cumberland County golfers because, in addition to the guaranteed three rounds of golf, each participant receives a free practice round at the host golf course, food and refreshments all three days of the tournament provided by Healy Wholesale and Pepsi, the Pairings Party and a gift package. All for an entry fee of $150. Contestants who register before Sept. first receive a certificate for a free foursome (excluding cart fee) at each of the five participating golf courses. Wilson couldn’t be happier. He expects these changes not only to reinvigorate the loyal local competitors but to draw in a healthy crowd of new golfing participants as well. The staff at Cypress Lakes is excited and on point. Wilson promises the course is in great shape with the grounds well-groomed and ready for first-class golfing excitement come tournament day. 

    “Our superintendent, Ed Drake, is in charge of keeping the course ready for play and he is really on top of the day-to-day maintenance and responsibilities that go into having the course ready for competitive play,” said Wilson. “I just don’t see anything but positives coming from the way we are doing things this year. We should be able take better care of the golfers, feed them better during the tournament and build up the golfing community here in Cumberland County. We even hope to be able to make a financial donation to a local Cumberland County charity at the end.” 

    Champions in the making

    Not only are the golf courses looking forward to a great golfing experience this fall, but the players are, too. Fayetteville native and businessman Gary Robinson holds the record for the most Cumberland County Golf Championship titles with a total of eight victories. His first title was in 1982. 

    “Of all the amateur tournaments I play, this one holds a special place for me,” said Robinson. “People will stop you and talk with you about it. The community is very supportive. I’ve been lucky enough to win it eight times so far. I hope to make it to 10 wins before I am done, but I’m 57 years old, so I am not sure it will happen.”

    Cumberland County District Attorney Billy West, 42, is the tournament’s second-biggest winner with six championship titles. West grew up admiring Robinson’s skills on the course. 

    “He has always been the Jack Nicklaus of the tournament to me,” said West. “He set the standard. I looked up to him, and as I began to play in the tournament, we developed a real friendship and camaraderie.”

    West shares Robinson’s dedication, enthusiasm and loyalty to the Cumberland County Golf Championship. 

    “The Cumberland County Golf Championship is my favorite tournament. It is the most important and always has been for me because of the community support,” said West. “I used to play a lot of state and national tournaments, and it was an honor when I would win, but when you win or compete in the Cumberland County Championship, you get stopped around town or at work or church and that is what made it special. It always had a unique place among golf tournaments here in town. There aren’t a lot of places that have special tournaments like this one that mean that much. Some of my very good friends came out of this competition; in fact, they are some of my best friends. I am friends with their families and have been for a long time. I’ve been playing in this tournament for 25 years. That is a lot of time to get to know people.”

    While the friendly Robinson/West rivalry is a given any time these two men are on a course together, it looks like this year things may be a little different. According to Robinson, he is committed to another tournament out of state and it is on the same weekend as the Cumberland County Championship. This news came as unfortunate and very disappointing to many in the golfing community. However, West knows that Robinson’s absence doesn’t make it a shoo-in for him to win. 

    “Gary and I are very good friends and we are competitors, but I regret that he may not be there. I do think if he were there he probably would be the odds-on favorite to win. It does open the door to the rest of the field. It will definitely be different without him.” 

    Not one to get comfortable with his odds, West has been keeping his eye on some new emerging talent that very well may give him a run for his money. 

    “Thomas Owen is a member at Highland Country Club where I play a lot. He is a great young man and a very good player,” West said. “He won the last two Cumberland County match plays and placed in the top five of the Cumberland County Classic last year, and I think Cypress Lakes suits his game. We’ve played a lot together and he has been hard for me to beat. It is not unusual for him to hit the ball 30-40 yards past where I hit — and he has the rest of the game to go with it. He would be my favorite without Gary being there, but we all know how golf can go… and then there are the usual suspects.” 

    Here are a few things that are new in 2016: 

    • Fort Bragg’s Stryker Golf Course has been added to the rotation of participating Golf Clubs.

    • Contestants can now register at any of the five participating golf courses: Cypress Lakes, Gates Four, Kings Grant, Baywood and Fort Bragg’s Stryker Golf Course.

    • Only Cumberland County residents are eligible. No longer will the tournament allow players who work inside the county but live outside the county to participate. 

    • Early Registration Bonus: Contestants who register before Sept. 1 will each receive a certificate for one free round of golf for a foursome (excluding golf cart fee) at each of the five participating golf courses. 

    • Each participating golf course will receive one free exemption to play in the tournament. 

    • Businesses or organizations wishing to sponsor the tournament will also receive 1-4 exemptions depending on the sponsorship level. Sponsored and course exemptions must reside in Cumberland County.

    • Refreshments are provided courtesy of Healy Wholesale and Pepsi. 

    • Food for contestants is provided all three days.

    • A pre-tournament Parings Party and Opening Ceremony plus plenty of prizes and surprises.

    To find out more about the tournament or to register, contact any of the participating golf courses, or call 391-3859. You may also register using the application form on page 11.

    GOLF BUTTON

  • news9 Summer. It’s cool drinks on a hot night. It’s hanging out with family and friends. It’s a toe-tapping tune under the stars. And dancing. And laughing. And making memories. Summer. It’s Fayetteville After 5’sspecialty. Fayetteville After 5falls on July 22 this month and coincides with 4th Friday. So after visiting the galleries, museums and other exhibits and activities, head to Festival Park and ease into the weekend at Fayetteville After 5.

    This month’s headliner is On the Border, an audience favorite according to Dogwood Festival Executive Director Carrie King. 

    “This makes the fifth time we’ve had them at our summer concert series. Each year their performance always draws our largest crowd. So we continue to bring them back since our patrons approve! They are also one of the best touring tribute bands on the east coast. Their performance is always outstanding,” she said.

    Based in Charlotte, On the Border is an Eagles tribute band with a healthy following. In 2015, AXSTV declared them “The Greatest Eagles Tribute Band in the World.” Live Nation Venue, The “Fillmore Charlotte” sings the band’s praises as well. “ … Not just any musician can nail the harmonies of Glenn Frey and Don Henley, or pull off the talk-box guitar solos of Joe Walsh. With dedication, a surplus of musical chops and a shelf full of papier-mâché Grammys, On the Border: The Ultimate Eagles Tribute pulls it off, treating fans to an authentic concert experience while journeying through The Eagles’ songbook. The band covers every hit, from ballads such as “Desperado” and “Lyin’ Eyes” to rave-ups such as “Life In the Fast Lane” and “Heartache Tonight” with such accuracy, that listeners may permanently confuse On the Border with the real Eagles. It’s truly a masterful sound of witness for yourself.”

    Music is always king at Fayetteville After 5,but because the gates open around 5:30 p.m., offering good grub just makes sense. So far it’s been a hit. 

    “We will have 15 food trucks for this event,” said King. “… everything from gourmet burgers, slow cooked meats and savory sides to event staples like funnel cakes, lemonade and ice cream. Because this is such a popular event with a larger crowd we will expand the beer service areas to include one large beer caddy with 10 taps and five beer selections and two satellite stations — one at the bridge and other at the stage offering aluminum cans of Bud, Bud Light, Michelob Ultra and Bud Light Lime. We will have roving hawkers selling aluminums and bottles, too. All products are $5.”

    The gates open around 5:30 p.m., music starts around 7:30 p.m. For more about Fayetteville After 5, visit www.faydogwoodfestival.com/p/Events/211.

  • news8Fayetteville City Councilman Chalmers McDougald read an article in Up & Coming Weekly recently about retired Fayetteville Fire Chief Benny Nichols’ efforts to create a fire service internship program 15 years ago. The concept was one whereby students at E.E. Smith High School, Fayetteville Technical Community College and Fayetteville State University would pursue a career in fire science. Nichols’ idea resulted in the construction of the multi-million-dollar Fire Station 14 on Langdon Street in the heart of the African-American community. It was much more than a fire house. It contained classrooms and dormitories for student interns enrolled in the program. 

    With the advent of internet studies, the idea as Nichols envisioned it, never got off the ground. The program of classroom and online studies is still available to students at all Cumberland County high schools. But the hands-on elements never came to pass. According to Deputy Fayetteville Fire Chief Hieu Sifford, the program has not yet yielded an applicant who has been hired by the FFD – even though Nichols established what is now a $30,000 scholarship fund with the Cumberland Community Foundation. A year or so ago, the Langdon Street fire station was renovated into fire department headquarters, and a meeting room is still available for use as a community center. 

    McDougald is as disappointed as anyone that Benny Nichols unique idea never developed as he envisioned. “Now we’ve got to try something else to recruit African Americans,” said McDougald. Fewer than a dozen of Fayetteville’s 331 firefighters are black, according to Fire Chief Ben Major. The department is recruiting now, and the hope is that young black men and women will apply. Applications are only accepted during open enrollment, which is getting underway. Typically, as many as 400 people apply. Following physical agility and written tests as well as drug screening and background checks, that number is usually reduced to 150 or so, according to Major. But only 30 can be enrolled in the training academy at FTCC. Of that number, this time around only five firefighters will be hired. That’s the number of retirees leaving the force during the next three months. There are no other vacancies. “We’re always fighting a losing battle,” said Major of the numbers game. 

    What he characterizes as lack of interest among African Americans limits even further the likelihood of any blacks being hired this time. “We can’t get them in the door until we get them on the doorstep,” observed the chief. “We have to let people know who we are and that we want talented folks to apply,” Major added. 

    This is the first fiscal year in which graduates of a two-year technical school with associates degrees can earn an additional $1,500 a year over and above the starting salary of $33,280. Graduates with baccalaureate degrees earn an additional $3,000, bringing the starting wage up to more than $36,000. Major says after five years on the job a firefighter with a degree can expect to earn $42,000; after 10 years $48,000. Thanks to a new step plan, fire department employees receive guaranteed pay raises every year. And there are always opportunities for promotion. The fire chief believes a full-time recruiter, like the police department has, would greatly improve the agency’s ability to more aggressively seek out candidates from under-represented populations. Chief Major is a graduate of E.E. Smith High School and Pembroke State University. He is African American. 

  • news7In recent months the Hope Mills Area Chamber of Commerce got bogged down with some internal disappointments and loss of momentum brought about, in part, by 10 years of frustration in the town because of the uncertain future of Hope Mills Lake. The dam on the lake was compromised twice. It was first breached in 2005, and again in 2010. The town has been without its popular lake for those 10 years and only now is the dam being rebuilt. 

    New life has been breathed into the organization. The Chamber has new leadership. Longtime President Jan Spell got a new board of directors in May and a new executive director the same month. 

    “We did a lot of reorganizing, and I now have a new spring in my step,” said Spell. She’s been the chamber’s volunteer president for 10 years. Jan and her husband Terry have changed the face of the town. Their company developed 16 residential subdivisions and three apartment complexes. Terry Spell is a native of Hope Mills. Jan has been a civic leader in more ways than one. She’s treasurer of the Hope Mills Kiwanis Club. She serves on the Methodist University Board of Visitors and the Southeastern Regional Medical Center Board.

    A couple of months ago, Spell was introduced to Tiffany Aldridge, a recent college graduate with a business degree from Campbell University. Her parents settled in nearby Rockfish years ago. Tiffany is a native of Alabama and a military brat. She was recommended to Spell to take over the chamber’s vacant executive director’s post in the charming chamber offices on Trade Street. When they met, they clicked immediately because their personalities meshed. Spell’s friends refer to her as a dynamo. Aldridge is described as spunky. 

    “I like the whole small town feeling,” Aldridge explained. “It’s friendly and feels like home.”

    Spell says the chamber of commerce currently has about 190 members. She notes they enjoy a significant degree of free-wheeling independence in their zeal to promote and develop the town of 16,000. The chamber’s focus for some time has been on what’s referred to as “Area 41,” a 1,000-acre mostly undeveloped tract along both sides of I-95’s Exit 41. N.C. Highway 59 crosses the interstate there. It’s the main gateway into the town from the east. As a professional developer, Spell believes the area has unlimited potential for growth not only in the hospitality industry but with major big box companies. 

    “I have a vision,” she said. 

    Fayetteville Public Works Commission water and sewer are available, making Area 41 one of only two I-95 interchanges in Cumberland County equipped with utilities. The other is Exit 49 at Cedar Creek Road in Fayetteville. Also, working with the chamber of commerce, the State Department of Transportation installed half a dozen lights along the NC 59 overpass. Spell has posted a virtual flyover of Area 41 on YouTube in hopes it will attract interested developers. 

    “I’m a finisher,” Spell emphasized. “Eighty percent of life is showing up.” 

  • news1Former U.S. Senator Robert Morgan was a man of public service to North Carolina like few others. He died July 16 at his home in nearby Buies Creek at the age of 90. Morgan, a Democrat, served in the U.S. Senate from 1975 until 1981. He then served as Director of the State Bureau of Investigation until 1992, when he returned to his law practice in Lillington. Morgan was a state senator for 14 years from 1955 to 1969 and N.C. Attorney General from 1969 to 1974. As Attorney General, Morgan established the consumer protection office. In 2000, he became founding President of the N.C. Center for Voter Education, a nonprofit/nonpartisan organization. Morgan graduated from Wake Forest University School of Law after earning his undergraduate degree from East Carolina University. He is survived by his wife and three children. 

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    news2Freedom Memorial Park        

    Fayetteville’s “Honor Triangle” began with one man’s dream for a local war memorial park. In 1997, then City Councilman Don Talbot had an idea: Find a place to honor American veterans who served in 20th Century wars. Fast forward to July of 2016. Freedom Memorial Park is a reality on the site of what was a rundown gas station at the corner of Bragg Boulevard and Hay Street and is a testament to Talbot’s vision. The park is about to get its fifth war memorial. Monuments have been in place for several years commemorating World War I, World War II, the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War. Next up is a memorial to those why gave their lives during the Global War on Terror. This month, the Cape Fear Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America wrapped up its pledge to raise $25,000 for the new memorial. Association President Juan Chavez presented Talbot with a check representing the final installment. Design work is underway for the new monument. Asked about his determination to turn a dream into reality, Talbot told Up & Coming Weekly, “It’s something the community needed to do.” Talbot and his steering committee have invested a quarter of a million dollars in privately raised funds for the park, which became the anchor for the Airborne and Special Operations Museum across Bragg Boulevard, and the North Carolina Veteran’s Park down the street — Fayetteville’s “Honor Triangle.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

    news3Census Bureau to Count Deployed Military as Residents of Duty Station 

    State and local officials are praising the U.S. Census Bureau’s decision to count U.S. military personnel who are deployed outside the U.S. as residents of the state where they live and sleep most of the time. The new policy also applies to those who are living temporarily outside the U.S. Previously, the Census Bureau counted deployed service members as residents of the states they lived in at the time they joined the armed services. The change for the 2020 census means that all deployed service members from North Carolina’s military installations will be counted as residents of North Carolina. The undercounting of service members cost North Carolina, the ninth largest in the nation, an additional Congressional seat following the 2010 census. And, since many federal tax dollars are distributed according to population, North Carolina will benefit from additional education, transportation and agriculture funding as a result of an increased population in the 2020 census. The proposed changes were published in the Federal Register in June. The Census Bureau is seeking public comment in writing through Aug. 1 and a final announcement of the 2020 rules is expected in 2017.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    news4City Says Goodbye to PWC…Sort of    

    The Fayetteville Public Works Commission no longer handles the City of Fayetteville’s purchasing. With the new fiscal year, the city launched its own purchasing office and accompanying webpage. City government farmed out procurement to PWC several years ago believing that a consolidated effort would be more cost effective. Former City Manager Ted Voorhees persuaded a previous City council that it should separate itself from PWC, and, in this regard, he was successful. 

    Purchasing is a division of the Finance Department according to a news release. “The City of Fayetteville welcomes the opportunity to do business with interested merchants and vendors in the community,” said Interim City Manager Doug Hewitt. “The hope is that the new purchasing webpage will help improve business opportunities for local business owners especially, and provide a more transparent process for doing business with the City,” Hewitt added. The purchasing division “is responsible for all purchases for the City including materials, supplies, services and equipment,” said Chief Financial Officer Cheryl Spivey. The webpage includes a vendor registration form for businesses so staff can reach out to them. The City encourages the participation of minority and small disadvantaged businesses. 

     

     

     

     

     

     

    news582nd Airborne Change of Command      

    Brig. Gen Michael E. Kurilla will take command of the 82nd Airborne Division on Aug. 2 at Pike Field. Clarke took command of the All-American Division in October 2014, also as a one-star general. He was promoted soon thereafter. Clarke led a deployment to Iraq from June 2015 to March 2016. There, the division headquarters served as the Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command. Clarke will become vice-director of strategic plans and policy for the Joint Staff at the Pentagon.

    Kurilla comes to Fort Bragg from the Pentagon, where he was deputy director for special operations and counter terrorism for the Joint Staff.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    news6Emergency Summer Heat Relief     

    The Salvation Army is accepting Crisis Intervention Program applications from individuals and families who are in danger of experiencing health emergencies because of summer heat and humidity. 

    Limited funds are available and households are served on a first-come, first-served basis. The CIP program is administered by the Cumberland County Department of Social Services, but applications are taken by the Salvation Army at its location at 1047 Southern Ave. 

    Emergency aid is paid directly to utility providers of those approved for funding. Benefits will vary based upon the needs to alleviate the crisis. Households will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. 

    For more information, call the Department of Social Services message line at 677-2821.

  • pittToday we shall journey into one of the darkest regions of social media. The highly excitable and overly caffeinated world of Facebook’s Politics Zone. There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man or woperson. It’s a dimension as vast as Chris Christie’s waistline, as timeless as infinity and as full of insane theories as Fox News. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between reason and irrationality. It lies between the pit of man’s fears and the summit of his paranoia. You have just crossed over into the Facebook Politics Zone.

    The Politics Zone is where people go to spout their wildest theories, end their oldest friendships and use more exclamation points and BOLD FACE CAPITAL LETTERS than the law allows. Nothing is calm in the Politics Zone. Everything is urgent and game changing. Like newspeak in Orwell’s 1984,the Facebook Politics Zone has its own language. Let us take a walk down Facebook lane and see what’s lurking behind the latest picture of Hillary or The Donald. There is a random political phrase generator that the Facebook Illuminati use to hype their most shrieking political posts.

    Like Rudy Begonia, do these Political Zone phrases strike a familiar note? “Nobody saw this coming!” Trump “unleashed a BRUTALhistory lesson.” Watch the attached video because “this changes everything!” (Humble columnist’s note: the video never changes anything, but it does elevate the self image of the poster of said video.) My candidate “drops a TRUTH BOMB and boy does it smart!” A variation on the truth bomb is to drop “an EPIC truth bomb,” which is several megatons more convincing than a conventional truth bomb. My candidate ‘tells the BLUNT truth” about your candidate. The version of truth being pushed by my candidate is “BLOWING UPthe Internet!” The brilliance of my candidate’s statement has caused the opposing candidate “to STAGE A HISSY FIT!” Frankly, there is little more entertaining than watching a political opponent staging a hissy fit. After the invention of Depakote, who even knew that anyone still staged hissy fits ? Personally, I would walk a mile to see someone stage a hissy fit. As the old saying goes, “If the hissy fits, wear it.”

    A Poltics Zoner who disagrees with a politician posts something that “SHUTS him down.” 

    The Donald issues a statement that causes “Hillary to be ON THE ROPES.” “Hillary is FUMING!” In response, Hillary who “might not have seen it coming!,” “issues “a HUGEstatement” that “BLOWS AWAY” The Donald. In response, The Donald “slaps Hillary with a BIG surprise!” The Donald releases a “GROUNDBREAKING massive secret that could BE THE END” for Hillary. Hillary’s “response reveals everything!” Trump counters with the charge that “This woman IS NOT FITto be President!” The Democratic Party releases a “prediction that TORCHESand DESTROYSTrump’s chance to be elected.”

    Upon seeing a Political Zone posting, many Facebookers are so overwhelmed with anger/joy/ amazement/ stupification/sadness that they confess, “I LOSTit!” after seeing whatever it was. On Facebook, political emotions are not worn on one’s sleeve, but on one’s typing fingers. My candidate, who has “had ENOUGH” of your candidate’s stupid twaddle, just issued a statement “that DISMANTLES” everything your candidate ever said, thought or did. The last thing your opponent said “SHOCKEDthe nation!” But just wait until my candidate provides your candidate “with a NASTYsurprise!”

    On Facebook, there is no middle ground. There is no room for the possibility that political opponents could be well intentioned, human or even have a logical point or two. People who think differently from you are the anti-Christ. 

    Politics Zone posters adhere to Johnny Mercer’s advice, “Don’t mess with Mr. In-Between.” 

    A particularly unflattering picture of your opponent is captioned “I CAN’T STOP LAUGHING!” Obama “should be EVICTEDfrom the White House!” And so it goes.

    If you have managed to read all the way through today’s contribution to world literature, this column has a value added bonus in the form of a valuable stock market tip. Sell all your stocks, bonds, gold and baseball cards, and invest in exclamation points!!! and BOLD FACE CAPITAL LETTERS. It is only a matter of time before the Illuminati of Facebook use up all the known supply of exclamation points and BOLD FACE CAPITAL LETTERS. Buy printing presses that only produce digital exclamation points and BOLD FACE CAPITAL LETTERS.Once the current supply is used up, the price of these two commodities will sky rocket. If you don’t take my advice, YOU ARE A POOPY HEAD!

     

  • MargaretAt the end of March, my family lost someone both near and dear and thoroughly unique. She left us at 90, and she was — as we say in the South — “herself” until the very end. It was a comfort to me and to others, I suspect, that she went out declaring that she had had a wonderful life and was ready for what comes next. 

    Not everyone is blessed to feel that way.

    Some of us live with deep regrets, and I have heard it said that at the end of life most of us regret not what we did, even if we committed reprehensive acts and delivered great hurts, but what we did not do. We regret the opportunities we did not take, the doors that opened to us that we could not make ourselves walk through for whatever reason was – often fear of the unknown. When I am honest with myself, I have to admit to several of those.

    That is surely the reason that “The Top 37 Things You Will Regret When You Are Old” on the website Social-Consciousness.com caught my eye. I will pass along the ones that resonated most with me.

    “Not traveling when you had the chance.” My life circumstances since the mid-2000s have allowed me to roam the world, at least parts of it, and that travel has broadened me in so many ways and changed my views about other people and other cultures. I am so fortunate to have had these opportunities and so rewarded that I did not allow experiences foreign to me to scare me away.

    “Staying in a bad relationship.” Many people do this out of habit, fear of change, lack of resources, whatever. But life is short and unpredictable, and most of us will be happier and more productive if we are not burdened in this way. This category goes hand in hand with another — “Not quitting a terrible job.”

    “Failing to make physical fitness a priority.” I know. I know. Getting moving is not easy, but the alternative is worse. One of my neighbors, a professional man in his 70s, has been a lifelong runner. He is much slower now than he once was, but he is still out there most mornings about dawn. He is an example that moving, however slowly, is preferable to becoming such a couch potato, you eventually cannot move.

    “Letting yourself be defined by gender roles.” I used to think we Baby Boomers would cure America of this curse, but now I see that we have not. Roles have changed somewhat, but women continue to bear the brunt of childrearing and housekeeping, even though we are in the workplace just as men are. This one goes hand in hand with another as well — “Letting yourself be defined by cultural expectations.”

    “Not playing with your kids enough.” I cannot count the number of Boomers who have said this very thing to me, and I plead guilty as well. The Precious Jewels remain the most important treasures of my life, but I did spend too much time in my office in doing “grown up” activities. What else can I say?

    “Not standing up for yourself.” We think of bullying of children and young people, but adults let ourselves be bullied as well by friends and co-workers. Eleanor Roosevelt said, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent,” and she was right.

    “Never taking a big risk.” Our mothers would say, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” Even if we fail at what we risk, we gave it a shot and there is satisfaction in that.

    “Missing the chance to ask your grandparents questions before they die.” I regret this almost daily. If you have grandparents, grab your cell phone, punch record, and ask away.

    “Neglecting your teeth.” Anyone with dentures can address this one for you.

    “Not trying harder in school.” Most of us are guilty of this at least at some level, and most of us pay for it. In this awful election cycle, many voters are disaffected and many of those are people whose educations have not prepared them to achieve what they want in today’s workplace.

    Notice that most of these are, in fact, roads not taken for whatever reasons.

    And, finally, the one that resonated the most with me.

    “Not being grateful sooner.“ My family member was grateful for her family, her friends and her long life and said so. She saw her life as a gift, and we who miss her are at peace that she did.

    Social-consciousness.com addresses gratitude this way.

    “It can be hard to see in the beginning, but eventually it becomes clear that every moment on this earth — from the mundane to the amazing — is a gift that we’re all so incredibly lucky to share.”

    Amen.

  • Thank goodness for honest and conscientious Spring Lake residents like Rita Perry. Perry was the first citizen to finally come forward to expose possible fraud and misuse of Spring Lake’s revenues through the misuse of town-issued credit cards by Spring Lake’s Board of Aldermen and department managers. 

    Perry gained access to the town’s expense records via a public records request, and the process began of verifying what many of us close to Spring Lake have already suspected: mismanagement and possible corruption have become a way of life for their small town government. Personally, I am very proud of Rita Perry. 

    My relationship with Spring Lake dates back decades. By working with the town and the local Chamber of Commerce, I have seen it at its best and, unfortunately, I have watched it deteriorate to its present state. My involvement was through our community newspaper, Up & Coming Weekly, working with the Chamber of Commerce to promote the community, support local businesses, enhance economic development and create a positive image for the town. We communicated its historical perspective and assisted Spring Lake in developing a brand they could market, promote and be proud. 

    Under the direction of then-Chamber of Commerce Director Jamie McLaughlin, Spring Lake was emerging alive, proud and enthusiastic. Attitudes were changing, businesses were stepping up to get involved, the Chamber was growing its membership and, working with Jamie at the Chamber’s helm, together we created the town’s own newspaper, the Spring Lake Beacon. For more than two years this publication flourished showcasing Spring Lake’s history, supporting local businesses, informing the residents of community news and upcoming events, local personalities and basically promoting Spring Lake’s personality and brand. Unfortunately, that lasted only for about two years. Then for reasons unknown, the town stopped supporting the project and the Chamber of Commerce. 

    Once that happened, local businesses withdrew their support, McLaughlin resigned and took another position with the City of Fayetteville and both the Chamber and the entire town took on a “poor me” persona, always expounding on never having any money or resources to support what we all know are basic quality-of-life amenities. “What’s in it for me?” seemed to be the underlying attitude permeating throughout the Town of Spring Lake’s leadership and management as well as that of the Chamber of Commerce.

    This situation was very baffling and extremely disappointing. However, like many others, we (our newspaper) work with businesses and organizations that want to work with us. In any situation, we know: “If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck” it is probably “a duck”. 

    In the June State Auditor report on Spring Lake’s finances, they found “the duck”. The report stated that town employees, the Board of Aldermen and possibly Spring Lake Mayor Chris Rey spent more than $500,000 on questionable purchases in violation of its own policy. The report questioned other expenditures as well as sloppy, careless and faulty record keeping between 2010 and 2015. Hmmmm, so what’s the big deal? I’ll tell you what the big deal is. 

    Shame on Mayor Rey and the rest of the town’s leadership for allowing it to go on. It’s common knowledge that for decades residents and friends of the Town of Spring Lake have come forward, stepped up and generously donated their time, talent and money to assist in improving local business, economic development and the overall quality of life of Spring Lake’s 13,000+ residents only to have leadership rebuff the progressive ideas, ventures and partnerships that were offered up under the guise of “Spring Lake can’t afford it,” or “We just don’t have the money,” when, what they really meant was, “What’s in it for me?” If that answer was “nothing,” then that’s exactly what the residents of the Town of Spring Lake got. Nothing. 

    Again, shame on them, for selfishly mismanaging the revenues that rightfully belonged to the citizens. Resignations need to be forthcoming and charges need to be filed for robbing this innocent community and depriving its citizens of their quality of life. I certainly hope the state investigation into this atrocity goes deep. Egregious misconduct of this nature does not proliferate or endure without accomplices. Willing enablers, cooperating people, businesses and organizations aiding and abetting the situation, i.e., the relationship between Spring Lake’s management/leadership and the Chamber of Commerce and the town’s Economic Development Department.

    To Rey’s credit he has gone on record and accepted the responsibility, admitting that the problem or “culture” as he called it, started before he was elected. So noted, however, he had four years to fix it and did nothing. After all, 60+ employees running amuck misusing the town’s credit cards is kind of hard to ignore. Rey’s defense that he was not aware is not going to be much of a defense. And, the resignation of former town Manager Ken Metcalf and the firing of Interim Finance Director Tina West is not going to be accepted as “problem solved.” 

    Here’s what we know for sure: The state will get to the bottom of this. Rita Perry is an awesome “Shero” for her perseverance in standing up for what is right and just for all Spring Lake residents and, finally, Spring Lake is very fortunate to have the talented and hard working Tad Davis as their Town Manager. His vision and abilities can only prove to be a huge asset for the Town of Spring Lake. All he needs are the resources and support of the community. Hey, just think what he could have done for Spring Lake with more than  $500,000 of the misallocated funds. Just saying! 

    Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly

  • COVERWhat do politics, Chinese acrobats, Prince and Annie, the musical, have in common? The Givens Performing Arts Center’s 2016-2017 season. And, that’s just the first four shows. With 10 performances slated between the Sept. 29 opening and the final show on May 3, GPAC Director of Marketing Chad Locklear is looking forward to another stellar year. Peppered with variety, the season includes comedy, acrobats, concerts, musicals and dance. 

    “GPAC has a great staff, team and board that’s truly committed to bringing some of the highest quality performances to our area. It’s a tradition that has continued for more than 40 years,” he said.

    Part improv, part sketch comedy, Unelectable You, presented by Slate magazine and The Second City, includes the audience in a show that “mocks every vote, every candidate and the whole political process …” Red, blue or independent, Unelectable You gives people of every political stripe something to laugh about. It’s at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 29.

    Shanghai Nightsrolls into GPAC on Oct. 18. The show by The Shanghai Acrobats of the People’s Republic of China weaves dramatic tales using movement, music and color to bring the excitement and elegance that is Shanghai to the Sandhils. The show features more than 100 of China’s top acrobats.

    He captivated a generation with his musical prowess and majestic stage presence. On Oct. 21, UNC Pembroke celebrates homecoming with Prince tribute artist Matt Fink, a three-time Grammy Award winner and original member of Prince and the Revolution. The concert is open to the public.

    November 17, Annie, the musical takes the stage. It is directed by original lyricist and director Martin Charnin and choreographed by Liza Gennaro and features book and score by Tony Award®-winners Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin. With favorites like “It’s the Hard-Knock Life,” “Easy Street,” “I Don’t Need Anything But You,” and the ever-popular “Tomorrow,” this production promises to have the audience singing along.

    An addition to the lineup, is a display of UNCP’s finest at the 8th Annual Holiday Extravaganza on Dec.2. Students, faculty and staff come together to perform holiday classics and new favorites. Join in singing Christmas carols as UNCP’s choirs and ensembles bring the Christmas spirit to Givens. Don’t miss the preconcert “Tuba Christmas” performance at 7:30 p.m. “This year we’ve added the UNCP Department of Music’s Annual Holiday Extravaganza to our series,” said Locklear. “It’s such a wonderful family-friendly event that showcases the talents of students and faculty of our music department from choirs to jazz ensembles. We wanted to give it more exposure. It’s also for a good cause. Proceeds will go to scholarships for students majoring in music.”

    The N. C. Youth Tap Ensemble features 40 dancers ranging in age from 8 to 18. They bring passion and attitude to the stage with high-energy numbers that include some not-so-traditional musical pieces — all while honoring the tradition of tap. The performance is on Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m. 

    Broadway and the American dream come together on Jan 26 when 42nd Streettakes the stage. Based on a novel by Bradford Ropes and Busby Berkeley’s 1933 movie, the musical takes the audience on an adventure with Peggy Sawyer as she strikes out on her own to chase her dream of finding success as a New York actress.

    The percussion, the dance, the rhythm — there is nothing like it. STOMP’s eight members use pretty much anything but percussion instrument, finding “beautiful noises in the strangest places,” according to USA Today. Using matchboxes, wooden poles, brooms, garbage cans, Zippo lighters and hubcaps, STOMP fills the stage with rhythm. This well-loved favorite comes with updated and restructured routines that are sure to captivate. It is at GPAC on March 21.

    The Russian National Ballet Theatre presents Swan Lake on March 27. Swan Lake originally premiered in 1877 and is now the national ballet of Russia. Follow the full-length ballet as it tells the story of princess Odette and her struggle to break free of the sorcerer’s curse that turned her into a swan.

    The same composer that brought us Wicked now offers PIPPIN, a musical packed with acrobatics, magical feats and song. It claims four 2013 Tony Awards® including Best Musical Revival. PIPPIN closes out the GPAC season on May 3.

    “A subscription to all the shows is less than two tickets to a Broadway show in New York,” said Locklear. “We also give exclusive perks to our season subscribers: an invitation to our annual Champagne Gala at the opening show, an opportunity to choose the best seats before single tickets go on sale to the general public, and discounted ticket rates.” 

    While first class entertainment is GPAC’s specialty, there is more. 

    “We’re the center of cultural arts in our community and the university. Besides our Broadway and More Series, there are many diverse cultural arts events throughout the year,” said Locklear. “The Department of Theatre produces several plays a year, the Department of Music has several concerts and an annual musical, and we feature student and local artist’s artwork on GPAC’s lobby walls. Many of these events are free and open to the public.” 

    For more information about the 2016/2017 season at www.uncp.edu/gpac.

  • measureFor the past few years Sweet Tea Shakespeare has worked to bring classic plays to life. Many of the group’s performances happen in the beautiful outdoors, capitalizing on sweet Southern evenings. Their minimalistic style embraces the natural beauties of Fayetteville and Shakespeare traditional style. “Shakespeare’s plays are meant to be performed on a blank stage. In his writing he uses something called spoken décor. In the writing he describes where the set is. It comes out in the writing,” Greg Fiebig the director of Measure for Measure explained. The play is set to take place July 21 and 24 at Museum of the Cape Fear’s Poe House.

    Measure for Measure is the first Shakespearean work that Sweet Tea Shakespeare has produced this year. It is a unique work because it is neither a tragedy nor a comedy. Dark and serious themes are offset by comedic moments and characters. 

    “It is an interesting piece … the Duke of Vienna leaves his second in command in charge and comes back to the town as a friar to check and see how things are really going,” Fiebig said, comparing the piece to an episode of the television show Undercover Boss.  

    This play takes place outdoors on the grounds of the 1897 Poe House. 

    “There is an out building behind the Poe House that has a trellis covered in ivy. That is going to be our backdrop with a pallet stage in front,” Fiebig said. “We are going to encourage audience members to sit up close to the stage on all four sides. With the thrust-style stage, the audience can get very close to the stage where all the action is happening. Everyone should have a great view because they will all be within 10 yards of the actors and the action.”

    Shakespeare’s works have the ability to stay relevant centuries after they were written. This is especially true in Measure for Measure. This relevancy allows both the cast and the audience to engage with the play in a significant way.  

    “It is interesting — especially with what is happening today. If you look at the national news and the media, there are things like shootings without due process and then there are the elections. Shakespeare’s work continues to be relevant to today. You look at the play and it is like someone ripped the headlines from today’s news,” Fiebig said. 

    This rendition of Measure for Measureincludes audience participation. 

    “There is an unresolved marriage proposal and it is just glossed over. So we are going to stop after the proposal and ask the audience how they would like it to end,” Fiebig explained. “It is much funnier if she rejects the proposal rather than accepts it because if she rejects it, then the rejected person has to respond and it is hilarious.” 

    The text itself will remain regardless of the situation, but the answer will alter how the performers ‘play’ the scene.  Audience members are encouraged to see the performance multiple times and change how they vote in order to see both endings. 

    General admission is $12. Performance dates are July 21 -24 at 7:30 p.m. at the Poe House. Sweet Tea Shakespeare’s house band The Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers performs before every show. Find out more about the troupe and this season at www.sweetteashakespeare.com. 

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  • More than HoneyIn partnership with Fayetteville’s PWC, Sustainable Sandhills is set to tackle another sticky topic at the second showing of the Sustainable Saturdays Film Series season on July 23: Honey - more specifically, the bees that make it. The documentary is titled More than Honey,but the topic is not necessarily sweet. 

    “This is a bee movie, and everyone loves bee movies,” said Denise Bruce of Sustainable Sandhills. “This is a topic that is at the forefront of the public conscience. It is near and dear to our hearts.” 

    And for good reason.

    Imagine the world with no apples, blueberries, cherries or almonds. These are just a few of the crops that bees pollinate. According to the American Beekeeping Federation, honeybees add $14 billion to the value of U.S. crop production. The organization further cites, “Bees pollinate about one-sixth of the world’s flowering plant species and some 400 of its agricultural plants. Poorly pollinated plants produce fewer, often misshapen, fruits and lower yields of seed with inevitable consequences upon quality, availability and price of food. One of the few farm activities that can actually increase yields, rather than simply protect existing yields from losses, is to manage bees to encourage good pollination.” 

    The National Resources Defense Council notes, “One out of every three mouthfuls of food in the American diet is, in some way, a product of honeybee pollination — from fruit to nuts to coffee beans.”

    Attendees can learn firsthand about the role of bees locally. Scheduled speakers will talk at the event. Bruce noted, “I have contacted the Cumberland County and Hoke County beekeepers. They are really familiar with this issue. The fact that we are losing our pollinators — not just bees, although they are most commercially viable — is a big deal. We are committing every season to showing a film about the state of our pollinators.”

    The award-winning documentary More than Honey examines bees, their lives, habits and current predicament as they face colony collapse disorder and other challenges. 

     This film is the second in a series of six films that are part of the Sustainable Saturdays Film Series, which takes place on the fourth Saturday each month at the Cameo Art House Theatre in Downtown Fayetteville. The other four movies are River Run: Down the Cape Fear River, Farmland, Soylent Green, The Burden and Community: Planet Neighborhood.The movies start at 11 a.m.

    Sustainable Sandhills also owns the screening rights to a number of other films that cover topics like the dangers of plastic, carbon footprints, oil, farming-related issues, water-related issues and much more. The movies are available to check out for in-home and other private screenings.

    While bees play an important role getting food on the table, Sustainable Sandhills has some programs that also focus on smart resource management — including food. The organization sponsors events like PopUp dinner parties that bring together local chefs and food producers as well as community members. With menus sourced from within 80-120 miles of Fayetteville, the goal of PopUp dinners is to recognize the importance of having a sustainable community. July 25 marks the next PopUp dinner. The theme is Caribbean Vacation. Find out more about this community event at the PopUp Dinner: Slow Food FAY Facebook page.

    Community-supported agriculture is another way Sustainable Sandhills strives to connect people in the community with local farmers. In conjunction with Sandhills Farm to Table Cooperative (SF2T), farmers from Moore, Cumberland, and Harnett Counties come together to support the CSA movement. According to sustainablesandhills.org, “SF2T has grown and expanded with its green mission, which now offers a diverse range of juicy berries, ripe fruits, fresh vegetables, heritage grains, goat cheese, fresh bread, granola, cinnamon buns, Thanksgiving turkeys and Christmas trees.”

    By participating in CSAs, people help financially support local farmers. They also save energy and resources because the food doesn’t have to travel far to get to the consumer. That means less fuel to transport the food and fresher food for the consumer because it didn’t have to go far to get from the farm to their table. 

    For more information bout Sustainable Sandhills and its many programs, visit, http://www.sustainablesandhills.org.

  • 4th FridayEvery month the Downtown Alliance and Arts Council celebrate the best that downtown has to offer. The shops, restaurants and other businesses in downtown Fayetteville come together to create a fun and free evening full of activities. All of the businesses stay open late and much of the family-friendly entertainment is free. The streets are often filled with performances and art of all manner. 

    This month, the Arts Council opens its latest exhibit, Pictorial Space, presented by Ellington-White. The exhibit hangs inside the Arts Council, but the fun continues outdoors with Scottish music in front of the building from 7-9 p.m.

    For 4th Friday, 2-U-Keys, a band comprised of Maliheh and Rhonda is set to entertain guests with two hours of lighthearted fun. The music is created by two voices and two ukuleles that create a beach inspired mood. The program is sponsored by Systel and there will be refreshments. Guests are encouraged to tap and sing along. The 2-U-Keys will perform at the Headquarters Library in the Pate Room from 7 until 9 p.m. The library is located at 301 Maiden Lane, and the event is free of charge. For more information visit www.cumberland.lib.nc.us/ccplsite.

    Fascinate-U is a museum in downtown Fayetteville dedicated to children. Exhibits are interactive, and unlike the traditional museums, touching is encouraged. Fascinate-U intends to help prepare kids to navigate the larger world by first practicing on a smaller scale. For 4th Friday, admission is free and the museum stays open late from 7 until 9 p.m. The theme these month is Under the Sea Art. Kids are invited to create and take home an under-the-sea craft. For more information, visit the following site at www.fascinate-u.com/visit/. 

    After exploring the shops and restaurants in downtown, Fayetteville After 5offers a relaxing end to the evening. On July 22, On the Border with Kasey Tyndall and Kaylin Roberson perform in Festival Park. The band is an Eagles tribute band from Charlotte. The gates will open at 5 p.m. The opening acts begin around 7 or 7:30 p.m. The concert lasts until 10:30 or 11 p.m. No outside food or beverages are permitted but concessions are available for purchase. Audience members are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets. The free concerts are presented by the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival and R.A. Jeffreys. For more information visit the following site at www.faydogwoodfestival.com/p/Events/211. 

    These are only a few of the amazing opportunities that 4th Fridayhas to offer. In addition to street performers and musicians, many businesses offer free refreshments and demonstrations. Additionally, for those who love history ,the Fayetteville Transportation Museum and Market House both offer exhibits that detail the Fayetteville area’s long and colorful history. There are new exhibits on display in both locations monthly as well as permanent exhibits. 

    Cape Fear Studios on Maxwell Street opens a new exhibit on 4th FridayEn Plein Air: Of Light and Color. It features the works of PaintNC, a group of emerging and professional artists who meet regularly to paint “en plein air” (outside on location) within North Carolina. The opening reception is at Cape Fear Studios on July 22 from 6 - 9 p.m.

    Fayetteville is an evolving city. From day to day downtown has growing opportunities and evens. 4th Friday’s are a reflection of that growth. Every month there are new performers and artists on the streets expressing their creativity. There are also new businesses hosting demonstrations and restaurants creating innovative menus. Fayetteville is dynamic and growing and 4th Friday captures that growth and excitement in a single evening. 

  • GilbertOne ticket will buy a week’s worth of entertainment when the Gilbert Theater presents the Next Stage Play Festival July 20-24. One $16 ticket buys entry into all plays and all days of the festival.

    Gilbert Artistic Director Robyne Parrish expects the five-day festival to draw a response similar to last year’s event. 

    “The community loved seeing new work,” she said. “They really got into the festival and made it a week-long event. It was a true celebration oflocal talent!” 

    Again this year, the festival will celebrate local talent.

    “The festival is a chance for local artists to shine in every way,” Parrish said. “Local actors, directors, writers and crew members are showcased. Many of our young people are involved in the summer shows as well as our REP members. This is a true collaborative effort by our local arts community.”

    Parrish added that four of the six plays in the festival are locally written. 

    “We highlight local talent all year, of course, and it is important that those with a passion for art and for the theatre have an outlet to act out their dreams.” 

    One ticket buys a pass to the entire festival. 

    “We don’t want our audience to miss any of these fine shows,” Parrish said. “We make it as easy and fun as possible to attend all of them — many of our audience came twice and three times last year to the shows. It was great fun. Part of our mission at the Gilbert is to present new work and to make it accessible and affordable to the public.” 

    This year’s selection of plays range from 10 to 40 minutes in length, and three plays are presented at each performance, Parrish explained. Performances begin at 7 p.m. on July 20 and 22. On July 21, 23 and 24, performances are at 2 and 7 p.m. daily.

    A 1964 Thunderbird, written by Ted Wojtasik, is about Agnes, a nurse and caretaker for an elderly patient. Agnes herself is not in good health, and she reaches an emotional breaking point on the day she has to sell her car for extra money.

    The Cage, written by James Dean, is the story of a young girl, living with her parents in a small town. One summer she meets a strange young boy who appears to be living in a cage in her back yard. Who the boy is and where he came from is a mystery, and she keeps the existence of the boy a secret as well, but it’s hard to keep a secret in a small town. Part love story, part mystery, part adventure, The Cageis a fable that will captivate all ages.

    In Bloody Mary, writer Derek Smith gives us a playwright who kills the woman of his dreams over and over again as he tries to satisfy her with the perfect kill for his next work.

    In To Be A God,Jennifer Schaupp writes a short play that looks at the tradition of worshipping young females as living goddesses, common in Nepal, from the perspective of an American woman grappling with her own life pursuits.

    In The One That Got Away, writer Lisa Brennan presents the audience with a tale of he said-she said-they said. 

    For more information on the Next Stage Film Festival or to purchase a ticket, visit gilberttheater.com or call the box office at 910.678.7186.

  • State TrooperRetired State Trooper Randy Lee has always loved serving others. He retired from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol recently at the age of 56, but that is just one of the many ways he served the community. He has volunteered at local schools, serves as a Councilman with the Town of Eastover, is an active member of Eastover’s Community Watch Program and the Eastover Civic Club and he is a member of the State Employee Credit Union Advisory Board. Lee is a graduate of Mount Olive College, a lifetime member of the North Carolina Troopers Association and a member of Haymount United Methodist Church. He has Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, an incurable disease. His only hope for a healthy life is a double lung transplant. Lee’s fight for life includes more than physical needs. The cost of a transplant is staggering. On July 23, at the State Fairgrounds, there is an Artisan and Craftmans Expo to benefit Lee.

    The expo includes original artwork, décor items, hand-woven baskets, hand-turned wood bowls, handmade bird houses, handmade jewelry, glass and crystal, plants and florals, restored furniture, handmade baby clothes, hand sewn pillows and blankets, antiques and collectibles, a farmer’s market gourmet food items, face painting and other children’s novelties and more. The event also includes 50/50 raffle as well as giveaways and food for purchase. 

    Mary Langston is Lee’s sister-in-law. She is one of the organizers of the benefit expo. She got the idea for the expo when she was trying to figure out a way to help Lee and his family. “My daughter is an artist and she and I recover and refurbish furniture together. We always get good responses when people receive our work. This is what we know and love and it is what we are good at. We wanted to do something that we believe other people will enjoy, but mostly we wanted a way to help Randy. That is the most important part.”

    The funds raised at the expo will go to help Lee and his family cover medical related expenses that insurance will not pay for, such as co-pays and deductibles, travel, temporary relocation for three months to be near the transplant center and the costly anti-rejection medications that he will need to take for the rest of his life. The transplant financial coordinators at UNC Chapel Hill estimate that Lee will have $150,000 to $200,000 in out-of-pocket expenses. 

    When transplant candidates and their families work with hospitals, Langston noted, it is important for the families to show good faith and that they have the ability to raise the funds that patients will need for the transplant, but also for the lifesaving medications that come with that. Currently, Lee has one lung working at 60 percent capacity and the other at 40 percent said Langston. 

    “We are about one-third of the way to our goal,” she said. “The doctors have said that Randy is not just a good candidate but an excellent candidate for this. He will get the transplant and be the one that thrives and mentors other patients who are going through this. That is just who he is. I was widowed five years ago when my husband was killed by a drunk driver. I cannot stand by and watch my sister slowly widowed when there is something we can do about it. Randy’s daughter is 11 years old, and she needs her daddy.”

    Pulmonary fibrosis causes scarring in lung tissue, which is called fibrosis. The scarring prevents the lungs from moving oxygen to the blood stream, which means the brain and other organs don’t get the oxygen they need. Sometimes there is no known cause for this. That is the case with Lee. 

    The expo is at the Governor Martin Building, Gate 9. For more information, call 527-5634

  • News5A mobile app called Fayfixit for smartphones makes it easy for Fayetteville residents to report non-emergency issues to City Hall. More than 2,000 residents have already downloaded the app according to city officials. Issues of concern can also be reported online at Fayfixit.com. This allows residents to bypass phone systems to make transactions faster and easier with no wait time. Those who prefer, however, may call 433-1FAY (1329). Either way, the process is easy for making complaints or reporting issues.

    The customer service system is not fully implemented. Only three departments of city government are connected: Environmental Services, Storm Water Management and Traffic Services sign division. 

    “Eighty percent of the complaints pertain to environmental services issues,” said Assistant City Manager Jay Reinstein. Nearly 3,800 reports of all kinds, ranging from missed collections to dead animals and illegal dumping to bulky items left at the curb were received over a 12-month period ending June 30. Other departments of city government, which will eventually be in the system, include Code Enforcement, Parks & Recreation, Street Maintenance and PWC street lights. For issues pertaining to these areas, for now, residents can phone 433-1FAY.

    Here’s how the system works: “Service requests automatically go to FayFixIt, which generates service requests. All work orders that come in are given priorities,” says Project Manager Joe Viittorelli. “They go directly to the departments and should cut down on our response time,” according to Customer Service Supervisor Tiffany Brisson, who says the City gets about 100 complaints a week on average. Issues meant for departments not yet connected are sent manually to directors. The City call center received more than 60,000 calls during the last fiscal year. Four representatives field the calls, and thanks to the new smartphone app and the Internet, telephone wait times have been reduced significantly, said Brisson. 

    There are 62,000 single-family households in Fayetteville, nearly 60 percent of which are rentals according to Reinstein. That makes keeping up with issues challenging since renters don’t know local procedures, and in some cases really don’t care, he adds. Reinstein notes that more than 8,700 issues have been reported to city hall since the FayFixIt system was launched 18 months ago. A request for service is just that: It’s a report to investigate, after which a departmental supervisor is dispatched to check out the problem. Reporting them is one thing. Getting them taken care of is another. 

    Jimmy Womble is what Reinstein calls a “super user” of the system. Womble lives in the Scotty Hills community and walks through the neighborhood several times a week. He takes notes along the way and uses the FayFixIt app to report problems he comes across. 

    “I made one report simply because I was so frustrated that some neighbors don’t seem to understand or care about their responsibilities,” said Womble. 

    State law dictates how violations are handled by the City and it can sometimes be a cumbersome process. Reinstein acknowledged that from a customer perspective it can be very frustrating. “This tool is not an end and be all…we need to do a better job of educating our citizens,” Reinstein says. “Every department of city government has established benchmarks which are used as performance evaluations but residents have to do their part,” he concluded. 

  • news1Fayetteville City Council has until Aug. 19 to decide whether it wants a local minor league baseball team to affiliate with the Houston Astros. Consultant Daniel Barrett of Barrett Sports Group has repeatedly urged the Council to decide if it’s prepared to meet what he calls the “yes or no” date. But the four members of the Council’s stadium subcommittee say that may not be enough time to weigh all the considerations, including cost. The Astros want a formal memorandum of understanding from the city. BSG has proposed a $47 million ballpark on city-owned property behind the Prince Charles Hotel. Most Single-A stadiums on the east coast were built for far less than that. Council members who have spoken up, including Mayor Nat Robertson, want to keep the cost at no more than $30 million. Committee membe,r Jim Arp, seems to be the most reluctant to be hurried, saying the city must do its due diligence. Barrett told the committee he isn’t sure if there are other major league teams that might be interested in locating a minor league affiliate in Fayetteville. Committee members include Arp, Kirk deViere, Larry Wright and Mayor Pro Tem Mitch Colvin who serves as chairman.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    news2Building Business Rally Planned       

    The Fayetteville Public Works Commission, City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County are co-hosting a Building Business Rally that will present upcoming business opportunities for utility contractors.  Water, wastewater and stormwater utility contractors are invited to attend the free event as are other businesses that support utility construction.  PWC, the city’s stormwater division and Cumberland County Public Utilities will provide information about projects that are planned over the next five years. Breakout sessions will be held to review bidding requirements and opportunities for minorities, women and veterans who may want to register for the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program. The Building Business Rally will be held Thursday, July 21, from 9 – 11 a.m. at PWC’s Administration Building, 955 Old Wilmington Rd.  To register, call 223-4337 or visit http://www.faypwc.com/purchasing .

     

     

     

     

     

     

    new32President on Opioid Abuse       

    President Barack Obama has made combatting prescription pain medication abuse and heroin addiction a top priority for his administration. Fayetteville has the unenviable distinction of having the 18th-highest rate of opioid abuse in the country. It has joined with the VA to form an Opioid Reduction Task Force, which is designed to allow different agencies to share ideas and resources to better attack the opioid epidemic. The White House has asked Congress for $1.1 billion in new funding to expand access to lifesaving treatment, particularly the drug buprenorphine. He also wants to strengthen prescription drug monitoring and accelerate research on pain and opioid misuse and overdose. Buprenorphine and the combination of buprenorphine and naloxone are used to treat addiction to opioid drugs, including heroin and narcotic painkillers. Buprenorphine alone and the combination of buprenorphine and naloxone work to prevent withdrawal symptoms when someone stops taking opioid drugs by producing similar effects to these drugs. “More people die of drug overdoses in the U.S. than in car crashes,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia M. Burwell. Government funds earmarked for treatment would be funneled directly to states.

     

     

     

     

    News4Pine Forest H.S. Teachers Honored   

    Pine Forest High School teachers Linwood Starling and Pierre Cobb have been selected to participate in the North Carolina Business Committee for Education’s Teachers@Work® program this summer. It’s a joint initiative of the NCBCE and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. “Teachers know the hard skills to teach their students, but they also need to see first-hand how those skills are being used in their local businesses,” said Sue Breckenridge, executive director of NCBCE. Starling and Cobb are science teachers and are paired with employees of Lenovo to learn the various aspects of the business. 

  • Karl MerrittI repeatedly write about the troubled political, governmental, moral and social condition of America. The thinking and concerns raised in much of my writing has brought me to the conclusion America needs a contingency third political party. What follows are the why, when and what of such an effort. Readers are invited and encouraged to send me feedback regarding what I present here. 

    The consideration that finally brought me to this conclusion regarding a third party is stated well by Gary Odom, political activist and former National Field Director for the Constitution Party, in “A Brief Look at the History of Third Parties in America,” posted on the organization’s website. My use of the quote here or any other reference to Odom is not an endorsement of the Constitution Party:

    “One doesn’t have to subscribe to a ‘conspiracy theory of history’ to understand that this ‘pendulum-style political system’ serves the big-moneyed special interests and the entrenched parties, whom they control, quite well. The powerful special interests, sitting, figuratively, at the fulcrum of the pendulum, contribute to and exert tremendous influence and control over both, the Republican and Democrat parties. While the voters feverishly push the political pendulum back and forth from one side to the other, election after election, under the impression that they are making significant changes, there is actually almost never any significant change made at all when it comes to real policy. In fact, those who exert the real power and influence behind the scenes (or at the fulcrum for the purpose of this example) rarely, if ever, care which candidate or party is elected. While the names sometimes change, and the rhetoric may be passionate and seem significantly different between the parties, policy almost never changes because the big money power brokers who effectively control most of what happens in both major parties remain the same and so do their interests.”

    I read Odom to say whether a Democrat or Republican is elected to an office, the primary American course will always be what serves the well-being of “big-moneyed special interests.” Regretfully, I have finally concluded he is right. Look at what has happened over the past 18 months with Republicans in control of Congress. I do not see that there has been any change in a single major policy resulting in adverse impact on powerful special interests. I shared this thought with a friend of many years. His response was, “Oh, I have seen changes.” He was thinking about changes brought by President Obama. In light of his response, I thought further about Odom’s conclusion and my acceptance of it. Winking at illegal immigration, pushing for same sex marriage, failing to seriously address extreme Islamic terrorism, support for the LGBT agenda and so many other similar changes…none of this adversely impacts big-moneyed special interests. So, I am back to agreeing with Odom.

    This situation requires formation of a political party that will not and cannot be controlled by a few people driven by self-interests. There are political parties in this country other than Republican and Democrat. However, as best I can tell, they are or would be open to the same kind of control currently at work regarding the two dominant parties. It would be a “contingency” party in that the organization would only activate to the point of putting forth candidates in 2020 if the Democrat and Republican Parties continue to fail America. Knowing that in the wings there is a party with superb organization, substantial human and financial resources, solid strategy and tactics, a huge informed voter base and that it will not be controlled by moneyed self-interests; maybe one or both primary parties will do what is right for America. If that happens, this contingency party would support those major party candidates whose actions, not just words, fit with its mission and principles. That failing, the contingency party shifts to a full-fledged political party putting forth candidates for 2020.

    A key to success in any effort is being clear about the mission. From my vantage point, the mission of the Democrat and Republican parties is to win elections. That mission engenders personal attacks, chasing financial donations, lack of substantive discussion of issues, and an overall process that is downright disgusting. The mission of this third party would be to give America an opportunity to do what is right for her citizens and in our interactions with the entire world. Winning elections would be desirable, but not controlling. “Doing what is right” controls.

    As I wrote in a recent column, doing what is right requires a solid source of principles that define “right.” As for this third party, succeed or fail, Judeo-Christian principles would be the source for identifying what is right. Many people will deny it, but these are the principles on which this nation was founded and thrived. There would be no turning from, no wavering, regarding adherence to this course. President Ronald Reagan spoke truth when he said, “If we ever forget that we are ‘One nation under God,’ then we will be a nation gone under.”

    Beyond mission and source of principles, a contingency third party could learn much from studying the 1992 independent Presidential campaign of Ross Perot. The billionaire received 18.9 percent of the popular vote. His opponents were George Bush the elder and Bill Clinton. Perot performed so well that he qualified to participate in the final debate of that election.

    Perot recognized that many Americans vote based on emotion and not informed understanding of issues. The situation is no different in our time. Neil Cavuto on Fox Cable News interviewed a young lady who supports Bernie Sanders, 2016 Democrat Presidential candidate because of his promise of free college. Neil asked her how Sanders would pay for this benefit. Her face went blank and after several seconds of silence, she blurted out, “Tax the rich.” No thought given to details of the issue; simply driven by a feeling of deserving more. Perot recognized this sad situation in the 1990s. For this reason, he did infomercials that addressed issues that informed voters. A contingency party must be about informing voters. Please, go to this link and watch one of Perot’s infomercials. It will be time well invested: https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=ross+perot+infomercials&ei=UTF-8&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-001

    Media sources have consolidated to the point that a few companies and individuals control what information is made available to the public. Without a doubt, most news, commentary and even entertainment align with liberal thinking and aim to disparage conservative candidates and views. Perot avoided such treatment because the controllers of media likely realized if they did not cover him and do so accurately, he had the money to purchase advertising and still get his message out. A contingency third party must have similar leverage regarding media.

    Perot had the financial means to impact media as explained in the preceding paragraph. He had those resources because of personal wealth but also because of successful grassroots fundraising. This combination allowed Perot to operate independent of the moneyed self-interest class and media bias. This contingency third party must do the same. That is, raise substantial cash, but do so in small donations from the grassroots. This approach avoids coming under the control of big-money donors.

    On July 16, 1992, Perot withdrew from the Presidential race stating that he could not win and staying in the race would only create problems for the electoral process. At another point, he said his withdrawal was due to receiving warning that digitally altered photos of his daughter would be released if he stayed in the race and her wedding might be disrupted. He returned to the race in October. His withdrawal and somewhat questionable reasons cost Perot momentum. The lesson for a contingency third party is “be transparent.” 

    America’s troubled condition requires bold aggressive action to give our nation an opportunity to do what is right, not what is easy or pleasing to human desires. I believe a third political party very different from any party in existence today is required for that kind of action.  

    To read more, visit my website, scroll down and read a few of my columns: www.karlmerritt.com/articles. 

  • MargaretThat old-fashioned word, wallflower, conjures images of a shy young lady standing alone in a room full of dancing couples as callow young men chat without looking her way. An empty dance card dangles from a slim wrist, and eyes are downcast. She looks sad and lonesome.

    North Carolina was a lonesome wallflower herself for many presidential cycles. Throughout most of the 20th century, North Carolina voted reliably for the Democratic presidential nominee in every election from 1876 through 1964, with the sole exception of 1928, when we went for Republican Herbert Hoover over Democrat Al Smith, a Roman Catholic in an era of religious discrimination. From 1968 on, we voted solidly Republican, except for Jimmy Carter in 1976 and Barack Obama in 2008.

    Whatever our personal partisan leanings may be, voting reliably one way or another makes for dull elections. Because the outcomes were predictable, partisan primaries could be fierce, but North Carolina’s presidential races were snoozes. Ferrel Guillory, director of the University of North Carolina Program on Public Life and a longtime observer of Tar Heel politics, notes that as recently as 2004 neither Democrats nor Republicans purchased even one prime-time ad in our state.  Everyone knew how our presidential elections were likely to turn out, so why use precious campaign time and financial resources here?

    As Bob Dylan sang, “The times, they are a changin’…”

    In fact, they have changed.

    After more than a century as a wallflower, North Carolina is now — depending on your terminology, a swing state, a battleground state or a purple state. This means we no longer give overwhelming support to either party or single Presidential candidate. It also means we are going to get — indeed, we are getting — intense attention from Presidential candidates themselves, their political parties and, since the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling in early 2010, the so-called “dark money” now flowing into our political process. All this is coming our way because purple states, like North Carolina, are the best places for candidates to mine for electoral votes. It is difficult if not impossible to turn a Democratic state like California Republican or a Republican state like Kansas Democratic.

    If you have any doubt about how important North Carolina and our 15 electoral votes are, just think back to earlier this month when President Obama gave Hillary Clinton a ride on Air Force One to campaign in Charlotte and spoke glowingly on her behalf. Within hours on the same day, Donald Trump was on stage in Raleigh sharing his campaign message. 

    North Carolina has not had such attention from presidential hopefuls in living memory, and probably never.

    Becoming a purple state reflects dramatic changes in our state over the last half century. No longer are we a largely rural state where people farm or work in furniture, cigarette and textile factories. Our population has nearly doubled since the early 1970s, largely from people coming here from other places. Guillory tells us our newcomers include well-educated, upper income whites from other states, Asians and Latinos who have come for better jobs and African Americans returning “home” after the great out-migration of the early 20th century.

    All of this has changed our state from a biracial place to a multi-ethnic society. Our newcomers as well as native North Carolinians, our “Tar Heels bred,” now gravitate to our booming urban areas, particularly Charlotte and the Triangle, meaning that the political clout of rural areas continues to decline. Increasingly, we are a state of urban “haves” and rural “have nots.”

    Such dramatic change brings greater diversity, including among political opinions — think everyone from a Down East farmer to a millennial in the tech sector in Charlotte. In addition, the fastest-growing political registration is now “Independent,” a reality unsettling for both Democrats and Republicans.

    Political polls are nothing more than snapshots in time. They can change on a dime given a political bombshell. At this writing, Clinton and Trump are running neck and neck, as are Richard Burr and Deborah Ross in our U.S. Senate race. 

    But we are now a true purple state, and candidates are going to be here both in person and on television scrapping for every available vote while other reliably red or blue states will cruise through election season with few TV spots, positive or negative, and will not lay eyes on Hillary or the Donald. 

    Here in North Carolina, our dance card is full to overflowing, and a famous face could knock on our door at any moment.

    The only think to do is brace ourselves, gets lots of sleep and consider carefully — very carefully.

  • Pub PenWith several projects up for discussion (a $60 million N.C. Civil War History Center, a $40 million baseball  stadium and a $58 million Performing Arts Center), Fayetteville has some decisions to make. The problem with our community has never been that we don’t know what the right path or solution is (enter the consultants), it’s our enviable ability to always make the wrong decisions and do the wrong things. 

    Here we have a trifecta of opportunity that can transform this community for a mere $158 million. Considering the waste and inefficiency of our governments, the positive economic impact of the venues themselves, the resulting growth and development in the city and a myriad of financial plans that can be spread over 15-20 years, this is DOABLE. We may never have a better opportunity to catapult Fayetteville and Cumberland County into the 21st century, allowing us to take our rightful place among other culturally enriched North Carolina cities. In sports parlance, “this is ours to lose.”

  • CoverCelebrate the National Day of the Cowboy at a rodeo on July 22 and 23 at 7 Branch Farm in Lumber Bridge. This is the 3rd Annual National Day of the Cowboy at 7 Branch and looks to be the be a winner for participants and audiences alike. The National Day of the Cowboy celebrates the spirit of the west, the ruggedness and independence that made cowboys the icons we know and love. It celebrates the code that governed the wild west. 

    At 7 Branch Arena, every day is a day to celebrate the cowboy culture. Family owned and operated, 7 Branch started as an eight-acre plot of farmland that the children of Ron Payne purchased eight years ago for the sole purpose of converting into a horse farm. Today, the farm boasts 37 acres and is home to several events each year. 

    “I was involved in professional Team Roping and qualified for the National Finals of Team Roping three times,” said Buddy Blackman, one of the owners. Blackman’s own experience at rodeos helped shape the way the horse farm grew. “We decided to put in an arena at our farm. This idea grew into a full-size competition arena with bleachers and an 1,800 square foot arena and building including a lit parking area and water stations for competitors. We held our first official competition in 2012 and our first Rodeo in 2014. We were the first venue in North Carolina to hold a National Day of the Cowboy Rodeo.”  

    Steeped in the rodeo and equine culture, Blackman grew up around horses. His family owned horses and he rode them as a child. By the time he was 18, he was riding bucking bulls and horses in professional rodeos. He loved the variety it added to his life. 

    “Participating in rodeos is adventurous; it allowed me to travel from state to state,” said Blackman.

    It turns out that hosting rodeos is also fun for Blackman. “Hosting and producing a rodeo is a lot of hard work that includes planning and coordinating with others to produce a wonderful event. The best part is when we finally get to the opening ceremony and the rodeo is underway,” he said, but there are other things he loves about putting on a rodeo, too. “There are many favorites: the big crowd, watching the bull riders and the cowboy mounted shooting where an individual shoots a .45 caliber pistols at balloon targets on a pre-designed pattern. … and the wild bull riding is always the main attraction — a 2,000+ pound bull versus a 150-pound rider.”

    Whether this is old hat or a new experience, the events are lively and fast-paced are sure to keep the crowds entertained. The lineup includes rodeo standards like barrel racing, team roping, cowboy mounted shooting, bull riding and trick riding. Blackman expects a crowd of 1,500 to 2,000 people and suggests coming early. “Gates open at 5 p.m.,” he said. “We will have several vendors of food, information and plenty of activities to see and do. The show starts at 8 p.m. Based on previous events, there is always a long line at the ticket window at 8 p.m.”

    This is Leslie Reed’s second year trick riding at 7 Branch’s National Day of the Cowboy Rodeo. She and her trick riding partner, Lori Chaney, have been riding together since 2011. “We ride together about once a month at different events and it is a lot of fun,” said Reed. “I like the adrenaline rush. Our horses go fast and there is a lot of trust involved. You have to really know and trust your horse. The crowds like our show because it is fast paced and high energy.”

    7 Branch hosts several events throughout the year, but the National Day of the Cowboy Rodeo is a special one for Blackman because this event is not only a great time, it is also a fundraiser for three charities: the Lumber Bridge Fire Department, Parkton EMS and Operation First Response. 

    “With three charities, we hope to raise enough money to make a difference, so that each organization gets a substantial amount,” said Blackman.

    Tickets are available at https://dayofthecowboy.wordpress.com. Find out more about 7 Branch at https://www.facebook.com/7-Branch-Farm-248209858571054.

    There was no law in the wild west, so cowboys had to make up their own code of conduct. It wasn’t legally binding but more of a code of honor.

    The National Day of the Cowboy

    Code of Conduct for 

    Cowboys & Cowgirls©

    1.  Live each day with honesty and courage.

    2.  Take pride in your work. Always do your best.

    3.  Stay curious. Study hard and learn all you can.

    4.  Do what has to be done and finish what you start.

    5.  Be tough, but fair.

    6.  When you make a promise, keep it.

    7.  Be clean in thought, word, deed, and dress.

    8.  Practice tolerance and understanding of others.

    9.  Be willing to stand up for what’s right.

    10. Be an excellent steward of the land and its animals.

  • Shane Wilson“Everything lined up” to bring Shane Wilson to Fayetteville from Georgia a few years ago, he said — a relationship, a job and a future full of possibilities.

    Although the relationship with his then-girlfriend did not work out, Wilson said “life here is good.” He enjoys his job teaching English at Fayetteville Technical Community College, he has a network of friends and colleagues to offer support and encouragement, and he is building a following of fans for his writing.

    Already recognized for his published poetry, Wilson recently self-published his first novel, “A Year Since the Rain.” The story follows a confused but likeable narrator named Alan, whose personal heartbreak coincides with a draught in his town. Wilson’s journey of self-discovery is guided by a series of women who try to help him see that home is more than the ground beneath your feet.  

    Hank and Diane Parfitt, the owners of City Center Gallery & Books on Hay Street enjoyed the book so much, they hosted an author meet-and-greet on June 23 to introduce the book to Fayetteville and give readers a chance to meet Wilson. 

    “We support local artists including authors,” Hank Parfitt said. “I think this book deserves wider attention. It is as good as any well-known author writing fiction today.”

    Wilson said he is not completely comfortable with being called author or novelist yet.  

    “Am I an author?” He said there is a feeling of ‘imposter syndrome’ when he hears that.  

    “I always thought I was a poet,” Wilson said. “I thought that is what I was for a long time— a poet.”  

    He added that his book started out as “six pages of terrible poetry.” He put it on the shelf for a year before returning to it. What became A Year Since the Rain “started with a sentence, then it came tumbling out, like much art does.”

    Wilson prefers another term these days. “Writer is easier to grasp than novelist,” he said. “It is the difference in being a runner and being a marathoner — that is what writing a novel feels like.” 

    One label Wilson does not contest is that of teacher. His personable style of instruction and warm, cheerful personality builds interest and respect in his FTCC classroom, current and former students say. Many of them attended the event at City Center Gallery & Books.

    Don Grasmick, a former soldier now working toward a welding certification, initially took Wilson’s class only because it was required. He said Wilson made the subject matter easy to comprehend and enjoy. He added that being a published author lends credibility in the classroom because “he’s got proof of being a writer.”

    FTCC graduate Brandon Perez is now attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill studying political science. He said he enjoyed Wilson’s way of dissecting a story and breaking it down for the class, but his support and encouragement has meant even more.  

    “His work has profoundly affected me inside the classroom,” Perez said.  “But he has also always been a mentor and friend outside the classroom.”

    Wilson recently finished writing the first draft of his second book. The story features two musicians and asks where does creativity come from and how do we define it.

    “The most daunting part is what do I do next,” Wilson said. “I’ll still be writing and teaching.” 

    Wilson’s next stop will be as special guest during the Gallery 208 Opening Reception for Light and Time: Paintings by Rose Kennedy on July 12 from 5:30 – 7 p.m.  The event is free and open the the public. Gallery 208 is located at 208 Rowan St.

  • 90sMost of us know where we were when we heard a song for the first time, whether it was in high school at prom or on the radio before there was XM and we were still pressing record to make mix tapes. 

    Back in the 90s, it was all about “Push It,” “Ice Ice Baby” and “Bust a Move,” so anyone who wants to relive those days and dance all night, join the Love the ‘90s Tour on Friday, July 15 at the Crown Coliseum!

    Bringing back the dance hits of the day are headliners Vanilla Ice and Salt-N-Pepa as well as All 4 One, Kid N Play, Coolio and Young MC. 

    “I Swear,” first a country hit with John Michael Montgomery, brought All 4 One into the spotlight and earned their band accolades with Grammy and American Music Awards. I had the opportunity to talk with Jamie Jones, the lead singer of R&B/pop group All 4 One, about their upcoming tour participation for the following Q&A session.

    UCW: How did this tour come about? 

    JONES: It was as easy as getting a phone call from our agent asking if we were interested and we were! This is the first time we’ve performed with these great artists although we’ve seen them at awards shows and around. Salt-N-Pepa actually presented us with our award at the American Music Awards.

    UCW: Have you stayed in touch over the years?  

    JONES: We actually have been together for 23 years touring non-stop in the states and overseas, with all four original members. We’ve been told that is a rare feat and we are honored to have been able to perform all of these years.

    UCW: What are you most excited about with the tour? 

    JONES: I love the nostalgia and the good memories that music brings. It brings back specific memories, music will attach itself, you remember what you were wearing, where you were… and with all of the craziness that is going on in the world, this is an amazing escape to give to the audience. It creates an amazing energy through the building.

    UCW: What should your fans expect? 

    JONES: Our fans should expect a really good time, feeling those emotions from falling in love to letting loose. We’re here to stir up nostalgia and get those good vibes going again.

    UCW: Tell me about your new song and the Bachelorette experience. 

    JONES: This album 20+ is our latest and it is always cool to record. The new song, “Now that We’re Together,” was a personal song for me — my mom passed away in 2009 — and it’s about a couple affected by Alzheimer’s. Writing that song was a creative outlet for me, but more so I feel like it helps others connect through the music. And the Bachelorette experience was a lot of fun. We didn’t realize how many people would be impacted until we saw our Facebook page and the comments about how many people get together and have Bachelorette viewing parties. 

    We debuted our new video and I think people will be excited about our new album. It has 14 completely new songs and six of our hits re-recorded including a duet with John Michael Montgomery. It’s a look at the journey from where we’ve been and as we get older, the way we look at life changes. Even looking at our music, for me personally, the things I was writing about then, like falling in love, was through life in a different lens. We all see things differently now, 20 plus years later.

    UCW: Have any special words for your fans here? 

    JONES: Yes, we hope you have a great time and we can’t wait to see
    you, Fayetteville!

    The Love the ‘90s tour tickets are on sale. Tickets range in price from $33 to $70, depending on seat and package at www.capefeartix.com. For more information, visit www.crowncomplexnc.com.

  • COVER

  • COVERLooking at modern and contemporary works of art can be complicated. With so many styles, so many approaches to form and themes, so many mediums and mixed media, there is not a singular way to look at works of art, but a myriad of ways. We can pause at the complexity of a modern painter like Georges Braque and gather the pictorial parts to create a whole. In post-modern art, we can decipher incongruent images to create new meaning, or we can visually speed across a contemporary minimal surface where immediacy and even branding is a popular approach to creating works of art.

    Gallery 208 at the offices of Up & Coming Weeklydecided to host a one-woman exhibition by an artist who focuses on a particular type of immediacy in her paintings. The public is invited to meet the artist during the opening reception of Light and Time: Paintings by Rose Kennedy on July 12, 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. The artist, Rose Kennedy, is more connected to the modern impressionist style, popular since the late 1880s, but in a contemporary Southern landscape context. 

    There is a complexity to the Kennedys’ work, but visitors to the exhibit will not be bogged down by the theoretical. Instead, form and content are intertwined into a visual experience of light, color and a sense of place.  Where many people feel alienated from contemporary art, people will feel immediately connected to Kennedy’s keen interpretation and observation of the Carolina landscape. 

    As stated by Kennedy, her goal is “to draw the viewer into the moment, eliciting the emotional response of a particular point in time, whether it is the serenity from the warm glow of morning, or the sparkling playfulness of light and shadow as the day transitions into evening.” My response to Kennedy’s work is similar to how theorist Laurie Fendrich defends abstract art: “… not a vehicle for social or political change….it enables us to be quiet… it offers a counter to the glut of things…often is quite simply beautiful.” 

    I have followed Kennedy’s art work for many years and knew her mostly by her pastel paintings. But of late, she has undertaken the plein air(French for in the “open air”) painting approach as she paints quickly and directly from observation. In her direct observation of a landscape, Kennedy is “on-site” and has to capture the light during that specific window of time. Qualities of light, direct sunlight or overcast, the artist has to understand the light through color and the painted mark. 

    A task that is not easy, an artist has to be organized and practiced to paint on-site. A challenge, since the light and environment changes, the artist’s efforts result in capturing a spontaneity and freshness. To learn this skill Kennedy noted she “has attended numerous workshops with nationally-renowned artists. Then I took the techniques I learned from these experiences and developed my own personal and recognizable style of painting. My paintings are vibrant and intriguing, reflecting nature as I see it. “

    Kennedy’s works are included in both private and corporate collections, and she is a featured artist in the publication Painting North Carolina, A Visual Journey. Memberships and affiliations include the Southeastern Pastel Society, Piedmont Pastel Society, Oil Painters of America and Women Painters of the Southeast. Kennedy works from her home studio, but she is also an exhibiting member at Cape Fear Studios in Fayetteville, N.C., maintaining a working studio space there. Before opening at Gallery 208, Kennedy opened a one-woman exhibit at the Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

    Visitors to Gallery 208 are going to enjoy the colorful and inspiring beauty in Light and Time: Paintings by Rose Kennedy. The paintings are evidence that the pursuits of early modernist Impressionistic art is still with us in the post-modern period. Be prepared to see works by a painter who is not afraid to use expressive color and demonstrates ways to use color and light to unify a painting instead of modeling a form with light and shade. 

    Like the classical Impressionists, Kennedy does not necessarily depend on realistic depictions; instead she captures the immediacy of a moment, a place, and the optical effects of light as she has interprets it through loose brushwork. Her years of working with a heightened color palette has resulted in paintings that have the quality of luminance. In her luminance, we do not perceive the edges of objects or the landscape; instead, ambiguous forms shift to become recognizable in their unity. 

    The public is invited to the opening reception of Light and Time: Paintings by Rose Kennedyon Tuesday, July 12, 2016 between 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. at Gallery 208 located at 208 Rowan Street, the home of Up & Coming Weekly. If you cannot attend the opening, the exhibit will remain at Gallery 208 until mid-September. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information call Up & Coming Weekly at 484-6200.

  • 072915_pitt-dickey.jpg

    By now the Chinese hacking of the personal data of umpty million government personnel records is pretty much old news. The Hack enjoyed its 15 minutes of fame and then dropped out of sight faster than Mitt Romney. As Officer Barbrady on South Park would say, “Nothing to see here, move along.” But before the attention span of the American public is swept away by Donald Trump’s criticism of John McCain’s war record, Caitlyn Jenner winning an ESPY award for something, or the Greek financial mess, let us take one last look at the Chinese Hack Attack. 

    The Office of Personnel Management periodically releases new numbers of people whose personal data are somewhere over the rainbow nestling in the Chinese cloud. The number of hackees keeps increasing. Up and up the number goes. Where it stops nobody knows. OPM’s director, Katherine Archuleta , who presided over this breach has fallen upon her sword. She resigned to spend more time with her family and pursue other opportunities. This is one of the few times an official of the Obama administration who screwed up actually had to walk the plank. Be grateful for small favors. 

    China, too polite to brag, modestly denied it scooped up 22 million Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, financial records, health records and information about the individuals’ families and personal acquaintances. A small silver lining may be that the price of purchasing another person’s identity will go down as so many more identities are now available for sale. Bet you can’t buy just one stolen identity. That’s the thing about buying stolen identities from the Chinese, an hour later you are hungry and want to buy another identity.

    No telling what sort of interesting mischief the Chinese could do with 22 million government employees’ personal information. I am pretty sure the Chinese would never blackmail a government nuclear engineer about his nontraditional love for farm animals to obtain blue prints to something significant. While thinking about the Chinese gathering of data on Americans, I recalled Sting’s musical ode to stalking, “Every Breath You Take.” This song features the heartwarming lyrics: “Every single day/And every word you say/Every game you play/Every night you stay/I’ll be watching you/Every move you make/Every vow you break/Every smile you fake/I’ll be watching you.” 

    Just look over your shoulder, Chairman Mao is watching you.

    The Greek financial snafu prodded thoughts about how the Greek Gods would deal with the Chinese checkers identity theft. Recall the Greek myth of Zeus and Io. Zeus was married to Hera. Being a bit of a ladies man, Zeus was known to fool around. The beautiful Io was one of Hera’s priestesses. Zeus spotted Io in the temple. Like Bill Cosby, Zeus was smitten. Being a God, Zeus could turn himself into a cloud. He stole a cloud’s identity and seduced Io. What woman can resist a good-looking cloud? Hera found out about Io. She was not happy. To protect Io from Hera, Zeus changed Io into a white cow. Hera saw through the cow disguise and demanded Zeus give her Io the cow. Hera had Cow Io tied up in a sacred grove. She assigned a 100-eyed giant named Argus to keep Zeus away. Zeus, ready for some more sweet, sweet love from Io, sent his buddy Hermes to rustle Io. Hermes played his magic lute, which caused Argus to fall into a deep sleep. 

    While Argus was in the land of Nod, Hermes cut off Argus’s head. Greek Gods don’t play. Io ran off to Egypt where she ultimately becomes the Goddess Isis, but not the terrorist group ISIS. Hera gathered up Argus’ 100 eyes and put them on the tails of peacocks. Next time you see a peacock spreading his magnificent tail, remember you are looking at the eyes of Argus. 

    While you are looking at the eyes of Argus, think of China looking at you. To mangle a great old song: “The eyes of China are upon you/All the live long days/The eyes of China are upon you/And you cannot get away/Do not think you can escape them/From night to early in the morn/The eyes of China are upon you/ Till Gabriel blows his horn.” 

    China knows when you’ve been sleeping. It knows when you’re awake. China knows if you’ve been bad or good. So be good for goodness sake. 

    Just keep waiting for Gabriel’s trumpet. 

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     With all the controversy surrounding the Market House, I invite everyone who enjoys living in this community to visit the Market House in Historic Downtown Fayetteville and spend  a few moments reading the names of residents, businesses and local organizations who have unselfishly invested time, effort and money over the last several decades contributing to Fayetteville’s community development and quality of life. 

    The question now is: Who will these people, businesses and organizations be in the future? Who will be the people stepping into leadership positions providing innovative ideas that will assure future generations the same quality of life?

    The recent passing of devoted Fayetteville resident Martha Duell brings this question to the forefront. We owe so much to people like Martha who contributed unselfishly to the development of our community. Her unbridled enthusiasm and commitment to our community left her indelible signature on the Cape Fear Botanical Garden, the Lafayette Society and with the help, support and devotion of her dear friend Mildred Evans, gave us the International Folk Festival. These are just a few examples of the many contributions made by people like Martha who devoted their lives to making our city and our community a better place to live.  

    No other place in Fayetteville reminds us of this kind of unsolicited community devotion than the brick floor of the Market House. Here, in the ‘80s and ‘90s, Fayetteville residents rallied to provide financing for the restoration and preservation of this national historic property. Yes, local residents and civic leaders raised money by purchasing engraved bricks for permanent placement in the floor of the Market House. They were the same people who stepped forward unselfishly into leadership positions contributing time, money and effort to building a better Fayetteville. The collection of names is impressive. It is a virtual 50-year Who’s Who documenting the people and entities that stepped up to take leadership roles and became actively involved in shaping this community for the betterment of all Fayetteville residents. Not white residents. Not black residents. But, all residents. Again, it was Martha Duell and her devoted friend Mildred Evans who in 1979 created the International Folk Festival in recognition and celebration of Fayetteville’s unique cultural diversity. It was a refreshing, authentic and welcoming gesture of love, acceptance and southern hospitality that has become a Fayetteville tradition.

    Actually, when it comes to tolerance and diversity, Fayetteville could be recognized as the original “sanctuary city.” And, the names of many of the people, businesses and organizations responsible for this lie engraved in the Market House for evermore. Dedicated, unselfish and relentless people all in the pursuit of a better Fayetteville community. People like Lloyd Hackley, J.L. Dawkins, Johnny Dawkins, M.J. Weeks, Jean Hodges, Ginny and Dean Russell, Ramon and Virginia Yarborough, Tony and JoAnn Chavonne, J.P. Riddle, Don Talbot, Bill Hurley,  Breeden and Kathy Blackwell, Alex Warner, Lee Warren, Jon Warren, Charley and Peggy Holt, Robin Kelly, Mark Kendrick, Richard Bryant, Bobby Suggs, Don Lattilla, Linda Lee Allen, Jean and Jeff Thompson and Walter Guy Jr. Businesses like Kelly Springfield, Townsend Real Estate, McCune Technology, Dickinson Buick, Hutson Typewriter, Hurst Annaho.

    Again, these are only a few. Many have left us over the years but not before leaving their mark and loving contributions on our community. Fortunately, many are still here working, active and dedicated. But their numbers are thinning. The question now is who will take their place? Who out there is willing to put their iPhone and iPad down long enough to build this community up? We can only hope this “what’s in it for me society” realizes what’s in it for them before it’s too late. Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

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    It takes a courageous and highly skilled person to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. Yet there is no shortage of paratroopers and special operators that do just that on a regular basis. Often that jump is just the beginning of a bigger mission, a piece in a complex training event or battle plan. Paratroopers falling from the skies over Cumberland and Hoke counties are routine these days, but that was not always the case. The airborne and special operations ties run deep here and the Airborne & Special Operations Museum celebrates the courage, accomplishments and can-do spirit of these service members every day, but there is one special day that gives the museum a reason to pull out all the stops and honor America’s airborne. The Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation is hosting National Airborne Day on Saturday, Aug. 15 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Airborne & Special Operations Museum. 

    “National Airborne Day is a day declared by the President to celebrate the Airborne Forces and Special Operations Forces of the United States Army,” said David Myhres, narrator for the National Airborne Day celebration. “Some memorial stones are going to be dedicated to retired General James Lindsay.” 

    Myhres added that the retired general is the current president of the Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation, a legendary figure in the airborne community as commander of the XVIII Airborne Corps and the 82nd Airborne Division and first commander of the newly formed special operations command back in the ‘70s and ‘80s.      

    This year is the 75th anniversary of the Airborne and many fun activities have been planned. There will be a jump by the famous Golden Knights and a performance by the ever-popular and entertaining 82nd Airborne Division’s All-American Chorus. Attendees can enjoy layouts of weapons with Infantry soldiers and communication equipment and medical equipment will be on display. Don’t miss the World War II reenactments where the community can learn more about America’s finest hour. While there is plenty to see and do, this is a family-friendly event. Children will be able to see, hold and touch various pieces of equipment, ride the simulators and see informative movies. There will be soldiers on-site to answer questions that anyone may have. 

    “We are the Airborne Forces of the United States Army and we exit the aircraft over deniable territory to seize and hold objectives for fallen forces for the military,” said Myhres. “We are trained in Fort Benning, Ga., and do a three-week course and are either sent to the 82nd Airborne Division or other units that are Airborne qualified.” 

    Myhres added that you have to jump once every three months and perform your mission after you jump out of the aircraft to stay current.  

    During World War I, aviation technology was a game changer. There were significant advancements in several areas: aircraft, weapons, ordnance, instruments and even flight gear, including parachutes. The parachutes were not anything like what soldiers use as they drifted over Sicily and other local drop zones. The first parachutes were heavy and bulky and not something that could save a pilot in a crash much less an entire unit of paratroopers. In fact, the early military parachutes were designed for balloon observers who often had to jump from the observation baskets when they were attacked.

    After World War I, the military continued to develop aviation technology as well as parachute technology. By the time war broke out in Europe in 1939, both the U.S. and Germany were working furiously to use the skies to their advantage in combat.  

    The first Airborne Infantry was the “Test Platoon,” who were the first to jump out of an airplane in 1940. It was composed of two officers and 48 enlisted soldiers who were selected from a pool of 200 volunteers based on high standards of health and fitness. 

    “The Army wanted proof of concept that we could actually jump out of the aircraft, land, and continue on with the mission without any injuries or anything else,” said Myhres. “That Test Platoon later grew into the 82nd Airborne Division and became one of the first Airborne Divisions.”             

    The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 396-5692. 


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    The loss of a mother is devastating. It can change the course of a life, and for the Adkins family it did. But instead of allowing this terrible event to cause even more damage they decided to focus their energy on creating a positive. They founded the Mamie Adkins Educational Fund in 2004 to honor their mother and her passion. 

    Mamie Adkins was a strong woman full of care and passion. She raised nine kids as a single mother; a challenge that she overcame with love and determination. She worked tirelessly to provide for her family, and did it with grace. Her love didn’t stop with her children however; she had a tremendous passion for all young people and understood the value of education. She also had a deep passion for her church where she found support and comfort. To honor that commitment and love, the fund specifically benefits students that are members of the Tabernacle Baptist Church. This fund allows the passions of Adkins to live on and continue to positively influence the lives of community members. Just last year, four graduates were awarded scholarships in support of their education, and previous recipients are already going on to great success. 

    In order to support the fund, the Adkins family has organized an annual golf tournament. This is the 11th annual Mamie Adkins Golf Tournament. The cost per player is $95. Something unique to this tournament is the availability of cheats for purchase. The price to play includes a mulligan (a second chance) and a Red Tee (starting further forward). For an additional $10, players get an additional two mulligans and one red tee; $20 gets a string (a predetermined length the player is allowed to move the ball measured by a piece of string) and a sling. There is also a package available for $120 that includes both cheats. This year there are some new features in the tournament. There are two separate flights: Champions and Rogues. The Rogue Flight has unlimited cheats available for purchase. The Champions Flight cannot purchase the cheat package. They are only allowed the two mulligans and one Red Tee package. Additionally, winning teams from each flight will be honored on the Bragging Right Championship Trophy with their names permanently etched on the trophy. Other contests are the Closest to the Pin, Farthest from the Pin, Longest Drive, Shortest Drive, and the Long Tee Longest Drive.  

    For those who can’t play but still want to support this fantastic cause, there are many sponsorship opportunities. Hole sponsorship is $50 and includes tee-box signage. There is also contest hole, beverage cart, tee hospitality tent, Silver, Tournament Hole Sign, Gold and Presenting Sponsor packages available. The largest sponsorship is the Presenting Sponsor, which is $1,000 and includes logos on the T-shirts, team fees, a vendor table and hole signage. 

    The tournament is on Aug. 15 at 10 a.m. at Gates Four Country Club, which is located at 6775 Irongate Dr. For more information, sponsorship information or to register, visit www.magt.co, www.facebook.com/mamieadkinsgolftournament or call 910-482-5349. 


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    There is no other way to say it, a Public school teachers matter. Tremendously.

    All teachers impart information and knowledge. The good ones empower their students to become lifelong learners and to seek and value education. The really gifted ones can and do turn students in their tracks, set them on courses that will shape their lives and show them how to be moral, loving and productive people. All of us have had these teachers, and I will forever have a sweet place in my heart for them, especially those who helped grow the Precious Jewels into the young adults they have become.

    Something else needs to be said as well.

    In recent years, North Carolina has treated her public school educators with no respect and with little courtesy. We barely pay lip service to the work they do, and we certainly do not pay them enough to support themselves, much less a family. Once at the national average in teacher pay in the mid-2000s, the National Education Association now ranks our state 42nd in the nation and 46th in per pupil spending. Said another way, North Carolina’s teacher pay has changed more than any other state’s — and in the wrong direction. I have seen teachers I know moonlighting as store clerks and restaurant servers to make ends meet.

    As Aretha Franklin might say this hardly spells R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

    The North Carolina General Assembly continues to wrangle over a 2015-2016 budget with no end in sight. Among the bones of contention is a Senate proposal to do away with 8,500 teaching assistants in the early grades. The idea is to use the savings — i.e., the money that used to be teaching assistants’ salaries — to hire more teachers and reduce class size for the youngest students. If the General Assembly decides to cut those 8,500 teacher assistants loose, it will be the largest layoff in North Carolina history, public or private, and will surely cause economic ripples in communities throughout our state, especially in smaller, more rural areas still suffering from the Great Recession.

    If you still might think that sounds like a reasonable plan, consider that there might not be enough classroom space or teachers to fill those new positions. Institutions of higher learning report a drop in students planning to go into teaching in North Carolina, so the notion of more but smaller classes for little ones is suspect, at best. Hmmm, I wonder if that could have anything to do with low pay, stressful working conditions and the demise of teacher tenure?

    Wake County recently experienced another sort of teacher dissing. Teachers from a Raleigh elementary school had been volunteering — yes, using their own time and resources — to take books into apartment complexes, often ones with low-income and Spanish-speaking families, to read to and with children over the summer. The children loved the special attention, and all was well until the apartment complex owners tried to pull the plug on the program, saying the volunteers had not been screened. Well, they had been screened by Wake County Public Schools, and public blowback was so swift and strong that the apartment folks caved. Reading is happily underway again, but you get the point.

    Education in North Carolina has hit a period of great flux. Independent, or private, schools are popping up everywhere, and charters, a loosely-regulated form of public school, are growing rapidly now that the General Assembly has allowed more and more of them. Each of us can decide for ourselves whether we agree with critics who say all this change constitutes a plan to dismantle public education, but an argument for that position can certainly be made.

    It seems to me that we need our public schools and the teachers who populate them more than ever. As our society becomes more diverse and more secular, we as a people have fewer experiences in common. Public schools have been the glue that holds us together, the glue that constitutes the American experience from early childhood through adolescence and into young adulthood. Almost all of us attend public schools for at least some of our educations, and I find it sad that this almost universal American experience is becoming — less universal.

    We in North Carolina talk a good game about respecting our teachers as professionals. That is all it is. We do not compensate them like professionals nor do we treat them that way. We have entered a time where what everyone’s mother warned is coming true.

    We are getting exactly what we are paying for, and in this case, that cannot be a good thing.

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    World War II was one of the darkest periods in human history. Upon his rise to power in February 1933, Adolf Hitler and the ruling Nazi party began building the first of the Holocaust concentration camps. The original camps housed and tortured around 45,000 political prisoners and union officials by the end of that first year. Hitler turned over control of these camps to Heinrich Himmler and the SS in 1934, instructing them to purge Germany of those people he thought were racially undesirable. In addition to the political prisoners, these groups included criminals, homosexuals, Gypsies and Jews.

    Here, millions of people were held, tortured and murdered including more than 6.25 million Jews. Although the Nazis attempted to cover up these atrocities by destroying the camps, seven stand at least partially preserved as museums. 

    Why? Why do places of such horror and inhumanity remain standing today? Why are they visited by thousands of people annually. Why is their evil allowed to continue on this earth? Why, at the end of the war, were they not plowed under, the ground consecrated? Because with all that is going on in the world today, they stand both as witnesses to the atrocities of what man can do to his fellow man, but also as sobering reminders of the horrors that can befall us when evil is left unchecked.

    Just as the Concentration Camps speak to the evil of the Holocaust, hundreds of battlefields across the North and the South speak to the evil that gripped the United States during the Civil War and the evil that allowed men to enslave their fellow man. In the Cape Fear Region, a number of battlefields attest to the horror of that time. In Fayetteville, the skeletal remains of the Arsenal tell that story as well. And, in the center of Hay Street, the Market House stands sentinel — over our city. It has thousands of stories to tell, all of which are important and historic — one of which is indeed tied to slavery.

    The original building which stood where the Market House now stands was constructed in 1788. It was one of many birthplaces of freedom in this nation. In 1789, it was the site where the North Carolina assembly ratified the Constitution. Later, it was the place where the first university in the new nation was chartered, bringing higher education to the new land, and it was the place where North Carolina ceded the lands to the west to form the state of Tennessee. Up until 1793, it was one of the seats of government for the state. In fact, the building was first constructed as a means of securing Fayetteville as the state capital, which didn’t work. 

    According to Bruce Daws, the city historian, the old State House served as government offices and as a market until the fire of 1831, which burned much of the city. At that time, the current building was erected. It is “one of the few structures in America that employs the town hall-market scheme found in England. Meat and produce were sold under the open first-floor arcade while the second floor served as the town hall and general meeting place. It served as a town market until 1906, and as Fayetteville Town Hall until 1907. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1973.”

    The Market House was not at any point in its history a slave market. According to Daws, slaves were infrequently sold there as part of estate liquidations. The actual slave market was in front of the court house, which was located at the intersection of Green and Ramsey/Rowan and Grove. Slaves were also sold by slave dealers who had businesses along the market square. And, in fact, the slaves were not sold in the Market House proper, but rather in the town square, which surrounded the Market House and is now the traffic circle.

    Through preservation efforts by a group of Fayetteville women at the turn of the century, the Market House was preserved and became a library when its use as a seat of government was complete. It has also served as the Chamber of Commerce, and art museum, the Fayetteville Partnership and today as an annex to The Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum.

    Daws said there has been no attempt by anyone to try and hide the history of the Market House, including its relationship to the slave trade. Instead, a marker is installed on the building that honors the memory of individuals “sold as slaves at this place.” Additionally, part of the permanent exhibit at the Market House deals with slavery in the community and its impact. 

    Daws notes that history is history. It can’t be changed. It can’t be undone. It can be remembered and it can be used to remind us of what we were and what we should never be again. Daws sees the trend to disassociate or get rid of historical reminders of our past as an easy way out. 

    “There are a lot of stories associated with the Market House, one of which deals with slavery,” he said, noting that it is important to keep those stories alive because they are a part of our collective history.

    The Market House narrative is not finished yet. Will the Fayetteville City Council remove it as a symbol of the city? That’s a decision that should be made carefully, and in light of not only its past, but also in light of its present day reality. 

    In May, hundreds of Cumberland County residents gathered around the Market House to pray for the community as part of the As One Prayer Walk. The prayers, led by African-American ministers, occurred on the Market House steps, where one minister recalled the sale of slaves, but pointed instead to the gathering of the community as one. He told a story of the city’s past, and its future.

    On 4th Friday, drum circles play underneath the arches and citizens of all colors enjoy the music and dance — together. 

    During the International Festival the Parade of Nations flows around it, bringing together our community, which is comprised of people all over
    the globe. 

    In Fayetteville, the Market House has become a gathering  place. A place where people of all walks of life, of all colors and nationalities gather to share their experiences and their lives. It is a place where education occurs and where history is not only honored, but is told honestly. 

    Is Fayetteville a community that will fall prey to political correctness and fail to remember and to maintain its collective history — both the good and the bad? 

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    The 4th of July isn’t the only celebration happening in Fayetteville this month. There is also an exciting 4th Friday on July 24. The evening is full of free art, live entertainment and all of the wonderful shops downtown open late for the celebration. Downtown Fayetteville is full of diverse businesses, so there is something for everyone. 

    The Arts Council celebrates 4th Friday with the opening of a new exhibit. Point of View is an invitation for local photographers to display their talent. 

    “It’s a treat to kick-off our new year of exhibitions with a show of this caliber. We’re asking photographers to give us their best shot. This juried show will feature exceptional photography in a variety of themes and subject matter,” Mary Kinney, the marketing director said. 

    Submitted works will be juried with $1,000 in prizes available as awards. There is no required topic or style for this show. The only requirement is that the photographers come from specific counties: Bladen, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, Scotland, Fort Bragg, or Pope Army Air Field. Works will include black and white, color and digitally manipulated pieces. 

    “This is a regional show,” Kinney says, “Since this is an open call across a wide region, we have no way of predicting how many works will be entered. In our last juried photography exhibition, 53 pieces by 35 artists were selected for the show.” 

    The Arts Council is located at 301 Hay St. and will be open from 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.theartscouncil.com or call 910-323-1776.

    Fascinate-U is a museum designed specifically for children. The exhibits mimic real life experiences and invite them to explore the future in a safe environment. All the exhibits are intended to be touched and interacted with, which makes for an experience unlike any other traditional museum. On 4th Friday, admission into the museum is free, and it is open late. As an added bonus, there is also a free craft for kids to build and take home. This month the craft is a fish! 

    Fascinate-U is open from 7-9 p.m. The museum is located at 116 Green St. For more information, visit www.fascinate-u.com or call 910-829-9171. 

    After exploring the shops or having a wonderful dinner at one of the many amazing restaurants downtown, a relaxing way to end the day is reclining in Festival Park and soaking in the free music. On The Border, a tribute to the Eagles and Brittany Marie, a country and classic rock performer are playing. Gates open at 5 p.m. and the entertainment begins between 7 and 7:30 p.m. The concert will last until 10:30 or 11 p.m. No outside food or beverages are allowed. This event is a fundraiser for the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival and it is presented in partnership with R.A. Jeffreys, a distributer of Budweiser. For more information, visit www.faydogwoodfestival.com/p/Events/211 or call 910-323-1934. Festival Park is located at 335 Ray Ave. Patrons are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets to sit on. 

     

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    The Fayetteville SwampDogs are proud to partner with the Fayetteville Walk to End Alzheimer’s to present the Bringing Memories Home Safe Night at J.P. Riddle Stadium on Wednesday, July 29. This is the first year that the team has partnered with the Walk to End Alzheimers and it is something that they are really excited about.   

    For that very special night at “The Swamp” the SwampDogs will wear one-of-a-kind purple jerseys, which will be auctioned off on the concourse to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association.  Fans can place bids online for their favorite player’s jersey for one week in advance of the game, with bidding closing at 4 p.m. on game day then re-opening at 6 p.m. on the concourse when the gates open.

    “Almost all of us know a relative, loved one or friend who has been touched in some way by this terrible disease,” said SwampDogs Operations Director Caroline Villegas. “I’m proud that as an organization, with the help of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, we can do our part to find a cure.”  

    According to The Walk to End Alzheimer’s website, “The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide, this inspiring event calls on participants of all ages and abilities to reclaim the future for millions. Together, we can end Alzheimer’s disease, the nation’s sixth-leading cause of death.” 

    The mission of the walk is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for
    all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.

    In addition to the special night coming up at “The Swamp,” the SwampDogs will host the Fayetteville Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Sept. 12 at J.P. Riddle Stadium. You can register today for the walk as either a team or as an individual at alz.org/walk.

    “Being involved in the community is part of the fabric of what we do as an organization, and we’re very excited to start this new partnership with the Walk to End Alzheimer’s,” said SwampDogs General Manager Jeremy Aagard.

    The Fayetteville SwampDogs are in their 15th season playing in the Coastal Plain League. The SwampDogs are one of the most successful franchises in the league’s history, making the Petitt Cup Playoffs eight times in the past 10 seasons, reaching the championship round three times. The SwampDogs boast 90 alumni taken in the draft and have produced six players who have gone on to play in Major League Baseball including slugger Mark Reynolds and David Aardsma.  

    For more information on the Fayetteville SwampDogs, visit their team website at www.goswampdogs.com and follow us on Twitter @GoSwampDogs and like us on Facebook at Fayetteville SwampDogs Baseball. Where baseball is fun!

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    The hottest road race in the south brings back the heat with the 9th Annual Run for the Redroad race on Aug. 1. As of this writing 100 participants have signed up and hundreds more will eventually sign up. Running, among many other outdoor activities, not only keeps you healthy, but also brings awareness to the American Red Cross.

    “The Highlands Chapter of the American Red Cross covers a large area of North Carolina. The Red Cross has helped many people in the area and we need to support them as well,” said Julio Ramirez, race director. 

    The Red Cross has sprung into action to help those in need helping individuals and families in Bladen, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke and Sampson counties for more than 90 years. 

    There are three entry categories in the race: the 10K, 5K and a 1-mile race. Cash prizes are up for grabs by the winners of the 10K and 5K run. To encourage participation among families, the 1-mile run is open to children, making this an event for all ages. 

    The 10K first place award is $100; the second place award is  $70; and the third place is $50. The first place winner of the 5K will win $75; second place, $50; and third place, $50. All age groups will receive medals.

    Last year’s race raised $12,000  with sponsorships and the help of the Fayetteville community. All donations are given to the American Red Cross.

    “I am a second time leukemia survivor,” said Ramirez. “Staying positive and surrounding myself with people has helped me overcome my illness. Last year I ran the 5k; this year I won’t be running, but I love directing and helping out the Red Cross.” 

    Running and walking is a cheap way to optimize your physical activities. There is no equipment needed or expensive clothes, the only thing needed is your body. Your heart and legs, of course, do most of the work, but the end result is rewarding.  

    When people see the American Red Cross, no matter in what context,  it brings hope. Since 1881, the Red Cross has helped people throughout the world. Redcross.org defines the work of the Red Cross as: responding to “approximately 70,000 disasters in the United States every year, ranging from home fires that affect a single family to hurricanes that affect tens of thousands, to earthquakes that impact millions. In these events, the Red Cross provides shelter, food, health and mental health services to help families and entire communities get back on their feet. Emergency communications, training, support to wounded warriors and veterans, and access to community resources help an average of 150,000 military families and veterans annually. Each year, nearly 4 million people donate blood through the Red Cross, helping to provide more than 40 percent of America’s blood supply. Each year, more than 9 million Americans participate in our training programs, including first responders, educators, babysitters, and people who want to be prepared to help others in an emergency.”

    The Run for the Red is on Aug. 1 at Festival Park from 7a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The 10K starts at 7:15 a.m., 5K at 7:20 a.m., with the 1 mile run at 8:35 a.m. Find out more at www.redcross.org/nc.


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    The first time it sank into to me that people from other parts of our nation see Southerners as somehow different I was a college student visiting friends in New York City. 

    Feeling as sophisticated and worldly as only an undergraduate can, I was chatting up an appealing young man, also a college student, but at a school in New England. As our conversation drew on, he finally said, “May I ask you a personal question?” Curious and intrigued, I responded, “Of course.”

    “Do all you people drink soda for breakfast?”

    And to think I imagined he would ask me for a date!

    He asked the question as if  “you people” — that would be us Southerners — were specimens in a lab or critters in a zoo, but he did have a point.

    I have known a number of fellow Southerners who get their morning jolt of caffeine from an ice cold Coke or Pepsi, including one of my oldest friends who now takes hers in diet form. I have not; however, encountered anyone from “somewhere else” whose first morning sip is of carbonated soda. I suspect that fellow had never heard of grits.

    This youthful memory flooded back to me recently when I stumbled upon what appears to be a collection of all things Southern on Pinterest, an online site with far more images than words. Some of the Southernisms were sappy —“The South: Where love, family and tradition are the sugar in our tea,” some trite — “North is a direction. The South is a lifestyle” and some right on target — “Say what you want about the South, but you don’t hear about people wanting to retire in the North.”

    My favorites, though, go to my own experience as an — almost —lifelong resident of eastern North Carolina where people say things that make no sense to people from somewhere else.  Pinterest lists these — “Oh my heavens!,” “Thank you kindly,” “Goodness gracious!,” “I do declare!, ”Lord have mercy!,” Hush your mouth!,” “Oh, my stars!,” “Slower than molasses,” “Gimme some sugar!,” “Hey, ya’ll,” “Heavens to Betsy,” “Hold your horses,” “Sweet as a peach” and my all-purpose favorite, “Bless your heart.” It can be intended kindly or can be a veiled barb, as in “That Margaret has put on weight, bless her heart!”

    My eastern North Carolina grandmother used all those words as well as a few others. I was in college before I realized most people have never heard of a teewiddie, a word my grandmother said often to her seven grandchildren. It was generally used in this context: “Margaret Dawson, don’t  you ever tell me another teewiddie!” Not even my friends from Georgia and Texas knew that one.

    Being Southern is more than language, though. The way we see the world is strictly our own, as Julia Sugarbaker, a saucy Southern character played by Dixie Carter on the CBS sitcom Designing Women,said. Julia had a great deal to say on many topics, and this is one of my favorites. “I’m saying this is the South. And we’re proud of our crazy people. We bring ‘em right down to the living room and show ‘em off.  See, no one in the South ever asks if you have crazy people in your family. They just ask what side they’re on.” 

    Most Southern families have some version of — shall we say, eccentrics? One of ours was a cousin who was so enraged by the power company in his part of eastern North Carolina condemning some of his property for power lines that he hopped into his tiny plane and dropped leaflets berating the utility all over that part of our state. When he could no longer pilot his plane, he set up a flatbed trailer along a busy highway, decorated it with Christmas lights and railed against the hated utility with a megaphone to passing vehicles. 

    And who can forget the famed Savannah hostess who made it into John Berendt’s’ bestseller, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil? So sought after were invitations to her parties that guests gathered outside her home before the events, waiting for her to throw open the door to share her beautifully decorated home and scrumptious food and drink. She did just that one Savannah evening clad in her bathrobe. She calmly explained to her assembled guests that she had been so busy preparing for the party that she simply did not have time to get dressed herself and invited them to “Come on in.” 

    I know a number of women in Fayetteville who might do exactly the same thing.

    North Carolina novelist Clyde Edgerton put it this way. “Because I was born in the South, I’m a Southerner. If I had been born in the North, the West or the Central Plains, I would just be a human being.”

    It is not that Southerners think we are better than other people.  It is just that we really understand when we hear someone say, “I I’m not from the South, but I got here as quickly as I could.”

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    Everyone seems to be weighing in on the Market House dilemma caused by local Attorney Allen Rogers who obviously cares more about advancing his own career and reputation within the “grievance community” then advancing dignity, peace, tranquility and honor to tens of thousands of residents in an otherwise proud Fayetteville community. 

    It’s sad, but, unfortunately, Rogers is that one crab at the bottom of Fayetteville’s bucket that possesses the notion that it is safer and much better to be on the bottom always struggling to get to the top than to actually accept the responsibility for being at the top and getting out. 

    You know the story: As the good Fayetteville crabs (our community) try to elevate themselves out of the bucket to move up and on to greater opportunities, prosperity, solid careers, happiness with brighter and more rewarding futures that one single crab (Rogers) grabs hold and regardless of the tireless achievements of his constituents, he is capable of pulling them all back relentlessly into the bottom of the bucket where he is comfortable and accommodating. Then, the process starts all over again. Needless to say, without any future progress.

    This is the type of divisiveness that is pulling this community apart. Actually, it is this kind of divisiveness that is pulling the nation apart with the majority of citizens already thinking that America is heading in the wrong direction. 

    But, when did this abrupt turn in direction begin?

    Well, some think it started with rock and roll music. Some think it was when prayer was removed from the public schools. Others think it was when President Bill Clinton and his cronies changed the definition of “sex” in order to mask his tryst with the young intern Monica Lewinsky. Or, was it when we unofficially changed the definition of the word “illegal?” It’s so easy for politicians to parse words and reinvent the meaning of words.

    Unfortunately, this practice of strategic word manipulation has led to other changes in definitions that have helped to pave the road to corruption and deceit turning it into a dysfunctional super-highway for local, state and national discontents and opportunists like Rogers who has used the tragic deaths of nine innocents in South Carolina to advance his station locally.

    Shame on Mr. Rogers.

    Me? Personally, I think America started in the wrong direction when unethical lawyers began using national and local media advertising to advance their businesses. Chasing ambulances became old school when they figured they could encourage and coerce the average citizen to sue at will.

    Social Security, disability claims, workman’s comp, auto accidents, hurt feelings, hot coffee, etc. Many personal lives and good businesses continue to be ruined by unscrupulous lawyers either suing or threatening to sue someone. Win or lose, a lawyer always get paid and, in almost all cases advances himself or his cause.  

    So, why is America heading in the wrong direction? Could it have anything to do with the fact that 53 percent of our U.S. Senate are lawyers? And, the House of Representatives have a whopping 160 lawyers or 37 percent  of their 435 members???

    Hmmmmm. Don’t expect the situation to get much better anytime soon. In the meantime, I say drop the Market House as the City of Fayetteville icon.

    Don’t disrupt this community by making it a divisive issue. After all, generations of intelligent Fayetteville residents regardless of color, nationality or religion will understand that history is history and as such cannot be altered, changed or erased. The Market House is and, will always be, a National Historic Landmark of major historic significance to the formation of North Carolina and the United States. And from its center, Mr. Rogers, you can both see and hear the ambulances.

    Thank you for reading the Up & Coming Weekly.


     

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    Over the past few years, food trucks have become wildly popular; however, the idea of a mobile restaurant providing a quick meal dates back to the days of cowboys right after the Civil War. Chuck Wagons, as they were called, cooked meals for hungry cowboys all across the Wild West. The tradition evolved with technologies and cities. Soldiers in training on Fort Bragg’s ranges call them Gut Trucks, but that’s isn’t the reality of today’s food trucks. Today, modern food trucks are a trendy and exciting way to grab a gourmet meal on the go. 

    Last year the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival put Fayetteville on the map when it comes to Food Truck Festivals. 

    “Our organization is ready to do for Fayetteville what Fayetteville is ready for. People compare Fayetteville to Raleigh all the time, and we are like them, so our organization wants to gain recognition for putting on that level of event,” said Carrie King, the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival executive director. “We have the means and last time it was so successful. We’ve created an event that you want to be there for. We’ve made a name. This year we’ve had so many vendor applicants that we have had to turn people away. We’ve had the opportunity to be very selective. People will love it, we have some great trucks participating.”

    The event has evolved to more than a food truck festival, this year’s iteration is The Dogwood Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival sponsored by Budlight.  King says, “We will also have 10 craft beers. There are some domestics available, but it is mostly craft beers.” 

    Near the beer on the stage at Festival Park, an interactive DJ will spin music for entertainment. 

    Craft beers are a perfect accompaniment to all of the fantastic food trucks that are at the center of the festival. 

    “We want to keep it around 25 to 27 trucks. It keeps the event fair and balanced without any duplication. It is easier to manage and you have to remember that the quality of food that these trucks serve is gourmet,” explained King. “It isn’t a quick process and they can’t serve unlimited quantities like at the Dogwood Festival. We want to keep it around 25 to make it more manageable for everybody — customers and vendors.” 

    Though the last Food Truck Festival was an incredible success, it was the very first event of its kind that the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival organized, so it was not without its challenges. This festival promises to be even better thanks to experience. 

    “Oh absolutely, the last festival gave us a lot of insight on how to do things differently. This time we have everything confined to Festival Park. The food trucks are parked abound the perimeter and the beer is in the middle. It is much more user-friendly. We also have a map of all the approved vendors,” King said. “Last time we underestimated the amount of people who would show up. Now we are more prepared with trash removal and the lines are more cohesive, so a line from one truck won’t merge with a line from another.“

    Admission is free, but for those unwilling to wait in lines, there is an alternative. 

    “The trend in the industry is that if the festival starts at 1 p.m.. the trucks can’t sell at all before then. In Durham and Raleigh people may stand in line for hours before it even starts. But we have something that they don’t, the opportunity to be contained. We are all fenced in. So we are selling 100 Dine & Dash tickets. They can get in an hour before the festival starts. This is for the serious foodies,” King explains. 

    These passes are available for $6 at www.faydogwoodfestival.com. 

    Besides creating an incredible event for the community, this festival also serves as a fundraiser. Proceeds from the Dine & Dash Passes and from the craft beer will go to the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival. Admission is free. The Dogwood Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival is on July 19 from 1-6 p.m. at Festival Park. Festival Park is located at 225 Ray Ave. For more information, visit www.faydogwoodfestival.com or call 910-323-1934.

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    The Gilbert Theater is well-known for its up and coming presentations that not only showecase local actors from the community, but also works that are written by local playwrights. In its upcoming event, the Gilbert combines those two unique characteristics to bring the NextStage Playwright Festival to the stage Wednesday, July 22 through Sunday, July 26.    

    “It is a festival that consists of six short plays and they span comedy, tragedy and drama,”  said Robyne Parrish, artistic director of the Gilbert Theater. “Three of the playwrights are from North Carolina and the other three playwrights are from New York.” 

    Parrish added that there are professional actors, directors and writers from New York who are coming in to work with community actors to join forces to do half new New York plays and half new North Carolina plays. 

    The purpose of the festival is to allow community artists to work with artists in the business outside of the community. 

    “It is an educational tool for me to mix them together and let them learn from each other,” said Parrish. “It is a learning experience for the artists from New York because they are coming from the big city and it is a huge learning experience for the local people who can gain all of this experience from the working artist.” 

    Part of the mission of the Gilbert Theater is to create and support new plays. The six plays are;

    Cold but Soft by Brian Adam Kline, Miller’s Point by Evan Dridenstine, Tin Church by Robyne Parrish, Sweet Stormby Scott Hudson, The Mentor by Webb Wilcoxen and Sticks by Grant Harris.         

    Cold but Softis a dark comedy about a family who will go to any length to keep their dead grandmother around. Miller’s Point is about love, lost and finding a new path in life.  Most of the action takes place at Miller’s Point which is a location for necking couples. Tin Church is about family, guilt and buried secrets. Sweet Storm is a love story that transcends all odds. It features a couple in which the woman is paralyzed. The Mentor is about an eccentric writer who will stop at nothing to become famous. Sticks is about a bunch of rowdy teenagers who get in some mischief. 

    “These are very edgy out-of-the-box contemporary plays. There is not a lot of opportunity to see shows like this in our area,” said Parrish. “I would hope that everyone would come out and see something new and different and to see some really amazing artists at work.”                                      

    Show times are July 22 at 7 p.m.; July 23 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; July 24 at 7 p.m.; July 25 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and July 26 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

    Buy one regular priced ticket and see any performance all week or any day. Tickets are $16 and can be purchased online at www.gilberttheater.com or call 678-7186 for more information.   

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    Sweet Tea Shakespeare has returned to its roots with the next performance of the season, The Tempest. This classic Shakespearean play is a combination of some of the master playwright’s best works. Jeremy Fiebig, the director, describes the performance, “The Tempest is both very funny and very moving. It’s got the best elements of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night, but also some of the darker plays as well. Like a lot of Shakespeare, there’s music, dance and other fun bits throughout.” 

    The  play opens July 16.

    The play follows the sorcerer Prospero, who is bitter over the loss of his royal title. Stranded on an island, he causes a storm that wrecks another ship on the island. In classic Shakespearean fashion with all sorts of hijinks, love and conflict ensues before a grand wedding and cathartic ending. 

    “For me, the play is about leaving where you came from and then trying to go back to that place. It’s about creating a new home and finding your old one. I’ve been involved with a couple of other productions of this play, so revisiting the play now reminds me of those people and those times in my life. I think of them very fondly,” Fiebig explained. “I’m fond of a lot of different Shakespeare plays, but The Tempest has always resonated on a deep level with me.”

    While the story may seem outlandish, full of magic and evil spirits, it manages, as all of Shakespeare’s works do, to touch a universal and timeless truth of humanity. 

    “I think audiences will identify with the play. There’s something for everyone — clown-like figures, spirits, villains, parents, children, music, dance, you name it — but it’s the story about reconciliation and hatred and forgiveness that I think will really speak to audiences,” Fiebig said.

    Sweet Tea Shakespeare is an incredible mix of talent and classic southern hospitality. The performances are engaging and, despite the challenge of an outdoor setting, immersive. 

    “There’s a massive shipwreck, magic, wild people, evildoers, spirits and music — and in our production, a lot of these things will immerse the audience in the world of the play,” Fiebig said. 

    Framing the productions are opportunities for the community to grow. Sitting on the lawn of a beautiful 19th century Poe House, enjoying fantastic theatre and a tall glass of sweet tea in the cool summer night is a perfect evening by any standard. 

    “As is usual with our shows, audience members can come early for music, food, beer, wine and fellowship. We sport a really relaxed environment that’s much more like going to a great party than it is like going to a play,” Fiebig said. 

    The Tempest takes place on the grounds of the E.A. Poe House, which is located at 206 Bradford Ave. The show runs July 16 through 19 and July 23 through 26 at 7 p.m. Refreshments and live music begin at 6:15 p.m. Tickets must be purchased on-site and are $12. For more information or to reserve tickets call 910-420-4383 or visit
     www.sweetteashakespeare.com. 


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    Our names are important. 

    They signal our age, race, ethnicity, nationality and other subtle messages in the picture each of us presents to the larger world. For example, my maternal grandmother was Margaret Regina — her father was Austrian, and I was named in her honor. Margaret was also the 23rd most popular name for girls born in the 1950s, according to the Social Security Administration, which has tracked the rise and fall of baby names since the late 1800s. By the 2000s, Margaret had fallen to the 137th slot, which should give you some info about me. So should the fact that Margaret has been a common first name for baby girls in England since the 11th century.

    My childhood was populated with children with names not unlike Margaret, solid and traditional. I do not remember anyone with what I thought of as a creative name, except for one Haymount Elementary classmate named Durema and a woman my age whom I have recently met named Dreama. Would love to know the stories behind those names! 

    Today’s parents are much more creative than my parents’ generation apparently was.  A quick read of birth announcements in local hospitals has turned up such gems as “Tamale” and “Chandelier” and one name which had the numeral “8” in it. This is America, of course, and we are blessed to be able to name our children whatever we choose, including whatever we make up to assure that our special little one really is unique. Yes, I have seen “Unique” as a name as well.

    I cannot help but think that we do our children no good turn by being too creative. Teachers cannot always spell what we create, other children cannot always remember it, and the workplace — when our Precious Jewels get to that point, is not always kind to or tolerant of creative names. Research indicates that given the same skill set, Jane’s career will advance more readily than Jan8te’s. In the interest of full disclosure, two of the Dicksons’ Precious Jewels have unusual first names —albeit family ones, and I know those names have required explanations from them since their earliest school years. Would I use those names again? Yes, but I doubt I would push the naming envelope any further.

    Historically, our last names have been less creative, because they are generally passed down from one generation to the next. In Western cultures, women have also generally adopted their husbands’ family name, though that is not the case in all cultures. Today, we are getting creative on last names as well.

    Upshot, a data-driven analysis venture of The New York Times, tells us that more women are keeping their “maiden,” or birth surnames, when they marry than at any time in American history. Early equal rights activist Lucy Stone created a sensation and became famous by declining to take her husband’s name in 1855, and it has been an issue for women ever since. In the turbulent 1970s, an era some call the “Ms. Decade,” about 17 percent of American women decided to hold on to what they had instead of taking hubby’s name, a decision that was political to many. That number fell during the more conservative 1980s and ‘90s. Upshot reports that fully 20 percent of today’s brides keep their names, though for less political reasons. Today’s brides marry later, and many have a professional identity they do not want to change. 

    Whatever the reason, keeping one’s name also reveals something about that woman. More affluent women living in urban areas are more likely to do so than women living in other areas. Ditto for women with advanced degrees and for Asian and Hispanic women. Jewish women are more likely to keep their names than are Catholic women. Even so, most American women do adopt their husbands’ last name. Says Penn State sociologist Laurie Scheuble, “The pressure is huge. This is the strongest gendered social norm that we enforce and expect.”

    Then there are those of us who simply do our own thing. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who adopted the Clinton full time only when her husband ran for President, uses all three names, and I sign my checks with all of mine. Other women hyphenate their own name with their husbands’ names, so that when Jane Jones marries Steve Smith, Jane becomes Jane Jones-Smith. Rarely does Steve do anything other than remain Steve Smith.  Occasionally, both people in a couple decide to abandon both their names in favor of a new one altogether or come up with some merged version of both their names which they both then adopt. Few couples seem to have the nerve to do what Marco Perego did when he married actress Zoe Saldana. He became Marco Saldana!

    My thought is that most of us are better off with names that fit us like comfy shoes, not like 6-inch stilettos. In all likelihood and however we acquired them, they will be with us for the long haul. Better that we wear them and not they us.


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     Kindermusik International is a program designed to provide music programs for children that assist with movement and development. The classes are focused on early childhood and it has reached an estimated 1 million families in more than 70 countries with programs focused on development from birth to 5 years. 

    Snyder Music Academy has a Kindermusik program that is primarily instructed by Joy Cogswell, who is also the director for the Snyder Music Academy. Recently her excellence as a Kindermusik instructor has been recognized. 

    “The award that I received is the Kindermusik Maestro Producer award,” Cogswell explained. “This places my program in the top 5 percent of Kindermusik Programs internationally. It is based on the quality of the program and the number of children that it reaches. It is my privilege that in the last 15 years I have gotten it every year. It is especially great for us to have our program recognized and for people to know that if they come to us they get the best.” 

    Music can play a huge role in development, especially at an early age. Kindermusik creates a unique program that uses music to target specific developmental needs. 

    “Research has proven that the earlier kids are introduced to music the better they do in math, reading and academically. When you come into a class for the kids it looks just like a fun but everything in the program is written with a purpose. If we do something with a steady beat in the music it will help when kids walk or bounce a ball or with anything that requires a steady beat within their bodies. There is a lot of encouragement to read and we work with colors, animal sounds, many things that it is important to learn in early childhood,” Cogswell says. 

    She provides a more specific example of how Kindermusik assists infants and children in development, “Bounce and Cuddle, which is our class for infants, from birth to 15 or 16 months may have you dance with your baby, do a turn and then reverse the turn. The reason for this is brain development. The motion is fun but it also helps to develop the brain and small motor skills it is not just about music, it is about the whole child. These classes also provide a unique opportunity for relationships. They are designed for parents or grandparents and children to attend together and can help to strengthen bonds. “

    In addition to her Kindermusik classes at the Snyder Music Academy, Cogswell also strives to assist underprivileged children. 

    “I always try in my program to reach children who wouldn’t otherwise receive it. It is a privilege to work with the Fayetteville Metropolitan Housing Authority. We offer these programs to kids whose parents line in the Housing Authority every Tuesday for four years. It is one of my favorites and it is a wonderful opportunity. It is our privilege to do it next year,” she says. 

    Every child deserves the head start that Kindermusik can provide. 

    For more information on the Kindermusik program visit www.kindermusik.com/about, www.snydermbc.com/music-academy/kindermusik or call 910-484-3191. Snyder Music Academy is held in Snyder Memorial Baptist Church located at 701 Westmont Dr. 

  • Basically, most of us spend about one third of our day sleeping and ideally, the rest of  our day working and playing. Yes, working at an actual job and playing (leisure time spent enjoying life) expending our “natural energies.” This  represents a normal healthy and balanced lifestyle for most Americans. At least it used to be that way. 

    Today, I’m not so sure. 

    The options for expending these “natural energies” seem to become limited adding credence to that old adage and cliché “an idle mind is the devil’s playground.” This harsh reality sits here in Fayetteville where jobs, summertime activities and recreational facilities are extremely limited and local crime continues to escalate resulting in needless deaths from violence with random shootings spiraling out of control. A sad and almost common weekly occurrence. This is causing major concerns among residents, businesses, community/civic leaders and local elected officials. 

    Despite the talent and diligent efforts of our hardworking police force and cognizant police chief. They alone are not the “end all” and “be all” to this serious community situation. Our elected officials must take quick, stern and serious action. No doubt they too, are dedicated and hardworking; however, they need to stop the rhetoric by putting “band aids” on these rising tragic situations and start taking serious action to curb this tragic trend plaguing our community. 

    How? First, by implementing programs that could consume all that “natural energy” I mentioned. More jobs would work!  I come from a generation (Baby Boomers) where work ethic was a natural way of life. A job and hard work was viewed with a sense of pride and accomplishment. You worked hard  instinctively to raise and care for your families. We were too busy to get into trouble. Besides, staying on the right side of the law was a valued virtue.  

    We worked hard and we played hard and in between we slept. This being the case, when looking at the problems we are experiencing today in our local community, i.e. rising crime rates, increasing shootings and murders and high unemployment, it becomes pretty obvious what we are lacking. 

    What are we lacking? The two most obvious factors are general recreational facilities and job employment opportunities. Two issues that our community leadership spends a lot of time talking about; however, for the most part, fail to act on except superficially. Recent examples are Sanderson Farms and the allocation of public funds for the building of two neighborhood swimming pools. Sure, these pools will provide several hundred neighborhood residents temporary summertime enjoyment; however, tens of thousands of Fayetteville and Cumberland County residents would benefit more appropriately from investing taxpayers money in the expansion of citywide and county parks and recreation facilities and services. 

    The same holds true with jobs and employment. We need to do more to encourage business and economic development in Fayetteville. The point is, except when we are sleeping, everyone has natural born energy. Traditionally, these natural-born energies were consumed in healthy and productive ways mostly by working and playing hard. It stands to reason that if we want to lower crime rates, build safe communities, enhance the image of our community and increase our quality of life, we must provide those services and activities that will keep these natural-born energies directed in the most positive of ways. Without adequate jobs, recreational facilities and programs that serve to enhance an individual’s pride and self-worth, there will continue to be no future prospects for our young people.  

    Consequently, they will direct their natural-born energies in the most self-destructive manner. Dropout rates will rise, unemployment will escalate as will violence and crime at all levels. It will take real leadership in the future to reverse this trend.

    As we enter this 2015 election period let’s graciously thank those who sacrifice their time and expertise to our community while encouraging them to address the “big issues” in our community by looking at the “big picture” and implementing long-term, permanent solutions for the good of our community. This is the only way Fayetteville will be able to survive and move forward. Agree? 

    Thank you for reading the Up & Coming Weekly.!

     

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    There is more to Africa than the tragedy and strife portrayed in the news. Isabella Effon is looking to show Fayetteville the brighter side of her native continent. On July 11, the community is invited to attend the Inaugural African World Peace Festival in downtown Fayetteville. Effon invites to the community to come learn about the many differences (and similarities) in the African cultures. 

    “We want to educate our children, and the Fayetteville community, and let them know it is a continent with a lot of resources. Not all of it is war-torn like the images on TV,” said Effon. 

    The day kicks off at 8 a.m. with the African World Peace 5K. Same day registration starts at 6 a.m. Runners can also register online. The race starts at 8 a.m. on Bow Street. 

    “We will provide snacks after the run,” said Effon. “This is the Africa World Peace Festival. We bring all the African nations together, which makes it unique. It is a nonprofit and we have joined other nonprofits that do the same thing to bring awareness and unite community.

    At 2 p.m., don’t miss the parade of nations on Person Street as the entertainment and educational portion of the festival gets underway.

    Other events include storytelling, music, dancing and more.

     “We have a lot of tales and a few storytellers who will tell exclusively African folktales,” said Effon. “We will have breaks and activities for kids doing things that include African-themes and village where children can go and learn about different dialects and countries in Africa and things like that.”

    Effon noted that African influences are seen worldwide in food, clothing, music and more. That is one of the things that makes this a great fit for Fayetteville’s international community. Taste of West Africa on Person Street will offer a special menu for the festival. 

    “There are many, many Africans in Turkey and Italy and all over the world so the other restaurants downtown definitely have a place in this celebration,” she explained.

     If the festival grows as planned, there will be additional food vendors as the event size increases. 

    There are too many people in Fayetteville who miss out on all of the goodness going on downtown and Effon sees this as the perfect opportunity to change that. 

    “This is my passion. I like my culture. I love diversity and I love to bring awareness into the community.” 

    Performances are an added flare to the festival with featured artists from Africa including the Ivory Coast and Senegal and local performers including the Fatback Band and more. A ceremony honoring American soldiers of African descent is also scheduled. The music portion of the event runs from 2-6 p.m.

    As a nonprofit, the African World Peace Festival is partnering with Loving Hands International, a public nonprofit, humanitarian charity organization serving underprivileged communities in the U.S. and Africa, promoting and implementing development programs in quality healthcare, education advancement, agricultural productivity and socio-economic advancement to improve overall quality of life of the poor and needy. Proceeds from the African World Peace Festival benefit Africa’s humanitarian needs and local community needs, as well. Donations of nonperishable food items will be accepted at the festival.

    Find out more by calling 728-2186 or 779-2375.

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    Fayetteville supporters of the arts were introduced to a large body of work by mixed-media artist Leslie Pearson last year when Fayetteville Technical Community College invited Pearson for a one-person show, Works of Spirit. I was immediately enthralled while walking among sepia-stained representational images on yards of see-through fabric suspended from the ceiling. Also included was a separate work of suspended orb-like forms. It was apparent Pearson has a gift for combining tangible physicality with the intangibility of something remembered. 

    If you missed her exhibit last year, on July 14, visitors to Gallery 208, at the corporate offices of Up and Coming Weekly,  can view a new body of work by Pearson titled Remember When and also meet Pearson. For this exhibit Pearson has selected mixed-media encaustic paintings and small sculptural book forms. Never descriptive or decorative, Pearson has an exceptional talent for conjuring remembrances by layering meaning through medium and image, medium and object. 

    Pearson is interested in stories, memories and the communicative power of material. Her statement clarifies meaning and process for visitors to the exhibit: “For the showing at Gallery 208, I’ve gone back to what I’m interested in — the history of things and stories. I treasure all the family photos and ephemera that have been passed down to me. I’ve gone back to these items as a starting point for many of the pieces that I am exhibiting. Conceptually, my work revolves around themes of memory and identity formation but visually I’m inspired by the natural world, particularly the effects of time on the environment. For example, I’m always drawn to aged and eroded objects, old buildings, and walls with peeling paint. I often go for walks and take pictures of things other people might not notice; I use these as references for some of the colors and textures that come out in my paintings.”

    Two encaustic paintings in the exhibit, “Siblings” and “A Story Unfolds,” exemplify ways in which Pearson intentionally obscures her narratives. In “Siblings,’ Pearson breaks the pictorial space into units; two portraits are presented in dissimilar ranges of closeness, vertical bands are filled with text, the layers of encaustic medium blurring the surface. Viewers are left to look closely to decipher ethereal meaning through the layers of beeswax on the surface.

    In comparison, a solitary woman is present in the work titled “A Story Unfolds.” The woman is balanced in the picture plane by large negative shapes and limited amount of blurred text — she is located in an abstracted environment. Pearson obscures the woman in a manner which results in the figure becoming more abstracted than in other images in the exhibit; the figure becomes part of the abstracted space around her. 

    Visitors to the Gallery 208 opening will get to meet Pearson and hear her briefly talk about her work. A well-traveled individual, she recently moved to the Fayetteville area, is a prolific artist who exhibits nationally and internationally, is an arts educator and an arts advocate. Her achievements are lengthy, highlights of which signify the magnitude of her art experiences and give insight to the talent of an artist who lives in the area. 

    Some of Pearson’s educational and professional experiences include earning a bachelor’s in fine art from Southeast Missouri State University in 1998. There, she was heavily involved in community-arts programming as the Assistant Director of the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri and co-curator of Gallery 100 and the Lorimier Gallery in Cape Girardeau. She earned a master’s in museum studies at Newcastle University in England in 2000 and completed an internship at the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art in Sunderland, United Kingdom. In 2011, she earned an MFA in textile design at East Carolina University’s School of Art and Design in Greenville, North Carolina, where she taught textile classes and worked as a studio assistant in the textile department.

    Her teaching experience is too long to list, yet her most recent experiences include workshop instructor/lecturer for Integumentary Experiments in Fiber in Australia and the guest artist to create wire sculpture in Wilmington, North Carolina. Two residencies include No Boundaries International Art Colony on Bald Head Island, North Carolina, in 2014, and Arrowmont Pentaculum: Five Medias, One Forumat Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, in 2015. 

    From an extensive list, Pearson’s most recent solo exhibitions in North Carolina include Works of Spiritat Fayetteville Technical Community College Art Gallery in 2014; The Visual Word at Waterworks Visual Arts Center in Salisbury; Continuum at the Page Walker Arts Center in Cary; and Speak, Memory, a mixed-media installation at the Hanover Gallery in Wilmington.

    Gallery 208 is committed to hosting exhibitions by inventive and professional artists who enrich the visual art landscape locally and regionally. The exhibit, Remember When, introduces a “multimedia artist who utilizes many fiber based materials, processes and techniques to create sculptures, installations, encaustic paintings and handmade books in which she explores themes of memory and identity.” The public is invited to attend the opening reception and meet the artist on July 14 at Gallery 208 between 5:30–7 p.m. For those who cannot attend the opening, the exhibit will remain up through early September 2015. Before or after attending the opening or exhibit, Pearson’s work can be viewed on her website: www.lesliekpearson.com/

    Gallery 208 is located at 208 Rowan Street. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday –Friday. For information on this exhibit, call 910-484-6200 or visit the website to read the digital version of the magazine at www.upandcomingweekly.com.

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    On Sunday, July 12, at 3 p.m., a unit monument will be dedicated for the 824th Quartermaster Company (Air Delivery), U.S. Army Reserve, at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum in downtown Fayetteville. 

    This monument will honor the military service of all past, present and future members of the 824th Quartermaster Company. Since 1945, the 824th has been a part of the national defense forces, including overseas service during World War II. Since 1963, the mission of the 824th has been parachute rigging and logistical air delivery of supplies/equipment to combat units.

    The 824th is based at the U.S. Army Reserve Center at Fort Bragg. For 70 years, this unit has trained with active duty, USAR and National Guard forces throughout America and worldwide. In recent years, soldiers of the 824th have been deployed to Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. As a Quartermaster unit with an airborne rigger mission, the 824th is somewhat unique in the Army Reserve. It is the only USAR unit of its type, based at Fort Bragg.

    This monument will be the first one on the grounds of the Army’s Airborne and Special Operations Museum, identified for an Army Reserve unit. This is also the first unit monument at the ASOM, to a specific Parachute Rigger unit.

     The 824th Quartermaster Company (Air Delivery) has served America from World War II to the present day. Activated in England in 1945 as the 4552nd Quartermaster Service Company, it was inactivated in Germany in 1946. 

    The 824th was reactivated in North Carolina as an Army Reserve unit in 1947. It has served in various roles; Service and Supply, Graves Registration, Laundry and Bath and as a Military Police Company. In 1963, the unit became an Aerial Delivery Company (Parachute Rigger). The unit trained in Sanford, North Carolina, before relocating in 1968 to Fort Bragg. During the Cold War, the unit’s mission was to provide parachute and air drop support. Most training was limited to quarterly jumps and a two-week annual training exercise, with Team Spirit in Korea from 1984 to 1986, as one of the unit’s more notable exercises. The unit includes many career fields needed to accomplish air delivery missions. 

    After the Cold War ended in 1989, the 824th established a Direct Training Agreement with Special Operations Command Atlantic to provide air delivery and parachute support. The 824th participated in enhanced training missions throughout the Caribbean, Bermuda and Key West. Training opportunities continued to expand for the 824th in Canada, Germany, Greenland, Italy and with U.S. Special Forces in Puerto Rico and Antigua. A detachment of the 824th supported the 1990 D-Day Ceremonies in Normandy, France. During Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1990 and 1991, the 824th deployed a detachment of 50 personnel to provide parachute rigging and air-drop support to XVIII Airborne Corps in Saudi Arabia. 

    Following Desert Storm, the 824th continued to support active missions. Beginning with operations in the Balkans and Southwest Asia, the 824th provided detachments in support of air drop missions in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Members of an 824th detachment deployed to Afghanistan during the Glob¬al War on Terror received the Meritorious Unit Citation. 

    The keynote speaker at this event is Maj. Gen.l Margaret Boor (USAR), Commanding General of the 99th Regional Support Command, USAR, based at Fort Dix, New Jersey. Maj. Gen. Boor is a resident of Fayetteville..

    Find out more at http://www.asomf.org.


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    Good things last and Up & Coming Weekly’s Best of Fayetteville readership survey is celebrating its 18th year paying tribute to Fayetteville’s Best of the Best. It is a prestigious award bestowed once a year to the best people, businesses and organizations that have contributed overwhelmingly to defining excellence in service, workmanship and contributions to the quality of life of the Fayetteville and Cumberland County community. It’s an honor that is marketed, advertisedand promoted all
    year long.

    The  September 16 Best of Fayettevilleedition of Up & Coming Weekly will serve throughout the year as a priceless newcomer’s guide, service directory and recreation and cultural event resource. Every page is touting with confidence the Best of the Best of what the Fayetteville community has to offer.  

    The rules, format and guidelines of this sanctioned, time-tested survey are stringent to secure and maintain the integrity of the program. These rules are time tested, monitored and audited to provide residents, local businesses and organizations
     the recognition and tribute they deserve for
     their dedication and perseverance in their quest
    for excellence.  

    Every category winner has achieved the highest level of excellence in what they do; and for 18 years we have willingly told their stories, acknowledged their accomplishments and even revealed their secrets. All, without a single regret.  

    No ballot stuffing here, no popularity contest or dubious chances to sway the end result. Each winner is distinguished in its own unique way. There is no faking it when the community selects you as the Best of the Best. This means that you are preforming at the highest level of excellence as recognized by your peers. After all, in a competitive world and tight economy, only the best survive and they deserve your business.

    In building a better community, leaders know that success must be built on a sound foundation. In this case, the foundation is the community’s best people, businesses and organizations, all striving for extreme excellence. So, this being the case, mark up a ballot today and send it in or go online to www.upandcomingweekly.com and vote. Invite your friends to vote. Remember, the Best of Fayetteville is a year-round celebration! 

    Speaking of celebrations, Up & Coming Weekly is also celebrating our 20th anniversary. Can you imagine the award party we will have this year? Stay tuned for the details. In the meantime, thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.  We love you all!  

    Vote.  Vote.  Vote. 


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    Ryan Patrick Kishbaugh was passionate about life. He was a well-rounded and accomplished athlete; a generous and giving volunteer in the community; and a remarkable scholar. When he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s  Lymphoma during his senior year of high school, Ryan stayed optimistic and fought hard. He did his best to lead a normal life while battling to secure his future. On Jan. 3, 2003, Ryan died from complications of a bone marrow transplant. During his illness, he wrote a book called Run Because You Can – My Personal Race with Cancer. The book is an open and personal look at the struggles and triumphs Ryan experienced during his bought with cancer. Ryan touched and inspired many in his short time on this Earth, and his friends and family celebrate Ryan and everything he meant and still means to them whenever they can. On July 25, the 2015 Ryan Patrick Kishbaugh Memorial Golf Tournament offers a fun-filled day of golf and fellowship in memory of Ryan. 

    Dr. David Kishbaugh, Ryan’s dad, puts on the event every year and he is confident that Ryan would approve. “He would try to downplay his  role in it but he would approve and be happy that we try to engage family, friends and community in order to make a difference. The key is he did not want his battle to end with him and it is a key factor in why we try to make the golf tournament bigger and better every year. We want to touch more people, involve more people so that eventually the battle with cancer becomes routine and survival rates soar.”

    Kishbaugh is motivated by Ryan’s words … the words he wrote the day of his diagnosis. “Today I found out that I had cancer … my battle with cancer is only beginning; I believe that it will be a long, hard-fought struggle, but I will overcome, I will survive. And this will be a story of hope for others, not only kids with cancer, but the world as well. I have a premonition that this story will not end in me, but will carry on, above and beyond myself and will bring hope. I refuse to let cancer get the best of me; I will not allow it. I have made the choice to not just be another victim of cancer, but to be more. I know I will be victorious. Even if it kills me, cancer will never break me. It will never win.”

    What started as an event for friends and family to get together and reminisce and share a day in Ryan’s memory has grown into an annual fundraiser that benefits the Carpe Diem Foundation and through that the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in honor of Ryan. The greens at Gates Four play  host to this year’s tournament. 

    The renovated 18-hole championship golf course includes both new bent-grass greens and renovated bunkers. The traditional style pine tree-lined fairways were designed in 1967  by acclaimed golf course architect Willard Byrd in 1967 and were redesigned in 2011 by  by Kris Spence who is a leading golf course architect in design and restoration. The state-of-the art USGA-specified greens are a blend of A1/A4 bent grass. This combination provides an optimum putting surface 12 months a year. 

    The day starts with registration and some time on the practice range. Both  open at 7 a.m. The tournament opens with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. The format is Captain’s Choice. Each player will receive a swag bag, as well. There will be snacks provided during registration and beverages will be avaialbe throughout the event. The tournament concludes with lunch and an award ceremony. Individual golfers and teams are welcome.

    “We have Hole-in-One, longest drive, closest to pin and putting contest this year,” said Kishbaugh. ”Sammio’s is doing food. Moe’s is providing chips and salsa for post-golf and beverages are from Healy and for the third year, Dirtbag Ales will set up a booth.”

    This year’s tournament includes several side events that include a putting contest sponsored by Carolina Imaging, a Hole-in-One contest sponsored by Events 2 America and a raffle sponsored by the Carpe Diem Foundation. There is a nominal charge for each event.  

    The raffle is a 50-50 and winners do not have to be present to win. Tickets will be available before the tournament at the RPK Center. Cost is $5 each or 5 for $20. The pot is typically $700-800. 

    Golfers can participate in the putting contest for a small fee. They get one putt and the three best putts in the preliminary round get a chance to putt-off after the round is played. The winner of the putt-off then gets one chance to sink a 60-foot putt for $2,500.The top three get consolation prizes. 

    Events to America runs a $10,000 Hole-in-One Challenge. Golfers can participate in this contest for a small fee. Participants receive prizes for participating and they will split $10,000 with the charity (Carpe Diem) if they get a hole-in-one. 

    Corporate sponsors can compete for the tournament trophy and the company and player names will be added to the trophy. The trophy will then remain in the possession of the winning team until the 2016 tournament when it will again be up for grabs. Online registration includes a 1-year subscription to Golf Digest (a $10 value).

    Kishbaugh looks forward to the tournament each year, as do many of the participants because so many of Ryan’s friends come and participate.

    “It is fun seeing friends and family reconnect.Some of the kids don’t see each other except at the tournament and it is great to see them get together again,” said Kishbaugh. “I am also humbled by how much community support we get from individuals and companies. Some have been helping since the beginning, others have heard about us and come out just to be part of things.” 

    Nongolfers can make a difference by donating to the cause. Proceeds benefit the Carpe Diem Foundation. Since its inception, the foundation has raised more than $30,000. The majority of monies raised go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). The mission of the Foundation is to:

    • Help provide college scholarship assistance to student athletes with a chronic medical condition.

    • Support other charitable organizations (such as LLS)

    • Promote and help fund education and research for the treatment of chronic illnesses, especially those that affect young adults. 

    Find out more about the tournament, or register to play at http://2015rpkmemorial.com.

     

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    Daughters of Christ Ministry, Inc. is hosting the Freedom in Christ Christian Conference for Women on Friday, July 17 and Saturday, July 18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Freedom Christian Academy Auditorium.      

    “This is a time for Christian women to come together and get their cup filled back up with superior biblical teaching, spiritual refreshment, great fellowship and lots of fun,” said Audrie Sifuentes, president of Daughters of Christ Ministry, Inc. “It is a time for adult women to receive back into their heart what they have poured out into the lives of other people.”

     The conference features four talented speakers who will give unique perspectives to freedom in Christ. Dr. Jeff Isenhour is the senior pastor of Arran Lake Baptist Church. He is best known for his evangelistic heart and humor as he communicates to every age group. 

    Dr. Chris Dickerson is the dean of online studies and professor at Carolina College of Biblical Studies. He has spent 16 years in vocational pastoral ministry. 

    Chaplain (Colonel) Ran Dolinger has served 29 years as an Army chaplain and recently served as garrison chaplain at Fort Bragg, N.C.  \He has served three tours at Fort Bragg and  calls it home. 

    Mrs. Vicki Stephenson is the teaching leader of the Fayetteville evening women’s class of Bible Study Fellowship International. She teaches more than 200 women each week, trains 25 leaders and oversees the first-12th grade Bible study program. 

    “Come hear amazing life testimonials to the healing, hope and help God brings, and visit the prayer room, as needed, during the conference ,” said Sifuentes. “There will be two gospel skits including a dramatic monologue and gospel perspectives from humorous life experiences.” 

    Sifuentes added that a special surprise includes a professional painter who will do a painting in front of
    the audience. 

    Lunch is provided both days along with light refreshments in the morning and afternoon. There will be door prizes and vendors on-site. 

    “Entertainment will be provided by highly talented musical artists,” said Sifuentes. “Nina Garces is the song leader and one of the soloists, along with Kim Jeffreys and Suki Wolf. Kim Usher will provide special piano selections both days.”   

    Tickets are $65. Limited scholarships are available. Registration is open until July 16 with limited seating. If you would like to be a sponsor of the event you can donate goods or services that can be used by the women in attendance. Freedom Christian Academy is located at 3130 Gillespie Street. Doors will open at 8 a.m. Friday and close at 5 p.m. and will open at 8 a.m. Saturday and close at 4:30 p.m. 

    To register online for the conference using your credit or debit card, visit the Support Us tab at www.daughtersofchristministry.org or call (910) 425-7574. You can also register via mail with a check or money order to Daughters of Christ Ministry, Inc., P.O. Box 48282, Cumberland, NC 28331.  

     

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    Working under the slogan, “Entertainment for the Soldier, by the Soldier,” the Army Soldier Show taps into a unique style of performance intended for a unique audience. Living  life as a soldier or part of a military family is challenging, and maintaining morale is a must. The Soldier Show is not only intended to create a fun and positive experience for the soldiers, their families and the community, it is also a way to showcase some of the best things that the Army has to offer: incredibly talented and dedicated people working together to achieve a positive but challenging goal. Don’t miss the Army Soldier Show as it rolls into town on July 11 and 12.

    This yea’rs production, “We Serve” explores the foundational element of what it means to serve, in and out of uniform, as well as how our country in return serves them. It is this “Soldier for Life” aspect that instills the strength of character of soldiers and the Army, which are exemplified in its core values: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage. 

    The 2015 U.S. Army Soldier Show honors the Army’s conintued service, resilience and strength. It celebrate the nation, Army families and communities that serve and support service members.

    While Broadway and the Army may seem like a strange combination at first, but at the hands of talented performers and organizers it is incredibly engaging and entertaining. These talented performers just happen to be soldiers themselves. The Soldier Show is just one of the many ways that the Army showcases its varied and incredible members. Soldiers stationed all over the nation who love to perform are invited to audition. The process is incredibly strenuous and many soldiers audition, but only the best are invited to join the show. 

    Despite the competitive nature of the auditions, the real work doesn’t start until the after roles have been cast. The entire process of creating a fantastic show is challenging; there is no easy part. Performers spend months refining and perfecting their performances in rehearsals. Then after months of preparation, they travel the nation between May and September to perform. That much travel is a challenge for anyone. It is particularly difficult when there is an expectation to maintain a certain level of performance, but The Soldier Show participants have proven their excellence year after year. 

    A successful show requires a tremendous amount of work both on stage and behind the scenes. That can pose a particular challenge for traveling shows like this one. Constantly changing venues makes it difficult to prepare for shows technically. The Soldier Show helps to combat this common problem by being self-contained. The technicians are also soldiers and they train and travel with the show just like the performers. They also undergo a selection process as strict and strenuous as the performers, but having your own crew is a necessity for a traveling show. Having people that are so familiar with the show travel with it makes it easier to change things for any specific venue they are performing in. Every member of the crew needs to know the show inside and out, in order to be comfortable and competent in new circumstances.

    The Soldier Show performs in Fayetteville on July 11 at 7 p.m. and July 12 at 2 p.m. at the Crown Theatre. The Crown Theatre is located at 1960 Coliseum Dr. There are no tickets. The 90-minute high-energy song and dance show is free and seating is first come first serve. Doors open one hour before the show time and it is open to the public. 

    For more information visit http://www.armymwr.com/soldier-show.aspx

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    Everyone knows where our downtown is, but do we know what downtowns are and why they matter? Whether the downtown streets are named Hay or Franklin or Old, what they represent is universal. Our downtown is our economic engine, the center of our arts and cultural opportunities, and the heart of the community. 

    Our historic downtown tells us not only who we are but also who we were and how that past help shaped us. We do not go to sprawling suburbs, shopping malls or restaurant rows to learn about our past, to explore our culture or to discover our identity. Our downtown is the place of shared memories where people still come together to live, work and play. It doesn’t belong to us but to our history and our future. Those here today are blessed with the opportunity to enjoy, to cherish, to protect and
     to develop our downtown for tomorrow’s generations. 

    The Downtown Alliance has long been committed to the continued nurture, development and promotion of our downtown as a vibrant destination. Effective with the upcoming fiscal year, the City of Fayetteville will contract with the Downtown Alliance for business development, design improvements and coordinated marketing for the downtown area. The new structure supports the city council’s strategic goal for a vibrant downtown. 

    The work plan has been developed as a roadmap to guide the activities and resource allocation of the Downtown Alliance for the fiscal year 2015-2016. It includes the delivery of services to all property owners, businesses and residents in the area. Plans include the hiring of two staff members and the full-time staffing of the offices at 222 Hay Street to serve as a one-stop point for information about downtown Fayetteville. The board of directors will be restructured to reflect the broader mission. The organization will conduct quarterly meetings and prepare activity reports for review by the city. All downtown property owners that contribute to the MSD funding will be engaged with the development of plans for the downtown area and in leading the professional staffing and volunteers charged with implementing them. In addition, the Downtown Alliance will serve as the liaison among downtown property owners, businesses and residents and the City of Fayetteville. 

    The Downtown Alliance will build on the successes we’ve enjoyed over the past year that saw the development of a vacant building ordinance, a revision of the downtown sign ordinance, a coordinated marketing campaign that promoted downtown Fayetteville as economically and culturally vibrant destination, the creation of a downtown community watch group, several new design and appearance standards for the downtown area and many successful events that showcased downtown like the Small Plate Crawl and Loft Tour. 

    The Downtown Alliance’s annual meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14, at Marquis Market on Person Street at 6 p.m. All supporters of downtown are invited to share in updates of the 2015-16 Plan of Work and learn about opportunities to get involved to unite the community to promote and advocate for business, residential, and cultural life in the heart of our city.   

    Please visit our website  at  www.visitdowntownfayetteville.com for more information about these exciting changes, read the recent press release and review the FAQs section where we plan to address any questions and follow us on the downtown Facebook page as we embark on this exciting journey together.

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    Like millions of other sad Americans, I cannot keep my mind away from the horrible event at the Bible study class in Charleston, known
    as the “holy city,” a reference, in part, to its many churches.  

    Our national distress and revulsion are clear.  

    The mass murder of innocents has struck a chord in us unlike its grisly predecessors. Among the millions thinking about this violent attack are thousands also writing about it — in various publications and online with almost universal and righteous condemnation. Millions of words have spilled forth and will continue to do so, addressing the innocence of the victims, the youth and life inexperience of the presumed shooter and the proliferation of guns and gun violence in our culture unlike, as President Obama so rightly pointed out, any other developed nation. Given much note, as well, is the tearful forgiveness bestowed in court on the young man in custody by victims’ families. How, we ask ourselves, could the families be so generous only hours after losing loved ones to senseless and inexplicable violence?

    None of us understand why our country continues to experience targeted and gross violence aimed at strangers with whom the shooters have no connection and, thus, cannot target individually. I do not pretend to understand any of it, but certain aspects stand out to me.

    Young men, guns and the Internet do not mix well.   

    Developmental researchers tell us that the human brain, especially in men, is not mature until the person is in his or her mid-20s. Think of incidents since the massacre at Columbine High School in 1999, including the mass murders by gunfire at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin, a Colorado movie theater, a first-grade classroom in Sandy Hook, Connecticut, at the Boston Marathon, and, earlier this year, in Chapel Hill.  

    Except for the Chapel Hill shooting, the killers were young men in their teens or early 20s, angry and isolated if not actually deranged.  

    We must ask ourselves how and why our society is producing, even nurturing, young men who kill indiscriminately in movie houses and on city streets and sometimes with distinct targets as in Wisconsin
    and Charleston.  

    Why and how does our culture grow such young men and provide them the easy means to commit mass-murder? Mass-murders atrocities will not diminish until we acknowledge and find answers to our questions.

    Part of the answers — in my mind, at least — is figuring out how we, the American people, have come to think of people not like ourselves as “the other.”

    My photograph appears at the bottom of this page and reveals me the way I think of myself, as a late middle-aged white woman. You may not know anything else about me, but chances are that readers will make assumptions about me and my life based on that photo, and for some, I will be “the other.” Part of this is human nature, but we in America at this point in our history seem to have taken “otherness” to new heights. People who are not like us are “them.”

    People of another color than our own are “others.” So are people of different religious beliefs and traditions, so are people who dress differently, whose path to our nation was unlike our own and people of different economic situations.

    People somewhere along the sexual spectrum different than our place are routinely ridiculed.

    Public school supporters may be suspicious of private school supporters and vice versa.

    People who cannot live without guns think the gunless are nuts and vice versa. Ditto for only English speakers and those who speak one or more other languages.

    Ditto for Fox News and MSNBC fans, for Democrats and Republicans, for documentary and reality show watchers for University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and North Carolina
    State fans.

    You, of course, can think of many more “thems” and “others” and may even have some of your own. Our lists of “others” and “thems” now seem endless, and we are dividing and damaging our own nation and our own culture. We are separating ourselves from each other, and in this divisive process, we are spawning mass murderers.

    No one, least of all I, has an answer to how we slipped away from Francis Bellamy’s unifying words embodied in our pledge of allegiance to our flag, “…one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.”

    As we prepare to celebrate the 4th of July, I hope I live long enough to see the civility and respect implicit in that concept return to
    our nation. 

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    I have spent much of this past week trying to avoid the news — but that has been impossible. There has been too much going on for me not to pay attention, as is the case with most Americans. It has been a week of mourning, a week of hope and depending on where you sit, a week of sweeping change in our nation.

    Much ink and many talking heads have analyzed the events of the past two weeks ad nauseum. And then the social media pundits have put their spin on it, much of which has done nothing more than alienate people and confuse the real point of all of the discussions. I had thought to hold my peace and discuss none of it, which I have successfully done up to this point. I find that I cannot do that anymore, so, for what it’s worth, here is my two cents worth on one of the subjects.

    I have long had a love affair with Charleston. It started long before I ever stepped foot on its historic streets, and probably stemmed from books I read when I was younger. Charleston has always been, in my mind, the jewel of the South. I frequently have the argument with friends that Savannah is Charleston’s dirty cousin. To me, the city lacks the grace that has always been part and parcel of Charleston.

    The first time I visited Charleston, I was house-sitting for a college friend of mine. Her family was, for lack of better words, from the old-money South. While, in college, I attended her brother’s wedding. It was my job to pick up her mother’s nanny,  an elderly African-American woman, whom had always been a part of her life. She was as much family as any that attended the wedding–something that a lot of people won’t understand. There was a very real familial connection. 

    But I digress. For my friend’s wedding present, her parents bought her a house on the battery. It was quite a chore for me, a starving reporter at a small-town newspaper, to go take care of her house and dogs while she vacationed at Martha’s Vineyard. During my seven days there, I walked every street, turned every corner and visited every historic building in the city. I fell in love; a love which I later shared with my husband.

    When we feel the need for some “us time,” we head to Charleston. We walk the same streets, meet many of the same characters and visit the same places. There is a grace and hospitality that flows from the people — people of all colors. You can have the best conversations on the streets and, if you take the time, meet the best people. We do both.

    That’s why I was not surprised by the reaction of the people of Charleston to the evil that visited their city. For them to act in any other way would have blind sided me. The people of Charleston are gracious. They have seen the worst that men can do to each other, and they weathered that storm and passed the lessons they learned down through the generations. 

    I watched horror-stricken as the news broke of the shooting. Mass shootings are unthinkable, but for it to happen in a house of worship is beyond believable. The very act is evil, but for it to happen in a church is perhaps evil incarnate.  And for it to happen because someone doesn’t like the color of someone’s skin is sickening–beyond belief.

    Having been raised in a military family, I was raised around the United States. We lived and worshipped with people of all races, colors and beliefs. None of that ever mattered to us. They were our friends and neighbors. If you were to visit my home today, you will find the same kind of mix. 

    Many of the people I consider family are people who do not look like me. My son’s godfather is an African-American. Many of my baseball moms, whom I spend countless weekends with, and with whom I laugh and love greatly, do not look like me. But we are a family - we are the Rebel Nation. 

    Many people are more comfortable around people who are like us. For me, being like me means that you are probably smart; that you have a broad world view; that you have an open heart; an open mind; are extremely loyal to those who deserve it; and understand that the only inflexible thing about me is my love for my family and my love of God. 

    With that being said, it was not surprising to me that the people of Charleston, and particularly the people of  the Charleston church, reacted the way they did. They reacted not with hate, not with ignorance or closed minds, but rather out of love, forgiveness and an understanding that evil walks this earth and manifests itself in the lives of people — sometimes even our neighbors.

    I mourned the deaths of my Christian brothers and sisters who were killed while worshipping. But I rejoiced in the response of their friends and families. I rejoiced in the actions of the people of Charleston who rallied around them, who wrapped their arms around the church and even around the confused, angry young man who listened to the hatred spewed on television and social media.

    America has many faults and we have become an angry and divided populace, but we can love. We can rise above. That’s the America I love. That’s the America that Charleston showed us we could be. Let’s take that lesson to heart. Let’s let the diversity that made us great, bring us back together. There are no others. There’s only us, and we will rise or fall together.

     

  • 07_30_14movie.gif

    Director/screenwriter Scott Derrickson piqued my interest way back in 2000 with Hellraiser: Inferno and won my heart with Sinister in 2012. The Exorcism of Emily Rose didn’t do much for me, but a whole lot of people really seemed to like it. He’s done some other odds and ends — including the execrable Day the Earth Stood Still remake. 

     

    Deliver Us From Evil (118 minutes) seems more like an Emily Rose afterthought than an extension of his existing body of work. Possibly this is because Derrickson actually wrote Deliver Us From Evil more than ten years ago — before the successful release of Emily Rose. After reading some interviews, it seems that after the success of that film and the success of his indie horror Sinister two years ago, he was able to re-write his original script to take advantage of an expanded budget, not to mention incorporating some new perspectives on horror.

     

    The film is based on Beware the Night, a memoir co-authored by NYPD Sergeant Ralph Sarchie and journalist Lisa Collier Cool. Depending on your belief system, you might take the “memoir” designation more or less seriously. Sarchie wrote the source material after his retirement, and discusses anecdotes that span more than a decade. Deliver Us From Evil, on the other hand, compresses the accounts into a shorter time span, ties them together with a central demonic thread and takes a number of liberties with the story. While the narrative does touch on his relationship with the demon-fighting Bishop McKenna (Father McKenna in the film), there is no mention of his partnership with famed paranormal investigators, the Warrens, at all. That might get picked up in a sequel, but judging by the box office and critical reaction there’s not much chance of a sequel getting made. 

     

    Sergeant Sarchie (Eric Bana) is a police officer and he’s burnt out, possibly because he suffers from some sort of sunlight-deprivation depression. You see, it rains a lot in the movie version of The Bronx and he works nights. During a patrol he and his partner — wait — is that — Joel McHale from The Soup and Community playing his partner? It is. Well that’s just distracting. Anyway, they respond to a call and wind up wrestling with an abusive spouse. This case is the first in a line of increasingly disturbing calls.

     

    Eventually, the guys end up in the Bronx Zoo. Interestingly, at least to me, this is the first movie filmed on location in the zoo since 1980’s Altered States. Hijinks ensue, and they eventually find a woman on her knees clawing desperately at the earth. It’s seriously creepy. Back at the station, Sarchie meets Father Mendoza (Edgar Ramirez). In an amusing twist, the Father is an ex-junkie who drinks, chain-smokes, does topless push-ups and checks out women in bars. I guess you’d call him a progressive?

     

    Sarchie continues to track down leads and finds himself coming full circle, connecting the woman at the zoo to a dead body in somebody’s basement, and finally back to the domestic abuse case that opened the film. 

     

    Overall, it was a letdown after Sinister, but not entirely unenjoyable. If movies like The Conjuring are your thing, give it a try. 

  • 07_30_14ftcc.gif

    The room is dark and quiet; students furtively work on the computers in front of them. On the screen is a form of a person, and with a few clicks, the form on the screen can move its shoulders, and its arms and hands. This is a scene from the Introduction to 3D Animation class that was offered to youth during FTCC’s Summerscapes program. Summerscapes is an annual program made up of a variety of classes created specifically for children ages 8-18.  Topics include academics, art, cooking, music, photography, and sewing. The program has been expanded this summer to include new technology classes (Introduction to Programming with ALICE, 3D Animation, and Making a Game with Gamemaker). These classes were developed by FTCC’s Continuing Education Division and Simulation and Game Development faculty. FTCC realized a need for technology classes in their summer program, with teens developing a growing interest in the creation of video games and computer games.  What better way for teens to be introduced to these concepts than through use of professionals in the field! These classes are designed to introduce pre-teens and teens to 3D animation concepts through simple computer applications. FTCC has the most current equipment and software to maximize the students’ learning experiences during these short introductory classes. Students who have taken these classes have a newfound understanding of programming and animation concepts and may even become experts in the Simulation and Game Development industry one day! Work has already begun on expanding the program for next summer to include Computer Building and Motion Capture classes. 

     

    The Summerscapes program at Fayetteville Technical Community College begins each year in June and runs through the middle of August. The community college can offer these self-supporting courses only during the summer, so be sure to take advantage of these enjoyable, inexpensive learning opportunities for your child next summer! Youth ages 8-18 can get involved in fun classes at FTCC to express their creativity while they discover new talents. Classes are taught by highly motivated and trained instructors who provide a positive learning environment. Whether your child enjoys art, photography, cooking, yoga, music, reading, or technology, FTCC Summerscapes offers much to choose from. Although Summerscapes 2014 is coming to a close, we are already making grand plans for the 2015 course schedule, which comes out in early March of 2015. While the program has ended for 2014, we are already under way with planning for the next awesome summer here at FTCC!

     

    Won’t you plan now to join us for next year’s Summerscapes program at FTCC?  It offers a unique summer educational (and enjoyable!) experience for teens.  To learn more, please call 910-678-8309 or e-mail baugharc@faytechcc.edu.  For a complete listing of Continuing Education classes available at FTCC, please visit our website at www.faytechcc.edu/continuing_education.


  • 07-16-14-swampdogs.gif

    The playoff chase hits the home stretch this week at The Swamp as Fayetteville SwampDogs look to keep the ball rolling with another exciting and busy week of baseball. But of course, at J.P. Riddle Stadium the game is not the only exciting thing going on.

    This week as always, The Swamp is the place to be for a fun time for all members of the family.

     

    It all starts on Wednesday, July 30, against the Morehead City Marlins at 7:05 p.m. The SwampDogs will look to capture the luck of the Irish on Summertime St. Paddy’s Day! The first 500 fans in attendance 21 and over will receive a souvenir worthy of a river dance, courtesy of our friends over at Healy Wholesale.

     

    Don’t forget that morning to head out to Dunkin’ Donuts for Wake Up Wednesdays to meet SwampDogs players and FunGo! Remember, America — and the SwampDogs —runs on Dunkin’.

     

    The fun continues on Saturday, August 2, as the SwampDogs host the Columbia Blowfish at 7:05 p. m. Don’t miss your last chance of the summer to see Fayetteville’s best fireworks show, taking place at the conclusion of the game. You’re not going to want to miss out on the very special fireworks extravaganza, everyone in town is sure to be talking about it.

     

    That night will also be fan appreciation night, with giveaways and prizes being handed out all night long.

     

    Monday, August 4, will be your last chance of the regular season to watch the Dogs, as they play a doubleheader against the Florence RedWolves starting at 6:05 p.m. on Back to School Night. Come cheer on the SwampDogs as they make their final push toward the Pettit Cup Playoffs.

     

    Don’t forget that game will be the final Mug Monday of the year. On Monday home games, fans purchasing a 16 oz. souvenir mug will get free entry into the Miller Lite Liberty Lounge. The Mug is reusable for the rest of the season, and will get fans free access to The Lounge during every Monday home game.

     

    Once you are in the Miller Lite Liberty Lounge enjoy $1 beer, burgers and dogs, $2 wine and free popcorn, peanuts and soda while watching the game from some of the best seats in the house. It’s a great deal, any day of the week.

     

    Make sure to make your way out to The Swamp this week for all this — plus a few surprises. It is sure to be affordable fun for the entire family.

     

    Like the team on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoSwampDogs, follow the team’s Twitter and Instagram accounts at @GoSwampDogs and keep updated on highlights, player interviews and much more at www.youtube.com/GoSwampDogs. 

     

    For tickets to all of these great games, for more information call the SwampDogs offices at 426-5900. You can also check out the team website: www.goswampdogs.com.


  • 07_30_14uac073014001-new.gif The Annual Kidsville News!-Knights of Columbus Charity Golf Tournament in Memory of Luther J. Stultz will take place on August 15 at King’s Grant Country Club. The Knights of Columbus Cardinal Gibbons’ Council 2838 are proud to host the 4th Annual Charity Golf Tournament. The proceeds from this tournament will benefit Kidsville News Literacy and Education Foundation and K of C Operation L.A.M.B. program. 

    The event is held in memory of Luther J. Stultz the past state master and state deputy of the Knights of Columbus who was an incredible leader and advocate of Operation L.A.M.B.  

     

    Operation L.A.M.B. is a charity created by the Knights of Columbus to benefit citizens with Intellectual Disabilities. Since its inception in 1974, the Operation L.A.M.B. of North Carolina has raised millions of dollars to assist citizens of North Carolina. K of C Fayetteville Council 2838 will use half the proceeds from this tournament to provide financial support to local agencies and organizations in the Fayetteville area that provide services for the mentally handicapped. 

     

    Kidsville News! established in 1998, is a nationally acclaimed and award-winning literacy and educational resource newspaper provided free each month to all K-6 grade children in Cumberland County and Ft. Bragg. As a classroom resource, Kidsville News! promotes reading, education, healthy lifestyles and good character development in young people. 

     

    Kidsville News! has a proven 16-year track record as a valuable reading and educational resource serving young children, teachers, parents and guardians.With publishers in ten states, a monthly circulation of more than 600,000 and a readership of 1.4 million, Kidsville News! is the fastest growing children’s publication in the nation. Kidsville News! is aligned nationally with the Common Core Curriculum Standards and is currently used by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction for reading assessments and end-of-grade testing. Kidsville News! is recognized nationally as a quality children’s publication by the Parents’ Choice Foundation and received the National Parents’ Choice Award in 2008 and 2012. Each Kidsville News! publication has its own interactive website, teacher/parent worksheets and online electronic version (with free subscriptions) adaptable for use on class-room white boards, computers and tablets. 

     

    The proceeds from the tournament that go to the Kidsville News Literacy & Education Foundation will be used to support the organization’s mission, which is to improve literacy, education and character development among America’s young children by providing support for various early literacy and learning-based initiatives. Half the proceeds from this tournament will support literacy and education in Cumberland County.

     

    Golf Chairman Bob Testa noted that the tournament will have a Captain’s Choice format. You can bring your own team or sign up as an individual. Teams will be made up accordingly. All different skill levels, children, ladies and gentlemen are all welcome. The entry fee is $65.00 per person and that includes green fees, cart, range balls, meal after play, on-course refreshments and plenty of prizes. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. with a 1 p.m. shotgun start. You can even win a new car provided by Powers-Swain Chevrolet if you make a hole in one on a selected Par 3. The event is sponsored by Coca Cola Consolidated, Fayetteville Family Chiropractic, Healy Wholesale Co, Inc., Powers-Swain Chevrolet, K of C Fayetteville Council 2838 and Up & Coming Weekly. Hole sponsorships are available for individuals, companies and organizations for only $100. For more Information or questions contact: Robert Testa at 910-691-4526 or email him at rtesta317@aol.com. 

  • 07_30_14band.gif

    Music plays an important role in the Army. Not only does it lift the spirits of soldiers abroad and at home, it also acts as a bridge between the military and the rest of the nation. Simply put by Capt. Dae Kim, the commander and conductor of the Army Ground Forces Band, “We are the musical ambassadors of the American combat soldier.” The Army Ground Forces Band has fulfilled this role since its inception in 1845 in a city known for its music, New Orleans. The band is now stationed at Fort Bragg and has played numerous shows in the surrounding area, such as the performances in the upcoming Summer Concert Series in Festival Park. 

     

    On July 31, the Loose Cannons, an ensemble of the Army Ground Forces Band, will perform at downtown’s favorite music venue. The Loose Cannons have performed for deployed troops during Operation Iraqi Freedom, but the ensemble’s incredible skill and energy put them right at home in any venue. “The Loose Cannons are our more rock/pop group. They perform the newer songs, more like the top 40 of the last five years, but they are also very versatile and if they get requests they can do that,” Kim said. The group also performs country, R&B, and Hip Hop. 

     

    On August 14, the Jazz Guardians will perform at Festival Park. As the name suggests, this amazing group of musicians has a special interest in promoting and preserving Jazz. They perform the works of many of the great classic Jazz musicians,and have been featured in Jazz Festivals across the nation. “The Jazz Guardians are more of our big band set. They can cover everything from all of the jazz legends and big band songs from the early 40s like Glenn Miller and other pre World War II artists to modern big band songs of today. They are very versatile and perform from Jazz to Funk, but stop just a little before pop,” said Kim.

     

    August 28 is the concert series finale and the Army Ground Forces Concert Band will perform. This is one of the largest and best groups the Army has to offer. It has received the Col. George S. Howard Citation of Musical Excellence for Military Concert Bands twice and has performed in notable halls across the nation. The band’s performances include varied contemporary and classical pieces. It includes “everything from orchestral transcriptions, marches, instrumental and vocal solos to popular tunes and patriotic music.”

     

    The passion that these men and women have for their craft is what truly makes these performances incredible. Every performance is overflowing with energy and excitement that inevitably spills into the crowd. Kim expresses his own excitement for being part of the Army Ground Forces Band by saying, “As my predecessor said, this is the best job in the Army, truly. These people are soldiers who just happen to be world-class musicians. They come into the Army with these skills and then use them on behalf of the Army. But probably the best part would be working with these amazing soldiers daily to communicate the Army message.”

     

    The Loose Cannons perform on July 31 and the Jazz Guardians perform on August 14. The series finale takes place on August 28. All of the performances are at 7 p.m. in Festival Park and are part of the Summer Concert Series. For more information on the band visit http://www.forscom.army.mil/band/default.htm.  Festival Park is located at 225 Ray Ave. 

  • 07_30_14pitt.gif

    Think you have troubles? Tired of unrelenting waves of ugly news? Wars and rumors of war abound in Gaza, the Ukraine, the Kardashians and the Republican Party. Putin on a happy face. At least you are not Medusa. Today we stroll down memory lane to visit our old pals, the ancient Greeks, to ponder if there is anything we can use from mythology to make our vale of tears a little bit less damp.

     

    If someone else has it worse than you, that can be a comfort. Cheer yourself up by contemplating the troubles that faced Greek Mythology’s Bachelorette Number 1, Medusa. When you think of Medusa, and admittedly she doesn’t get much thought these days, most will remember her as a lady with some beauty issues and fly-away snake hair. Medusa wasn’t always ugly. She started out as a pretty young thing. She came from a close knit family, her Dad Phorkys and her mom Ceto were brother and sister. Medusa and her two sisters were Gorgons. Being a Gorgon is like being a Hatfield in West Virginia. The mists of history hide whether Phorkys was the original inspiration for the great 1982 movie, Porky’s, but the spelling of the names is too close to be a mere coincidence.

    But back to our story. Medusa’s first job was as a priestess in Athena’s temple. As a priestess she took a vow of celibacy so she would never force her employer to buy her birth control pills like the Hobby Lobby situation. Unfortunately for Medusa, she caught the eye of Poseidon who was the God of the Sea. One day, while Poseidon was on shore leave, he wandered up to Athena’s Temple to chill out with the home boys from Olympus. Medusa was doing all those Vestal Virgin things that the temple beauties do. Poseidon started chatting her up. Having been out to sea for a long time, Poseidon had developed a hankering for some female companionship. Medusa fell for him like a ton of grape leaves because Poseidon had a smooth line of patter. Poseidon actually looked like a Greek God because he was a Greek God.

     

    One thing led to another. Medusa threw caution, her vows of celibacy and her vestal garments to the winds. She ended up making whoopee with Poseidon. This situation did not sit well with Athena. She was not happy one of her virgins had broken her vow of celibacy thus exposing her Temple to Hobby Lobby and Obamacare. Poseidon suddenly remembered some urgent business he had with a flounder. He scrammed back to the sea leaving Medusa to face a very cranky Athena. It is never a good idea to torque off a Greek Goddess or the Ladies of the Altar Guild.

     

    Athena whipped out some magic and turned Medusa into one ugly mother. Medusa’s beautiful blonde hair became poisonous snakes. She uglied up Medusa’s face turning it green and more frightening than an audit letter from the IRS. Her baby blue eyes became blood shot and creepy. This naturally freaked Medusa out. Medusa high tailed it out of Athena’s Temple never to return. She was so ugly that if anyone looked at her they would turn to stone. That is more than passing ugly.

     

    Her transformation from beauty to beast was not good for Medusa’s personality. She became withdrawn and suffered social anxiety disorder. Perseus was drafted to kill Medusa which was not an easy task. If Perseus looked at her he would turn to stone. Cleverly, Perseus held up his mirrored shield and looked at the reflection of Medusa when he chopped off her head. Poseidon had gotten Medusa in the family way. When Perseus removed her head, Pegasus, the winged horse and future symbol of Mobil Oil Company, jumped out of her body. Perseus flew around on Pegasus with Medusa’s head on his shield doing drive-by stonings, turning his enemies to granite. Medusa’s head dripped blood all over the place. Snakes formed wherever her blood fell. Perseus eventually gave Medusa’s head on the shield to Athena who kept it as a knick knack on her mantle.

     

    So if current events are depressing you, don’t worry. It could be worse. You could be Medusa. Even if you are having a bad hair day, your split ends aren’t as bad as Medusa’s. Medusa is now on the state seal of Washington and Colorado echoing Bob Dylan’s immortal lines, “Everybody must get stoned.” 

  • 07_30_14margaret.gif

    My heart aches for Valerie Macon, and I have never laid eyes on the woman.

    Macon is the state worker plucked from obscurity by Governor Pat McCrory earlier this month and named North Carolina’s eighth Poet Laureate. Her credentials are two volumes of self-published poems. In addition, her website, which has since disappeared, claimed she had been named a Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Poet, when she had actually been part of a program to be mentored by such a poet.  

    The Governor confirmed that he and his staff had not followed the customary procedure consulting with the North Carolina Arts Council before naming someone to the post. The work of Poet Laureate involves conducting poetry workshops and readings and comes with a stipend in the $5,000 to $15,000 range. Macon’s predecessors in the post have all been award-winning writers whose works were published by other people. A number of them have taught at the university level.

      

    A dignified cultural firestorm but a firestorm nonetheless erupted following the appointment. Veteran North Carolina writers contend that while Macon has talent and is addressing important issues like homelessness, she is a novice poet and not ready for such a position or such an honor. Within a week, Macon resigned. No word on whether she is back on the job as a disability determination specialist at the Department of Health and Human Services.

     

    McCrory, apparently not realizing he was already in a hole, kept on digging, with this statement. “We’ve got to open up opportunities for people that aren’t always part of the standard or even elite groups that have been in place for a long time.”

    Well!

    A timely and reasonable answer to that came from Richard Krawiec, a Durham poet, who said, “Laureate is for people with national and statewide reputations. If you don’t honor that basic criteria of literary excellence and laureates being poets at the top of their game, what’s the purpose of the laureate position?”

    Krawiec is right.

    Oscars do not go to actors who appear on screen for ten seconds and utter one sentence. Pulitzer Prizes do not go to newspapers which simply publish wire service stories or to self-published novelists. The Heisman Trophy does not go to a third-string benchwarmer, however charming and appealing he may be.  Such folks may win awards later and I hope they do, but in the meantime, they can develop their crafts just as others move up the ladders inbusiness, all sorts of professions, and every other field of endeavor.

     

    North Carolina’s Poet Laureate fiasco does not rise to the level of world peace, of course, but it has stirred up some strong opinions, especially among would-be poets. The News and Observer in Raleigh asked readers to pen their own poems regarding the brouhaha, and here are three that amused me.

     

    Loyd Dillon of Charlotte and Kevin Stroud of Raleigh tried their hands at these limericks, respectively.

    “McCrory to poets: ‘Take that!’”

    (A name he just pulled from his hat).

    “Ha! I’m not well-versed?

    You snobs are the worst!”

    Real poets cannot stand Pat.

    Then this.

    There once was a governor named Pat.

    Who put on his own stupid hat

    When appointing a poet

    He didn’t quite know it

    The state has a system for that.

    Janie Prete of Clayton wrote an ode.

    Oh, the elite they do froth in a way that I love,

    since Ms. Macon has risen to a perch far above.

    It all seems so dire her rise to the top,

    sidestepping the privileged. Who know she’ll stop.

    And the Guv who we love, is he in a stew!!!

    We all are befuddled, but really what’s new?

    So North Carolina is without a Poet Laureate at the moment, which is unfortunate, but the vacancy is hardly our state’s most pressing problem. I suspect Governor McCrory will get around to filling the job, and he will likely do so this time with the counsel of the state’s arts and cultural communities.

     

    As for Valerie Macon, she has had a rough several weeks, but she will survive and be the stronger for it. Even as voices rose saying she is not qualified to be Poet Laureate, there were also voices saying she is indeed a talented and promising poet. I hope she will write more and perhaps even attend a workshop or a reading by North Carolina’s next Poet Laureate.

    Who knows? 

    Maybe years from now a future Governor will appoint her and that by then she will be seasoned and ready to take on the mantle of Poet Laureate.


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    By the time you read this article, for which I thank you, I will be nearly half way through my motorcycle journey to the Black Hills of South Dakota. Ah, the open road. I will miss you this week. However, as I gaze at the majestic Dakota mountains and bask in the historic beauty of Mount Rushmore, rest assured, I’ll be listening to WFNC’s morning show with Goldy and Jim on I Heart Radio and thinking about all the wonderful things going on in Fayetteville.

     

    I’m particularly excited about what’s going on in Historic Downtown Fayetteville. There seems to be a new attitude down there. I wouldn’t call it a Renaissance just yet, but business owners and residents seem to be getting organized and are stepping up and investing not only in downtown’s  infrastructure but, in establishing its identity and brand, which will eventually define and refine downtown Fayetteville’s precarious image. This movement seems to understand the importance that marketing and promotion in defining the overall value of a successful and prosperous downtown has to a community both culturally and economically. In particular, I was extremely glad to hear that the Chamber of Commerce is moving back downtown. With additional new businesses and development, motivated people with innovative ideas are stepping forward. I think we’re going to experience a serious sort of downtown rejuvenation like we have never seen before — the first step in establishing Fayetteville as a major North Carolina destination point. What’s not to like about that?

     

    So, bring on Sanderson Farms, its poultry, their 1,100 jobs and multimillion dollar economic impact on our community. The timing is perfect, the leadership is in place and, we can handle it! Hey, this is no time to be “chicken”.

     

    Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.


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    Bobby Joe Swilley, the not-so-hidden treasure Fayetteville has to offer to the music world, is originally from Brandon, Mississippi. Swilley was recently inducted into the International Rockabilly Hall of Fame which is located in Jackson, Tennessee. The museum takes pride in featuring the most influential artists in music history. Rockabilly is a musical blend of gospel, country and blues.

     

     Swilley’s office is covered in pictures and memorabilia from some of his impressive musical encounters. He has played with several bands, but has played with the same 10 guys for the past 50 years. They travel to meet each other to create music together. The musicians are all from different places in the U.S but still manage to make time for their first love, music. Swilley is known for his rhythm on the drums and his song-writing skills. He entered a song-writing competition in 2002 for the International Rockabilly Hall of Fame and, with all the given criteria they were asking for, he won. His song, was chosen from several international applicants to be the theme song for the Hall of Fame.

     

    Swilley grew up the youngest in a family of six kids, all of whom had natural musical talent. His mother played piano at the Baptist church they attended and he remembers vividly the family gatherings where all they did or wanted to do was play music and sing together. One of his fondest memories was being asked to sing along with the teenage choir with his sister, who was eight years older than him, and him holding the book upside down. It didn’t matter though because he knew the entire Baptist songbook by heart. As a young child he knew music was going to be a way of life for him. “I had a God-given talent as a drummer, a natural feel for it,” said Swilley. The very first albums he ever owned were Johnny Cash, BB King, Elvis Presley, Jimmy Reed, Howling Wolf, and Meryl Haggard but credits Ray Charles and Chuck Berry for his inspiration. 

     

    Swilley joined his first band as a drummer at the age of 17, with Jimmie Ammons and Delta Records. Swilley recorded some songs in the Delta Records studio as well as with Sun Records, founded by Sam Philips -- better known as the guy who discovered Elvis. “One of my most memorable musical moments, besides being inducted into the Hall of Fame, would have to be recording at Sun Records. I was there with the giants, where all these other amazing artists have been, playing on the same sets of people I’d grown up listening to,” said Swilley. 

     

    Another memorable moment Swilley spoke about was breaking a world record in 2001. He, along with 52 other drummers, played the same song on a full set of drums. That song was “Blue Suede Shoes.” They played it at the same time, in the same place, breaking the standing record. Alongside of him during this amazing life experience was Johnny Cash’s drummer, Stan Perkins. 

     

    Swilley, who turns 70 in September, has led a life full of experiences most of us can only dream of, but encourages those who have what it takes, “You only get one chance — take it. Don’t have regrets.” 

     

    He hopes to one day be able to play at Viva Las Vegas and especially, the Grand Ole Opry. Swilley also expressed how much he would enjoy playing at the Dogwood Festival or even at a 4th Friday, something local, for his guys to get together here. 

     

    Swilley will play at the Rockabilly Festival in Jackson, Tennessee at the Oman Arena on August 7, 8, and 9. That’s three whole nights of incredible music with ticket prices starting at around $50. This is an international event, with bands coming from all over the globe and dancing is strongly encouraged. It will be worth the short drive to Jackson, Tennessee to see our favorite singing drummer, and recent Hall of Fame inductee, and show our support as his Fayetteville family. 

     

    For more information, call (731) 425-8580 or email info@cityofjackson.net. Visit the Rockabilly Hall of Fame at www.rockabillyhall.org.

  • uac072314001.gif Hollow- Having a hole or empty space inside:  Without significance:   Insincere: Phrase example: beat someone hollow
     
    Some came with questions, some came seeking answers and some came for entertainment alone —  but none left unchanged. As audience members left The Gilbert Theater’s preview, debut performance of Hollow Men, by local playwright Stephen Miles, some were subdued, cocooned in silence, while others were incensed with denial or revulsion, yet others met and questioned the cast about their experience with the subject matter, script and its affect on their performance and them as fellow human sojourners. Has a serious theatrical work performed its task and completed itself with provoking thought in its audience? I think not.  


    In the Gilbert’s Green Room following the play, lead actor Stanley Seay spoke of his preparation for the play, which included frank conversations with neighbors and acquaintances about their experience in the military, reliving eyewitness accounts of horror and devastation as well as camaraderie and the thought of someone “having your back.”

    In the play, Gerry and Sandra Oxford’s, played by Stanley Seay and Nicki Hart, lives are changed forever by Gerry’s wartime trauma and his struggle for recovery at the famed Walter Reed Hospital. We witness first hand his spiral downward into depression and substance abuse.
    Fellow soldier, medic and friend, John Sadler moves to their small town to open a much-needed medical clinic and attempts to rekindle their friendship through scenes of concern and tough love but the dye is already cast.

     The cast describes it best in statements given during an interview with Brandon Herring for WNCN News:

    "It's not an upbeat play I'm sorry to say, but I think it's a realistic one," laywright Stephen Miles said. "I hope it makes the audience think about what our nation does in our name and the cost. Whereas I went to Vietnam for two tours, they're going five, six and seven tours. I can't even imagine that."

    "It needs to be told. It shouldn't be swept up under the carpet. It shouldn't be ignored,” actor, Stanley Seay said.

    "Let's be honest. PTSD is not happy and fluffy. This play could maybe turn that blind eye into an open eye so that they can do something to help their neighbor, or their friend or their family member," said actress, Nicki Hart.

    “This play is very visceral and raw,” added actor Sebastian Arroyo.

    "This is something that's important to the community,”' said director Brian Adam Kline. "It starts a conversation.”

    Lead actors, Seay and Hart are dynamic in their creation of the tension and deep psychological grief experienced by their characters. I commend them on their craft because this type of character analysis and preparation does not come without cost. As a reviewer, I would have liked just one scene of reminiscence between the medic and the wife about the man they both respected and loved. It would have provided the audience with a respite in this depiction of the “storm and stress” of life.

    Local physician, Andrew Morfesis stated that he “admired Miles courage in telling this story of which Miles must have had personal experience to be so insightful.” The playwright indeed served as an Army helicopter pilot in Vietnam for 18 months in the late '60s and early 1970s and was wounded in combat. He first confronted his military experience onstage with his play "Deros: A Vietnam Trilogy" staged at N.C. State University. The play won a 1986 playwriting award. Scenes from the play were presented during Fayetteville’s “Heroes Homecoming: A Tribute to Local Vietnam War Veterans” in 2011.

    Hollow Men runs through July 27 at the Gilbert Theater, 116 Green Street. Call the box office for additional information at 910-678-7186.


  • 07_23_14 author.gifLocal author Jerry Wilson is a survivor. He beat cancer twice and lived to tell the tale. His book,  Cancer … A Blessing? chronicles his fight and was written in the hopes of encouraging and inspiring others who face tough battles in their lives.


    Wilson is originally from Fayetteville but left in 1968 after he was married. He came back 39 years later to retire. His book chronicles his many real life experiences going through chemo and proton therapy. He specifically said that anyone who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and hasn’t looked into proton therapy is making a huge mistake. Proton therapy is based out of Jacksonville, Fla., at Florida University at the Proton Therapy Treatment Center. While in Jacksonville for his treatment, he decided to give himself something to do with his time, so he started a blog, which he liked to call his journal. In this blog he would talk about every aspect of his day, such as his treatment process, what he had for lunch, who he met, if he took a nap and so on.

    When he returned from his treatment, he was strongly encouraged by readers to write a book on his story. It was then he decided if he was going to write a book, it was going to include his first cancer battle of Stage 4 Lymphoma, in 1997.

    “Being told you have Stage 4 cancer is scary because Stage 5 is usually your local funeral home,” said Wilson.

    He uses humor regularly in the book but he never loses sight of the serious disease he is dealing with. He calls himself the poster child for chemotherapy because he was essentially the guinea pig. When going through the process, he stresses the importance of attitude. He gives credit to his incredible oncologist, his attitude and his faith for his survival. Wilson  talked about a nurse in the hospital he spoke with during his treatments that had a brother with Stage 2 Lymphoma, She told him that her brother’s attitude was not positive like his, and if he could maybe speak with him she would appreciate it. Wilson called the brother only to discover he was one of the most negative people he had ever spoken with, and couldn’t seem to shake him out of it. Two weeks later, the brother passed away. Wilson said that in this moment, his whole body went numb because this person was only at Stage 2, making him wonder how someone with Stage 4 could not be the next to go?

    Reading his book is like speaking to him on the phone or over coffee; it’s a conversation. This book is already a bestseller in his eyes because he has helped someone cope with cancer. That was his goal, and he has accomplished it.
    He never wanted to make lots of money from this book, but wanted to be wealthy in a different way — the wealth that comes from helping people.

    “This book is not just for a cancer patient, but for anyone to read. It could even be for someone dealing with a family member diagnosed with cancer,” said Wilson.

     Over the course of a year, this book is now published and being sold on amazon.com, through kindle and occasionally, because he carries copies with him, at his sister’s beauty shop. He has sold more than 200 copies. His customer reviews on amazon.com are impeccable. On the back cover of the book, there is a quote by the senior pastor at Snyder Memorial Baptist Church, Rev. John Cook, “We affectionately call Jerry, “Job,” because of the many challenges he has faced and overcome in his life. He battled and beat cancer 17 years ago, and he lost his precious wife, Scottie, unexpectedly last July. Any one of those events by itself could bring a man to his knees … not only has he weathered these storms with his faith intact, but he has been an inspiration to all of us. He loves the Lord with all his heart, and Jerry knows it is God’s grace that has brought him safe thus far.”
    Wilson has a book signing at Gates Four Golf and Country Club on Thursday July 24 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

    “Growing old is mandatory, but growing up is optional. I’m a kid at heart,” said Wilson.

  • 07_23_14 margaret.gifThe final days of the North Carolina General Assembly’s “short” session have been more fun than a barrel of monkeys.

    Charlotte blogger Fannie Flono calls it her “guilty pleasure,” better than the Real Housewives of Atlanta or Orange County. Having never seen those programs, I really have no idea about that, but I did enjoy seeing a powerful senator deliver lumps of coal to House members who refused to do things the Senate’s way. In addition to showing his irritation, the coal was a veiled threat that the legislature might stay in Raleigh until Christmas — a truly scary thought!

    My own favorite remark this legislative session came in a letter to the editor in the News and Observer of Raleigh. The writer suggested that just as many working people wear uniforms identifying themselves and their employers, state legislators should be required to wear uniforms identifying the industry they represent in the general assembly!

    It is easy to have some fun at the expense of the “honorables,” but it is a lot harder to find out what they are really up to in Raleigh. The problem is not just that legislators might not want us to see the sausage-making process. The real problem is that there are fewer and fewer journalists keeping an eye on them.

    The well-respected and non-partisan Pew Research Center released a report earlier this month confirming what many people have already observed — that between 2003 and 2014, the number of full-time statehouse reporters in 50 state legislatures dropped an astounding 35 percent!
    I know. I know. Your first reaction might be to jump up and down and shout, “thank heavens!” But think again.

    Government at all levels is complex and bureaucratic and, frankly, a lot of it is outright boring. In addition, it can be frustrating when we think our elected officials are making poor decisions and when they make no decisions at all. Top all this with partisan bickering and name calling and it is no wonder we do not rush to our newspapers and televisions to find out what they have done now.

    “What,” you exclaim. “There are talking heads all over television 24/7,” and that is true. But they are talking heads mostly in Washington or New York, and they are talking about what is going on in Washington, the nation and around the world. There is so much coverage that members of Congress can barely eat a lunch sandwich at their desks without a camera crew recording the momentous event. But Wolf Blitzer and his journalistic colleagues do not know much, let alone talk about, what the North Carolina General Assembly is up to and what it means for those of us who live here.

    Congress is critically important, of course, and its actions have bearing on the lives of all Americans. The reality, though, is that state legislatures have a much more direct impact on the citizens they represent. The 170 people in the North Carolina General Assembly, predominately middle-aged white men, are making decisions about how many teachers will stand in our children’s classrooms next month, about how much money those teachers will be paid for their work and about how much money will be spent on our children’s textbooks and other educational materials. Those 170 people are making decisions about what health services will be available to North Carolina’s children, senior citizens and women of childbearing age. They are making decisions about our UNC system that has proudly educated North Carolinians since 1795, and about how many and what kind of roads we will use in our own communities and to travel from Murphy to Manteo. Theirs are decisions that affect all nearly 10 million of us one way or another every time we walk out our front doors.

    Some of us will agree with the choices our General Assembly makes, and some us will be horrified and angry. My point here, though, is that we should at least know about them.

    So what has changed?

    There are multiple reasons for the decline of legislative coverage. The Great Recession hit traditional news outlets, primarily newspapers but radio and television as well, like a sledgehammer. Then there is the rise of the Internet where news is available when and in what form we want it. Traditional media’s advertising revenues have plummeted, and they continue to scramble to figure out new ways to support their core mission of reporting the news to us. Niche media also cut into traditional media’s pie. There are all manner of online and cable options, many of which have abandoned the concept of objectivity and straight news to promote one point of view or another. Think Fox News preaching to its choir and MSNBC preaching to its choir, and the picture becomes clear.

    The upshot?

    If we want to know what is going on in Raleigh — and we should, we must try harder, dig deeper and ask more questions of our legislators.

    We are living in a time when ignorance is definitely not bliss.

  • 07_23_14 4thfridaylogo_2012.gifIt’s time for 4th Friday, and the Arts Council  is teaming up with the city to celebrate recycling. Many exhibits hosted by the Arts Council also bring work from artists across the nation to downtown Fayetteville. On July 25, the newest exhibit titled Transformation: Artful Recycling opens. This is the annual recycling-inspired exhibit hosted by The Arts Council. This event is sponsored by Pratt Industries, Wastequip and Waste Industries on behalf of the City of Fayetteville’s Environmental Services Department. The goal is to show all of the creative uses for items that would otherwise be thrown away, and inspire everyday recycling.


    “Our show features four artists, two from Fayetteville, one from Durham  and one from Raleigh,” said Mary Kinney, marketing director of the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County. “Their work is really unique. It is showcasing recycled materials as fine art.”
    The exhibit will open from 7 to 9 p.m. at 301 Hay St. during the 4th Friday activities.

    Also welcoming 4th Friday guests is the City of Fayetteville’s Environmental Services Department. Come early (between 6 and 7 p.m.) to sign up for the Recycling Scavenger Hunt in front of the Arts Council building. Enjoy music by the Erik Smallwood Duo from 7 to 9 p.m. For more information. visit www.theartscouncil.com.

    Keeping with the recycling theme the Hay Street United Methodist Church, located at 320 Hay St., will offer a free and fun craft for kids making bird feeders from recycled tin cans. They will also have live music provided by the “United Praise” band from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.

    This month the Downtown Alliance theme for 4th Friday is “Beach Blast.” Embracing this celebration of summer, many of the downtown businesses will remain open late and some will even provide entertainment like live music. The Downtown Alliance will also provide free entertainment through the Street Ratz Breakdance Crew, which will perform in front of 222 Hay St. Shadows of Fire/TranceFusion Arts will also perform in front of the Capitol Building at 126 Hay St.

    Fascinate-U is a paradise for curious kids, who are invited to explore the entire miniature city, and unlike many museums, touching the exhibits is encouraged.  Fascinate-U also offers special events throughout the year, and always on 4th Friday. This month the event is about celebrating summer. The museum is open from 7 to 9 p.m. and admission is free. Kids are invited in to explore the new schoolhouse and farm. There is also a free summer craft that kids can take home. Fascinate-U is located on 166 Green St.  

    Downtown Fayetteville is full of art, and Cape Fear Studious, established in 1989, is one of the galleries in downtown Fayetteville. It provides retail space and studios for local artists. It also has a gallery that features work from all over the nation. A new exhibit coincides with 4th Friday: Solo Artist Member Show. From 6 to 9 p.m., artwork of many mediums is on display at Cape Fear Studios. For more information, visit www.capefearstudious.com
    Downtown Fayetteville is also saturated with history. One of the best places to learn about the history of downtown is at the Market House. The Market House has both a permanent exhibit and a rotating exhibit. The permanent one is titled A View From the Square and explores the history of downtown. The rotating one explores a new aspect of the region’s history every month. This month’s exhibit is titled Cape Fear River, and explores the history of the river and how it has affected the region. The Market House is open from 6 to 10 p.m. and is located where Hay St., Gillespie, Person and Green streets meet.

  • 07-23-14-run-for-the-red.gifThe American Red Cross Highlands Chapter hosts its 8th Annual Run for the Red 10K, 5K and 1-mile Fun Run on Saturday Aug. 2, beginning at 7 a.m. and ending at 10 a.m. All race proceeds go directly to the American Red Cross, in efforts to provide much-needed emergency services for our community as well as communities around the world. The Red Cross is the nation’s leading provider of health and safety courses. Each year, more than 9 million Americans participate in its training programs; CPR, First Aid and Lifeguard training.

    There are seven age groups, Cash prizes will be rewarded to the top three male and female runners overall. First, second and third place in each age division will receive a prize. Awards will also be given to the group who has the largest participation.

    The Highlands Chapter encourages anyone to participate in honor of the hero who impacted a life, a family member’s or a friend’s — to honor the thousands of heroes who, trained by the Red Cross, are ready to help. According to the Highlands Chapter website, the Run for the Red supports programs and services to help the community prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.

    Phil Harris, the executive director, said, “You’re not just signing up to run, you’re signing up to help your neighbor.” He is expecting about 350 runners as well as 100 volunteers. Every year he has more and more people show their support. Harris also said that many groups come out to volunteer as a team-building event. He encourages anyone and everyone to come out to help. Locally, the money raised will go directly to the organization. In Fayetteville alone, there is one house fire a day and that’s something Harris and his team are passionately trying to help change. Not only with issue of the fire itself, but with the disaster that comes with it. The Highlands chapter will provide food, clothing and shelter with money raised from local events.

    According to the official Red Cross website, the Red Cross responds to approximately 70,000 disasters in the United States every year, in these events the Red Cross provides shelter, food, health and mental health services to help families and entire communities get back on their feet. The Red Cross helps military members, veterans, and their families prepare for, cope with and respond to the challenges of military service. Their services help an average of 150,000 military families and veterans annually.

    The starting point of the race is at Festival Park in downtown Fayetteville. The trail will lead runners downtown and through the Haymount area. Along the route, there are water stations, and motivation from the crowds. Register online for the Run for the Red, and gain access to online fundraising tools, including your own personal webpage. This online advantage will help participants raise money, gain more team me, build morale and update followers on their success. Registration fees are non-refundable. After registering, pick up yourmbers packet on Aug. 1, between the hours of 4 and 6 p.m or the morning of the event at 5:30 a.m. This event takes place rain or shine. T-shirts are for sale for $8. If you’d like to make a difference but aren’t really a runner, you can always volunteer, and be a part of making this event come to life and be a huge help behind the scenes, just email at RunfortheRedHighlands@redcross.org. For registration fees or other information regarding Run for the Red please call (910) 867-8151 or email to RunfortheRedHighlands@redcross.org.

  • uac071614001.gif Urban art as a genre developed out of street art that is directly connected to graffiti culture. In the street art vernacular, words like bomb (to cover an area with graffiti), buff (to erase or remove graffiti from a wall), cross out (place an X over graffiti out of disrespect) and back to back (block of street painted) are understood among the graffiti artists. Although street/graffiti are still relevant, the genre has grown into a broader cross section of artists. The exhibit titled Urban Art: Expressions of an Environment at the Arts Council of Fayetteville and Cumberland County focuses on different sensibilities across the country and relevant urban themes: response to contemporary urban culture, political issues, use of spray paint, graffiti and/or stencils and use of industrial materials.

    Several of the artists in the exhibit are experienced and authentic graffiti artists who have shared new work in the gallery. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know which artists have already exhibited in major national exhibitions, been featured in Juxtapose Magazine, participated in La Biennale (55th International Art Exhibition) or have received major national artists grants and are published. All 11 artists in the exhibit — emerging and mature — bring a unique approach to the themes of the exhibit.

    Five local artists were invited to participate: Aaron Wallace, Eric Longley, Jihad Z. Ali, Michael Romagano and Lovell Pulley along with six artists from across the country: JooYoung Choi (Texas), Senghor Reid (Michigan), Kevan Foust (California), Abezash Tamerat (Maryland) and Percy Fortini-Wright (Massachusetts).

    In the painting titled “The Masked Phantom,” Fortini-Wright skillfully integrates a figure wearing a gas mask against a gray, stark background. Mixing oil painting techniques with the graffiti vernacular, Fortini-Wright clarifies his intent on his website: “I interpret, depict and decipher the world around and within me … as a graffiti artist I bring that same energy into my pieces, showing a carefree innocence with bold daring marks not distinguishing between a scribble and fully realized object. Using spray paint with the physical nature of the calligraphic mark, my pieces investigate relationships of linguistic entanglement as form. Many times the subjects are letters either tagged or written fast into the pieces elaborately camouflaged into a three dimensional “wild style” form of lettering. Through the ethereal qualities of spray paint juxtaposed with the physical nature of the calligraphic mark I deface my images with words and words with images expressing there limitations and intricate connections.”

    Sengor Reid is also a painter in the exhibition and interprets his environment in a way that explores people reacting to the urban landscape. A subtle, political approach, the verisimilitude of the painting charms the viewer; yet the portraits are charged with an electrified state of being.

    Reid states on his website how his paintings are like “film stills which document the lives of people in an urban environment … the relentless imprint of human activity in an age of post-industrial age … the capacity of registering the space we are moving through, our conscious or unconscious decisions to ignore, scream, run, escape, destroy or rebuild.”

    In sharp contrast, the works by JooYoung Choi promotes the idea of ethnic unity. In the mixed-media work “It’s as Easy as 1-2-3,” Choi surrounds the figure with repeated patterns. “The Transmissions of Pleasure Vision” series is a combination of text on repeated horizontal bands delivering a hopeful message.

    Two computer graphic artists in the exhibit have very different approaches. Kevan Foust uses the medium to incorporate his drawing skills into a highly personal message about personal identity; whereas Lovell Pulley is known for his interpretation of the culture at large. Foust’s composition is complicated whereas Pulley reduces his images to a minimalist style.

    In a quick-witted manner, Pulley’s “Gangsta Pop” and “Legally, I’m Yo Pusher” are designed in grays with a small pop of color somewhere in the image. Turning a mirror on ourselves, everyone is able see how the artist has reframed roles in our culture.

    Jihad Z. Ali brings the traditional graffiti game inside the gallery with his framed works. “No Train, No Gain,” the most ambitious of the Ali’s works being exhibited, exemplifies the cross-cultural phenomenon that is taking place in graffiti art. In this work, Ali breaks his space into horizontal layer07-16-14-cover-story.gifs, each layer is a construction of an identity and communal ideologies are simmering throughout the work.

    In stark distinction, the paper works by Abezash Tamerat demand their place in the exhibit. Exceptionally large works on paper are torn, burned and mounted on the wall with map pins. Abstracted, yet still remaining hauntingly figurative, Tamerat’s work is edgy and provocative in a way that cites the potential of material and obscure meaning.

    Aaron Wallace is an artist who also emphasizes material — material being the most important element in his work. No reference to a subject, the oozy, puffy and textured abstract paintings rely upon their physicality to become an art object, evoking tactile meaning.

    Michael Romagano incorporates spray paint into two of his complicated mixed media works, resulting in images that have a multi-layered essence. When asked about his process, Romagano stated he “places instantaneously what resides in his thoughts through medium and application.”

    Eric Longley is the only artist in the exhibit who is exhibiting sculpture and print making. Longley effortlessly moves between relief sculptures and silk-screened monoprints; both mediums incorporate the artists’ gritty, fascination with the heart as a theme, and a three dimensional interpretation of the dripping paint that can often result from spray paint.

    Sponsored by Zipquest Waterfall and Treetop Adventure and Skin Prik City Tattoo Studio, Urban Art: Expressions of an Environment is an exhibit that remains up until July 19. For information call the Arts Council at 910-323-1776. 

  • 07-16-14-soldier-show.gifWhen people think of the talents and skills of soldiers, singing and dancing is not usually high on the list. The annual U.S. Army Soldier Show proves otherwise, however. In the Army there are many incredible and talented people and after an intense audition, a few are selected to rehearse and perform in the show. This year, the show will is called Stand Strong and will be held at the Crown Coliseum on July 19 and 20.

    The overall purpose of providing these shows is to “support combat readiness and effectiveness.” Entertainment at home and abroad is an important function in the military to encourage general well being — and in turn —the ability of soldiers to most efficiently complete the tasks at hand. Entertainment for the troops while they are abroad provides a relief from stress and a much needed mental break from the stresses of the mission. This provides a mental refreshing and facilitates increased focus and effectiveness. At home, the free entertainment opportunities offered make everyday life better — and when a soldier’s family is happy it is easier for the service member to focus on the mission.

    The motto for this event is “Entertainment for the soldier, by the soldier.” Each performer is a soldier from the Army and Army National Guard from around the nation. Each performer has gone through an intense audition process in order to be part of the show, including a full fitness testing. In order to participate in the months of training and then touring, they not only have to be supremely talented but they must also exemplify the seven Army Values, which are loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage. Even the stage crew is recruited from talented soldiers. This makes the show entirely self-contained. The soldiers set up, perform and break down the show.

    The theme is focused on what gives the soldiers such incredible strength and character. Each performer individually embodies the strengths of a good soldier by upholding the core Army values, and the show they are performing both explores and honors the strengths of the Army.

    The U.S. Army Soldier Show : Standing Strong is on stage at the Crown Theatre. The theatre is located at 190 Coliseum Dr. On July 19, the show will begin at 7 p.m. On July 20, the show will begin at 2 p.m. The performances are free of charge and no tickets are required for entry. Seating is on a first come, first served-basis and doors open one hour before the show is scheduled to begin.

    For more information visit http://crowncomplexnc.com/calendar-of-events/ or http://www.armymwr.com/soldier-show.aspx.

    Photo: Soldiers from across the U.S. Army go through a grueling audition process to earn a spot in the U.S. Army Soldier Show. The show is coming to the Crown on July 19.

  • 07-16-14-pub-notes.gifTick Tock: City Looks at Curfews for Teens

    Shortly after Mayor Nat Robertson took office, I had a chance to sit down with him in his home to talk about his priorities as the new mayor for the City of Fayetteville. Unhesitatingly, he said crime in our city was his number one priority. He hasn’t wavered on that.

    Since taking office, Robertson has put his time and the city’s money into crime prevention — including finding ways for the city’s beleaguered police force to hire more personnel. That move will enable him to put more police in the community and to put community policing into action.

    Last week, Robertson announced that the city is looking at enforcing a citywide curfew for teens under the age of 14. Some people think Robertson is overreaching — taking the authority of parents away. I disagree. When parents don’t take authority over their children, I applaud anyone who will.

     

    I think Robertson’s proposal doesn’t go far enough. I think teens under the age of 18 should be required to be in their homes between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m. — even those teens who have dropped out of school — especially those teens who have dropped out of school.

    For those who are opposed to the idea, check this out.

    Earlier this year, The National League of Cities released a survey showing that curfews do work.

    In conjunction with the survey, the league polled 800 cities that have implemented curfews. The results show that curfews are “cost effective and useful,” and that a “growing number of city officials have confidence in curfews as an effective strategy to help curb gang violence.”

    Of the 800 cities polled, the following results were found:

    • 97 percent say curfews are effective in combating juvenile crime

    • 96 percent say curfews are effective in fighting truancy

    • 88 percent say curfews are effective reducing gang violence

    • 56 percent reported drops in violent crime within one year of implementing a nighttime curfew

    • 55 percent reported a drop in gang activity

    • 88 percent reported no problems implementing their curfew

    • 89 percent said there were no significant new costs for their police departments

    Of the cities polled, 52 percent had curfews of 11 p.m. during the week for those individuals under the age of 18. The curfews were extended to midnight on the weekends by 55 percent of the cities. And, yes, the cities had exceptions for those teens who worked and were on their way home.

    If a curfew can drop violent crime by 56 percent and drop gang activity (which usually means drugs, property crime and violent crime), then bring on the curfew, I say. Let parents become responsible for their children. And, in the words of my mom, who diligently enforced my 11 p.m. curfew (which started when I was 16 — I had to be in by 9 p.m. before that), “You can’t do anything after 11 that you can’t do before then, but there’s a lot of bad that goes on after that.”

  • 07-16-14-concussions.gifIf you’ve been following the World Cup at all, you may have noticed that among the blood, sweat and tears were a myriad of player injuries. But behind all the pulled muscles and broken noses lies a much darker side to many of our favorite pastimes: concussions. Perhaps the most jaw-dropping event of the World Cup thus far occurred in the game between Uruguay and England when Uruguay’s midfielder Alvaro Pereira fell unresponsive on the field after taking a knee to the head. It was clear that Pereira was unconscious when his teammates and trainers were trying to slap him awake as he lay on his back. And if all of this weren’t enough, when the team’s physician tried to signal for a substitution to take Pereira off the field, Pereira had come-to enough to become outraged and insisted he be allowed to finish the game. In doing so, he became part of an evolving discussion about the way his sport handles head injuries, in a time when their effects are changing the way other sports are played.

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define a concussion as “a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head that can change the way the brain normally works” and can result from a blow to the head or body that causes the brain to move quickly back and forth within the skull. Symptoms of a concussion may begin immediately, and can last for days, weeks or longer. Symptoms include headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, malaise, difficulty with memory and concentration, and sleep disturbances. Although concussions are deemed a “mild” head injury, in rare cases a severe blow to the head can have more serious consequences. Those who suffer a head injury who have a constant, worsening headache, weakness, poor coordination, repeated vomiting or slurred speech are urged to seek immediate medical attention. It is also important to know that once an individual suffers a concussion their risk of a second is greatly increased, especially if the first has not fully healed.

    Second impact syndrome (SIS) is a rare condition in which a second concussion occurs before the first one has properly healed and can cause rapid and severe brain swelling that may be fatal. The second blow may occur minutes, days or weeks after the initial concussion, and even the mildest grade of concussion can lead to SIS. Experts advise that those athletes who have suffered a concussion and still complain of symptoms be prevented from returning to a game. Return-to-play guidelines have been established in many sports, and recommend that an athlete not return to play until they are symptom free during rest and exercise. The American Academy of Neurology recommends that younger athletes be prohibited from returning to play for at least a week after an initial concussion. This is why it was especially shocking when Uruguay’s Pereira was allowed to return to play not only in the England game, but then played soon after versus Italy, where he was again struck in the back of the head by another player in a near-collision.

    Soccer is not the only sport that has come under harsh scrutiny about how it handles head injuries in players. We’re all familiar with the head injuries in American football, and the changes that teams have had to make on a local, college and national level to protect the players. It’s no secret that some of the sports best players are now suffering from advanced dementia, and even committing suicide after facing severe mental health disorders as a result of numerous head injuries during their days of play. The National Football League is busy trying to figure out how to make the sport safer, while holding tight to the speed, power and violence that makes it so appealing to the fans. These same fears trickle down to the college and youth level, as parents question whether to allow their children to participate in a sport that could potentially cause long term damage.

    No matter the sport, concussions and other more serious head injuries that result from sports are a growing concern, and a topic that needs to be taken very seriously by players, coaches, parents, and the public. These sports are often glorified for their sometimes violent plays, but we must remember that the injuries sustained may be more severe than they look. So play smart, and remember that winning the game is not worth the price of permanent damage.

    Resources: • http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/index.html • http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/21/sports/worldcup/uruguayan-player-debate-over-head-injuries.html?_r=0 • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second-impact_syndrome • http://www.brainandspinalcord.org/traumatic-brain-injury-types/second-impact-syndrome/index.html%20

    Photo: Uruguay’s  midfielder Alvaro Pereira fell unresponsive on the field after taking a knee to the head.

  • 07-16-14-swampdogs.gifComing off of another thrilling week, The Fayetteville SwampDogs look to keep the ball rolling with another exciting and busy week of baseball. But of course, at J.P. Riddle Stadium the game is not the only exciting thing going on.

    This week as always, The Swamp is the place to be for a fun time for all members of the family.

    It all starts on Thursday, July 17, against the Edenton Steamers. While we honor and appreciate our servicemen and women every day, this day will be special as the SwampDogs host a Salute to the Military presented by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. So come on out to The Swamp and help honor those who sacrifice everything to allow us the freedom to play America’s pastime.

    The fun continues on Saturday, July 19, as the SwampDogs host the Wilmington Sharks at 7:05 p.m. The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a SwampDogs visor courtesy of our friends at Cape Fear Orthopedic. It is also N.C. State Night, so come on out and paint The Swamp red and show your Wolfpack pride.

    On Sunday, July 20, the SwampDogs will have a special 5:05 p.m., start time against the Wilson Tobs on Faith and Family Night. Come celebrate a night of faith, fellowship and fun in a family-friendly atmosphere.

    Dust off your old Backstreet Boys albums on Monday, July 21, as the SwampDogs celebrate 90’s Night and take on the Florence RedWolves at 7:05 p.m. Also, it is FunGo’s Birthday, so come celebrate with all the mascots of the area at The Swamp.

    That game will also be a Mug Monday, where fans purchasing a 16 oz. souvenir mug will get free entry into the Miller Lite Liberty Lounge. The Mug is reusable for the rest of the season, and will get fans free access to The Lounge during every Monday home game.

    Once you are in the Miller Lite Liberty Lounge enjoy $1 beer, burgers and dogs, $2 wine and free popcorn, peanuts and soda while watching the game from some of the best seats in the house. It’s a great deal, any day of the week.

    Going forward, don’t forget about the SwampDogs’ other great weekly promotions including 2 Cool for School Tuesdays, and Dunkin’ Donuts Wake Up Wednesdays.

    Make sure to make your way out to The Swamp this week for all this – plus a few surprises. It is sure to be affordable fun for the entire family.

    Like the team on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoSwampDogs, follow the team’s Twitter and Instagram accounts at @GoSwampDogs, and keep updated on highlights, player interviews, and much more at www.youtube.com/GoSwampDogs.

    For tickets to all of these great games, for more information call the SwampDogs offices at 426-5900. You can also check out the team website: www.goswampdogs.com.

    Photo: A visit to The Swamp includes a baseball game along with other family-friendly and fun-filled activities.

  • Iodine, a trace element, is one of the most important — and most overlooked — minerals your body needs. In the early 1900s, iodine deficiency was a big problem in the United States, but the issue receded after iodine was added to most table salts and used to make dairy and baking products. Today, most Americans still get enough, but some experts fear iodine deficiency is on the rise again, especially among women, and it too often goes undiagnosed.

    What Iodine Does

    When you don’t get enough iodine from foods such as fish, sea vegetables, and even iodized table salt, you can become iodine deficient. If you’re low in iodine, your body can’t make enough thyroid hormone, which regulates metabolism, body temperature, muscle building and more. This may lead to hypothyroidism or thyroid gland enlargement, also known as goiter, and can cause fatigue, weight gain and constipation.

    Iodine deficiency is especially dangerous for pregnant and breastfeeding women. A mom’s inadequate iodine levels can lead to lower IQ, mental retardation and even irreversible brain damage in a developing child. The problem is, [iodine deficiency] is really tough to detect. There’s no direct test for it, and often symptoms aren’t noticeable. Or if they are, it’s usually low energy, brain fog, or dry mouth or skin, which can also be caused by so many other issues.

    Why You May Be Low

    The recent push to reduce salt intake may be contributing to iodine deficiency among women. They are less likely to add salt to their food or use it when cooking. And even though 75 percent of Americans’ salt intake comes from processed foods, those aren’t made with iodized salt.

    Women today also eat a lot less dairy, which contains iodine. Plus, iodine content in fruits and vegetables is hugely variable, depending on the region and soil in which they are grown. Seafood is generally a good source of iodine, but amounts are difficult to quantify. Generally, saltwater seafood contains more iodine than freshwater; iodine also varies by where the fish were caught and in what season.

    Common chemicals may also cheat you out of iodine. Constant exposure to fluoride from tap water, chlorine from swimming pools, and bromide from plastic food containers, pesticide-sprayed produce and flame retardant–coated furniture all compete with iodine in the body. The cells that need it the most—thyroid, breast, brain and skin cells—soak up these chemicals instead of iodine.

    Address Your Intake

    If you suspect you’re low in iodine, first have your doctor check you for thyroid problems. Next, discuss diet. Eating iodine-rich seaweed and sea vegetables such as nori, dulse, kelp and spirulina are commonly recommended.

    If you’re a woman in your childbearing years, nutrition guidelines suggest supplementing your diet with 150 mcg potassium iodide (in a prenatal supplement) to achieve 220 mcg total daily intake during pregnancy and 290 mcg during breastfeeding. You can also get iodine through kelp supplements. Be sure to talk over your options with your doctor.

    Top iodine foods

    Sea vegetables: 16 mcg to 2,984 mcg per serving07-16-14-iodine.gif

    Yogurt: 75 mcg per serving

    Iodized salt: 71 mcg per serving

    Dairy milk: 56 mcg per serving

    Enriched bread: 45 mcg per serving

    Eggs: 24 mcg per serving

    Recommended daily iodine

    Birth to 1 year: 110–130 mcg

    Ages 1 to 8: 90 mcg

    Ages 9 to 13: 120 mcg

    Ages 14+: 150 mcg

    During pregnancy or lactation: 220–290 mcg

    Source: National Institutes of Health

    Photo: Iodized salt is just one source of iodine.

  • 07-16-14-local-symphony.gifA love for music can start at a very early age. Babies begin to dance from the time they learn to stand. Music is universal and a necessity in the human experience. The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra (FSO) knows this. As an organization the members strive not only to entertain with their artistic excellence, but also to educate the community. Another focus of the orchestra is on the youth of the community, and thanks to support from the Community Grant program of the Cumberland County Foundation they can expand their work in several ways, including the creation of a Youth Music Institute.

    Many musicians start young and having a great teacher early can inspire a life long passion. For years the FSO has worked with high school students in the Fayetteville and Cumberland County area. “We send a string quartet into the high school orchestra program and then follow up with visits by a violinist and a cellist. The students learn about performing in small ensembles and also learn performance techniques,” said Christine Kastner the President and CEO of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra. Previously it was mostly limited to musicians from the FSO mentoring budding musicians at certain high schools. Now this program will be expanded to all public high schools in Cumberland County. Students all over the county will now have the opportunity to be inspired and guided by passionate and creative musicians who are widely recognized for their excellence.

    As part of the expansion there will also be increased educational opportunities for young musicians that are not affiliated with schools. Rather than spending the summer in front of the T.V. or computer young musicians can learn and grow with skilled masters of their instrument. FSO is offering summer camps in strings and brass instruments that are open to all students in the region. “Our camps are taught by professional musicians with advanced degrees in music performance so they will focus on techniques which will improve the students performance levels. Also we focus on small student teacher ratios so the students receive very individualized instruction. Our string camp has no more than 4 students (a quartet) per instructor,” says Kastner. Additionally these programs are the first Summer Camps in this region to provide such advanced musical education.

    During the year there will also be a strings mentoring program and youth orchestra. Music should be part of every day life, and while high school band and orchestra are invaluable they alone may not provide enough musical stimulation for young blossoming musicians. Additionally, according to Kastner there are also studies to support that a “deep arts involvement” fosters rain development and increases the chanced of students graduating high school and attending college. All of these expansions are under the umbrella of the newly created Youth Music Institute. This arm of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra will be housed at Fayetteville Academy and will be lead by a newly hired Music Director. Beth Keeny, a Board Member and Chair of CCF’s Community Impact Committee expresses her excitement and support for the expansion by saying,” The Cumberland Community Foundation is proud to support the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra’s endeavors to start a youth orchestra. When the arts thrive, communities thrive, and the opportunity for young musicians to play alongside, and receive mentorship from, professional musicians allows the entire arts community to grow.”

    Photo: The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra reaches out to local youth. 

  • 07-09-14-swampdogs.gifComing off of a thrilling week, the Fayetteville SwampDogs look to keep the ball rolling with another exciting week of baseball. But of course, at J.P. Riddle Stadium the game is only part of the excitement.

    This week— as always — The Swamp is the place to be for a fun time for all members of the family.

    It all starts on Wednesday, July 9, as the SwampDogs take on the Wilmington Sharks at 7:05 p.m. It’s one of the best nights of the year to come to The Swamp, as the team hosts its Salute to Tom Hanks.

    Come dressed as your favorite character from Tom Hanks films for a fun night filled with your favorite movie quotes as we celebrate the 58th birthday of one of America’s finest actors. As far as fun times at The Swamp go, this night is sure to be in a league of its own.

    Also don’t forget that before every Wednesday home game, it is a Wake-Up Wednesday, presented by Dunkin’ Donuts, with SwampDogs players making appearances at local locations. Remember, America and the SwampDogs run on Dunkin’ Donuts.

    The fun continues on Thursday, July 10, as the SwampDogs host the Petersburg Generals at 7:05 p.m. It is first responder’s night at J.P. Riddle Stadium, so come on out and help us as we acknowledge first-responder personnel like the fire, police and emergency medical service workers and their families.

    During that game, the Dogs will wear special one-of-a-kind pink jerseys that are up for auction during the game.

    Bidding for the jerseys is open online, and begins at $75. All of the proceeds from the auction go toward the Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation’s Friends of the Cancer Center. Online bids are accepted until 4 p.m., on July 10, and then will resume at J.P. Riddle Stadium when gates open at 6 p.m. Fans will have until the final out of the game to bid in a silent auction for the jerseys. For more information about the auction, visit www.goswampdogs.com.

    While you’re at The Swamp enjoying the game, head on over to the Miller Lite Liberty Lounge and enjoy $1 beer, burgers and dogs, $2 wine and free popcorn, peanuts and soda while watching the game from some of the best seats in the house.

    Make sure to make your way out to The Swamp this week for all this — plus a few surprises. It is affordable fun for the entire family. There isn’t a better way to spend a summer night then listening to the crack of the bat and sounds of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”

    Like the team on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoSwampDogs, follow the team’s Twitter and Instagram accounts at @GoSwampDogs, and keep updated on highlights, player interviews and much more at www.youtube.com/GoSwampDogs.

    For tickets to all of these great games, to register your team for the bowling tournament or for more information, call the SwampDogs at 426-5900. You can also check out the team website: www.goswampdogs.com.

  • uac070914001.gif For the past 40 years or so Gates Four Golf and Country Club has provided the perfect venue for local golfing enthusiasts. Now, after nearly five years of renovations and upgrades, Fayetteville’s premier golf course is set to host the country’s third largest men’s professional golf tournament – the NGA Pro Golf Tour’s All-American Classic.

    The event began on Monday, July 7 and will run through July 13. The event has an impressive list of golfing activities scheduled and an even more impressive list of of up-and-coming professional golfers. The NGA Pro Golf Tour is a new and exciting event for local golf fans and a great opportunity for Gates Four to showcase its world-class golf facility and exquisite gated golf community. No doubt the tour will also be an economic boost to the local Fayetteville and Hope Mills economy. While the tournament lasts only one week, it has been a long time in the making and, if all goes as planned, it could very well become Cumberland County’s premier annual golf event.

    “In 2010 and 2011, we did a major renovation of the greens, which were designed by architect Kris Spence. This brought all the greens up to U.S. Golf Association specifications including using A1/A4 bent grass. Course upgrades also included bunker renovations, an improved practice area, a chipping green and the addition of several tees,” said General Manager Kevin Lavertu. “This put us in a position to host major tournaments like the NGA Golf Tour’s Maxmotion Physical Therapy All-American Classic.”

    Gates Four was ready and it didn’t take long for the word about Gate Four’s renovations and new course upgrades to get out.

    “Sometime in 2012, Bill McMillan wanted to bring a major tournament to Fayetteville. He asked if Gates Four would be interested in hosting it,” explained Lavertu. “Of course we said yes, so he reached out to the NGA Pro Golf Tour.”

    The rest is history. 

    NGA Tour officials were impressed with the Gates Four track and the local Fayetteville community from the very beginning. In the course of the NGA doing its due diligence, tournament officials received feedback that was impressive and overwhelmingly positive about the community and the venue. With that in mind, the NGA committed to hold its signature event at Gates Four sight unseen.

    “Senior Tournament Director at NGA, Todd Barbee, told us that this is the first time that they have ever committed to play at a golf course without actually visiting it first,” said Lavertu. “But the response was so impressive that they were willing to commit for the 2014 event and07-09-14-cover-story.gifsigned a three-year contract to return. We are looking forward to hosting them here at Gates Four.”

    As the third largest men’s golf tournament, the NGA Pro Tour has had several national golfing champions come through its ranks; including stars like Jim Furyk, the 2010 FedEx Cup champion and PGA Tour Player of the Year, this year’s Masters Tournament Champion, Bubba Watson and many others.

    “No doubt, this is an organization and tour that helps develop aspiring golf professionals,” said Lavertu. “This NGA Tour is a great opportunity for local golfing fans to see tomorrow’s champions today. You may not recognize the names of the players now, but, chances are if you attend this tournament you will see the next generation of PGA golf professionals competing in future events like the Masters, U.S. Open or one of the other majors. Then you’ll be able to say “Oh, I saw him play at the NGA Pro Tour at Gates Four.”

    While the layout and challenges of the newly renovated golf course drew these aspiring golf professionals to compete at Gates Four, the pro shop, full service club house and other onsite amenities were added bonuses for the players and visitors. Lavertu is exceptionally proud of the club’s spacious newly designed 10-acre park, new event pavilion, championship tennis courts and many other amenities that make Gates Four Cumberland County’s number one golfing destination.

    07-09-14-cover-story2.gif“We’ve worked extremely hard to make Gates Fours a premier golfing location for tournaments such as the NGA Pro Tour. Our club memberships are up and we plan to continue to grow, develop and prosper by meeting and exceeding the needs and expectations of our members and the local Cumberland County golfing community,” he said.

    The National Golf Association’s Professional Golf Tour, formerly known as the NGA Hooters Pro Golf Tour and the Rick “TC” Jordan Tour, dates back to 1988. Jordan was its owner and founder. The NGA Pro Golf Tour puts its emphasis on strong local community support, well-organized events and helping local charities. The NGA Tour assists more aspiring golf professionals in acquiring their PGA, Euro, Senior PGA and Nationwide Tour cards than any other developmental tour in the nation. With golf professionalism as the focal point, the golfing community and corporate America appreciate the high visibility and unique marketing and exposure opportunities that are presented and made available by the NGA Pro Golf Tour.

    Gates Four invites everyone to attend. Admission is free for spectators. The Pro-Am event is scheduled for Wednesday, July 9 and the 2014 NGA Tour’s All American Classic begins on July 10 and runs through July 13.

    To find out more about Gates Four and the NGA Pro Golf Tour’s All-American Classic, contact Bill McMillan at 910 978 2455 or visit www.gatesfour.com

  • Boys and girls, grab your swords and your tiaras and don’t forget your parents! Disney Junior Live on Tour! Pirates and Princess Adventure is coming to the Crown for two shows on July 18. Part of the 100-city national tour that kicks off in July 2014, the show’s stop in Fayetteville will feature two shows, one at 4 p.m. and the other at 7 p.m.

    The show will feature characters from beloved Disney series, Sophia the Firstand Jake and the Never Land Pirates. Starting 10 minutes before the show, attendees will also enjoy an appearance from Doc McStuffins, the loveable 6-year-old doctor to toys and stuffed animals, in an interactive pre-show featuring the song “I Feel Better.” Some of your favorite Disney characters will also make an appearance, including Mickey and Minnie, Peter Pan, Tinkerbell and Captain Hook.

    Pirates and Princessesfeatures an original storyline, that has the audience traveling to the magical world of Enchancia, with Sophia and her stepsiblings, Amber and James, to prepare for the annual friendship festival. Sophia’s adventure will help us all learn the true meaning of being a princess with special help from Cinderella. 07-09-14--pirates-and-princessdisney-live-new.gif

    Next, travel to Never Land with Jake and his Yo Ho pirate friends, Izzy and Cubby. Our swashbuckling friends must battle Captain Hook in a race against time to find to locate a mysterious treasure-filled volcano. With the help of Peter Pan, Jake shows us what it means to be a real hero. Featuring new music, special effects, action, adventure and endless surprises, this is a show the whole family will enjoy.

    Kennedi Henderson, who plays Princess Amber in the show, as well as a pirate, is from Waxhaw, N.C., just outside of Charlotte. This is her first professional tour.

    “I have not been on tour yet, but I am really looking forward to exploring the cities we visit,” she said. “I already have a list of things I would like to do while on this tour!”

    Henderson has sound advice for any children who want to break into the entertainment industry.

    “My advice to children who dream of performing, or for any goal they may have, is to work hard and it will happen! Staying motivated is hard, but so worth it in the end.”

    Henderson got her own start at the age of 4 when her parents enrolled her in a dance class.

    Henderson faced her own challenges when starting as a professional performer.

    “Although I began dancing at a young age, I was not as technically advanced as I needed to be going into my performance career,” she said. “I attended numerous classes and made a lot of progress in a short span of time. It was challenging knowing I had so much to learn, but definitely paid off! My main goal was to be able to do what I love, which is dance, every day for my career. And, I am so lucky to be doing that now. I have not set any more goals, but I am looking forward to seeing where this takes me.”

    Tickets for the show range in price from $26.50 to $46.50. Additional fees and service charges may apply. For more information, please visit http://crowncomplexnc.com/events/disney-junior-live-on-tour-pirate-and-princess-adventure/.

  • 07-09-14-tee-off-at-rpk-golf.gifThe 11th Annual Ryan Patrick Kishbaugh Memorial Golf Tournament to benefit the Carpe Diem Foundation will take place on July 26 at Gates Four Golf & Country Club.

    The event is held in memory of Ryan Patrick Kishbaugh, a Fayetteville teen who fought a brave 18-month battle with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. In 2003, Kishbaugh died at the age of 18 after complications from a bone marrow transplant. Kishbaugh excelled in everything he participated in, including sports and academics. He played varsity-level basketball and soccer. He graduated second in his class and was accepted to Princeton University. He also received the 2001 Governor’s Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service.

    The Carpe Diem Foundation’s mission is to help provide college scholarship assistance to student athletes with chronic medical conditions; support other charitable organizations including the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society; promote and help fund education and research for the treatment of chronic illnesses; and work in partnership with other organizations in the community to meet the Carpe Diem Foundation’s mission and goals.

    The tournament began as family and friends celebrating Kishbaugh’s birthday by playing a round of golf. From this, the event was born and has grown into the fundraiser it is today. Now in its 11th year, organizers are hoping for the largest turnout yet.

    The Fayetteville Academy Class of 2002 will host a pre-tournament party Friday evening at Gates Four. The party is a celebration of Kishbaugh’s 30th birthday. The event will feature entertainment, plenty of appetizers and a cash bar. Preregistration is required for Friday night on the website or by contacting Ellen Brooks at brooksel@mindspring.com. Tickets for the Friday night celebration are $30 per person.

    The tournament follows a Captain’s Choice format and features breakfast snacks, a driving range, player gift bags, contests and prizes, beverages, lunch and an award ceremony. Each registered golfer will receive a one-year subscription to Golf Digest. Individual golfer registration is $75, while foursomes can register for $300.

    The event is sponsored by the RPK Center, Systel Business Equipment, Advanced Physical Therapy Solutions, Cape Fear Valley Health, Fayetteville Academy, Swanson Reality and PNC. Sponsorship opportunities are still available and start at just $100. Donations are also accepted. Volunteer opportunities are also available.

    For more information about sponsorship levels and the event, please visit www.2014RPKMemorial.com. Information about the course can be found at www.gatesfour.com.

    Photo: Participants in the 2012 RPK Memorial Golf Tournament at the Gates four Golf & Country Club.

  • Moral Compass Editorial Resonates In the Community

    Dear Editor:

    I have just read the recent publisher’s notes and I agree with you 100 percent. It is very refreshing to07-09-14-letter-to-editor.gifread of other alternatives to help solve or at least attempt to help the youth of today. And, you are correct, we need to get them while they are young.

    Times have changed since I grew up. I was raised by a single parent — my mother after my dad died in a car accident back in 1979. I was 11-years-old. Back then, even a single parent ruled with an iron fist. Don’t get me wrong, she was a loving mother, but she did not play. No talking back, staying out late or skipping school. We were in church every Sunday.

    As a black man, I consider myself very fortunate because I had other family who helped my mother instill the right values in me. I was also fortunate to have had school teachers and other parents who treated me like their own.

    I have a nephew and he is only 4-years-old, but he has a thug for a father who is in and out never there half the time and a mother who is trying but she needs help. So far I have heard my nephew use the “B-word,” the “N-word” and the “F-word.”

    Fortunately, we were recently able to get him out of that environment.You can already notice a change in him. We started introducing him to better things like children’s books but only with the pictures, teaching him how to write his name, watching educational programs on PBS and on iPads. It is a start but we have to keep at it.

    Thank you for caring about today’s youth. We need more people like you!

    Sincerely,

    Lamonte Smith

  • Scooter Power: Time to Evaluate and Regulate

    Over the years, several bills have been introduced in an attempt to license and regulate motor scooters on North Carolina public highways.

    Many feel they are dangerous and put not only their riders but also other motorists in extreme danger. Some people feel they are not a danger, rather just innocent, cheap transportation for the poor and unfortunate — especially if they have been convicted of driving while impaired and no longer have a driver’s license.07-09-14-pub-notes.gif

    Just as you do not need a license to operate one of these vehicles, you also do not have to have a vehicle registration or insurance, which makes licensed, insured drivers responsible if accidents happen.

    The pros and cons of scooters on North Carolina streets and highways will probably be debated for a very long time; however, I do think it is worth revisiting in light of what we are experiencing here locally in Fayetteville and Cumberland County.

    North Carolina defines a scooter as a vehicle with less than a 50 cc engine, single geared that accelerates up to a level of 30 miles per hour. Say it ain’t so.

    There are not many drivers that I know who have not experienced motor scooters passing them doing 45 mph down Raeford Road.

    A couple of years ago, a scooter driver in Wilmington, N.C., was given a citation for doing 57 mph in a 45 mph zone. He also got a DWI.

    Speed and irresponsible drivers are not the sole reasons we should look at closer regulation of these vehicles. Within the past few weeks, I have witnessed people riding motor scooters without helmets, shirtless and in flip flops, exceeding the legal speed limit, cruising in the passing lane and, even more terrifying, driving in the center turning lane.

    But it gets worse.

    This week I saw a very young child riding on the back of a scooter being driven recklessly down Raeford Road. He was wearing a toy Styrofoam helmet.

    While I am at it, I need to bring up the wheelchair scooters that many people utilize. These wheelchairs are not designed for and should not be ridden in the middle of the road. It is not safe for anyone involved, and if you don’t believe me, check out Owen Drive at 5 p.m. on a Friday afternoon. It’s terrifying!

    Again, I know there are a lot of pros and cons when it comes to this touchy subject. I would hate to think that someone has to die or get seriously injured before we recognize that this problem needs to be addressed.

    Motor vehicles that are used for basic transportation should be registered with the state. The operators should have a valid drivers license, insurance and required to wear a Department of Transportation-approved helmet.

    Legislation is needed now. Hopefully, this issue will not become politically charged. If it does maybe the folks in Raleigh will realize that few scooter drivers are registered voters. What do you think?

    Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • Ahhh, summer. Long, warm days, outdoor activities galore and — ouch! — bothersome pests, burning07-02-14-take-the-heat.gifsun and unexpected bumps and bruises (yes you did have to dive for that volleyball). But don’t sit on the sidelines in fear of mishaps; instead, swing into summer with natural first-aid advice tailored to the season.

    For the Beach

    Sunburn.Prevention is, as always, your first defense. Liberally apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen (one that protects against UVA and UVB rays) with an SPF of 30 or higher. Choose one with mineral ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide that block harmful rays, rather than sunscreens that contain chemicals such as oxybenzone or octinoxate, which can disrupt hormone balance and cause allergic reactions. And remember, no sunscreen is truly waterproof — despite what the label says — so reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating excessively.

    What if you get sunburned? Aloe vera remains the tried-and-true cooling and anti-inflammatory burn remedy. Dab sunburned skin with an aloe-soaked cotton ball at least twice per day and take cool or lukewarm showers (not scorching hot) to further reduce inflammation. Got a tube of aloe languishing in your medicine cabinet since last year? Toss it. It’s best to buy a new aloe gel every year and keep it in the refrigerator to maintain its freshness and healing properties.

    Also, rub sun-kissed skin with a thick lotion containing antioxidant vitamin E to reduce long-term skin damage. Choose an alcohol-free lotion to avoid further irritation. Lavender essential oil is also known for its healing and pain-relieving abilities.

    For the Park

    Bee sting. Given bees’ and people’s affection for all things sweet and sticky (s’mores anyone?) be prepared to deal with possible stings on your next picnic or campout.

    When a bee stings you or your buddy, check to see if the stinger is lodged in the skin. Rather than remove it with tweezers — which may squeeze more venom into the site — dislodge the stinger by sliding a straight-edged object such as a credit card across the skin. Wash the area thoroughly with soap and water. Make a thick paste of baking soda and water; then cover the sting with the mixture to neutralize the bee’s toxins. After 10-15 minutes, wash off the dried mixture with warm water.

    For pain, apply ice for 10 minutes and then remove it for 10 minutes, repeating the process for an hour. And remember, shortness of breath or facial swelling may indicate an allergic reaction, so treat the situation as an emergency.

    Heat rash. Often occurring in children and infants, heat rash’s telltale signs include hundreds of tiny red bumps on the abdomen, arms, neck or back. Heat rash occurs when sweat is unable to evaporate and becomes trapped under sweat glands; hot, humid weather, strenuous exercise, or constrictive clothing can make it worse. It’s also a possible indicator of impending heat exhaustion, dehydration, and heat stroke.

    To treat heat rash, first move the affected person to a shady or air-conditioned area, and have him sip cool water. At home, mix 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar in 1 cup cold water; dip a washcloth into it and thoroughly but gently wipe down the irritated area. The apple cider vinegar will reset the pH balance of the skin and kill bacteria, while the cool water will calm down the rash. Change into loose clothing, too.

  • 07-02-14-ftcc.gifOne of the most challenging aspects of college admissions is the dreaded entrance assessment. Fayetteville Technical Community College, like any other college, has admissions requirements that include an entrance assessment.

    Traditional and nontraditional students whose SAT or ACT scores do not meet certain criteria can take the ACCUPLACER© assessment to satisfy this requirement. However, as with any other “test,” the ACCUPLACER© creates anxiety in students. After all, many students have been out of school for years. Adding to their anxiety is the belief that, with an assessment, there is no way to prepare. Either you know the information, or you do not.

    This is untrue!

    The brain, like any other muscle, needs exercise. A former athlete who has stopped working out is likely to incur an injury if he or she suddenly begins vigorous training. Similarly, students who attempt to jump right into the ACCUPLACER© will not succeed. Instead, they end up taking classes that they probably wouldn’t have needed if they had taken a little refresher.

    At Fayetteville Technical Community College, we are pleased to offer free ACCUPLACER© preparation assistance for new, prospective and current students. One of our free services is a diagnostic test that has been designed to focus on areas where students may need extra assistance. Staff and faculty members are available to discuss the results with students and to work on plans to boost the skills necessary for doing well on the ACCUPLACER©. The free resources include workshops, use of the computer labs for online preparation and accessibility to faculty and staff who will meet with students for individual assistance on weak areas.

    Our goal is to prepare students for the ACCUPLACER©. Preparation can save time and money, and students who do not prepare for the test often place into numerous Pre-Curriculum courses. These courses do not count toward graduation and can add an extra year to a student’s commitment to college. With the recent changes in Federal Financial Aid, students cannot afford to take unnecessary classes.

    For those of you who have already taken the ACCUPLACER© and did not do as well as you had hoped, all is not lost! Please come in, or call us at (910) 678-0140. We are happy to assess your scores and help you prepare to take the test again. We are located in The I-PASS Center in Rooms 313 and 314 of Cumberland Hall at FTCC’s Fayetteville campus. Our summer hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

    You can also visit us on the web at http://www.faytechcc.edu/student_services/IPASS.asp.

    We look forward to meeting you and invite you to learn more about the many ways FTCC can help you succeed with your educational needs.

  • Curbing Murder and Mayhem

    With Fayetteville currently racking up about one and a half murders a month, local residents are finding little solace in the fact that burglaries are down 30 percent or that Fayetteville’s top cop, Harold Medlock, has been given the green light to hire 27 new07-02-14-moralcompass-1.gif law enforcement officers on the taxpayers’ dime.

    City and county officials along with local ministry and civic leaders are desperately searching for answers and solutions to end the needless violence. Unfortunately, they are searching in the wrong places.

    Additional police officers, security cameras and community involvement will not curb or eliminate this heartbreaking epidemic. What will work is a heavy dose of reality and tough love.

    Or, maybe, just love.

    I can’t help but sense we are putting our time, talent and money in all the wrong places. But, that’s my opinion. I believe people kill people. Guns alone are not the problem. I also believe that making heroes and victims out of thugs and criminals only reinforces the denial our community perpetuates by refusing to recognize that the breakdown of the family unit, lack of father figures, mentors and role models are devastating to the natural and responsible development of local youth.

    A recent study on emerging adults (the age range between 18-23) details the loss of a moral compass. Based on hundreds of detailed interviews, the book Lost in Transition finds that emerging adults in America follow a loose, poorly defined moral individualism. Moreover, the authors that found this group does not rely on any moral traditions or philosophical ethics to make decisions. Instead, the basic position of most was for each individual to make up their own rules and do what is good for them.

    This epidemic is especially devastating to young people in the black community as verified by the number of deaths, convictions and incarcerarions. No need to play the race card here... the hand has already been dealt. Until this is addressed ,no solution will be forthcoming. I guarantee it. What is needed is a new deck of cards.

    Me? At best, I would trade 10 police officers for one team of Karl Merritt and Bobby Washington and three police sub stations for one Great Oaks organization. That’s how you get to the root of the problem.

    Oh, yeah, one other thing, while we are speculating about solutions. Cambridge Arms Apartments, Fayetteville’s most notorious crime scene, needs to be dealt with. Since displacing 400+ law abiding residents is not a feasible solution and in light of the fact that the rent is reasonable at about $435 per month and everyone is in agreement that a local increased police presence there would be helpful, maybe Chief Medlock and the city could negotiate an agreement to house a number of Fayetteville’s Finest right in the center of the neighborhood. Free rent! Now, that would be a spoiler and a great recruiting incentive.

    Hugs instead of thugs? Will it work? Sure. But, you need to start when they are young.

    Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • uac070214001.gif Visiting the exhibit titled Crossing the Bridge by local artist Aaron Wallace is anything but local. Hosted by Up and Coming Weekly, at Gallery 208, Wallace is an artist whose paintings take us into the postmodern landscape of material, creativity and talent — his work is the bridge for us to cross into the 21st century possibilities of fine art.

    For visitors to the opening reception, or the exhibition later, and for those who regularly visit galleries, when is the last time you met a young area artist who questions what a painting can be within the context of the history of American painting?

    Wallace ponders the question and gives us his answers with this recent body of work. While looking at many of the nonobjective abstract paintings, visitors may ponder his intent.

    What are we looking at? There is an absence of descriptive and decorative subjects; instead you are seeing a painting morphing into a relief sculpture. For me, the painting is visually communicating something like this: “Look at me, I’m not what you think I should be, am I not exquisitely beautiful?” (Known as the “pillow painting” series, these works speak to the possibility of a painting to transcend what we traditionally think a painting should be.)

    Wallace will tell you, for him as an artist, the school of Abstract Expressionism has been influential conceptually and stylistically. In his work I can see how three or four generations later, the lineage of 20th century abstraction still influences our way of making images: (1) letting material determine the direction of the image; (2) rich and complex surfaces evoke a type of space or ordering of light within the painting; (3) and, according to Kirk Varnedoe, “the idea that destroying order is the same as producing it.”

    All of the above are evident in Wallace’s work — certainly process driven. In addition, Wallace’s approach is to combine the creative use of stains, drips and smears in combination with stencils — the painterly is juxtaposed with the hard edge and overspray of pop art and graffiti. Using found objects to create patterns, Wallace also uses printmaking techniques to create textures in a transfer process. Textured surfaces, like bubble wrap, are inked then the pattern transferred to his painting surface in relief printing fashion.

    Wallace will tell you the intent is for each work to become an “art object” and he has been focusing on07-02-14-cover-story-pic.gif several themes. The grid format is a “reoccurring motif” within the work. He attributes the grid to having been influenced by his father and spoke proudly that his father was a “master craftsman who has laid tile as a profession for more than 40 years.”

    Protuberances (actual bumpiness on his surfaces) and amoeba-like, segmented shapes sprawl across surfaces — both are reoccurring motifs in the exhibit, which lend themselves to the artist’s love of nature as well as reflecting his sense of humor and the whimsical. An avid camper and employed at ZipQuest, Wallace sees his love of nature as inspirational.

    In addition to his love of nature, Wallace talked about other significant influences on becoming an artist.

    He stated, “Being a combat veteran has influenced my politics, but that footprint, even though it is there, is less obvious in my work. Even middle-school art classes made an impact on my love of the arts, as well as studying art at Fayetteville Technical Community College and Fayetteville State University. A big influence has been Greg Hathaway since he taught me so much about the medium of clay and techniques for working in clay.”

    In short, Wallace uses a combination of mediums and techniques to create a style of painting that is energetic and personal, spontaneous and controlled, flat and luminous. The luminous surfaces in some of his paintings are transmitted through transparencies or heightened cool and warm contrasts, contrasts of value and saturation.

    In many of the paintings, rhythm and movement is evoked through the repetition of color, shapes and lines. Interlocking patterns also produce a color rhythm in his prints and paintings. In the “pillow paintings” paint is built up into thick impasto and seems glue-like, affixing itself to the surface so that the sheer weight of color becomes the materiality of color!

    As a young artist, Wallace has already participated in a significant project and has participated in national and regional invitational exhibitions. In 2010, he was selected as one of seven artists who worked on the North Carolina Veteran’s Park project in which each artist went into the counties across North Carolina and cast the hands of veterans in wax for the Wall of Oath (all wax casts were then cast in bronze). He cast the hands of veterans and supporters of veterans for the relief sculptures in concrete on the columns in the section of the park known as the Community Plaza.

    In 2012, Wallace was invited to participate in a regional invitational titled Screened: Printmakers of North Carolina at the Durham Arts Council in North Carolina. Then in 2013, he was invited to participate in an international invitational titled Contemporary Ideas in Art at the Rosenthal Gallery on the campus of Fayetteville State University. His prints were exhibited regularly at Gallery 311 in Raleigh, North Carolina before the gallery’s recent closing.

    Most recently, Wallace was invited to exhibit in a national invitational titled Urban Art: Interpretation of an Environment at the Arts Council of Fayetteville and Cumberland County. The Urban Art exhibit runs until July 19.

    Gallery 208 at Up and Coming Weekly, 208 Rowan Street, would like to invite the public to a reception of Crossing the Bridge: Works by Aaron Wallace on Tuesday, July 15 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. If you can’t make the reception, the exhibit can be viewed until late September 2014 during the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

  • 07-02-14-taming-of-the-shrew.gifElizabethan England and modern North Carolina may seem vastly different and incompatible, but in the warm glow of a summer evening they combine into something magical. The group making this magic happen is called Sweet Tea Shakespeare. It is a theatre project supported by Fayetteville State University, and this summer it will perform Taming of the Shrew in The Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex.

    Taming of the Shrew is a Shakespearian comedy that was written in the early 1590s. It is one of Shakespeare’s most beloved plays and has been adapted into many forms.

    “This particular story has been adapted for the screen in a film featuring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor and a Broadway musical formally known as Kiss Me, Kate. The play essentially tells the story of the ups and downs of a courtship and marriage in its initial stages,” says Greg Fiebig, the show’s director.

    Though arranged marriages may seem archaic in our modern culture, the themes of the play are still incredibly relevant. Kylie Mask, the actress portraying Bianca provides insight by saying, “I definitely think that a modern audience can connect to and enjoy this show. The themes in the play have much to do with positions in society and family ties, which are still very relevant today. In this play, societal status has a direct correlation with the happiness of certain characters and how well they live. The battle of finding one’s place in society and trying to improve their life is something I feel almost anyone can relate to. A second reoccurring theme is the relationship between parents and their children. The play shows what expectations children are held to by their parents for the sake of improving the lives of all in the family, as well as the lengths parents will go to in order to help. That aspect of family life is certainly one that many deal with in modern times.”

    One of the most unique aspects of a Sweet Tea Shakespeare production is the venue. Taking classical plays and performing them in an intimate outdoor setting changes the actor and audience dynamic. Taming of the Shrew will be presented outside by the Poe House in the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex. Sitting on blankets close to the stage truly makes the performance an engaging and personal experience. It is also very similar to how common people would have seen the play in its original performances, standing close to the stage in the Globe Theatre.

    “The venue allows for a closer relationship between the actors and the audience than a traditional theater setting does. I am looking forward to taking advantage of that fact with a few of the scenes in the play,” Mask says.

    Fiebig adds that the venue allows for a very laid back experience that facilitates the audience not only enjoying the play, but each other. Audience members are expected to bring their own seating. Blankets are recommended for sitting near the stage in the grass; lawn chairs are recommended for sitting on the brick patio.

    Taming of The Shrew is on stage July 16-20 at 7 p.m. daily. The show is preceded by live music and entertainment to facilitate audience interaction. Pets and outside food are not permitted, though picnic style food and drink will be served before the show. Beer and wine are included. In case of rain, performances will be moved to St. Michael’s The Archangel’s Church next to the Poe House. Tickets are $12. Senior and military tickets are $10. Student tickets are $7.50, FSU student tickets are $5. Tickets for children 6-12 years old are $5. Tickets are available by visiting www.sweatteachakespeare.com or by calling 672-1724. The venue, The Poe House, is located at 206 Bradford Ave. For more information visit http://www.ncdcr.gov/ncmcf/Events.aspx or http://www.sweetteashakespeare.com/current-season/.

  • 07-02-14-celebrate-the-4th-nash-vegas.gifNash Vegas, a band based out of Clayton, N.C., is performing at It’z Entertainment City complex on Legend Road in Fayetteville on July 4, at 9 p.m.

    Nash Vegas came together in August of 2012 and has taken North Carolina by storm. They’re known as one of the most high-energy and high-impact bands in North Carolina. The band members are passion-driven and collectively motivated towards one goal: to make sure that each audience experiences the backwoods and real country, the entertainment of Vegas in today’s hits and the soul behind classic rock. The playlist includes every genre and lives up to their name Vegas. This will be Nash Vegas’ first plugged-in show ever in Fayetteville.

    The bands’ members all have different backgrounds, but each of their paths brought them together. Christie Clayton, lead female vocalist from Willow Spring, N.C., started performing concerts in her kitchen at the age of 3, to Patsy Cline tapes. She first sensed her passion when she was 16, when she was asked to perform in front of a few thousand people. Jamie Wood, lead male vocalist, from Coats, N.C., was born into music. With his hands on a guitar since he could walk, his grandfather taught him the guitar basics at the age of 11. He played the drums in a few church bands but soon learned that the guitar and vocals were his passion. His inspiration is his Granddad, and the day he passed away was the day he asked to join the band, knowing it was where he needed to be. Daniel Hamilton, lead guitar and band leader from McGee’s Crossroads, N.C., started this band in hopes that one day creating the ultimate team of musicians, each with open minds, humility, and such drive for their craft that they would become so widely known, not just as a group creating music, but a team creating something unforgettable. Nate Williams, bass guitarist from Clinton, N.C., first started playing in bands at the age of 15, when playing on Halloween night at Broadway at the Beach in South Carolina, he knew he was meant to do this for a living. Andrew Stephenson, drummer and rhythm guitarist from McGee’s Crossroads, N.C., is the18-year-old prodigy. Receiving his first guitar at the age of 12, he learned music was his passion. Stephenson is also well versed in piano, bass, saxophone and violin but blows the minds of people when he takes a seat at the drums.

    They’ve only been playing together for 18 months but have already performed for huge audiences totaling more than 15,000. Some of their venues include Norris Creek Ampitheatre in Louisburg where they headlined Jason Aldean and Brad Paisley’s “Official on Tour Deejay Silver” and “The LowCash Cowboys.” This fall they will headline North Carolina’s Mule Days Street Dance.

    It only seems fitting for such a band to help celebrate our country’s independence. So mark your calendars for a free Nash Vegas Concert on July 4, 9 p.m. at It’Z Entertainment City’s outdoor patio.

  •  Don’t Look Ethel!

    07-31-13-pub-notes.gifHa! Recording legend Ray Stevens shouted out that hilarious line in his 1970s hit song “The Streak.” This hilarious lyric comes to mind in a not so funny way when I think of the dust up local Fayetteville resident and Army veteran Don Talbot created when he sent out an alleged set of offensive photos depicting the extremely explicit realities of urban blight and noting the consequences of a deteriorating city.

    It was shock and awe at its finest — Talbot style.

    Online comments via email and Facebook flooded local cyberspace with criticism flying fast and furious lambasting Talbot for his insights. In reality, Talbot is right and he got me thinking. His message was as simple, as it was harsh: Is this what we want America to become? People were outraged.

    When City Manager Ted Voorhees sent a reply-all message back asking Talbot to cease sending him such offensive materials and to remove him from his mailing list, it opened the floodgates of criticism of Talbot. And to my dismay, the race card was thrown.

    When race is artificially interjected into any argument or situation, the result is that the main point of the argument is usually the photos people found objectionable — admittedly by their own volition.

    Yes, they admit it.

    Sure, it took nearly three decades to bring the Motown metro to this point, but, it was the citizens who nailed the coffin shut by consistently voting in leadership that took advantage of its citizens, extorted businesses and reduced the auto city to rubble. Talbot’s photos were nothing but a comment, warning and possible glimpse into the future of our nation.

    My message is this: If photos of real life offend you, don’t look, but don’t bury your heads in the sand and think these problems are going away.

    No one wants to see our community go the way of Detroit. But, only we can prevent this from happening. Love him, hate him, Talbot is right. We must stop illegal immigration. We must stop voter fraud — even if it means showing our IDs. Our leaders must focus on lowering unemployment by creating new jobs.

    Most importantly, we must elect leaders who are ethical. It is a good time to remember if you do business anywhere in the world, you must be consistent. Being honest, hardworking and trustworthy has never failed to get the job done. Make your vote count this year. Send a message to all the candidates that character counts.

    Make the statement that as Americans we need to stop rewarding bad behavior like that of New York City Mayoral Candidate Anthony Wiener, former Congressman Elliott Spitzer and of course our own Tonzie Collins.

    You have a voice, use it. Vote.

    See you at the Best of Fayetteville Party at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 17.

    Photo: While many cities around the country face tough challenges like urban blight and high crime rates, citizens have an opportunity and a responsibility to be a part of the solution. Informed vot-ers make a difference.

  • uac073113001.gif Raise your glasses for an all American good time. On August 8, Americans will come together to support and honor the people who make sacrifices for freedom everyday — military service members. Jack Daniels and the USO are collaborating to present Toast to the Troops. The event includes stuffing packages to send to deployed military members. To support and entertain the volunteers, as well as the general public, Fort Bragg MWR will a concert performed by Craig Morgan.

    The day is broken down into three phases. Starting early, 150 volunteers will be ready for stuffing party. The volunteers are a mixture of military spouses, USO volunteers, Jack Daniels employees and friends. Care packages are to be stuffed with the necessities like razors, shaving cream, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant and sunscreen for 7,500 soldiers down range. In addition to these necessities each package will also contain a “toast” card. These cards contain personal messages for the soldiers that Jack Daniels and the USO have collected. After the stuffing party, the volunteers get to enjoy a nice cookout leading up to the prime entertainment — the Craig Morgan concert.

    Morgan, a sensational country artist, is also an Army veteran. He spent 10 years on active duty and nine years in the Army Reserve. He has participated in eight Toast to The Troops events in Jacksonville, Fla. In a recent press release, Morgan stated, “I’ve said it before, but being part of every Toastevent over the past eight years has been a really rewarding experience for me. Our nation’s service members and their families do so much for us on a daily basis and I hope everyone will come out and join us.”

    He has won fans over with his hit songs “Bonfire,” “Wake Up Loving You,” “Almost Home” and “That’s What I Love About Sunday.”

    Morgan has participated in every Toast to the Troops, a total of 19 since 2005, but this one has a special importance for the singer. During his military career, Morgan was stationed at Ft. Bragg. “I served there when I was active duty in the Army, and I feel a special kinship with those soldiers and their families currently stationed at Fort Bragg. We can’t wait to get there to show them how much they are appreciated and supported.” Morgan said.

    Since the program’s inception, Toast to the Troops events have provided more than 165,000 Operation USO Care Packages to troops overseas. This year is the 20th Toast to the Troops and that is remarkable. Kelli Seely, the USO Senior Vice President of Development and Chief Development Officer said, “Our 20th Toast to the Troops event is a true testament of the dedication and appreciation the Jack Daniels family has for the USO and our nation’s military. We are so grateful for their continuing support to bring a touch of home to those brave men and women serving overseas.”

    U.S. Army Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) aims to create the best atmosphere for soldiers. The mission is to “serve the needs, interests and responsibilities of each individual in the Army community for as long as they are associated with the Army, no matter where they are. They also seek to bridge the gap between the garrison and the local community, and contribute to the Army’s strength and readiness by offering services that reduce stress, build skills and self-confidence for soldiers and their families. The Family and MWR mission is to create and maintain ‘First Choice’ MWR products and services for America’s Army, essential to a ready, self-reliant force.”

    Here at Fort Bragg, MWR also strives to provide for soldiers and their family members. “We help to improve the quality of life for soldiers and their families by having quality entertainment and free opportunities for the community. Also, we provide service and a secure family-friendly environment at a very affordable cost,” Rhett Stroupe, special events coordinator of Fort Bragg MWR, said.

    Ft. Bragg MWR also holds the Ft. Bragg Fair in May, the July 4th celebration in previous years, the Renaissance Faire in September and other activities and events.

    The concert is free and open to the general public — no ticket is necessary — and lawn chairs and blankets are welcome. It is going to be at the Fort Bragg Fairgrounds. The gates open at 4 p.m. and the concert begins at 5 p.m.

    “It’s exciting to have the opportunity to entertain soldiers and family and help relieve the stressors of military life,” Stroupe said.

    The USO is dedicated to supporting the “spirits of America’s troops and their families millions of times each year at hundreds of places worldwide,” according to the organization’s website. The USO is a private and nonprofit organization, but the organization works closely with the government, as well as corporate partners and dedicated American citizens, to make all of its programs possible. So, for anyone who would like to support service members the Operation USO Care Package is an effective way to help. Due to heightened security, no packages that are marked “Any Service Member” can be mailed, so the USO ensures that the troops are still able to receive a little comfort from home. Since 2003, two million care packages have been sent overseas by the USO. The organization also offers other programs to support active duty military troops and families. For more information about these programs visit the www.uso.org.

    Please do not bring pets, large bags, coolers, alcohol, glass, backpacks or weapons to the concert or Fair Grounds. For more information contact 495-1437.

  • 07-31-13-capitol-room-1.gifUpon hearing that fellow musicians, David and Charis Duke were moving to Philadelphia, Soprano Gail Morfesis asked local businessman and supporter of the arts Menno Pennink to assist in presenting a concert in their honor. The concert is entitled Languages of Love: Music from Opera, Art Song & Musical Theater. It will be presented in The Capitol Room, 134 Person St., in downtown Fayetteville on Aug. 3, at 7 p.m.

    Since their 2003 arrival in Fayetteville, the Duke’s have contributed their talents to the Fayetteville musical scene. Dr. David Duke came to join the music faculty at Methodist University and also served as the music director of many musicals at Fayetteville Technical Community College where his wife, composer and pianist Charis Duke, led the pit orchestra. He has been a cast member at Cape Fear Regional Theatre and in 2012 was a featured soloist with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra.

    David’s formal studies include undergraduate degrees from Brigham Young University (Provo, UT, B.M. Music Education), and graduate studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (M. M. and D.M.A. in Vocal Performance).

    07-31-13-capitol-room-2.gifCharis has made her presence known at FTCC, The Gilbert Theater and Snyder Music Academy. One of her children’s musicals, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, was presented by Up & Coming Weekly in conjunction with Snyder Music Academy in 2009 at the Sol Rose Amphitheater at Campbellton Landing.

    Charis attended Brigham Young University where she received a Bachelor of Music degree in Composition. She received a fellowship to attend graduate school at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she earned a Master of Music degree in Composition. Her music has been performed by numerous ensembles including the Jezic Ensemble of Baltimore, the Amadeus Choir of Toronto, the Boston Viola Quartet and the Cincinnati Camerata. She has received numerous honors and awards, most notably the Nancy Van de Vate International Prize for Opera from Vienna Masterworks. She is a four-time winner of the International Christmas Carol and Chanukah song writing competition, and most recently won the Cincinnati Camerata Prize for choral music. She has also written ten children’s operas which were commissioned by the Arts Academy at Bella Vista in Clovis, New Mexico.

    The concert has attracted some of Fayetteville’s favorite performers who are no strangers to the world stage including vocalists Gail Morfesis (UNCP), Robert Williams (FSU) and pianists Scott Marosek (Methodist) and Jesse Davis (Methodist, FSU & Snyder Music).

    The concert will be held at Menno Pennink’s Capitol Room, a relatively new music venue on Person Street in downtown Fayetteville. Dr. Pennink is a retired neurosurgeon and avid music lover having hosted 28 private music soirees in his home. Pennink states, “The Capitol Room was initially conceived as a private music room. When Suzanne and I moved from our home on Willow Bend Lane to the 300 Block in downtown, we had to part with our music room. So we looked for a building that would accommodate the same concept, making music in a private setting. We found a building on Person Street and created the Music Room. The room has a magnificent 9-foot Steinway concert grand and is a perfect place for chamber music. The acoustics in the room are excellent, enhancing the sound of the string instruments and voice. One of the interesting features of the room is that we used all recycled materials; the bookcases and cabinets came out of my old medical office. All metal was recycled material from an apartment complex, which was destroyed by a tornado that swept through our area a few years ago. The concrete floors were sanded and almost look like marble. The glass doors inside were salvaged from a downtown project.”

    Don’t miss this wonderful farewell concert. Refreshments will be served. Seats are limited, so call our event manager Gayle Nelson for reservations at 978-3352.

    Photo: Top left: Charis Duke, Bottom left: David Duke

  • 07-31-13-mike-nagowski.gifEvery October we see special, pink-ribbon packages of cookies, pink-ribbon T-shirts and tote bags. The stores are filled with Breast Cancer Awareness products for a disease that affects 1-out-of-8 women in their lifetime.

    Yet there is no such publicity for mental health, a problem that affects a quarter of the population in a given year — and just half get treatment.

    Many suffer in silence. They don’t tell their friends or coworkers. Some don’t even tell their families. So it’s no surprise that Mental Health Month comes and goes each May with little fanfare.

    That’s unfortunate, because help for many can be as close as their primary care provider.

    Some sufferers will struggle with their mental health issues, experiencing crisis from time to time. They don’t have many options. So they often end up in Cape Fear Valley’s nine-bed Psychiatric Emergency Department.

    On any given day, at any given time, we have 17 or 18 patients for those nine beds.

    That is all about to change.

    Cape Fear Valley has entered into an agreement with Cumberland County and Alliance Behavioral Health, the Managed Care Organization responsible for managing mental health care and substance-abuse services reimbursed by Medicaid, as well as county and state funds.

    This agreement allows Cape Fear Valley to add the missing piece to our community’s existing mental-health services: crisis intervention.

    Individuals in crisis will be able to bypass the Emergency Department and go directly to the Roxie Center, 16 hours a day, seven days a week, on a walk-in basis. This service will be available in the fall after renovations to the second floor of the Roxie Center are complete.

    We estimate our Crisis Intervention model will reduce our psychiatric Emergency Department volume by 20 percent in the first year and up to 40 percent in the second.

    More importantly, mental-health patients in our community will finally have access to the full continuum of services — all on the campus of Cape Fear Valley Health.

    Mental health may not have the dollars or publicity behind it that breast cancer has, but it is no less important.

    I would like to thank our Cumberland County Board of Commissioners for entrusting us with the mental health needs of our community. I know our physicians and mental health professionals will provide the quality care they envision for our citizens.

    I hope one day no one will suffer in silence from mental illness. Because help is available.

  • A Strategic Plan Will Help Solve City’s Problems

    I have released our working strategic plan for our first 90 days in office. Our focus parallels my earlier stated priorities, including addressing the war on crime and promoting economic development. It should be obvious that our campaign has put a lot of emphasis on bringing people together. Our plan is broken down into two parts, the first is a 30-day plan followed by a 60-90 day plan. Both list multiple meetings with the new and veteran council members along with meetings with local, county and state professional and political leaders.

    Our 30-day plan calls for the reestablishment of the City/County Liaison Committee that will bring Fayetteville and Cumberland County leaders together monthly to discuss common issues. We are also calling for the development of a Mayor’s Business Council that will advise the City Council and staff on enterprise and economic development issues. Our 30-day plan also calls for each of the council members to appoint a resident representative to a new committee that will assess the utility and usability of the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and make recommendations to the council if changes are needed.07-31-13-commentary.gif

    The 60-90 day plan brings players to the table in the areas of economic development, homelessness, PWC service in recently annexed areas, customer service training for city staff and the reduction of duplicated services between the City, County and PWC. Most importantly, our plan will host a biannual summit on crime, focusing on how city, county and state professional law enforcement and court leaders can help reduce the crime rate. Also in the 60- to 90-day plan, we are asking City Manager Voorhees to develop a five-year budget that will build splash pads at many of the city’s recreation centers. We believe splash pads can be included in the annual budgets and are a relatively inexpensive way to expand our youth summer programs without the cost associated with building and maintaining community pools and the personnel that are required to manage them.

    Our plan is aggressive but realistic. We realize that it will take the entire City Council focusing on common goals to move things ahead. I believe that we will be able to move faster than the past councils and make great strides in a relatively short time. I’m confident our new council will be as dedicated as I am to put our issues ahead of our egos and get to work for Fayetteville residents.

    Upon being sworn in, I will meet with the following people and/or organizations to create a strategic plan aimed at resolving our pressing issues. At each of the following meetings, a timeline will be established along with specific goals. Measurable outcomes and objectives will be evaluated and assessed routinely.

    30-day Strategic Plan

    • Meet with new and Veteran’s Council Members individually with City Manager Voorhees to establish common priorities.

    • Meet with City Manager Voorhees and Chief Medlock to assess the needs of the Fayetteville Police Department and begin prioritizing budget needs.

    • Meet with Chief Medlock and Sheriff Butler to establish a common plan of attack on local crime.

    • Meet with the Fayetteville Regional Chamber, the City of Fayetteville Community Development office and Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau leaders to see how Fayetteville can better participate in the recruitment, retention and promotion of local businesses that will create jobs for our residents.

    • Reestablish the City/County Liaison committee with elected leaders from Fayetteville City Council and the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners. This committee will focus on resolving common issues affecting all county residents.

    • Call for each council member to appoint a representative to serve on a newly established Business Council to further advise the City Council on enterprise and economic development issues and present items/actions that will assist local businesses in growth and long term prosperity.

    • Call for each council member to appoint a representative to serve on a committee that will reassess the utility and usability of the Unified Development Ordinance.

    60- to 90-day Strategic Plan

    • Revisit, reassess and revise any new or unresolved issues from the 30-day Strategic Plan.

    • Host a roundtable with PWC, City of Fayetteville Community Development office and the Home Builders Association of Fayetteville to find ways that each of these organizations can better service our residents and future development within city limits.

    • Host a quarterly Crime Summit open to the public with all local, county and state professional and political representatives that will bring to light common resources that may be available. This Crime Summit should open conversation regarding our overall crime rate and ways to reduce it and ways that all agencies can come together. We must present a unified front on the war on crime that can no longer be ignored.

    • Ask City Manager Voorhees to develop a five-year plan that he can present to the City Council that will budget building a splash pad for our kids at each of our community centers.

    • Work with PWC to explore an expedited completion schedule for the recently annexed areas.

    • Host a working meeting with City Council and elected state delegation to discuss mandates, revenue and current issues affecting both governing boards.

    • Ask City Manager Voorhees to employ a comprehensive training course for ALL city employees on Customer Service.

    • Establish and convene a Mayor’s Council on homelessness to unite existing resources and promote new ideas that may help those who have fallen victims to hard economic times and are involuntarily displaced.

    • Work with PWC, city and county management to explore a functional consolidation of duplicated services.

    Photo: Nat Robertson discusses economic development with Kevin Brooks, an owner of Trimmerz. Photo courtesy of www.natrobertson.com.

  • 07-31-13-stuff-the-bus.gifSchool bells will be ringing soon and the Cumberland County Schools system wants to make sure that students are prepared by having the “Stuff the Bus” initiative on tax-free Friday, Aug. 2, from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. at the Ramsey Street Super Walmart. The goal is to obtain enough school supplies to ensure that every homeless student has a backpack filled with items they need to be successful at school and to continue filling them throughout the school year.

    “This is the sixth year we have had this school supply drive,” said Pamela Story, Cumberland County Schools social work coordinator. “We are once again partnering with Communities in Schools of Cumberland County and their ‘Build A Backpack’ school supply campaign conducted by Wal-Mart.” Story added that under the McKinney Vento Educational Act’s definition, in the Cumberland County Schools system, 649 homeless students were identified for the 2012-2013 school year.

    The items most needed include backpacks for all grade levels, three-ring binders, notebook paper, regular pencils, mechanical and colored pencils, glue sticks, pens, dividers, pocket folders, composition books, school uniforms, hand sanitizer, flash drives, Walmart gift cards and cash donations.

    “The donated supplies will be distributed to students residing in shelters, transitional housing and motels, as well as to others in need,” said Story. “We all share the hope that our children will have a successful school year, but for many parents school supply lists present a challenge,” said Story.

    She added that she is excited that across the county there are faithful sponsors that have been hosting zumbathons, book and school supply drives and motorcycle runs to help support our students who attend year-round and traditional schools.

    Donations of new supplies are also being accepted between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the Cumberland County Schools Social Work office located at 2465 Gillespie St. For more information about the event or other ways to support students in need, call 678-2621.

    Photo: Last year there were more than 649 homeless stu-dents in Cumberland County. Stuff the Bus aims to provide school supplies for them.

  • uac072413001.gif Somewhere in Afghanistan, two soldiers are on patrol. The first is an elite warrior, he uses state-of-the-art weaponry and technology as he moves throughout the remote countryside. His partner, while no less elite, uses his basic senses to seek out the enemy or to find bombs before they can harm his team. He is a military working dog.

    On Saturday, June 27, Cumberland County residents will come together to memorialize 56 of these unsung heroes at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum. At 10 a.m., the museum will unveil it’s latest memorial to pay homage to the military working dogs that have given their lives in support of this great nation.

    The SOF K9 Memorial Foundation is comprised of a small group of military and civilian K9 professionals who would like to create a lasting memorial dedicated to special-operations forces K9s killed in action. There is a unique bond between a military working dog and its handler. According to the SOF K9 memorial website, that relationship can best be seen through the bond between the two. “The bond between a SOF handler and his K9 can be seen in every aspect of their relationship, from the FOB to engaging the enemy. Countless hours of training go into each of our elite K9s to give them the tools they need to survive on the battlefields.

    “Their actions in combat are simply heroic, facing eminent danger with courage that sets the standard for all others. They give selflessly so others may live, for many we owe them our lives. Many SOF K9s have paid the ultimate price in support of this great nation.”

    Josh Collins, the owner of Huske Hardware House and the newly opened Tap House, has seen this relationship in action and has thrown his support behind the organization. Collins will not only host a reception following the dedication of the memorial for foundation members, he will also host Fayetteville’s largest Parking Lot Party later that afternoon to raise funds to continue the work of the foundation in providing pavers for fallen dogs and care for dogs who have been wounded or who have retired.07-24-13-cover-story-2.gif

    Having been a member of the special-operations community while serving on active duty in the U.S. Army, Collins sees the work of the foundation as important.

    “These are my band of brothers. The soldiers who work with these dogs are the men I served with while I was in the Army,” he explained. “Each of these dogs has saved hundreds of lives. If they were human, they would probably have been awarded a Medal of Honor. They have given their lives for their brothers.”

    Collins put feet to his beliefs when he organized the Parking Lot Party, which will be held in the parking lot behind Huske Hardware House and the TapHouse at Huske. The concert, which will feature four performers from the Huske Singer/Songwriter Competition, as well as headliners Madison Rising, will begin at 5 p.m.

    “This is going to be the Parking Lot Party of the decade,” said Collins. “We are going to have music in all genres from rock to pop to Americana. This is going to be the event of the summer.”

    Opening the show will be the performers from the Huske Singer Songwriter competition: Nathan Fair, whose hit song “Fallen Soldier” is raising funds for the wounded warrior foundation, will be on hand. The following week, Fair will be in South Dakota, opening a show for Lynnyrd Skynnyrd at the annual Sturgis Bike Rally.

    Fair will be joined by Autumn Nichols, the winner of the last Huske Unplugged competition, who recently performed at the Country Music Association Festival in Nashville, Tenn. Also slated to perform is Mitch Clark, a singer/songwriter and Summer Collins, who will be featured in X-Factor 3 this fall.

    Madison Rising is a rock band with a conscience. The band’s music ranges from the guitar-heavy opening track of “Right To Bear,” to the hauntingly epic sounds of “Honk If You Want Peace,” to the beautiful violins of “Hallowed Ground.”

    07-24-13-cover-story-3.gifCollins said choosing the band was easy because of its commitment to promoting the principles of liberty, independence, smaller government and personal responsibility.

    Collins added that food and libations will be sold throughout the concert; however, no outside coolers or food will be allowed on the grounds. Tickets for the event are just $10 and can be purchased at www.huskehardware.com or on the Huske Hardware Facebook page. Tickets can also be purchased at Huske or at the newly opened TapHouse at Huske, which features more than 80 beers on tap.

    Collins strongly urges patrons to purchase their tickets early to avoid standing in line the day of the concert. If you have not purchased your ticket before Saturday, he suggests you arrive around 3 p.m.

    “Fayetteville is a very last minute town, and I would like nothing better than to see lines wrapped all the way around the block,” said Collins.

    For more information about the SOF K9 Memorial Foundation, visit http://sofk9memorial.com. For more information about the concert visit www.huskehardwarehouse.com.

    Photo: (Bottom left) An example of the statue that will be placed at the Airborne & Special Operations Museum on July 27.

  • Ask the Tough Questions: Then Vote

    Well, have you heard enough about Trayvon Martin, George Zimmerman, Rolling Stone Magazine and Tonzi Collins?

    07-24-13-pub-notes.gifIf your answer is yes, then that’s good, because now it’s time to focus on the political winds that are starting to blow throughout our community. The Filing period ended last Friday and even though all of the municipal races countywide are important, all eyes will be focused on Fayetteville. Five city council seats are up for grabs including the mayor’s seat now that four-term Mayor Tony Chavonne has decided not to seek a fifth term.

    This could be a very, very good thing for the Fayetteville community. This election is bringing new faces and new voices with fresh ideas to tackle the municipal challenges that have been so well de鴀ned in recent months. Crime, safety and jobs continue to be the most obvious concerns and lead the list among Fayetteville citizens. At least, that is what all the surveys, studies and statistics are showing.

    No one is denying that these concerns are not real, and each will be the center plate of every candidate’s campaign speech; however, in real life, those citizens who must deal with Fayetteville’s municipal government each and every day know our problems are much more severe. High crime rates, concerns about safety, high unemployment and lack of economic development are the result of unresponsive government.

    In other words, poor service and lack of real communication with the residents have brought us to this point. Now, I have no idea who will be elected mayor or to the new city council, but I do know this: for Fayetteville to grow and prosper in the 21st century we need leadership. Real leadership. Leadership that builds consensus, instills pride and can motivate the community into action. Leadership is being a good listener and then taking some sort of constructive action. Being a good leader is also knowing how to be a good follower and recognizing when to do the right things for the right reasons regardless of consequences.

    Choosing these types of leaders is our responsibility and ours alone. This is what voting in a free society is all about. In the long run, it’s never about money, race or social status. It’s about leadership and who can get the job done keeping the best interests of Fayetteville residents above that of self interest — not an easy task in the world we live in today.

    Rest assured, come November 5, we will get what we asked for and what we deserve. One only needs to look at the recent fiscal collapse of the city of Detroit or the blood-drenched streets of Chicago where 100 murders took place in a month, to see the results of a failed system — both of which started at the ballot box.

    Interview the candidates. Ask them the tough questions and demand specific answers. Try these: Why doesn’t our community have sewer-line hook ups? Why don’t we have bus transportation in our community? When can we have more swimming pools and parks for our children? How are you going to reduce crime? Why does it take the city 120-150 days to approve a set of plans? Why do city officials and department heads not return phone calls? What will you do to make the Fayetteville City government more responsive to residents?

    Ask them. Then Vote! See you at the polls.

    Thank you, for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • Fascinate-U — Igniting Creativity and Imagination

    07-24-13-fascinate-u.gifFascinate-U Children’s Museum in Downtown Fayetteville has been fueling the imagination of thousands since 1999. Garnering an impressive following of nearly 50,000 visitors a year, Fascinate-U is a great place where children can experience and learn while still having fun and expanding their creativity and knowledge of the world around them.

    “Not one day is the same,” said Susan Daniels, executive director of Fascinate-U Children’s Museum. “I never know what I’m getting into each day.”

    Running a children’s museum entails a lot of responsibility and a wide list of responsibilities — Daniels may be bookkeeping one minute and cleaning up the next. Boasting many exhibits including a miniature city, Fascinate-U hosts a variety of fun and educational activities for children of a wide range of ages.

    The first floor is home to the museum’s city. Modeled after a town, there’s a post office, grocery store, police station and even a city hall. That’s just the tip of the iceberg with more than 20 exhibits on the first floor alone. Daniels said there are plans to replace the first floor’s carpeting sometime in September due to the pattering feet of thousands of adventurers.

    “It’s a hands-on children’s museum that encourages learning by role-playing and creativity,” Daniels said. Fascinate-U is teaching children about adult life but in a format that encourages exploration with minimal drawback. Using a hands-on approach, learning the basics of grocery shopping or sending a letter through post better equips children with knowledge that just isn’t taught in schools anymore.

    One of the museum’s latest additions is the Fascinating Farm exhibit implemented May 14. The exhibit was a collaborative effort made possible by the contributions of Cargill, Cumberland Community Foundation, Cape Fear Farm Credit, Cumberland County Farm Bureau, Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District and Youth Growth Stock Trust. The exhibit was made in hopes of teaching children how food gets from the farm to the dinner table in order to build an appreciation for hardworking local farmers.

    The second floor revolves around educational programming. The second floor is open to the general public only during certain events and programs. Every third Saturday of each month, Fascinate-U hosts Super Science Saturdays where children can come learn more about science and math through fun and educational activities. July’s activity was making ice cream with just a plastic bag, cream, melted ice and salt.

    The third floor contains the Cape Fear Model Railroaders’ train exhibit. Children and adults can come to Fascinate-U every first and third Saturday of each month to view the showcase.

    Fascinate-U will host a Back to School Bash to prepare kids for the coming school year on Aug. 10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Expect magicians and animals from Aloha Safari Zoo along with two corn snakes and a bull snake. Don’t fret — these specimens are completely harmless.

    Fascinate-U is located at 116 Green Street and is open Tuesday through Sunday. When looking for a way to spend your evening with the kids, visit Downtown Fayetteville’s Fascinate-U and spark their imaginations with skills and knowledge that is truly priceless.

    Photo: Fascinate-U offers fun and exciting events. Above chil-dren help dissect a frog.

  • 07-24-13-golf-tourney.gifA par-fect event is on tap for the Lightning Friends and Family Memorial Organization on Aug. 2. A golf tournament is planned at the Baywood Golf Club. The organization was formed to construct a memorial to honor fallen soldiers and veterans of the 525th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade and 525th Military Intelligence Brigade. The money raised from this event will fund the memorial the organization plans to build at the 525th BFSB Headquarters at Fort Bragg.

    Malinda Cox, whose husband is a soldier, first thought of this idea when her husband was deployed and she realized there was no memorial for the fallen soldiers of the unit. The founding group of the Lightning Friends and Family Memorial Organization put their heads together and eventually came up with the memorial idea. Figuring out what the fundraiser should be wasn’t hard, either. A lot of members on the committee play golf and know it can be a great fundraiser. Emily Damboise, fundraising chair and a good friend of Cox, grew up in a family that plays golf and reiterates the positive affect golf tournaments can have.

    “It’s a lot of fun seeing friends and family coming together. It’s so great to honor our fallen and to see teamwork and support in such a big task,” she said. Participants can also join in on the silent auction, 50/50 raffle and a raffle to win two free golf entries to the tournament. Each will be going on all day at the tournament. There are fantastic items available for the silent auction including a one-week stay at the Massanutten Resort in Virginia, spa certificates and free rounds of golf offered by Hooters. The memorial organization is also accepting donations and sponsorships.

    “No item is too small,” Damboise said.

    Winners of the silent auction and 50/50 raffle will be announced at the awards ceremony after the golf tournament. Winners of the free golf entry were announced at the Lt. Col. Toy Tisedale Maintenance Facility on July 15.

    By next year, the memorial should be ready to go. Members have been getting the word out and after it is completed, the next step is sustaining it and funding scholarships for 525th members and their families.

    Registration starts at 7 a.m. and the tournament is at 9 a.m. Lunch is provided and a cash bar is available before, during and after the game. Practice space is also available.

    “We are still currently seeking volunteers and encourage people to come out and talk to military personnel about their lifestyle. It’s about coming in for fellowship and doing something good for service members,” Damboise said.

    You can register for the tournament online at lightningmemorial.com. Tournament fees include: $45 for retired veterans, $50 for civilians and E7-above, $35 for E6 and below. There is a late entry fee (after July 19) of $65. Visit lightningmemorial.com for more information about sponsorship opportunities and the tournament; also check out the group’s Facebook page.

    Tournament entry fees, contributions and sponsorships are tax deductible, and proceeds, net of expenses, go directly to the Lightning Friends and Family Memorial.

    Proper golf course attire is required including collared shirts and Bermuda length shorts, no jeans or T-shirts.

    Photo: The 525 Battlefield Surveillance Brigade and 525th Military Intelligence Brigade are raising funds for a monument to honor their fallen soldiers.

  • Send a Message: City Hall Is Not for Sale!

    Finally, the filing period is over and the 2013 municipal campaigns are in full swing. Thanks to all that have committed to serve our great community. Candidates — On your Mark, Get Set, Fundraise! All of the talking heads and Op-Eds have declared, if you don’t raise the most money, you won’t win.

    It’s one of the oldest political tricks of persuasion and “psychological operations” in the book. The premise is that if you hear a message time and time again, you start to believe it. Well, I’m not buying it and I don’t believe you will either. Recent campaigns have proven that hard-working, well-organized candidates are more than capable of winning elections.

    07-24-13-commentary.gifUnless a candidate has the means to finance their own campaign, some level of fundraising comes with the territory. Instead of spending time developing their message and speaking with citizens, many candidates will spend a great deal of effort scrutinizing campaign donor lists and dialing for dollars. Asking for contributions from friends and family, school mates from kindergarten through college, people they’ve served with in the military, fraternities and sororities and checking for coins in the couch is the reality for most candidates willing to serve our community via public office.

    Fundraising often discourages unconnected but well-intentioned and exceptionally well qualifed ordinary citizens from seeking public offce. It is a big reason why many good people choose not to seek reelection. This environment undermines the integrity of the governmental process and the competitiveness of campaigns. The amount of money raised by many candidates and committees can erode public confidence in local offcials by creating the appearance they may be unduly influenced by contributors.

    In Union City California, self-described as a small diverse community of 69,000 people, individual contributions cannot exceed $600. The Union City’s Municipal Code Chapter 2.06.010 Campaign Contributions reads:

    “It is the purpose and intent of the City Council in enacting this chapter to minimize the potential for undue infuence by individual or groups on the Mayor and Council members by placing realistic limits on the amount of money that individuals or groups may contribute to political campaigns in municipal elections while providing for a level of discussion of public issues adequate for a meaningful election campaign; to insure and promote integrity, honesty and fairness in decisions of public policy; to provide for a campaign contribution and expenditure reporting process that will inform the public; to enhance the opportunity for challengers to be competitive with incumbents.”

    Before you dismiss Union City as an exception, there are many cities (including Los Angeles) that have and are developing similar policy. This movement isn’t primarily about campaign finance laws, it is about allowing our political process to be accessible to everyone, no matter your social circles or level of affluence. Municipalities are increasingly interested in ensuring the voices and choices of everyday citizens are not silenced by well-financed political machines.

    Citizens — if there is a candidate that you support, make a financial contribution. Recognizing we are a community with 9 percent unemployment with many that are impacted by sequestration, you may not be able to write a check for a few thousand dollars. However, $25, $50 or $100 may be a possibility and would be appreciated by your candidate. However, the real equalizer to this fundraising conundrum is free — it is the power of the vote.

    Many are hedging their bets that since this isn’t a presidential election, certain blocks of voters will not come out to the polls. I’m betting they are wrong. I believe our citizens can and will send a very powerful message: Fayetteville’s City Hall is not for sale.

    Candidates, let’s have great dialog about jobs, safety, families and supporting our military — real vision and real solutions for our city. Invest in a good pair of sneakers, drink lots of water and I’ll see you on the campaign trail. Thank you for your willingness to serve and good luck!

    Our Future, Our Community, Our Fayetteville.

    Photo: Val Applewhite with some of her supporters.

  • The Name Game

    My chum since childhood, exercise buddy, travel companion and proofreader extraordinaire long since threatened to withhold her excellent editing services if I wrote yet another Up & Coming Weekly column on either of these topics:

    • Tattoos, why people get them and whether they regret their choice to get inked.

    • The names parents hang on their beloved babies.

    Because I value her friendship, not to mention her focused editing skills, I have pretty much sworn off these topics although I remain fascinated by them myself. So imagine my surprise when, as we sat on our exercise mats at 6:30 one recent morning, she suggested a column on names.

    Hurricane names, that is.As I write this, Tropical Storm Chantal has just fizzled out in the Caribbean, thank goodness, even though early projections had the storm posing a threat to the eastern seaboard of the United States.

    Chantal?

    I do not know anyone named Chantal, so I checked it out with the U.S. Social Security Administration, which maintains a handy and addictive website detailing the most popular baby names for boys and girls born in the United States since the late 19th century. Here you can find that the most popular names in 1900 were John and Mary. In the year I was born, Margaret came in at an impressive 14th, but James and Linda took the top spots. Last year, Jacob and Sophia were the most popular names with parents of American newborns, although we in North Carolina prefer William and Emma. Who knew?

    But back to Chantal. 07-24-13-margaret.gif

    Chantal had a bit of a run several decades ago. The Social Security Administration keeps track of the top 1,000 most popular names, and Chantal first appeared in 1968 at 955. It shows up most years in the 1980s and ‘90s, reaching a robust 581 in both 1987 and 1989 before declining to 922 in 1999 and has not been heard from since.

    So what other names has the National Weather Service dreamed up for the 2013 hurricane season in the Atlantic?

    First a word about process.

    The National Weather Service uses names because they are much more practical than actual latitude-longitude designations, and names make it easier to distinguish among several storms which might be churning around at the same time during a busy hurricane season. The names themselves are selected by regional committees of the World Meteorological Organization, which has a six-year list of storm names that will be repeated indefinitely. The only exceptions are names of dreadful storms that no one wants to hear again — think Hazel, Andrew, Fran, Floyd and Katrina and you get the picture. Originally, like ship names, hurricane names were all feminine, but in 1979 men’s names were also adopted, alternating with the women.

    So who is on tap for 2013?

    Andrea, Barry, and Chantal are already history, and we have Dorian, Erin, Fernand, Gabrielle, Humberto, Ingrid, Jerry, Karen, Lorenzo, Melissa, Nestor, Olga, Pablo, Rebekah, Sebastian, Tanya, Van and Wendy to look forward to.

    And how do these names stack up with what parents are blessing their precious jewels with in 2013?

    Parents and hurricane namers apparently have very different tastes. None of the 2013 hurricane names are anywhere near the parental top ten, or even the parental top 100. Some never even made the top 1,000 list. Since 2000, only four of this year’s hurricane names — Erin, Gabrielle, Melissa and Sebastian — have made the parents’ top 100. Several others, including Dorian, Humberto and Ingrid, made it into the parents’ top 1,000, while Fernand and Olga flamed out completely.

    We have lots of time and plenty of waves to ride before hurricane season officially ends on Nov. 30. We all hope, of course, for fewer, smaller and weaker storms, even though the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting an active season in the Atlantic with as many as 20 named storms, three to six of which could be major hurricanes — categories 3, 4 or 5.

    Keep your fingers crossed that the NOAA is way off on that prediction!

    No matter what their size, what happens if there are so many storms we run out of names for 2013?

    The National Hurricane Center has thought of that, too, and has a plan. If Wendy comes and goes and we still need more names, we will look to the Greek alphabet and proceed with Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and so on.

    Not to worry. I have no plans to write about tats next week and what they will look like when the wearer is 80 — even though I am always tempted …

    Photo: Hurricane names are selected by regional committees of the World Meteorological Organization.

  • 07-24-13-our-american-flag.gifA recent news story showed an American entertainer defaming the American flag by using it as a door mat in his expression of contempt for the principles represented by the Stars and Stripes. Most Americans were offended by this display; some enjoyed it; and many just didn’t care.

    In America, we have a right to freedom of speech and expression. In Colonial times Patrick Henry (quoting Voltaire) said “I may not agree with what you say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.”

    Our American Flag means many things to many people. Contrast the defamation of the flag with the historical painting by Dale Gallon entitled “Dress to the Colors.” San Juan Hill, Cuba, July 1, 1898 — the Spanish American War. Color Sgt. George Berry, Troop G, 10th U.S. Cavalry is the central figure in the painting. As a member of the famed Buffalo Soldiers, Berry saw extensive combat in the war. He is pictured here carrying the American Flag of the 10th Cavalry in the assault. As he passed by the fallen flag bearer of the 3rd U.S. Cavalry, he grabbed the yellow regimental flag of the 3rd and took both flags to the very top of Kettle Hill, while braving heavy fire. Berry saw this as his duty — he did it in combat, at the risk if his life. The American Flag meant something to Color Sgt. George Berry.

    Our American Flag means a great deal for many Fayetteville citizens. On June 15, a Flag Retirement Ceremony took place on the historic Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry Parade Field. “When the United States flag (Old Glory) becomes worn, torn, faded or badly soiled, it is time to replace it with a new flag, and the old flag should be “retired” with all the dignity and respect befitting our nation’s flag. The traditional method of retirement is to incinerate the flag.” (Boy Scout Handbook).

    Photo: Dale Gallon’s painting “Dress to the Colors”.

  • 07-24-13-runforred.gifOn your mark, get set, race! Run for the Red, held by the Highland’s Chapter of the American Red Cross, is coming to Fayetteville. There are three options for the community: a 10K, 5K or a 1-mile family fun walk. The starting point is Ray Avenue near Festival Park and the finish line is inside the park, too.

    Cash prizes and other awards will be given to winners and hands-only CPR instruction is being offered as well. There are usually bands performing but Lu Esposito, spokesperson for the regional communications office for the Red Cross in the triangle region, explains why they switched it up. “This year, we wanted something that would support the mission more and teaching the CPR so other people can learn how to save lives felt more appropriate.”

    The event began seven years ago to raise money for Red Cross disaster relief. Overall, events like these help support the Red Cross’s mission, and because part of the mission is to help military members and their families, Esposito feels picking Fayetteville is especially perfect because of the town’s military base. The Highlands Chapter has been about saving lives and also offering courses on how to teach others to save lives. The services include recruiting donors for blood drives, giving assistance to families in every way possible, such as providing food, water, shelter or clothing after local disasters. Other than CPR, first aid, water safety and babysitting courses are taught. All these tasks are what Esposito enjoys about being with the Red Cross. “It’s so rewarding helping people from disasters and being that link to supplying blood and CPR training,” she said. She confirms it’s also rewarding to see the hard work pay off. “These are hard events to plan but it is rewarding to help people who need it. The events always end up being fun and seeing how many people support the mission is really great and worth it in the end.”

    Prices and times vary for each type of race. The 10k begins at 7 a.m. It costs $35 to register. Ages 18 and under pay $25. At 7:15 a.m., the 5k starts. The cost to register is $30. Ages 18 and under pay $20. The fun 1-mile walk for all ages costs $5 to register and family members are encouraged to bring strollers. Military discounts are available. The last day to register online is August 1. It is suggested you register online. On-site registration may be available but it depends whether or not the event is full already. Keep in mind registration fees are non-refundable.

    Cash prizes are awarded for the top three male and female runners over all. The first-, second- and third-place winner in each age group will also receive prizes. Age groups are 18-24, 25-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70 and up.

    “I’m excited about this run being that it is in Fayetteville, which holds many service members. Red Cross loves and provides for the military and to see those service members come out and support us is very exciting. Service members and their families in Fayetteville know what we do with the military and it’s a beautiful thing to see both come together,” Esposito says.

    T-shirts go to the first 750 participants who register by July 25. Extra T-shirts will be available for $8.00. Please, no pets, except service animals, are allowed. All of the race proceeds go directly to the Red Cross.

    To find out more about the race and the Highlands chapter visit: redcross.org/nc/Fayetteville or call 910-867-8151. You can also email them at RunfortheRedHighlands@redcross.org.

  •  Helping Students Prepare for ACCUPLACER Testing

    One of the most challenging aspects of college admissions is the dreaded Entrance Assessment. Fayetteville Technical Community College, like any other college, has admissions requirements that include an entrance assessment. Traditional and nontraditional students whose SAT or ACT scores do not meet certain criteria can take the ACCUPLACER© assessment to satisfy this requirement. However, as with any other test, the ACCUPLACER© creates anxiety for students. After all, many of them have been out of school for years. Adding to their anxiety is the belief that, with an assessment, there is no way to prepare. Either you know the information, or you do not.

    This is untrue.07-17-13-ftcc.gif

    The brain, like any other muscle, needs exercise. A former athlete who has stopped working out is likely to incur an injury if he or she suddenly begins vigorous training. Similarly, students who attempt to jump right into the ACCUPLACER© will not succeed. Instead, they end up taking classes that they probably wouldn’t have needed if they had had a little refresher.

    At Fayetteville Technical Community College, we are pleased to offer free ACCUPLACER© preparation assistance for new, prospective and current students. One of our free services is a diagnostic test that has been designed to focus on areas where students may need extra assistance. Staff and faculty members are available to discuss the results with students and to work on plans to boost the skills necessary for doing well on the ACCUPLACER©. The free resources include workshops, use of the computer labs for online preparation, and accessibility to faculty and staff who will meet with students for individual assistance on weak areas.

    The goal is to prepare students for the ACCUPLACER©. Preparation can save time and money and students who do not prepare for the test often place into numerous precurriculum courses. These courses do not count toward graduation and can add an extra year to a student’s commitment to college. With the recent changes in Federal Financial Aid, students cannot afford to take unnecessary classes.

    For those of you who have already taken the ACCUPLACER© and did not do as well as you had hoped, all is not lost. Please come in or call (910) 678-0140. We are happy to assess your scores and help you prepare to take the test again. We are located in The I-PASS Center in rooms 313 and 314 of Cumberland Hall, at FTCC’s Fayetteville campus. Our summer hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday. You can also visit www.faytechcc.edu/student_services/IPASS.asp.

     

     

  • 07-17-13-cape-fear-studios.gifHumans have been creating and admiring art since the very beginning of civilization. Over time, techniques have been created and styles have evolved but appreciation has never diminished. Cape Fear Studios is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to bringing free art and art education to the community, and one way that they do this is through nationwide and local competitions. This year CFS will be present its fifth annual National 2D Competition.

    This year the exhibit is sponsored by BB&T, and has many incredible and varied works of art. Ellen Olson Brooks, executive director, says, “People who visit this exhibit will find a huge range of painting styles, painting content, and painting approaches. The show includes oils, pastels, watercolors, colored pencil, mixed media, pen and ink, graphite drawings, portraits, landscapes, flowers, beach scenes, abstract work... a huge range of 2D work. It is an exciting show and it is eclectic. The exhibit is one of my favorite shows all year at Cape Fear Studios because it brings in such a huge variety of work, and it offers our community the chance to see a large, rich, national show that is juried by a well-known artist. That is a rare thing in the Fayetteville area.”

    Cape Fear Studios are located in downtown Fayetteville, but its reach is extensive.

    “We have works from artists who live in California, Texas, Maryland, Florida, South Carolina, Colorado, Virginia, Indiana, Ohio, New York and North Carolina. The competition is growing in reputation and in size,” Brooks said.

    There are few competitions in the country, let alone in Fayetteville, that have as far of a reach. Consequently, as the competition grows in reputation and reach, it has also grown in size. This competition is the largest exhibit that the studio has hosted. After placing a call for art , the CFS received more than 70 entries. Forty-six of those were chosen as finalists and are currently displayed in the studio. In the first few years there were around 20 finalists.

    This year the award money totals $1,700. $1,000 will be awarded to the Best of Show and $350 will be awarded to First Place and Judge’s Award. This year the juror, Mike Rooney, had quite the challenge in deciding who the top four winners would be from the record number of entries.

    Rooney is a painter who has loved art his entire life. He is strongly influenced by The Cape Cod School of Art, and has a very open minded approach to painting. Brooks explains the judging process for the competition by saying,“The juror judges the first round of all the entries digitally... on the computer and selects the finalists. He then decides the winners in person, by looking at all the paintings personally. This year, Rooney came to Fayetteville, taught a plein air workshop for three days, and juried the winners on his last day. We usually try to have the juror teach a workshop just before we open the show.”

    The 2-D Competition exhibit is open to the public until July 22. Admission is free. The exhibit is in Cape Fear Studios, which is located at 148 Maxwell St. For more information. visit the website http://capefearstudios.com/exhibits.html or call 433-2986. Questions can also be sent to the email artgallery@capefearstudious.com.

    Photo: The Market Place, by Nancy Guiry of North Carolina is just one of many stun-ning pieces of art in the Cape Fear Studios National 2D Competition.

  • uac071713001.gif In a perfect world, children love school and learning. Parents have enough time, patience and money to give their kids the educational support they need and every teacher is a perfect match in teaching style and personality. In the real world, that is not always the case, and as students head into their teen years, overcoming education-related obstacles can be dif̀cult.

    Enter the Teen Explosion Conference. On July 26, the Mind Over Matter Youth Development Institute, along with local businesses, colleges and community organizations in the area will sponsor the conference. The conference is designed with teens ages 13-18 in mind and provides critical skills that students need for a successful school year. While education is a topic to take seriously, Teen Explosion is about making the back-to-school transition both engaging and fun.

    “There comes a point in the summer when teens are ready to go back to school — although they usually won’t admit it,” said event organizer Dr. Teresa Pinckney. “While this is a day of fun, the bigger piece is making the connection between school and a student’s future. It is about how to excite students about their future and embrace that. It’s about helping students understand that how you do academically will impact your ability to go to a good college, get a better job, have the skill required to be a successful entrepreneur. School is important but after graduation they need to know what possibilities they have for going to college, becoming an entrepreneur or getting job.”

    There will be interactive workshops, discussions and exhibits with great information that will help prepare teens for workforce and college readiness skills and even business men and women who will share information with the attendees. The day is ̀lled with activities that are designed to motivate, educate and inspire students. City Councilwoman Val Applewhite will be in attendance and a representative from the library will offer a workshop on job skills. Pinckney is especially excited about the entrepreneurs who support this effort.

    “One of the biggest highlights is that we will have student entrepreneurs there,” said Pinckney. “We have six college entrepreneurs, and they will provide insight about being a college student and being an entrepreneur. In addition there are several other small business owners scheduled to attend. It is important for teens to know that this is another option they have.”

    Local vendors will also be on hand with information about opportunities available for teens in the community.

    Three years ago Pinckney held Fayetteville’s ̀rst Teen Explosion to meet several needs in the community. It doesn’t take much Googling to ̀nd facts and ̀gures about the large amounts of money spent on education, the correlation between high school dropouts and juvenile arrest records or the challenges parents and teachers face when it comes to educating America’s youth. Teen Explosion is built on the premise that education is a great equalizer, a way out of poverty and a tool no one should be without.

    “Without a doubt, one of the things I enjoy most is planning the event and creating and developing an event that is creative and is going to have an impact on students and the day of the conference when we see students walking around trying to ̀gure out which session to go to,” said Pinckney.07-17-13-teen-explosion.gif

    “Getting feedback and them being excited about what is going on around them and saying ‘I am ready to go to school now.’ This event has an impact with regards to students being ready to go back to school being ready and feeling empowered when they get there.”

    One of the wonderful things about Teen Explosion is that regardless of a student’s circumstances, they benèt from the tools and activities at the event. Attendees will learn how to prepare for a successful school year, meet local business men and women and learn about career opportunities and the link between school and workforce development, complete a career assessment and learn different ways to prepare for life after high school. That’s a tall order, but the format is both engaging and exciting.

    By spending a day with the community’s youth, Pinckney and other event sponsors are looking to bridge the gap between local businesses and youth so that the teens understand that being successful in school is key to being successful in life. The conference aims to empower the community’s youth and empower them to be successful nut just in school, but in life, too. It is a great opportunity for students to meet local business owners and college admissions representative and take a proactive approach to planning their future. It’s also a chance for the business leaders of the community to connect with the teens and their families and get feedback about how they can help support youth in the community.

    An advocate of healthy communication, Pinckney is the founder of T. Pinckney & Associates, a consulting ̀rm that helps organizations and families. Although Pinckney and Teen Explosion sponsors put a lot of time, money and energy into the event, her dedication to helping students be successful is a year-round commitment.

    Find out more about Teen Explosion and register to attend at www.mymindovermatter.com.

  • 07-17-13-4th-friday.gifAs the workday comes to an end and the weekend begins, downtown Fayetteville erupts with life. The evening of July 26, the streets will overflow with music, art and opportunities for fun at this month’s 4th Friday. This is a family-friendly event, and there will be something for everyone to enjoy.

    For the art lovers, there are several different must-see galleries in Fayetteville. Showcasing the close relationship that the community has with the environment, the Arts Council is hosting the exhibit Transformation: Artful Recycling. This exhibit is invitational and highlights creativity, awareness of the environment and the talent of our local artists. The Arts Council Gallery is located at 301 Hay St. and is open from 7 to 9 p.m.

    Cape Fear Studios will also be open late to bring art to the community. Cape Fear Studios is full of art from local artists who create in many different mediums. From paintings to pottery, to glasswork the art is incredible and varied. All artists are juried in, is open from 6 to 9 p.m. There will be art for people to view and artists there for the community to meet. The gallery is located at 148 Maxwell St.

    For the kids, Fascinate-U is the place to explore. This museum is completely dedicated to children, and on 4th Friday it will not only be open late, it will offer a free fun craft for kids to create. This month the craft is a candle ornament. Kids will use felt, popsicle sticks and glue to make an ornament for the Christmas tree, the mantle or a gift. Fascinate-U is open from 7 to 9 p.m. and is located at 116 Green St. Admission and the craft are totally free.

    Besides being at the center of downtown and a historical building, the Market House also acts as a museum. There is a permanent exhibit in the museum that is titled A View From the Square: A History of Downtown Fayetteville. Additionally, each month there is a different exhibit that pertains to local history presented in the Market House. This month the exhibit is Fayetteville’s Early Fraternal History. The Market House is open from 6 to 10 p.m. The Market House is located in the Center of Downtown on Hay Street.

    The Headquarters Library is also taking part in the excitement. Beginning at 7 p.m., the library is inviting all local teen performers to come and perform for the community. All talented teens are welcome. Anything from singing to dancing, to stand-up comedy is welcome, and all are welcome to watch. The only requirement for performers is that they do not use inappropriate language. The open mic night will take place in the Pate Room at the Headquarters Library located at 300 Maiden Lane. The performances will begin at 7 p.m. and last until 8:45 p.m.

  • Moving Fayetteville Forward Together

    We are truly at a critical time for our city. Over the last 10 years, Fayetteville has made some tremendous strides forward but for us to truly transform into the city we all expect and dream about, we must do it as one with a common vision and leadership to keep us focused and working together.

    07-17-13-kirk-deviere.gifEvery person — no matter how old they are, what neighborhood they live in, where they work or the color of their skin — has a fundamental belief of what Fayetteville should be. We all share the basic expectations that our neighborhoods will be safe, that our government will be ftscally responsible, that we will have a vibrant business climate and that the city will provide basic services for its citizens. These are all common threads that bind us together; but over the last few years we have watched the fabric that is made up of these threads be torn, as discussions have turned divisive. We must now weave these threads back together and strengthen the fabric to have one Fayetteville, with one common purpose and goal for every citizen.

    I want to be the next Mayor of Fayetteville because I know and believe Fayetteville can be even greater than it is today. I can help strengthen the fabric of this community. Fayetteville must become a cohesive collection of safe, vibrant neighborhoods and prosperous businesses. This is my vision.

    The next several years will be challenging as we balance an ever changing economic climate with limited resources, with the need to grow and transform our city. We have several challenges that stand in the way of this transformation, but I am only going to mention two of these in this article.

    We must address the rising crime rate. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in 2012nFayetteville had the fifth highest rate of property crimes in the U.S., and among North Carolina’s nine largest cities, our city ranked first for property crime rate and fourth for violent crime, which includes murder, forcible rape and robbery. I believe that public safety is the highest responsibility of government. As mayor, I will do all that I can to prevent crime and the quell the fear of crime because our citizens deserve better. Crime prevention and reduction has to be a priority and will be my number one priority when I become mayor.

    Crime affects all aspects of our community whether you live in Bonnie Doone, Kings Grant, Haymount, Seabrook, Southgate or Arran Lakes. People want to feel safe — we want to be able to walk safely in our neighborhoods, we want to be able to live without the fear of our homes being vandalized.

    Crime also affects our business owners as well as potential businesses that want to open in our city. Churches, schools, police, community-watch groups, businesses, individuals and parents all have a critical role to fulfill. No one group or person can make it happen. We must all work together to reestablish a level of respect and trust while recognizing that respect and trust need to flow both directions — from citizens to our police and from our police to our citizens. We are in this together. We will never reach our potential as a city unless we aggressively address the causes of this crime epidemic and take decisive action.

    Here are my priorities:

    1. Recognize and accept the fact that we can’t arrest our way out of crime — this fight has to be a community effort filled with structured youth programs, educational and job opportunities that will remain vitally important to our success.

    2. Identify successful crime-prevention efforts in other cities that will work in our city as well as support the new efforts that Chief Harold Medlock has brought to our city.

    3. Dedicate ourselves to fighting the problem and creating a safer city and community collectively and not in “silos”. This is “our” fight and we must work together.

    4. Put the necessary resources (personnel, financial and technical) where they are needed most and challenge and encourage others in the community to do the same.

    5. Hold ourselves responsible and accountable for results. We can no longer blame it on the data. Perception is the reality.

    In a time where resources will continue to be strained and our city will be asked to do more for its citizens, we must lean in and work smarter to grow our tax base through business growth, not on the backs of our homeowners. We can no longer give this issue “lip service” and we must take direct steps to enhance the business climate so that the business owners (the risk takers) can invest and do business here. We are fortunate to have many of these entrepreneurs and risk takers in our city and we have to find the balance of policies and good business to allow them to invest in Fayetteville and create jobs while making a profit. This growth is what will allow us the resources to fight our crime issue, create better streets, continue our investment in transit, fix our stormwater issues and build better parks and programs for our youth.

    It’s clear that we need bold and innovative approaches to our most pressing concerns: crime, business climate and growth, core city services, civic engagement, city image and more. We must remember that we are not just here to grow the city but to weave it together, to restore the fabric that differentiates a great city from a good city. I intend to focus my time and energy on these priorities and not on things that divide us.

    Over the next several months, we will build a campaign that is focused on discussing the opportunities and the challenges that we face together as one city and community and a campaign that begins this weaving process. The conversation about how our community can grow as one needs to happen in every corner and every neighborhood of this city, and in collaboration with each and every one of you.

    My promise to each of you is that no one will work harder to earn and keep the trust of the citizens of Fayetteville. I will work every day to transform this city to the city we all want it to be. One Fayetteville. Forward Together

  •  Prayers for Trayvon, Prayers for Justice System

    “Lord during my darkest hour I lean on you. You are all that I have” — Trayvon Martin’s Mother

    The high profile case of George Zimmerman came to and end with a jury of six women handing down a not-guilty verdict, after deliberating and deciding that Zimmerman acted in self defense when he shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. Sad.

    07-17-13-pub-notes.gifMy thoughts and prayers go out to Trayvon’s family and friends, whom I feel were made even bigger victims of this senseless tragedy by professional Civil Rights opportunists Rev. Jesse Jackson, and activist turned TV commentator, Al Sharpton. The two grabbed the spotlight in Sanford, Fla., with their campaign to intimidate the state and nation into a costly legal battle to grab national attention by forcing the conviction of Zimmerman.

    The intimidation was well organized with large, vocal demonstrations staged in major cities like New York, Miami and in Martin’s hometown of Sanford. Not surprisingly, President Obama weighed in the issue saying that if he had a son “he’d look like Trayvon.”

    In the end, Sharpton and Jackson got their publicity, Zimmerman got due process and American justice and Trayvon’s family got all of the heartbreak from being used as pawns by individuals attempting to redefine justice in America in terms of black and white. This trial should never have been about race, but with Sharpton and Jackson on the scene, there was no way for it not to be. Their involvement assured them (Sharpton and Jackson) revenue of hundreds of thousands of dollars off of the family’s sad, tragic and unfortunate loss of life of their young son. Yes, young son. Not young white boy, young black boy or young hispanic boy.

    Equally as tragic is when local and national wannabe journalist and radio jocks also jump on the race bandwagon to exploit the emotions of black communities rather than using their talent and exalted positions to soothe, comfort and educate the community through basic logic and a clear understanding of the law and American justice. To witness and hear supposedly educated and responsible community and civic leaders, both white and black, claiming that the not-guilty verdict handed down to Zimmerman is a verification and confirmation that 21st century justice still eludes African-Americans is an irresponsible, tragic injustice and insult to all Americans.

    We have only one criminal justice system in America and it operates the same for everyone. Just because someone is not happy with the outcome does not mean the system is broken, does not work or is racially unfair. Justice is justice.

    In America, we often refer to it as blind and use the term justice for all. American justice cannot be defined by emotion, opinion or historic bias. If it was, then Casey Anthony and O. J. Simpson would have never been acquitted.

    Again, my thoughts and prayers remain with Trayvon and his family. We can only hope this kind of needless exploitation of innocents will soon stop. If not, then you can expect crime to escalate by adding yet another category called “black exploitation” to the crime list; Not a good thing for any American.

    Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • Best of Fayetteville: Make Your Vote Count

    Nothing speaks louder and with more authority than an unsolicited recommendation that your business or organization has been celebrated locally as the best-of-the-best.

    That’s right, The Best of Fayetteville is back. For the 16th year in a row, Up & Coming Weekly will carry on this Fayetteville tradition — and you and the residents of Fayetteville and Cumberland County will again play an integral role in the process. In this edition, you will find the 2013 Best of Fayetteville ballot with more than 130 categories of businesses, services, organizations and quality-of-life venues that define our community.

    Don’t worry, you don’t need to pass judgment on all 130 categories. Comment on as many as you like. It takes only 15 to qualify and validate the ballot. Your submission enters you into a drawing for a chance to win $100. In addition, to accommodate our thousands of online subscribers, the ballot is available electronically at www.upandcomingweekly.com.07-10-13-pub-notes.gif

    Being recognized in the Best of Fayetteville has many tangible, valuable and long-lasting rewards for its winners. That’s what makes this annual reader’s poll so special.

    First, the winners are profiled and showcased in a special Best of Fayetteville edition of Up & Coming Weekly. This special edition is then provided free of charge to residents and area newcomers all year long. It is also posted online for the entire year with each winner hyperlinked directly back to its own website. Winners also receive a 2013 Best of Fayetteville window decal and a beautiful plaque presented at our famous (some would say infamous) Best of Fayetteville party. The party, planned for Sept. 17 at Fayetteville’s newest downtown restaurant and sports bar The TapHouse at Huske, gives us a chance to publicly recognize the businesses and people who make our community so great!

    The Best of Fayetteville party will be hosted by Josh and Tonya Collins, Beasley Broadcasting, The Trophy House, Brainbox Inc., Utley & Knowles CPAs and the Fayetteville Regional Chamber of Commerce. Oh, and of course, the staff of Up & Coming Weekly.

    Sound like fun? It all starts with your vote.

    So, mark your calendars for our 16th Annual Best of Fayetteville celebration Sept. 17, at The TapHouse at Huske where music, fun, food, prizes and surprises come together to celebrate the best-of-the-best. Thank you, for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • uac071013001.gif Legacy is a word that is often associated with world leaders and business tycoons — teenagers and young adults, not so much. Ryan Patrick Kishbaugh died 10 years ago at the age of 19, leaving a legacy that is still changing lives and helping people. A lot if it has to do with his passion for life and his desire to help people. The rest comes from the love his friends and family share for the young man and their determination to honor his memory and celebrate his life. On July 13, the Ryan Patrick Kishbaugh Memorial Golf Tournament tees-off to celebrate the life of this amazing young man whose journey is a stellar example of a life well lived.

    An exceptional athlete and scholar, Ryan graduated second in his class in high school and had been accepted to Princeton when he was diagnosed with cancer. He fought hard and even wrote a book about his experience. His family continues to celebrate his life and has supported several nonprofits in his honor. This year the RPK Memorial Golf Tournament benefits the Carpe Diem Foundation and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

    “We play in July each year because it is a celebration of Ryan’s life … his birthday is July 26, 1984. The first year it was just family gathering on his birthday and we went out to play golf so we would not drive each other crazy. Chris and Sean (Ryan’s brothers) invited a few of their friends to come along and later commented that it would be a good thing to actually have a tournament and thus the seed was planted,” said Ryan’s dad, and event organizer, David Kishbaugh. “It is still the most fun part of the whole tournament when I see the boys (now 30-ish) picking on each other and everyone else … Each year, I have chosen two charities to receive money from the tournament. Until three years ago, it was always the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and one other (Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation, Autism Society of Cumberland County, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Father’s Foundation), but a few years ago I helped a friend form a non-profit foundation in order to provide college scholarships for student-athletes with chronic medical problems and support other organizations that promote education and research for diseases that affect student athletes. I became the director and the foundation changed its name to the Carpe Diem Foundation in 2012. Monies from the tournament, and other events we hope to establish, will help us create that scholarship and we plan to offer our first scholarships in 2014.”

    Carpe Diem is a Latin term meaning sieze the day. It’s a statement about making the most of every moment and living life well. It’s how Ryan chose to live and how his friends and family remember him.

    According to www.lls.org, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society website, in fiscal year 2011 LLS invested more than $76 million in blood cancer research. “When LLS was founded in 1949, a blood cancer diagnosis was almost always fatal. Thanks in part to innovative research funded by LLS, survival rates have doubled, tripled and even quadrupled for blood cancer patients,” the website notes.

    For the past several years, more than 100 people have come out to celebrate Ryan’s life. In fact, last year was the biggest turn out in the tournament’s history with 120 players.

    “This year I anticipate we will be close to that,” said Kishbaugh. “That being said, there is still room for teams to register.”

    The tournament is a captain’s-choice format with prizes for a hole-in-one, longest drive and closest-to-the-pin as well as a putting contest. Each player will receive a coin minted especially for the 10th anniversary of the tournament in addition to golf balls, a water bottle coozie, a T-shirt, tees and other items. Breakfast, snacks and lunch will be catered by the Invisible Chef. Brewmaster Tito Simmons will share some of his craft beverages during lunch.

    While the warm summer weather can get pretty brutal, spirits remain high during the event.07-10-13-golf-tournament.gif

    “Ryan touched a lot of people during his short life. Those that come to play typically knew him personally or knew of him through someone close to him,” said Kishbaugh. “They don’t mind sweating a few pounds and suffering through the heat because as one person said it ‘Ryan (and other kids with cancer) suffered every day and if we can’t give him six hours of our life and be a little uncomfortable, then we don’t deserve to be here.’ A little harsh but a sentiment that many of us share. We are here to make a difference.”

    In making a difference, Kishbaugh is adding a new feature to this year’s tournament. “We are using the event as the launch for the winter season of Team in Training, which is the LLS endurance sport fundraising arm,” said Kishbaugh. “Last year I participated in the inaugural LLS Half-Marathon in San Antonio, Texas (called HeroThon). Although I am embarrassed to say that an injury kept me from running as fast as I wanted or hoped, I have decided to run again.”

    At the registration area and during lunch, there will be alumni of previous Team in Training events available to share their stories and encourage others to sign up and join in the Kiawah Island Half (or Full) Marathon in December 2013. Abby Miller, campaign director for Team in Training, N.C. Chapter will be a special guest at this year’s event. She will share the mission of Team in Training and LLS. Kishbaugh hopes that others will join him in signing up for the race and pledging to make a difference.

    Already looking forward to next year’s RPK Memorial Golf Tournament, Kishbaugh is planning to add a Friday-night birthday party before the golfi ng begins. “Ryan would have been 30 next year,” said Kishbaugh. “I loved Ryan very much. He is my hero.”

    Tee-off is at 8:30 a.m at Cypress Lakes Golf Course. Find out more about the event and register at www.2013rpkmemorial.com or visit www.facebook.com/pages/RPK-Memorial/441475325867617.

    Photo: David Kishbaugh, event organizer and Ryan Kishbaugh’s dad, speaking at last year’s event.

  • Every summer, as the daylight lasts longer, the nights start to come alive. One summer tradition that has flourished and grown in Fayetteville is the Fayetteville After 5concert series. Once a month in Festival Park, the Dogwood Festival organizes and hosts bands to perform for the community for free. This month on July 19, three ‘80s tribute bands will perform. In the Name of Love, a U2 tribute band, High Voltage is dedicated to AC/DC and Mostley Crue, a tribute to Motley Crue, are performing.

    07-10-13-80\'s-rule.gifFor nearly 14 years, Fayetteville After 5 has entertained the Fayetteville community; and in that time it has grown and evolved. Carrie King, the executive director of the Dogwood Festival, says, “We have moved the concerts to Friday and we have had a much larger crowd. We are working on our service so that we can better accommodate everyone. This year we have been overwhelmingly surprised by the attendance and we are planning on blowing out this July concert. Our first tribute band to the Eagles had a great response and we are confident we will get the same kind of attendance for July.”

    Fayetteville After 5 is a unique opportunity for the community. It combines several organizations and offers citizens a night of music and fun. The Dogwood Festival hosts and organizes the concert as a fundraiser and as a summer tradition. King says that these concerts are great for fundraising for the Dogwood Festival and they are great for the community. As compared to the Dogwood Festival, the logistics are easier because the event is only one day. The other organization involved in the concert series is the sponsor R.A. Jeffreys. R.A. Jeffreys is a distributor for Anheuser-Busch and believes in being highly active in the community. The company’s motto is “Making Friends is Our Business.”07-10-13-80\'s-rule-2.gif

    This concert offers more than just rocking ‘80s music. “There will be food vendors, sometimes activities like the corn-hole boards for kids, and a 50/50 raffl e. The earlier you come to the park, the better for the raffl e because Budweiser gives away the best stuff — like T-shirts — at 6 p.m.,” King says.

    This is the perfect event to enjoy classic ‘80s music with the family in a beautiful and inviting environment.

    Festival Park is located along Ray Avenue. The gates open at 5 p.m. The opening acts of the night typically start between 5:30 and 6 p.m. and the headline bands will begin playing between 7 and 7:30 p.m. No outside food or drink is allowed within the park, but there will be opportunities to purchase refreshments within the park. The concert will come to a close at 10:30 p.m. Bring a blanket or chairs to the event. For more information, visit the website www.faydogwoodfestival.com/fayetteville-after-5 or email questions to info@faydogwoodfestival.com.

  • 07-10-13-poe-house.gifThe Fayetteville area is unique in its history and is overfl owing with creativity. For years the Poe House, built in 1897, has been the center of history and heritage in the community, but this summer it will be a center of creativity as well. The Museum of the Cape Fear will use the Poe House as the location for its 2nd Saturdays Arts Fest.

    This festival brings together artists of many mediums and the community. This event is family friendly and there is a multitude of activities for adults and children alike to enjoy. Leisa Greathouse, the curator of education for the Museum of the Cape Fear says, “The variety of artists include basket makers, mesh wreaths, custom jewelry, children’s hair bows, hand-painted novelty items, pottery and paintings. In addition to all the artists whom families will encounter, the museum offers two very child-friendly activities: candle dipping and water coloring. Both activities are free and the children get to keep what they make. In other words, they will take home a beeswax candle and a watercolor painting of their own work.”

    Big Ed’s Creek Sauce and Catering will be on hand offering BBQ sandwiches and Mike’s Tropical Gourmet Icees for a cool delicious desert. Entertainment will also be provided by local musicians such as Evan Young.

    Another important role the festival plays in the community is supporting local artists. Greathouse explains that goal by saying “2nd Saturdays Arts Fest is about highlighting the artists and showing the viable role they play in the economy. This is important since many times artists are often discounted for their choice of livelihood. One visitor said to us, ‘How nice it was to fi nd affordable art.’ We think that says it all.”

    Over the years the festival has seen incredible growth in participation. “We have seen an increase in the number and variety of artists who take advantage of the opportunity to show and sell their wares, take commissions, and it makes people aware of the caliber of artists that live and work in our community. 2nd Saturdays started as a way to help stimulate the economy and show that the creative industry plays a role in doing so. Visual artists in a historic/cultural setting make a great partnership that people can identify with and, I believe, fi nd unique.” Greathouse said.

    This year, special programs will take place at 2 p.m. each festival day. For July, Michael Hardy — a Civil War author and historian — will lecture, with funding coming from the N.C. Humanities Council Speakers Bureau. In August, participants will have the opportunity to attend a workshop on geocaching. This workshop will promote geocaching on the local “Trail Trek,” which was created by the Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

    The 2nd Saturdays Arts Fest is slated for July 13 and August 10 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free, but the majority of vendors only take cash. The Poe House, where the Arts Fest is located, is at 801 Arsenal Ave. For more information, contact the Museum of the Cape Fear at 486-1330 or visit www.museumofthecapefear.ncdcr.gov.

    Photo: 2nd Saturdays features kid-friendly activites including watercolor painting.

  • 07-10-13-romeo-and-juliet.gifSweet Tea Shakespeare offers theatrical fun for audiences this summer with the classic tragic romance, Romeo and Juliet. Although the theater group is only in its second year of operation, it has garnered a healthy following that continues to grow. Sweet Tea Shakespeare is a collaborative effort between the Fayetteville State University Foundation, the FSU Fine Arts Series, the Gilbert Theater and the Cape Fear Botanical Garden.

    Sweet-tea refreshments coupled with the firefly-laden nights at the botanical garden bring an entertaining, whimsical performance like no other. Free watermelon, sweet tea and lemonade will be plentiful at play performances.

    William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet has shaped the world of literature since it was first written in the 16th century. The story revolves around two star-crossed lovers who find themselves trapped between their feuding families. What solution do the two lovers come to in order to conquer life’s difficulties? Difficult decisions, naïve love and endangerment for the name of love run rampant throughout the story. Shakespeare’s style of writing also injects humor into the play in order to raise suspense.

    “He wrote most of his plays for outdoor environments,” Jeremy Fiebig said, director of Romeo and Juliet and the brainstorm behind Sweet Tea Shakespeare. “It allows us to perform the play in its original setting.”

    The botanical garden offers the perfect environment for these kinds of plays, allowing guests to “sit underneath the stars” and enjoy the performance for how it’s meant to be viewed.

    Sweet Tea Shakespeare practices cross-gender casting, meaning gender characters will oftentimes be played by the opposite sex. Sweet Tea Shakespeare is also different by its means of theatrical expression.

    “We started rehearsals in March and we rehearsed it for a couple of weeks without directors,” Fiebig said. “The cast put it together themselves then a couple of weeks later they presented it to the directors.”

    Allowing the cast to formulate its own interpretation of the play allows more artistic freedom to the cast and gives them the opportunity to create scenes in their own way.

    “The thing that draws me to Romeo and Juliet is the great language of the play,” Fiebig said. “There’s a lot of other beautiful language that resonates even today. After you get past the ‘Shakespeare’ barrier it really washes over you.”

    Experiencing the English language as it was centuries ago creates an authentic experience that guarantees to entertain anyone who is a fan of English history.

    The performances will run July 17-21 by the Cypress Pond at the Cape Fear Botanical Gardens. The July 20 performance is an indoor matinee. Tickets include admission to the garden and cost $10 for garden members, $12 for non-members, $7.50 for students, $5 for children between the ages of 6 and 12, free for children 5 and younger and $5 for FSU students. Tickets can be purchased on site or reserved by calling 672-1724.

    Photo: Romeo and Juliet brings magic to the Cape Fear Botanical Garden.

  • Reaching New Heights – The Climbing Place

    07-10-13-climbing-place.gifThe Climbing Place is 18,000 feet of pure, unadulterated climbing fun for all ages and parties. Adding flair of adventure to the downtown area since January 1, 1995, The Climbing Place is a no-brainer choice when considering a way to spice up anyone’s visit to downtown. Owner Michael Pinkston, commonly known as Mr. P, prides his business as being the oldest continuous climbing facility in the state of North Carolina as well as one of the most extensive in its services.

    Maneuvering over obstacles and traversing difficult terrain has been a part of human history since the days of our nomadic ancestors. The sport of rock climbing is believed to have originated in the late 19th century in different parts of Europe made popular by the linear rock formations that litter the Eurasian landscape. Unlike the dangerous landscapes of tales long forgotten, The Climbing Place offers a rock-climbing experience in the comfort and safety of an indoor utopia. Putting the customers first and ensuring a fun time for all visitors has remained the philosophy of The Climbing Place since its beginning. “Customer satisfaction and safety are our top priorities,” said Pinkston. “We teach beginners how to tie knots, put on equipment and obey different climbing commands.”

    Rock climbing indoors works by creating several artificial rock walls tagged with different climbing paths made by small rock-like grips. Each path is color-coded and marked with the difficulty, name of the creator and the date it was made. There are three different climbing techniques — bouldering, leap climbing and top rope climbing. The Climbing Place brings business from in- and out-of-state with its variety of rock climbing and in particular its 600 feet of traverse-climbing space.Retired from the military, Pinkston’s job was to scale cliffs and mountains to write manuals about rock climbing and its procedures. Originally planning to become a guidance counselor, Pinkston saw an opportunity to share his love of climbing when he bought a warehouse formally owned by Chevrolet M and O. “The ceilings were 8-feet tall,” Pinkston said. “We lifted the ceiling tiles and thought that it just might work.”

    Pinkston believes rock climbing can become a valuable recreation that people of all ages can take part in. “Climbing not only produces physical rewards but also challenges the climber’s skills in the areas of confidence, problem solving and perseverance,” Pinkston said. Scaling one wall are several rock-climbing paths for younger children as well, evidence of perseverance and determination were found in the form of hundreds of scuffmarks left by the small pathfinders.

    The Climbing Place welcomes all visitors, no matter what skill-level or handicap. Pinkston reflected on his experience with blind climbers as something amazing and awe-inspiring, the only thing holding a person back from being a climber is a lack of determination — if there’s a will then there’s a way. The Climbing Place also works with home-schooled children as well as kids with autism.

    No matter the occasion, The Climbing Place caters to all audiences and climbing purposes. Whether earning a scout merit badge, throwing a birthday party or planning a school field trip, The Climbing Place will guarantee boundless fun for all. The Climbing Place is located at 436 West Russell Street and accepts walk-ins, memberships and passes.

    Photo: The Climbing Place has been providing adventures for locals since 1995.

  • 07031304.gif

    Well, I think the final chapter is now in the process of being written on the misadventures of Hope Mills’ lost boy, Tonzie Collins. Wow! It seems Collins has more lives than the world’s luckiest cat, and a teflon shield that makes sure any and all charges, accusations and complaints made against him just don’t stick.

    So far, so good, Tonzie; however, I think the good people of Hope Mills have had just about enough.

    Hope Mills is a small but prosperous and growing community with a great deal of potential. It’s growing and gaining new residents and businesses and now with the proper direction and leadership of Mayor Jackie Warner and the Hope Mills Town Council and the enthusiastic leadership of Chamber of Commerce President Jan Spell, the future of Hope Mills looks bright. But only if it can get out from under the dark and humiliating shadow being cast on it by Collins.

    If you don’t know what I’m referring to, local and long time resident and town council member Tonzie Collins has been the center of legal and social controversy for years in Hope Mills, costing the town residents greatly in terms of tax dollars and dignity. The latest flap was over alleged comments made to a 19-year-old female town employee. As a result of this incident — and more than a dozen other complaints against Collins — he has been directed not to talk to town employees or be in any non-public areas in Hope Mills’ town facilities without the permission of Town Manager John Ellis. This action was initiated by the town council. Collins cast the only dissenting vote.

    Now, personally, I like Tonzie. He has always been nice and civil to me. I even met him and his posse once at the McDonald’s restaurant he frequently mentions in his conversations. The posse being the many friends and supporters he has developed over the years. Collins has a group of supporters in Hope Mills that he has cultivated over his 30 years of town service. But, now, many of the town’s people feel it is time to stop this silliness. And, so do we.

    The town of Hope Mills has a right to move forward without this albatross around its neck.

    Even though Collins claims that the more than a dozen accusations made against him are unsubstantiated, I’ve got to say where there is smoke, there is usually fire. The cost of dealing with Collins’ good-ole’ boy antics is getting way too pricey for this small, but growing community. Everyone wants to move on and put the madness behind them. It is our hope that Collins will take the high road and see the logic here.

    Will it happen? I have no idea. Your guess would be as good as mine. But, I do know this, something positive must happen soon if Hope Mills expects to continue its growth and positive economic development. Collins is a smart man and could be a huge asset in moving the community forward, but only if he recognizes that he is not above the law and that the “Aw, shucks, I was just telling a pretty little gal she was pretty,” doesn’t fly in 2013 — especially from elected leaders. Hope Mills is ready to move forward and there is no place for that kind of back slapping, guffawing buffoonery in positions of leadership.

    Remember that today (July 3) marks the beginning of the balloting for 16th Annual Best of Fayetteville readership survey. So, don’t forget to VOTE for your favorite person, business, organization or venue. We are all about local. Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • uac070313001.gif Monday through Wednesday, Troy Gentry is just an average guy. He fulfi lls the role of classroom dad at his daughter’s school; attends her softball games and mows his own yard. But Thursday through Sunday, it’s a different story.

    Gentry, one part of the country power-house Montgomery Gentry, and his partner, Eddie Montgomery, have spent a lot of time on the road, but these days, they have altered their touring to mini-tours so that they can spend more time at home, taking part in the lives they’ve made instead of watching them from the road.

    “We are basically doing what we call weekend warrior shows,” said Gentry, during a recent telephone interview. “The hardest part about being on long tours is being away from family. In our younger years, it wasn’t a big thing. The tour was one big party. We were meeting people and having a lot of fun. Now that our kids are getting older, we realize that we missed a lot. I have a child in college and my little one is 10. I’m trying to be at home more and do more things with her like sports, school and church.”

    On Friday, July 12, one of those weekend warrior shows will make a stop in Fayetteville, as the duo performs at the Crown Theater.

    Montgomery Gentry is undoubtedly one of the greatest country music duos to ever hit the music scene. Known for their homegrown, Southern rock n’ roll style, they have earned their spot among the ranks of other country artists over the past two decades. Responsible for smash hits “She Couldn’t Change Me,” “Gone” and “Where I Come From,” their songs are instantly recognizable by anyone with an appreciation for country music.

    Vocalist Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry were both born and raised in the Bluegrass state of Kentucky, which is steeped in a rich history of country music. They’re familiar with what makes country music tick. Entering the mainstream with their debut single, “Hillbilly Shoes,” it took the band little time to gather a strong following.

    Their concerts can be described as a honky-tonkin’, toe-tapping good time with a tinge of southern rock. Famous for their music, which echoes a working-class mentality, strongly rooted in God and everyday family struggles, the group has created a musical legacy that always rings true. to its roots.

    Gentry, who says his Dad was into country and his mom rock and roll, said their music is a blend of the two.

    “When we first started recording, we had more of a grittier, party-anthem type of stuff,” said Gentry. “Today we go into writing sessions with a different outlook.It really reflects more of the environment that we are in now. We have always spoken to and sang about the working class — ups and downs of life — but we really try to find songs that affect us personally at a given moment or that people out there can identify with.”

    Originally known as Early Tymz, the band consisted of Montgomery, his younger brother John Michael Montgomery and Gentry. In the early 1990s, John Michael left the group and started a solo career. Eddie and Troy, the remaining members of the group, then went through several name changes before they decided to call themselves Montgomery Gentry. In 1994, Gentry won the Jim Beam National Talent Contestand he began to open for acts such as Patty Loveless and Tracy Byrd. Gentry was unable to find a solo record deal, so he teamed up with Montgomery once again to form the duo Montgomery Gentry, signing with Columbia Records Nashville in 1999.

    Montgomery Gentry’s first album, Tattoos & Scars, released in 1999, boasts 11 tracks that can be described as a homage to the blue-collar lifestyle. The album was received positively with Thom Jurek of Allmusic calling it “one of the best pop records of the year. Period.” The album won Vocal Duo of the Year award at the Country Music Association Awards in 2000, but it didn’t stop there. The vocal brotherhood won the Top New Vocal Duo or Group award from the Academy of Country Music and the 2000 Favorite New Artist in the Country category at the American Music Awards. Their first album went certifi ed platinum in 2001.

    Like their second album name suggests, the band continued their success with Carrying On. The album’s first single “She Couldn’t Change Me” broke new ground for the group, reaching Number 2 in the country charts.

    Their fourth album, You Do Your Thing, released in 2004, produced two number 1 country hits “If You Ever Stop Loving Me” and “Something to Be Proud Of.” The album became their third platinum-selling album after Tattoos & Scars and My Town. The album’s major success was followed up by their 2004-2005 tour with Trace Adkins.

    Their latest album, Rebels on The Run, was released in 2011. Thanks to a new record label, they were allowed more freedom than previous albums that led to the album’s first single “Where I Come From.”

    The group’s dedication to country music earned them a Grammy nomination in 2008 for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group for their single “Lucky Man.” Montgomery Gentry has been nominated and won many awards for their continuing excellence in country music and their admiration of their millions of fans.

    Fayetteville, being home to Fort Bragg and the 82nd Airborne Division, is no stranger to patriotism and military pride — neither is Montgomery Gentry. Supporting our troops has been a large part of their effort ever since their debut in 1999. But for the fi rst time in 2006, they were able to travel to Kuwait, Iraq and Germany as part of a USO Tour. Military personnel, active duty and retired alike, can appreciate the hard work this group has put forth to relieve the stress of men and women serving in our military with their tales of work, love, loss, spirit, life and patriotism balanced by the hard-partying nature of their songs.

    They were awarded by the Academy of Country Music as the 2010 winners of its Humanitarian Award. In addition to supporting our troops, they are active in charitable organizations such as the T.J. Martell Foundation, Camp Horsin’ Around and Make-A-Wish Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

    Following the tragedies that have recently unfolded in Boston, Texas and Oklahoma, Montgomery Gentry has launched a campaign to recognize the everyday heroes that have helped to save a life or make a difference in the life of somebody affected by these disasters. The superstar duo being supporters of our military, teachers and other unspoken heroes, wants to give their fans a chance to submit their heroes for a chance to receive concert tickets and meet & greet passes to hangout with the group backstage at their concert stops this summer. To nominate a hero, type a letter explaining why you have chosen this person and submit your entry to MontgomeryGentry.com/heroes.

    Perhaps one of their proudest achievements is being inducted into Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry in 2009. Inducted by Opry members Little Jimmy Dickens and Marty Stuart, the two performers were left without words to express their gratitude and excitement for the historic opportunity.

    Tickets for the show can be purchased online at TicketMaster through the Crown Center’s website (crowncoliseum.com). The concert will begin at 8 p.m. on July 12

  • 07-03-13-pitt.gifI recently got up close and personal with a dead deer. I was walking and the deer was just lying there on the side of the road. We were in the Blue Ridge Mountains and I was on a walk about down the dirt road. For once, I was not one of those people you see walking around transfi xed by their smartphone oblivious to everything around them. I was transfixed by a flock of turkey buzzards posing on a row of fence posts in front of me. Turkey buzzards are not particularly attractive members of the avian race, but they are quite necessary. Think of them as fl ying undertakers. They are big birds, about 3 feet long wearing formal black suits like an undertaker. They have ruddy featherless heads that seem to be covered with rosacea like a villain in a super hero movie. If Edgar Allen Poe designed a bird, he would have created the turkey vulture. Like undertakers, they vacuum up dead things.

    I could imagine the head turkey vulture saying to the dead deer, “I am so sorry for your loss, Mr. Deer. Please accept my most sincere condolences. But may I say, you look delicious today. Dinner time.” I have walked that dirt road many times and never seen a flock of turkey vultures chilling there. That should have been a clue that something had drawn their attention to those fence posts. They were not particularly concerned that I was walking towards them. As long as I was moving, I was of no real interest to them. They could wait until I stopped moving.

    Due to my focus on the vultures, I almost stumbled over the dead deer lying in the road. That could have led to embarrassing moments in the emergency room. “How did you break your arm, Mr. Dickey?” “I tripped over a dead deer lying in the road.” That would have been good for laughs amongst the medical personnel in the ER. “Did you hear how the jerk in Cubicle 3 broke his arm? The moron tripped over a dead deer.” Oh, the shame.

    I got back to the cabin without further incident and began listening to music on the front porch. I was pondering the pond while futilely attempting to think profound thoughts. Willie Nelson had just finished singing his last old time hymn. Without Willie, suddenly I heard the mountain sounds. The mountain is a loud place once you start listening. Whistling wind, talkative birds, bragging bull frogs, humming bees and mooing cows across the pond. You can hear a lot just by listening. Without electronic interference, you can hear how the mountains sounded during the Middle Ages. Mountain sounds go way back. Once we are gone, the mountains will keep making noises without us.

    After listening to the mountain for a while, I heard an interesting new sound. There was a loud huffing noise up on the mountain behind the house. I thought a cow might have gotten out of the pasture and wandered up on the mountain. Cows huff when they feel huffy. The huffi ng sound went on about five minutes. The hill behind the house is very steep. It would have taken a cow with skilled Sherpa abilities to climb up there. It occurred to me that one of the neighbors mentioned a brown bear and her cub had been seen in the area. At that point the huffing did not seem so benign. I saw movement up on the hill but a wall of leaves kept me from seeing what it was.

    I began to wonder about the appropriate strategy for dealing with a momma bear. Run in the house, lock the door, hope for the best, kiss your fanny goodbye and apply A1 Sauce was the best plan I could come up with. I wondered how long a wooden door could keep out an angry bear. I remembered Allen Shermans classic song, “Hello Muddah , Hello Faddah” about the boy who was not happy to be at Camp Granada. It featured the immortal lines, “Take me home, oh Muddah, Faddah/Take me home, I hate Granada/Don’t leave me out in the forest where/I might get eaten by a bear.”

    Fortunately, the huffing eventually stopped. I could hear the bird, and the wind. In the words of Robert Frost, “The woods are lovely, dark and deep.” Like the rest of the world, there is a lot of life and death out there. Enjoy it while you can.

  • Are you ready to rumble? If so, float like a butterfly to the Crown Center Friday, July 5 for the Independence Explosion Friday Night Fights presented by R&R Promotions.

    Watch as some of the most elite fighters in the boxing industry take on one another in the arena right here in Fayetteville. The show, billed as a celebration of the freedoms and privileges that we share and enjoy as a nation, will feature 10 bouts.

    Fighters featured include Rau’Shee “Nuke” Warren, the only American Olympian in history to compete in three Olympic Games. From Cincinnati, Ohio, he began boxing at the age of 6 and would go on to become not only the youngest member of the 2004 U.S. Olympic boxing team, but the youngest male on any American team that year.

    07-03-13-raushee-warren.gifErrol Spence is a 23-year-old who became a professional welterweight boxer after competing in the 2012 Olympics. From Dallas, Texas, he is quickly gaining recognition in the sport and was rumored to have knocked out fellow competitor Adrien Broner in a sparring match.

    Jamel Herring is a 28-year-old former Camp Lejeune Marine. Before contending in the 2012 U.S. Olympics, he won a silver medal in the 2010 World Military Games and gold medal in the Armed Forces Championships in both 2011 and 2012. However, before reaching those milestones in his life, he overcame much adversity and personal anguish including two deployments to Iraq and the loss of his daughter.

    All of these men have earned the right to be called Olympians by representing our nation in the world’s greatest competition. Every calculated move and punch is a testament to the caliber of warrior that America produces to compete on a global stage. Now is your chance to see them live as they demonstrate their precision and dominant physique in the ring.07-03-13-adri.gif

    Along with the performance of these peak athletes, the venue has added even more star players. Also fighting are special guests World Boxing Organization super featherweight champion and current World Boxing Council lightweight champion, Adrien “the Problem” Broner and former junior welterweight champion and hall of fame inductee, Aaron Pryor. This night promises to be one to be remembered. Don’t miss your chance to see these fighters go head-to-head live at the Crown Coliseum.

    For more information and to book tickets for the Independence Explosion Friday Night Fights, call the Crown Box Office at 910.438.4100.

    Photos: top left; Rau’Shee Warren. Bottom right: Adrien Broner.

  • 07-03-13-kayak-tour.gifKayaking is one of the many great summer hobbies enjoyed by all ages. Dating back to hundreds of years ago, it didn’t always serve as a pastime. The act of kayaking started in the arctic in North America with the Inuit and Aleut tribe; kayaks were made of driftwood or made by stretching animal skins over frames of whalebone. The larger kayaks they used were called umiaqs— some were as long as 60 feet. The smaller kayaks were used for hunting. Interestingly enough, the word ‘kayak’ means hunter’s boat. With kayaks, the Inuits could easily sneak up on animals near the shoreline or in the water.

    Of course now in the 21st century, people use kayaking as an outing with family and friends or a type of exercise. There are many different areas to go kayaking depending on your interests. People can kayak on intense mountain rivers with white water splashing in your face, or on a peaceful river or lake. Just as there are different sceneries to kayak, there are also different types of kayaks. If you want a fast pace, choose a kayak that is long and narrow. For easy turns, have a kayak that is short and wide. The inside of the kayak varies as well. Some have you sit inside a cockpit with legs extended in front of you; others have a seat in the cockpit, like a canoe. The oars also come in different sizes depending on your height; if you are short, a shorter and lighter oar will suffice. Wider and taller kayaks probably will require a longer paddle.

    Keep in mind that wider blades touch the water more, which grants you a faster speed, but they also have more resistance so you would have to work harder. A narrower blade requires more strokes but the work is less.

    If kayaking sounds like something you would enjoy, you are in luck. Cumberland county citizens have the opportunity to kayak on Lake Rim during the Lake Rim Kayak Tour. This is something Lake Rim strives to do once a month during the warmer months.

    The tour is an activity everyone can enjoy-beginner or experienced. There is an introductory lesson available before the tour that teaches the basics. Amber Williams, park ranger coordinator, talks about the soothing effect the tour has.

    “It is very relaxing; you can even forget you are in Fayetteville. It’s so nice and peaceful to be surrounded by nature,” she said.

    The recommended age is 10 years and up with a participating adult. Remember, no professional skills are necessary!

    “This is a great way to try something new,” Williams said.

    The tour usually lasts about an hour and a half long and wraps around Lake Rim. Space is limited, so grab your spot as soon as possible. Register at Lake Rim Park the day before the tour.

    The tour is Friday, July 12 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The fee is $15. Go ahead and mark your calendars for next month’s tour, Friday, August 2 at 5:30-7 p.m.

    Photo: The Kyak Tour at Lake Rim is fun for the whole family.

  • uac080112001.gif If you haven’t been in a while, head over to the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum on Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings. You may be pleasantly surprised at what you find.

    The Fayetteville Farmers Market and City Market have joined forces with the museum to provide a destination where patrons can shop, learn, relax and be entertained. On Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings the parking lot of the Fayetteville Area Transportation Museum is filled with farmers, artists and entertainers … and the hundreds of people who come out to enjoy the market each week.

    Bruce Daws, City of Fayetteville historic properties manager loves seeing all the activity just outside the museum, because of the opportunities it provides both the vendors and the patrons. “We host both the events as the Market at the Museum. We provide the space and block the parking lot and help set up with logistics,” said Daws. “The museum opens its agriculture exhibits because of the ties between historical agriculture and today’s farmers. It also provides an opportunity for people to cool off during the heat of the day and learn a thing or two.”

    He added that the goal is to create a destination that will draw people to the market not only to buy fresh food and local, high-quality art, but to spend time downtown getting to know the vendors, local businesses and organizations and become invested in the community.

    Like other farmers markets, the Fayetteville Farmers Market offers fresh produce and seasonal vegetables — and more. “We have 24 vendors. Some just sell certain products like blueberries and other berries,” said Crystal Butler, Fayetteville Farmers Market president. “Some new vendors are coming this fall that have pumpkins and sweet potatoes and things like that. We have vendors selling baked goods, we have local honey, fresh flowers, organically raised beef, lamb, chicken and pork. You can come to the market and leave with an entire meal.”

    Don’t just come and grab a few tomatoes and head home though. Every second Saturday the Farmers Market offers kid-related activities, and the vendors are eager to educate their customers, too. “The farmers enjoy talking to their customers about what it takes to get their food from the farm to the table. There is so much that goes into it that most people don’t event know about,” said Butler. It is a system that works. “You meet someone new every Saturday. Once you start talking to them and they walk around and see how good everything is they always come back. You (the vendors) get to know a lot of customers on a first name basis. It is rewarding and you know your hard work is worth it.”

    Daws sees the Market at the Museum as an event with a lot of potential. The intent is to bring more people downtown and to create an event that is family friendly. “We like to encourage people to come down and spend time,” said Daws. “That is why we set up rocking chairs and we have a band that plays for the crowd. It is to create an event that supports the revitalization of downtown. It is working very well. On an average Saturday we have anywhere from 300-400 visitors or more.”08-01-12-cover-story.gif

    So far it is working, the Farmers Market opens an hour earlier now on Saturdays. “We used to open at 9 a.m., but we would get here and have people who had been waiting since 8 or 8:30 a.m. for us to open so we moved the time up,” said Butler. “We don’t want to miss a chance to connect with the people who come to the market.”

    The City Market vendors consist of handmade, original crafts such as pottery, hand-blown glass, organic soaps, soy candles, glass crocheted jewelry, blended teas and herbs, custom water colors and signs, fabric jotting books for your inner poet, wreaths, birdhouses, original photography and much more. Local musicians appear regularly and serenade the crowd with their mellow tunes. Face painting, clowns, balloon animals, ring toss and a bounce house are just some of the family friendly activities that can be enjoyed on any given Saturday morning.

    “We hope to add antique vendors to the market soon,” said Daws. “Of course, like the rest of our vendors, the antique dealers will go through an approval processes so that we can make sure our patrons are getting good quality items.”

    The Market at the Museum is open on Wednesdays from 3-6 p.m., Saturdays from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. and during 4th Friday celebrations. Find out more about the Farmers Market at www.thefayettevillefarmersmarket.com, or by calling 703-7708. To fi nd out more about the City Market or the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum call 433-1944.

    Photo: The Fayetteville Farmers Market and City Market offer fresh foods, art and entertainment and more.

  • 08-01-12-ribbon-walk-and-ride_logo.gifWhether you are a survivor or you know someone who is fi ghting, cancer is a disease that touches us all.

    Sherry Jackson, an RN on the Cape Fear Valley Pediatrics Unit, knows all too well the strength needed to battle cancer. In 2004, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. What followed were three rounds of chemotherapy that took a rough toll on her body. But Jackson knows Cape Fear Valley’s cancer patients need never fight alone. They have the support of Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation’s Friends of the Cancer Center.

    “Every penny the Foundation raises goes straight to the Cancer Center to help patients that need it so badly,” she says.

    The Cape Fear Valley Cancer Center and CyberKnife Treatment Center does not receive any fi nancial assistance from any national cancer support foundations. Instead, the center relies solely on donations and gifts provided to the Health Foundation’s Friends of the Cancer Center.

    Friends of the Cancer Center provide hundreds of cancer patients and their families not only with emotional support and information resources, but also prescription medicine, food supplements, wigs and turbans, emergency funding for utilities and travel assistance for treatment — all at no expense for the patient.

    Now in remission, Jackson serves as co-chair for the organization’s largest fundraising event, the Annual Ribbon Walk & Ride. The first Ribbon Walktook place in 2005, with 140 walkers — including Jackson —joining together to raise just over $3,000. The event has grown over the years. The 2011 walk added a riding portion for motorcycle enthusiasts. Altogether 750 participants banded together and raised more than $88,000 for local cancer patients!

    On Saturday, Sept. 15, hundreds of walkers and motorcycle riders will gather together in support of Cape Fear Valley’s cancer patients and the Friends of the Cancer Center for the 7th Annual Ribbon Walk & Ride presented by HealthKeeperz.

    “I am so extremely emotional and excited for this event,” says Jackson. “My goal is for the Ribbon Walk to be larger than Fayetteville’s Dogwood Festival.”

    Tara Brisson Hinton, Friends of the Cancer Center Coordinator at Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation is also hoping this year’s walk will be even bigger.

    “We are so excited for this year’s event as it keeps growing,” Hinton says. “We’re holding our fi rst Survivor’s Reception on Friday, Sept. 14, at SkyView on Hay to kick things off.”

    The reception will be held from 7 to 9 p.m., and will offer food, music, a photo booth, silent auction and door prizes.

    The Survivor’s Reception is not this year’s only change. This will be the fi rst year that walkers will not be taking on the steep hill on Hay Street into Historic Haymont. Instead, walkers will start at the Medical Arts Center and walk down Hay Street and through Linear Park (the motorcycle route will go out to River Road and back). There will be small hills and a few steps, but the climb up Hay Street will not be necessary.

    The flatter walk is a benefit because for the 2012 Ribbon Walk we are calling all cancer survivors.

    “I’ve walked the new route,” says Jackson. “Most of our cancer survivors can walk it because there are only three or four steps and someone will be posted there to help survivors up and down those steps.”

    Walkers and riders register for $25 and receive a t-shirt, but survivors can participate for only $15 and they will receive a special “I am a Survivor” t-shirt.

    Survivors who register by Wednesday, Aug. 15, will receive an invitation by mail with a ticket for them and a guest to attend the special Survivors Reception.

    There will be prizes for the Ribbon Walk & Ride individual and team who raise the most money and friendly competition is strongly encouraged.

    The team that raises the most money will get ownership of The Crystal Ribbon trophy with the team name engraved on it.

    If you would like to join the Ribbon Walk & Ride this Sept. 15, Sherry Jackson and the Friends of the Cancer Center would love to have you. For more information, please call 615-1434 or visit www.ribbonwalkforcancer.org.

  • For many areas, particularly the more agrarian states, it took years to get the benefi ts of electricity. It was often a very expensive endeavor to install and many households choose to stick to the traditional ways of doing things. Since then electricity has become a necessity. Blackouts now mean the halting of all work and an extreme inconvenience to all, sometimes even resulting in fatalities. “Today, we have become accustomed to rapidly changing technology and how it affects our lives. Imagine less than a century ago, most North Carolinians lived without electricity,” David Reid, the museum (WHICH MUSEUM) administrator, said.08-01-12-electrifying.gif

    The new exhibit at the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex, which is a traveling exhibit from the North Carolina Museum of History, highlights the tremendous difference in pre-electric and post-electric devices. “It looks at how electricity was life altering to the people of this country and of this area. People don’t realize that less than a century ago many parts of north Carolina did not have electricity. Cities had it at the beginning of the 20th century but rural areas didn’t get it for as late as the 1940s,” Reid said.

    Reid explained the exhibit as having three cases. One of them talks about the development of electricity and Edison creating the light bulb, and once he invented the light bulb how he had to create an electrical distribution to get the power across communities. Another case has electrical appliances and the tools being replaced by these electrical appliances such as clocks, toasters, fans, items like that. And the third case has to do with how all of that was promoted. How companies like General Electric advertised to try and get people to buy their products and promoted the use of electricity, unlike today where we have advertising for people to conserve electricity.

    Once electricity was wide spread there was a huge surge in the invention of electrical appliances intended to make house work easier for the stay at home moms. This exhibit will show the pre-electricity devices side by side with the electrically driven ones to give their patrons a more complete understanding of how drastically life changed with the use of electricity. “What we do after people look at the items in the exhibit, is to then go over to the Poe house and think about as they walk through the house how life would change for the Poes as electricity was introduced and they started acquiring electrical appliances. Because the house dates from 1897 and we interpret it up to ww1 so that would be the time that electricity would be introduced to the house,” Reid explains.

    This exhibit will be on display until Sept. 16 at the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex on the corner of Bradford and Arsenal avenues. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and on Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.ncculture.com.

    Photo: The new exhibit at the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex, which is a traveling exhibit from the North Carolina Museum of History, highlights the tremendous difference in pre-electric and post-electric devices.

  • 08-01-12-local-history.gifIt’s a Palazzo! The Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local history Museum really know how to celebrate. As a part of the Fayetteville’s 250th Anniversary Celebration they have an extraordinary line up of educational activities. They have left no stone unturned. From July to October numerous activities have been planned to exhibit the wonderful and vast history of Fayetteville. From the Market House to the churches, from historic buildings to the flowing river, even to the men and women of our military who fought to uphold our freedom; the museum has it all covered in their tours and programs. The scheduled events are an eye opener to the wonderful community of Fayetteville.

    There is a longing in each of us to know our history. It somehow helps us to find our place in the world. From the young child that asks “how did I get here?” and “where do babies come from?” to the adolescent that wonders if they truly matter and the young adult who is “trying to find myself,” there is a part of us that longs to know the past that produced the present. Connecting with the struggles and successes of our ancestors helps us to connect with the greatness that we each have inside us. It also helps us to imagine how our own contributions will affect society for those who will follow behind us.

    Fayetteville’s history is a combination of all those who have lived and sacrifi ced long before our time. Among these great individuals are the contributions of many African-American’s. Although the month of February is often set aside to celebrate the impact and contributions these individuals have made, the Transportation and History Museum has once again taken the time to recognize their heritage on the Africa-American Heritage tour scheduled to take place on Aug. 13. According to Heidi Bleazey, museum specialist, “The city has offered numerous African-American themed tours and programs over the years and incorporated African-American heritage into many of the various themed tours and exhibits conducted through the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum. This is the fi rst one led by Charles Anderson and the fi rst one packaged in this format for the 250th Celebration.” Charles Anderson is a professor at Central Texas College on Fort Bragg.

    This three hour tour will take place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., exploring the downtown area while noting the contributions of African Americans. Scheduled stops on the tour include: Brookside Cemetery, E.E. Smith’s home, the Orange Street School and the home of the Chesnutt sisters. The Chestnutt sisters were educators in Cumberland County and are the sisters of Charles Waddell Chesnutt, noted African-American author for whom the Fayetteville State University Charles W. Chesnutt Special Library & Archives is named.

    More than African-American heritage, this tour is the heritage of our beloved city, the place we call home today. It was woven together by all of our ancestors. Each piece of unique history connects us all.

    To find out more about this tour or other tours offered by the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local history Museum contact 433-1457, 1458, or 1944.

    Photo: Charles W. Chestnutt

  • 08-01-12-ftcc-logo.gifIn 2004, the North Carolina General Assembly created the North Carolina Military Business Center — the only statewide Military Business Center in the United States. A statewide business-development component of the community college system, the NCMBC leverages military and other federal business opportunities for economic development and quality of life in North Carolina. Since opening in January 2005, NCMBC business development specialists have supported N.C. businesses in identifying, competing for and winning more than 1,230 contracts worth $2.8 to $8 billion.

    Throughout the year, the NCMBC hosts multiple strategic, industry-specifi c major events to help educate N.C. companies on the upcoming trends, opportunities and current and future needs of the industry, as well as provide the opportunity to network with major defense contractors, Department of Defense buyers, government and military agencies to build teaming relationships and to learn more about defense procurement processes. Major events that have already occurred this year include the N.C. Federal Environmental Symposium (June 2012) and the N.C. Federal Advanced Technologies Symposium (July 2012).

    Below are upcoming events this year:

    • 11th Annual Defense and Economic Development Trade Show Hosted at Fayetteville Technical Community College since 2001, the Defense and Economic Development Trade Show is the premier defense trade show in North Carolina. Hosted by U.S. Senator Richard Burr, U.S. Senator Kay Hagan, Congressman Larry Kissell, FTCC and the NCMBC, the 11th Annual DTS will be held on Aug. 7, at FTCC’s 2201 Hull Road campus. The purpose of the DTS is to build relationships among representatives of the Congressional delegation, Department of Defense, federal agencies and numerous defense contracting fi rms, including both large and small North Carolina businesses. This event is free. For more information or to register, visit ncmbc.us/2012DefenseTradeShow.php

    • 2012 North Carolina Aerospace Supplier Conference (August 13-14, High Point, N.C.) The Aerospace Suppliers Conference, cohosted by Senator Richard Burr, the NCMBC, the N.C. Aerospace Alliance and the N.C. Department of Commerce, connects aerospace suppliers and subcontractors in the state with major aircraft manufacturers and fi rst-tier subcontractors. The conference features briefi ngs by major aerospace companies about their current requirements, vendor qualifi cation processes and future opportunities; general sessions on workforce training, quality management systems and industry trends in military; commercial and general aviation; and a trade show of North Carolina aerospace companies. For more information or to register, visit ncmbc.us/2012NCAerospaceConference.php

    • 2012 North Carolina Federal Construction & Infrastructure Summit (October 10-11 – Wilmington, N.C.) The FEDCON Summit will bring together more than 800 representatives of the Corps of Engineers, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, United States Coast Guard, Department of Veterans Affairs, GSA Public Buildings Service, other federal agencies and installations, general and specialty contractors, designers and construction suppliers in North Carolina. The Summit program will focus on traditional military construction, sustainment, restoration and modernization (SRM) construction and energy and other environmental construction and engineering opportunities at bases in North Carolina. The Summit will include a business expo, general and breakout sessions, and speed networking with major primes and federal agencies. For more information or to register, visit ncmbc.us/2012FEDCONSummit.php. For more information on the N.C. Military Business Center, visit ncmbc.us/index.php.

    Learn more about Fayetteville Technical Community College at www.faytechcc.edu.

  • All Good Things Must Come to an End

    This week in The Buzz we are reminded that indeed all good things must come to an end.

    Downhere, a Canadian band with two lead singers, one of whom sounds so much like the late Freddy Mercury that he toured on the Queen reunion tour this summer, has announced that they will end their music ministry in January 2013.

    Here is the official statement from Downhere:

    Hello Friends,

    It is with many memories and deep feelings that we relay to you the decision we have made over the course of the last year. January 1, 2013 will mark the end of our traveling ministry for the foreseeable future.

    It has become very clear to us that this chapter of our journey, initiated by God, is drawing to a close. While we mourn the end of this season we also celebrate over a decade of ministry. It has been hard work and our families have paid a big price. The friends, songs, experiences and lives changed as a result of hearing the truth of God’s love has sustained us through many years and miles.

    For those of you who know us well you know that this is not a band breakup. In08-01-12-buzz.gif fact, we are open to playing a select few shows or events in the future. After many years and miles spent together we have become a band of brothers who love each other dearly. There is not one single variable that has initiated this change; rather it would seem the same sovereign hand that has guided us together for this season is now leading us in different directions. We are grateful for the role everyone has played in our lives. Your encouragement and support over the years has carried us through thick and thin.

    We have always wanted to finish well. We believe that means finishing together, as a band... and that is what we are going to do. We are working on setting up a few wrap-up shows this fall. More information will be forthcoming as things get solidified.

    Sincerely,
    Jason, Marc, Glenn & Jeremy

    Downhere is ending well with their final project On The Altar of Lovewhich is available now. Find them online at www.downhere.com.

  • Hip-Hop is alive and well in Fayetteville, N.C. This is something I would not have believed until it was pointed out to me. So Fayetteville, please introduce yourself to Ezzie B and Doomgotbeats, collectively known as Prosthetik Intelligentz.08-01-12-hip-hop.gif

    The group was formed back in April 2010. In that same year they released two mixed tapes that received local and international rec-ognition in the underground world of Hip-Hop. They soon adopted “journeyman-alien” Hip+Hop as an oc-casional member to the group who traveled with them on a trip around the world to help promote their music and ideas. The trip served them with invaluable inspiration for their upcoming projects. Prosthetik Intelligentz planned on working on their third mixed tape when they returned. During the process they met Raleigh-based produc-er Eric “Gravity Movement” Bannister. Quickly they all clicked together and started recording Sounds & Wonders ep.

    Sounds & Wonders ep was released this past winter and contains six songs of head-bobbing smooth Hip-Hop with a message. There’s a heavy influence of New York’s ‘90s Hip-Hop scene all over the album. These guys fit right in with groups like A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, maybe even Nas in his early days on the scene.

    The mood is set right from the first track for the ep which isn’t a bad thing since it’s only a six song ep. The album doesn’t drag on and get boring, instead it’s over before you know it and leaves you craving more. The beats are laid back, easy going and spacey sounding with lots of cool breaks and samples. Layered over these beautiful beats are samples from various speakers giving inspiration with Ezzie B’s intelligent lyrics showcasing his plea for people to use their minds for positive actions and his love of music.

    If you’re looking for some club music about random hook ups, pushing dope and taste for extravagant clothing and cars then this is not for you. The intro track to the album, “Sunlight”, features a sample excerpt of a speech from Charlie Chaplin’s The Great Dictator where the speaker talks about a world where we all help one another and strive for the happiness and liberty for all mankind. These are the ideas and concepts you will hear on Sounds & Wonders. The lyrics are very positive while slightly touching on some of the darkness and troubles of the real world. Ezzie B has a very nice flow to his rap too which helps deliver his message, making the listeners ears willing and wanting to take in his Andre 3000 meets Pusha T flow.

    Prosthetik Intelligentz is not a group to sleep on. If you’re a fan of Rap and Hip-Hop, you want this album in your collection. It’s especially exciting talent like this coming right out of Fayetteville. For more information and free music from Prosthetik Intelligentz, visit www.prosthetikintelligentz.com. The physical copy of the CD will also come with a bonus disc, The Sade Experience by Doomgotbeats. On this disc Doomgotbeats remixes classic Sade tracks in Prosthetik Intelligentz style. The project was inspired by his recent trip to Africa and the songs sound just as beautiful and classic as Sade herself.

  • The Fayetteville SwampDogs would like to take this opportunity to thank the greatest fans in the Coastal Plain League for another outstanding and memorable 2012 season. After the frightening concession-stand explosion before the season, fans willed the SwampDogs to success both on and off the field. The team once again led the league in attendance, as SwampDogs Nation filled J.P. Riddle Stadium on a nightly basis. Fans created a palpable excitement for each home game that yielded one of the best game-day atmospheres in the league. Fayetteville realizes that The All- American Summer of Fun would not have been possible without the loyal contingent of fans, and is ecstatic to get to work on the 2013 campaign08-01-12-swampdogs.gif.

    The 2012 regular season will conclude tomorrow evening with Fan Appreciation Night at “The Swamp.” The final Fireworks Extravaganza of the season will follow the action, with plenty of giveaways and prizes distributed all night long. The first 500 fans through the gates will receive the latest edition of the Fun-Go Bobblehead, as the fan-favorite collectible is finally unveiled. Fan Appreciation Night is the best way that the SwampDogs know how to thank the thousands of fans that came through the gates this year; with more exciting SwampDogs baseball. It’s the final opportunity to see the best fireworks show in town, and the Dogs want every fan to be a part of it at “The Swamp.”

    Fayetteville will take part in the Petitt Cup Playoffs once again this year, with playoff baseball returning to “The Swamp.” For all updated information regarding the playoffs, including tickets, log on to www.goswampdogs.com or call the business office at (910)-426-5900. Don’t miss this opportunity to see the Dogs chase down the Petitt Cup Championship in 2012.

    Photo: The first 500 fans through the gates will receive the latest edition of the Fun-Go Bobblehead. 

  • Free Alzheimer’s Training Now Available

    To Local Family Caregivers

    The local Home Instead Senior Care® office is offering a unique approach to help Cumberland County and Hoke County families manage the challenges of Alzheimer’s and other dementias, diseases that eventually rob seniors of their memories and independence. Free training for families caring for these older adults is now available through online e-learning modules, available at HelpForAlzheimersFamilies.com.

    The Alzheimer’s or Other Dementias CARE: Changing Aging through Research and Education Training Program offers a personal approach to08-01-12-senior-corner.gifhelp families care for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease at home, where 60 to 70 percent live, according to the Alzheimer’s Associatio

    n. “Until there is a cure, we offer an interim solution,” said Susan Guy, owner of the local Home Instead Senior Care office.

    The foundation of the Alzheimer’s CARE Training Program is an approach called “Capturing Life’s Journey®” that involves gathering stories and experiences about the senior to help caregivers provide comfort while honoring the individual’s past. Because people with Alzheimer’s disease have difficulty with short-term memory, the Capturing Life’s Journey approach taps into longterm memory.

    The Home Instead Senior Care network assembled the top experts in Alzheimer’s disease to develop the CARE approach. “The training we’re offering to families is the same kind of training our professional CAREGiverss receive,” she noted.

    The program for family caregivers consists of four classes: Alzheimer’s Disease or Other Dementias Overview; Capturing Life’s Journey; Techniques to Manage Behaviors; and Activities to Encourage Engagement. Also available is a free guide for those who are caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. Called Helping Families Cope, the guide includes advice to help families keep their loved ones engaged and manage behaviors.

    “CARE is a wonderful hands-on approach that helps caregivers deal with the behavioral changes that too often accompany these disorders – one of the biggest stressors for caregivers,” said Dr. Jane F. Potter, chief of the Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. “There was previously no good program available using adult education techniques to provide hands-on practice in learning how best to help people who suffer from dementia. This is huge,” she added.

    “The preferred environment for those with dementia is generally at home,” said Potter, who served on the expert panel to help develop content for the Alzheimer’s CARE Training Program.

    And yet, families caring for seniors with Alzheimer’s at home are dealing with challenging behaviors such as anger, aggression, wandering and refusing to eat, according to research conducted for the Home Instead Senior Care network.

    “That makes the Alzheimer’s Disease or Other Dementias CARE Training Program a solution for the many families in our area who are being impacted each day by devastating side effects of this disease,” Guy said.

    For more information about free, on-site Family Caregiver Training, contact your local Home Instead Senior Care office at 484-7200 or for more information about the free Family Caregiver Training and other resources, visit HelpforAlzheimersFamilies.com to engage in an e-learning course.

    Photo: Free training for families caring for these older adults is now available through online e-learning modules, available at HelpForAlzheimersFamilies.com. 

  • After these past few years of economic stress, it is no surprise that many families are struggling07-25-12-stuff_the_bus_logo.gifwith back to school shopping. Unfortunately, some families just can’t handle the cost and children are returning to school without any of the basic necessities required for efficient learning in the schools. In an effort to combat this deficit Cumberland County Education Foundation is partnering with Cumberland County Schools and Operation Homefront to provide school supplies to the under privileged with their Stuff the Bus! drive.

    With the rise of global media the news is increasingly fl ooded with cries for help from distant nations. Mailboxes are crammed full with fl iers to save starving children or donate a cow to a village, and while it is a responsibility as a global community, particularly a wealthy and relatively stable country to assist our foreign brethren as much as possible, it is feared that this wave of pleas drowns out those problems closest to home. Children in our own towns and even neighborhoods have to face every day without the necessities they require to succeed. It is hard to complete assignments without the paper to write on nor the pencil to write with, and the schools cannot provide the supplies every student requires so it is often diffi cult for students to succeed. Some of the world’s most brilliant minds came from underprivileged backgrounds, but it was because of the kind and generous people in their lives that helped them that they were able reach their fullest potential.

    A donation of simple things like pencils and paper, will enable children that would otherwise struggle in school to succeed, and perhaps unlock a passion for learning. If nothing else, even if these children are not the next presidents or inventors, it will help them to improve their lives, and the lives of their children.

    For many it can be a source of shame to ask for help, and to admit that they cannot provide for their own children. This drive provides the opportunity for the community to support families without questions, or shame. It is the opportunity for the community to open its arms and support its neighbors in need and to invest in its own future by ensuring that its children become well educated and productive. The donations to this cause will benefit children in Cumberland County and on Fort Bragg.

    The drives will take place on Aug. 3 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Wal-mart Super Centers on Hope Mills Road, Raeford Road, Ramsey Street and Spring Lake locations. It is requested that all school supplies are newly bought and donation checks should be payable to Cumberland County Education Foundation. The most needed items are backpacks, 3-ring binders, flash drives, loose-leaf paper, composition notebooks, pocket folders, colored pencils, and pencils/mechanical pencils. Gift cards are also appreciated.

    For more information, call School Social Services at 678-2621.

  • A sanctuary is a defined as a place of refuge from hardship; a consecrated area. When I hear the word sanctuary peace floods my mind. I am reminded of quiet Sunday evenings and lazy Saturdays at the beach. Weddings, funerals and family gatherings come to mind as well. The traditional sanctuary, within the church, has been a refuge for many. It is a place that holds memories of joy and grief, hope and despair.

    On Aug. 6, the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum will host its Historic Church tour. The tour will take place from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m.; however, it sometimes extends to 12:30 p.m. The tour will visit First Presbyterian, Evans Metropolitan AME Zion, St. John’s Episcopal, Hay Street Methodist and First Baptist. Each of these downtown churches are listed on the National Register of Historical places and are rich with the cultural and religious history of Fayetteville. The cost for the tour is $3 and you must preregister by Aug. 4 in order to attend. Participants will travel by bus for the tour, and some walking is involved.

    This is not your ordinary tour.07-25-12-church-pic.gif

    “It is more than sparkly windows and pretty structures” states Heidi Beazley, the museum specialist.

    Her eyes light up as she begins to speak about the tour.

    “It’s a dynamic experience, it’s more than history. The tour paints the picture of religious development in the area,” she said.

    You are able to see how religion developed here in Fayetteville. Some of the churches like First Presbyterian have been around since the 1800s. Every church on the tour has something unique to offer.

    “If you think you have seen it, you haven’t seen it in this way,” Beazley explained.

    Although the tour is centered on the churches, the various demographics that attend add a special flare, as many of them are able to share their own experiences because they have lived in the area, and in some cases attended services there and watched the churches grow and change over the years.

    Among the stops during the tour are the Market House, a site for early religious services. In times past there were no formal structures for religious services. The people would meet in the local market area. Traveling preachers would visit the area and people would gather together in the Market House to hear sermons and to worship together. Over time formal structures were built for these religious services.

    The tour’s beautiful architecture, rich history lesson and dynamic fellowship truly makes it remarkable. It is so remarkable in fact, that last year’s tour had a waiting list of approximately 30 people. Currently the 2012 Historic Church tour is already half-way full.

    To register contact the Fayetteville Area Transportation an Local History Museum at 325 Franklin St. in downtown Fayetteville or call (910) 433-1457,1458 or 1944. Although preregistration is required, payment is not due until the day of the tour (no large bills please). Come and explore the religious structure and history behind these awesome sanctuaries.

    Photo: St. John’s Episcopal Church in downtown Fayetteville, was established in 1817. It is one of several churches in the downtown area.

  • uac072512001.gif WCCG 104.5 FM has always been about the listeners. In fact, the hip-hop station throws a party for its listeners every year. It started as block parties in downtown Fayetteville. For several years, that was the venue of choice — and a good way to reach the community. Once Festival Park was built, the event really took off. Mark the calendar for July 28, and come downtown to hear a great line up of hip-hop artists.

    Kalim Hasan, event spokesperson and WCCG employee, has enjoyed watching the event grow.

    “When we first started, we would block off the streets in front of the Market House. Then we moved the event from the block party to Festival Park. From there it has just grown,” said Hasan. “Our first year it was a complete success and it has been growing since then.Last year we had a huge audience. We had about 8,000 people come out. It has been progressively better every year. We hope to see a crowd of 10,000 or more.”

    Bring the family as there will be plenty of children’s activities, a local talent showcase and national recording artists.

    The list of performers is impressive. According to Hasan it is the biggest line up in the history of the event. The performers scheduled to be on stage are: KStylis, Dj Unk, V.I.C., Diamond of Crime Mobb, Princess of Crime Mobb and Love and Hip Hop Atlanta, Boobe, Lil Ru, Ricco Barrino, Rell formerly of Rocafella, Kaleena formerly of BadBoy Dirty Money, Huricane Chris, Youngest Ones, Yayo of Maybach Music, Mr. 704, Jason Jetplane, Lil Chuckie of YMCMB, Montana Da Mack, Cadillac Don, Trillville, Slick’em of Pretty Rickey, J Money, Dj Infamous and Drumma Boy.

    07-25-12-concert-pic1.gifIn addition to on-stage entertainment all day, Gamin’ Ride will be on hand with all the latest video games. This is a mobile interactive entertainment unit that can accommodate several players.

    “That is a really fun technology addition this year,” said Hasan. “People will be able to sample new games and titles that are out and play amongst their friends. We will have a gaming tournament. We think this is going to be huge this year.”

    Carlo Spann, the local owner of Gamin’ Ride is looking forward to seeing the excitement the gaming system generates.

    “It’s like nothing you’ve seen before. We have multi-player games multi-sensory games. If you are playing a football video game, we can make it so you smell the grass and feel the motion of the game. That is just a small piece of what we can do.”

    07-25-12-concert-pic2.gifWith all the latest titles, an air conditioned in-door space, an expandable mobile unit, vibrating simulation seating, game scents and XBOX 360, PS3, Wii and the ultimate in high-definition gaming, Hasan is looking for this new component of the event to be a big hit.

    Gamin’ Ride will be pay-to-play and each play will be limited on time so that everyone in the crowd who is interested will have a chance to participate. Visit gaminride.com to find out more about the system and what to expect at the music festival.07-25-12-concert-pic-3.gif

    The event is free. Bring money to buy dinner from the food vendors though. There will be stage side seating available for $5 and VIP access, which costs $20 and includes stage side seating.

    “We have the fan zone this year, which is our VIP section. All the celebrities will be signing autographs and taking pictures and stuff,” said Hasan. “Once they come off stage they will be taking pictures and signing autographs. The fan zone is for the audience where they can be close to the artists. Everything else is free.”

    The gates open at 3 p.m. and the party will wind down around 11 p.m. Lawn chairs are welcome, but leave the coolers and pets at home. Visit www.wccg1045fm.com for more information.

  • With the 2012 season nearing its end, the Fayetteville SwampDogs are as busy as ever.

    On Sunday, July 15, fans and players teamed up for the 2012 Bowl for Charity event at B&B Lanes, where proceeds went directly to the Wounded Warrior Project.

    Wells Fargo Home Mortgage joined the lineup, assisting with the successful afternoon that saw countless participants win terrific prizes donated by a number of generous companies.

    Fans were teamed with SwampDogs players over the course of two different sessions, as the various groups bowled. The team with the highest score at the conclusion of each session was awarded a prize, and all the money raised through registration and raffle prizes was donated to the Wounded Warrior Project.

    Saturday, July 21 was yet another important day at “The Swamp,” as the Dogs’ Pancake Breakfast, Guns N Hoses softball game, and Striking Out Cancer Night all transpired over the course of the day.07-25-12-swampdogs.gif

    The pancake breakfast gave fans a chance to eat breakfast with SwampDogs players, with all the money raised donated to the Wounded Warrior Project once again. Fans had their fill of the all-you-can-eat selection of pancakes, eggs and sausage, and spent a Saturday morning with the Dogs.

    The Fayetteville Fire Department and Police Department squared off for the third annual Guns N Hoses softball game later that afternoon, as family and friends watched their loved ones compete on the playing field at J.P. Riddle Stadium, with proceeds benefi tting the two departments.

    The night was capped off by the team’s sixth annual Striking Out Cancer Night, presented by Cape Fear Valley Health System. Fans bid on special pink jerseys worn by the players during the contest, as the highest bidders received the game-worn jersey, while the runner-up was provided a replica. The money raised was donated to the Cape Fear Valley Health Foundations’ Friends of the Cancer Center, as a select group of SwampDogs’ faithful were awarded a piece of team history.

    With limited games remaining in the season, the SwampDogs remind fans that Fan Appreciation Night is fast approaching. The final regular season game will be followed by the final fireworks extravaganza of the summer. Fans can win giveaways and prizes all night long.

    There are three games left in th season; July 25; July 31; and Aug. 2 Find out more at www.goswampdogs.com.

    Photo: The SwampDogs recently hosted a bowling tournament to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. Other agencies supported by the SwampDogs include the Fayetteville Police and Fire Departments, and the Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation.

  • Those of us who were around in April 2011 may never forget the scenes of devastation from the tornadoes that ripped through Fayetteville and the surrounding areas. Power lines were down, businesses were torn apart and homes were destroyed in an instant. Most of us watched the news reports wondering what we could do to help.07-25-12-run-for-red.gif

    We never know when the next disaster will affect our community, or even just a single individual. What we do know is that when disaster strikes, the American Red Cross will be there to help.

    Ironically, the time to help disaster victims is now while things are calm. The Red Cross, a 97 percent volunteer-based organization, hosts three major fundraisers a year to fulfill its mission to “provide relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.” Funded primarily from individual charitable donations and campaigns such as the United Way and the Combined Federal Campaign, the Red Cross also relies heavily on these fundraisers to be prepared when disaster strikes.

    On Saturday, Aug. 4, the Highlands Chapter of the American Red Cross will host its sixth annual Run for the Red in Festival Park. Activities start at 7 a.m. with a 10k race, followed by a 5K race. The event fi nishes up with a 1-Mile Fun Walk/Run at 8:30 a.m. The American Red Cross will host a variety of preparedness activities on site, so be sure to bring the whole family.

    “We will have our trained staff members on site to help your family make a fi re plan, learn how to make a disaster kit and prepare for all types of emergencies,” says Executive Director Victoria Raleigh. “We will have coloring books for the kids; and a variety of educational information available free of charge.”

    Cash prizes will be awarded for the top three finishers for both men and women in the 10K and 5K races. Top three medals will be awarded in both men’s and women’s groups by age group. For participants of the 1-Mile Fun Walk/Run, medals will be given to all children who participate. Strollers are welcome for this event, as it is a family event for all ages — you can walk or run! However, iPods are not allowed for the 10K or 5K races.

    Don’t forget your military unit. There will be a “giant trophy” and bragging rights for the military unit with the largest number of participants.

    “Last year 3rd Brigade Combat Team won, but with more than 10 battalions signed up this year they have quite a bit of competition,” said Raleigh. “If you don’t see your military unit listed on the website, simply call us and we will add it to the list.”

    Packet pick-up is Aug. 3, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the American Red Cross Highlands Chapter at 807 Carol St. Packet pick-up on race day and registration starts at 5:30 a.m. in Festival Park.

    Says Raleigh, “By simply lacing up your running (or walking) shoes on Aug. 4, you can give back to an organization that has touched one out of every 10 individuals in our local area.”

    The first 750 registered will receive a T-shirt at packet pickup. The goal for this year is 1,000 participants. Registration for the 10K race is $30, the 5K race is $25 and registration for the 1 Mile Fun/Walk is just $5 per individual. Online registration is recommended and will close on Aug. 1. Registration on the day of the event for the 10K and 5K races will be $5 more. All military ID card holders or groups of 10 or more will receive a $5 discount off the registration fees. Be sure to call 910-867-8151 to get the discount code before you register.

    For more information or to register, visit www.highlandsarc.org or call 910-867-8151.

  • The Amazing Spiderman (Rated PG-13) 4 Stars

    07-25-12-movie.gifI was a huge fan of Sam Raimi’s 2002 Spiderman, and admittedly skep-tical that a reboot was warranted. Yes, the third film sucked like a Hoover, but isn’t tossing The Amazing Spiderman (136 minutes) into the mix sort of like dancing on the grave of a modern classic? And do we really need to sit through yet another origin story? I know we, as a people, have increasingly shorter attention spans and can’t retain memories for more than a few minutes, but I am getting deja vu all over again. Still, I will give credit where credit is due and confess that despite some logi-cal inconsistencies, the reboot could have been a lot worse.

    The film opens with little Peter Parker being delivered to Aunt May (Sally Field) and Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen) by his parents (Campbell Scott and Embeth Davidtz). Peter grows up and develops into a fine young man (Andrew Garfield), attending Midtown Science High School with Gwen Stacy (Stone) and Flash Thompson (Chris Zylka). Circumstances combine to reveal a connection between Peter’s father and Oscorp scientist Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans). Since it is so easy to get past security and sneak into top-secret corporate R&D offices, Peter joins a crowd of interns, coincidentally being led around by Gwen Stacy.

    She realizes that he doesn’t belong in her group, but since her future with Oscorp means nothing compared to boys she lets him slide by. Which he does, right into a highly secured facility filled with enough chemicals and stuff to make a million WMD’s. Despite his supposed smarts, he shows no hesitation in fiddling with an experiment that he knows nothing about, which leads to a radioactive spider biting him.

    That, along with Peter playing with his new spider powers, takes up about an hour of the film. Then, he rather unwisely decides to check in with Dr. Connors and provide him with some of the formulas his father had developed for cross-species genetic splicing. The two promptly begin testing a reptile-mice splice. Unbeknownst to Peter but knownst to the audience, Dr. Connors has been under pressure to make progress on his work or lose control of the project — and since Connors is missing an arm he is motivated to test the formula on himself.

    It turns out to be a bad decision, since it turns him into The Lizard, and ap-parently drives him a little nuts (though maybe he was nuts to begin with, or just mad with guilt over something he did or failed to do that will be covered in future films). Meanwhile, Peter is being an angst-filled teenage boy, getting into trouble at school and disappointing his Aunt and Uncle with his self-centered behavior.

    After a family fight, we get to see Uncle Ben get shot in the millionth version of the Spiderman “with great power comes great responsibility” scene. Depressed but super strong, Spiderman develops a cool new costume based on what the Olympians and Mexican wrestlers wear and sets out to find the guy that killed Uncle Ben. He quickly catches the attention of the Police Captain (a surprisingly well cast Denis Leary). Things get a bit cheesy and sentimental in the latter third of the film, but my interest was definitely piqued by the appearance of Michael Massee in an after-credits scene.

    Between the two films, Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin easily outshines Ifans’ Lizard and the 2002 plot was more logical. On the other hand, watch-ing Emma Stone play Gwen Stacy (the Gwen Stacy stories were better any-way) only illustrated how out of her depth Kirsten Dunst was as Mary Jane Watson, and the new costume is way better. Fans will not be disappointed, and if nothing else, this version sets up a character arc that can sustain a trilogy.

    Now showing at Wynnsong 7, Carmike 12 and Carmike Market Fair 15.

  • 07-25-12-starfish.gifA young girl was walking along a beach upon which thousands of starfi sh had washed up during a terrible storm. When she came to each starfish, she would pick it up, and throw it back into the ocean. People watched with amusement.

    After some time a man approached and said, “Little girl, you can’t save all these starfish. You can’t begin to make a difference!”

    The girl seemed crushed. But then she bent down, picked up another starfish, and hurled it far into the ocean. Then she looked up at the man and replied, “Well, I made a difference to that one!”

    Inspired, the old man joined the little girl in throwing starfish back into the sea. Soon others joined, and the starfish were saved.

                                                                  — adapted from the Star Thrower by Loren C. Eiseley

    At the Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation, each of us sees ourselves, as that little girl. Each of us has become a star thrower for cancer patients, cardiac-care patients, preemie babies, those family members far from home, those struggling to rehab and regain their sense of independence and even those bereaved and left to pick up the pieces of shattered lives. Each finds inspiration in their stories. Some find their motivation in cancer survivors like Brad Lose. Others may model themselves after Lonnie Player, former foundation chair, who today still continues cardiac rehabilitation 16 years after his third heart attack and subsequent quintuple bypass.

    Some may follow the lead of little Laura Bullard who sacrificed her birthday gifts in order to donate them in the form of stacks and stacks of children’s books to brighten the days for kids hospitalized at Cape Fear Valley.

    Then there are the heart-warming stories like the Coopers’ preemie twins, nursed tenderly for months until they could finally come home. One local real-estate association collected teddy bears. A bowling league and a highschool volleyball team both gathered dollars and cents and pledges for those suffering with cancer and heart disease. The effort, the star throwing, goes on in both big and little ways.

    All these foundation efforts and dollars cared for friends and families right here in Cumberland County. Each rescued starfi sh in his or her own way, in giving to the Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation.

    Why give to the Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation? For Lonnie Player, it was more than the expert cardiologists that performed the delicate bypass surgery. The foundation supported his cardiac rehabilitation, the nutritional plans and the careful, but vital exercise regimen he received. He follows those routines even today, more than 16 years later. According to Player, these donors and volunteers “provide things that are not traditionally provided for by a medical center, that make a difference, that give our patients the fi nest medical care that we can offer.”

    As a prime example, foundation gifts helped fund innovative new EKG equipment for its ambulances that provide dramatically faster cardiac emergency diagnosis and response. Now Cape Fear Valley cardiologists can monitor heart attack and stroke patients, in real time, while they are transported to the hospital. That lets our physicians treat blockages in as little as 12 minutes, once they reach the emergency department. Most hospitals struggle to provide similar treatment in about 60 minutes.

    Similarly, the foundation was able to fund unique Giraffe beds for neonatal intensive care patients. Premature infants respond as though the bed is an artificial womb, keeping the baby at proper moisture levels, warm and cozy. Laurin and Beverly Cooper had their twins at just 23 weeks; the Giraffe beds cradled and comforted them for months. Says Laurin, “I honestly believe that without [the giraffe beds], I don’t think our boys would have made it.”

    Just as important, are the little things these volunteers do. Brad Lose and his mother, both cancer survivors, point to the wonderful things the staff and volunteers do at the cancer center. It’s a “magical place,” says Brad. “They are the most amazing people and the work they do is unbelievable.” Their efforts cover the costs of hairpieces for those undergoing chemotherapy. Transportation to and from appointments. Free or subsidized extended stay at the Stanton Hospitality House, for out-of-town families that can’t afford it. Foundation donations even provide for a burial fund for infants when parents, already wracked with grief, don’t have money for a proper burial. Foundation volunteers are star throwers who take pressure off, who understand how little things can make it easier for patients and family, who are genuinely happy to see you, who have their own stories of pain, fear and anxiety, and yet give of themselves to donate their time and money to help patients and families here in Cumberland County.

    Despite all that the foundation staff, survivors, volunteers and donors do to comfort patients and families, there always remains more to do. That’s because hospitals like Cape Fear Valley Health continue to have their budgets stretched in ways that might otherwise compromise care. Unfortunately, we can’t all be in the operating suite or direct radiation therapy or unblock a clogged artery. Together, however, we can put all our efforts, big and small, to work for our neighbors, friends and family who find themselves needing the services of Cape Fear Valley Health. There are still starfi sh to rescue. They need star throwers like you.

    Photo: Individuals can make a difference.

  • As the Fayetteville SwampDogs enter the dog days of summer, the team has continued to flourish and find success both on and off the field. In Perfect Game USA’s most recent rankings, the SwampDogs were once again included in the top 30 summer collegiate teams in the nation.

    Fayetteville has been near the top of the overall league standings for the majority of the season, and has continued to remain involved in the local community.

    The team recently held its annual bowling tournament to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. The Dogs teamed up with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage to combine family fun, charitable opportunities and competitive athletics for a day of fun-filled entertainment. SwampDogs staff members, players and fans came out to B&B Lanes on Fort Bragg Road on Sunday, July 15, and hosted what proved to be a successful event for all parties involved.

    Two more events will take place on Saturday, July 21, as the team’s pancake breakfast and Striking Out Cancer Night highlight an exciting Saturday at “The Swamp.” Proceeds from the breakfast will once again benefit the Wounded Warrior Project, as the event gets underway at 8 a.m. Striking Out Cancer Night, presented by Cape Fear Valley Health System, is an opportunity for fans to bid on special pink jerseys that the team will wear during Saturday night’s contest. Fans07-18-12-pink-jersey.gif can bid online leading up to the conclusion of the game, with all of the proceeds benefitting the Friends of the Cancer Center.

    Other games this week include Family Fun Night on Friday, July 20. The first 500 fans will receive the eighth edition of the Fun-Go Bobblehead. On Tuesday, July 24, fans can wear UNC gear for ticket discounts.

    As always, the Miller Lite Liberty Lounge will be open with eight different beers on tap, hot dogs and hamburgers, all for one dollar each. Free popcorn, peanuts and soft drinks are also available throughout the game.

    For information regarding any of the SwampDogs’ upcoming events, visit or call the business office at 426-5900 and get involved today.

    Photo: On July 21 bid on a pink SwampDogs jersey and proceeds help fight cancer.

  • uac071812.gif Success. It is what parents want for their children. As a society it is what the nation desperately needs from the next generation. Getting them there is the challenge, and Dr. Teresa Pinckney is facing it head on, just like she has for almost two decades. On July 27, The Mind Over Matter Youth Development Institute hosts the Back-to-School Teen Explosion conference. It’s an end-of-summer event designed not only to empower and to motivate, but also to inspire teens to succeed in the coming school year.

    The conference provides critical skills needed for academic success and is supported by local businesses, community agencies and colleges. The Back-to-School Teen Explosion Conferences aims to bridge the gap between youth and local businesses. When students understand the relationship between education and success, everyone wins. Students perform well and businesses have a competent and motivated workforce.

    Pinckney specializes in youth program development: transition to high school, leadership, volunteer coordination, outreach, non-profit capacity building staff training and development. “I’ve always been actively involved in the community,” said Pinckney. “The greatest joy for me is seeing students that I have worked with in the past and them telling me what they are doing to be productive citizens.”

    Empowering teens to think big and realize their potential as successful young adults is a win-win for the students and the organizations that take time to come out and support them. This event provides youth with the opportunity to meet local businesses owners and local college representatives. It’s not only informational it is a way to show young people that they can achieve their dreams.

    “One thing I tell the kids is that knowledge is power. If you know something no one can take that away,” said Pinckney. “I teach them that persistence is important. I want to inspire them to do the best they can do in life.”

    Students who attend the conference will learn skills that will help prepare them for the rigors of the school year, understand the relationship between education and work-force development, learn about potential career opportunities, complete a career assessment, learn about what to expect from life after high school. While the topics are serious, the day promises to be fun and engaging. Attendees will participate in thought-provoking discussions and interactive workshops. Local business leaders will be on hand to share their insights and experiences regarding the value of education in the workplace. Information and exhibits will be available providing the latest information to prepare teens for entering the workforce and preparing for college.

    Scheduled breakout sessions during the event include:07-18-12-teens-shopping.gif

    • “My Character Prepares Me for Employability Skills”: Creative presentation of character education and workforce skills needed for after-school/summer employment and internships

    • “Why Do I have to Learn this Stuff?” School Success for the 2012-2013 school year

    • “Life Beyond High School”: College and Beyond, preparing for college with a 10-year plan

    • “Show me the Money”: Financial Literacy and the importance of managing finances

    • “I am Overcome by Anxiety!” Strategies on how to prepare for the SAT & ACT College Entrance Exams

    • “Habits of Mind”: Interactive activities designed to utilize critical thinking skills needed for school success

    • “STEM Factory”: Interactive activities related to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math

    There are some great resources for students to take home with them, too. Everyone will take a learning-style inventory, which is great for helping students understand the ways they earn and how to use this information to their greatest advantage. A career assessment is provided to help attendees get an idea of what job will likely be a good fit for their personality and interests. A job skills readiness manual is also included for each student. The manual, combined with the insights and advice from local businesses gives a clear picture of what employers are looking for in today’s work place. Conference attendees will also receive a 2012-2013 student planner, a T-shirt, a Teen X Success Kit and a quarterly newsletter throughout the year.

    As an advocate for youth, Dr. Pinckney has spent the past 25 years working with kids through programs like the Girls Scouts, various school systems, The Junior League, United Way and Partnership for Children to name a few. Her work with youth lead Pinckney to start The Mind Over Matter Youth Development Institute as a Division of T. Pinckney & Associates. The institute serves education, nonprofit and government agencies that serve youth. The organization is committed to supporting high standards in education and agencies that provide educational services.

    07-18-12-teens-reading.gifShe’s helped her fair share of young people in her time, and has no intention of stopping anytime soon. “I’ve gotten 1,000 kids into college,” said Pinckney. “I think it’s important to empower students. It’s about opportunity … having the knowledge and being prepared.”

    The program runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and includes a continental breakfast as well as lunch. Individual registration is $35 with a $5 military discount; multiple-family registration is $35 for the first child and a $10 discount for each additional child. Group registration is $20 per student with a minimum group size of eight. Call 322-6198 or visit www.mymindovermatter.com to register or find out more information.

    Photo: Top right- Dr. Teresa Pinckney, a long-time advocate for youth, has a great day planned for Teen Explosion.; bottom left - Youth today face some serious challenges on the path to success. Teen Explosion helps equip them for the future.

  • Downtown Fayetteville has always been a place of note, but more recently it has been for the lively cultural and artistic scene. Throughout the week downtown is buzzing with events and people enjoying the individual shops and delicious restaurants, but once a month they all band together and stay open late to give the public a venue to enjoy the cities wealth of culture and art. This month on July 27, downtown Fayetteville will be open and bustling, with most shops staying open later for the event.

    This month the theme for 4th Friday is Christmas in July. The local kids museum Fascinate-U has fully embraced this theme by offering families a chance to come in and make mitten ornaments for their Christmas Tree. Additionally admission is free and everything in the gift shops is 10 percent off. The museum reminds patrons that the gift shop is full of perfect stocking stuffers for children. The museum will be open for 7 - 9 p.m.07-18-12-4thfriday.gif

    For those interested in history, particularly history pertaining to Fayetteville, the Market House and the Transportation Museum are the places to be. The Market House in the center of downtown will be open from 6 - 10 p.m. hosting an exhibit on the Downtown Revitalization in its upstairs room. The Transportation Museum at 325 Franklin St. will be open to the public with history directly pertaining to Fayetteville and its growth as a city. It will have a model train room and many artifact filled exhibits.

    The art scene in Fayetteville will also be alive and on display during the 4th Friday Festivities. The Arts Council will be embracing the green movement and promoting creative recycling by opening its newest exhibit “Recycle! It’s Second Nature.” This event is being sponsored by the City of Fayetteville’s Environmental Services Department and will be on display from 7 to 9 p.m. Mary Kinney, the marketing director of the Arts Council, explains that this exhibit has been on display before and is always sponsored by the Environmental Services Department. Local artists were given a list of materials that were allowed to use, but given no other specifi cations for this exhibit.

    “What’s new this year is we will also be holding a recycling fashion show,” Kinney said.

    Artists in both shows are given the same list of materials and access to a local recycling center to claim materials. Artists are free to be creative with their art with what they choose to make it.

    “They could use plastic, newspapers, aluminum foil, cereal boxes, junk mail, newspapers, magazines,” says Kinney listing some of the possible materials artists could use. The creativity of the area is truly on display and imagination is the only limiting factor when transforming what many would consider garbage into art. The Arts Council will also provide cash prices for those who enter; a $350 prize for the winner of the art show and for the fashion show there is $250 up for grabs. Deadlines for forms and artwork must be turned in July 20-21.

    Gallery One13 will also be open later than normal for the festivities. Located on 113 Gillespie Street the gallery will be open until 9p.m. displaying art for all to enjoy.

    Headquarters Library located at 300 Maiden Lane will also host activities the entire family can enjoy. From 7p.m. to 8:45p.m.the library will present a Broadway Musical Review with refreshments provided by SYSTEL. Local dancers, singers and students as well as choreographer Rhonda Brocki, accompanist Adita Harless and Dr. Gail Morfesis make up the group Gail Morfesis & Company.

  • Summer is going by quickly at Methodist University. The last summer term started Monday, July 9, leaving just six weeks until the start of the fall term. Faculty, staff and coaches are preparing for the coming semester, while workers are also preparing the fi nishing touches on two new buildings that will open in the fall.

    Hundreds of freshman will arrive for orientation Aug. 17, but many student athletes will move onto campus before then. The Methodist University football program will bring roughly 130 new students and 100 returning students on campus Aug. 8 to begin training for the upcoming football season. They will be joined by athletic training students, who help the school’s professionally certifi ed athletic trainers support the MU teams. Students in the marching band also come on campus at the same time, to start practicing for their season.

    The Methodist community knows that the start of the new school year is right around the corner when they hear the marching band practicing on Coach Sink Field or see the players running drills on the football field.

    Before any students move in, the housekeeping and maintenance staffs work tirelessly to get the residence halls back in shape for the opening of the school year. Between the times that summer camps end and the fall semester starts, activity in the residence halls is a whirlwind of cleaning and polishing, making sure students’ new home away from home is ready.

    Adding to the activity this summer is the soon-to-be-completed Nursing Building and the three-story sophomore residence hall. Both buildings are slated to be open for the fall semester.

    One hundred lucky students will be the first residents of the new sophomore hall in the coming months. The new 27,000-square-foot residence hall is located on the perimeter of Sink Field, flanked by the Greek houses on opposite sides of the intramural fi eld. The building will top off the development around the fi eld and be a centerpiece for a new community on the MU campus.

    The new hall is very different from any other residence halls on campus, and embraces a modern living/learning model that is creating a buzz in higher education. As well as lobbies on each fl oor and a snack-bar store to service residents living around or visiting Sink Field, the new building will have a functional classroom space.

    The hall will have 50 two-person rooms, each with its own private bathroom. Those 100 beds will also mean the end of subsidized off-campus apartments for the many students who wanted to live on campus but just could not find a space.

    Across campus, work is nearly done on the new Nursing Building. Next semester will be the first full semester of nursing classes for the Professional Nursing Studies Program. For the past two years, pre-nursing students have been taking all their core and pre-required classes.

    The jewel of the new $3.2 million facility is the MU General Simulation Hospital. About half of the 10,000-square-foot facility will be designed for the hospital — designed to replicate scenarios from the fi rst moment a patient arrives to be admitted until they are discharged. The simulation hospital also includes a pharmacy, nurse’s stations, pediatric ward, critical care rooms, triage suite, and07-18-12-methodist-nursing-bidg.gif six simulated patients who range from an infant to adult, including an expectant mother.

    The patients — life-sized computerized mannequins — can breathe, speak, have audible vital sounds and progress through various medical scenarios from birth to death. The patients are not the only high-tech part of the hospital, either. Throughout the hospital, 41 ceiling-mounted cameras will record the action so students can go back and observe, and ultimately improve their performance. The cameras are part of the learning space by Medical Education Technologies, Inc., which acts as the brain of the simulation.

    In addition to the hospital, the new facility will have a 60-seat auditorium, classroom space, a computer lab, faculty and administrative offi ces, and a student lounge.

    To learn more about Methodist University and its programs, please visit www.methodist.edu or search for “Methodist University” on Facebook.

    Photo: The new nursing building at Methodist University. 

  • As a CPA searching more than four years for a franchise opportunity that provided business-to-business services, Jim Pittman really didn’t know much about making signs. Nor did his wife, Dellmarie, with her background in marketing and banking. Yet that little detail did not prevent them from opening a FASTSIGNS® center on Raeford Road in Fayetteville more than16 years ago. Starting with one employee, two computers that didn’t talk to one another and a small plotter, the Pittmans have successfully grown their business – and outgrown their storefront. So at a time when other businesses may be downsizing or even contemplating closing up shop, Pittman and his wife will soon put up new signage at their new and larger location, just down the street from their present center.

    Pittman grew up in Goldsboro and met his wife, who was from Shallotte, at Carolina. They moved to Fayetteville in 1987, and after leaving their respective first careers, partnered in their FASTSIGNS franchise. When the center first opened, Dellmarie directed outside sales. After the birth of their third child, she decided to stay at home, but remains active in the business.

    The new building is the culmination of hard work, fl exibility and, as Pittman acknowledges, meeting the customer’s needs, noting that the military, builders and real estate businesses are important FASTSIGNS clients in a very competitive business field.

    “Fort Bragg keeps us busy,” said Pittman. “Why do we get so much military business? Our reputation. Customer service. We know everyone says that. We consistently get very high marks. We survey our customers by email. We send them a little three-question survey. We’ve always done that, and we get really good scores. We’ve won ‘Best of Fayetteville’ two years in a row.”

    A quick visit to the website, www.fastsigns.com/243-fayetteville-nc, reveals offerings from signs and graphics to interactive and digital product solutions. But Pittman explains that FASTSIGNS is more than just a sign shop.

    “We want a relationship for a long time. We’re a service provider. We’re not a sign shop. We’re a sign center. Our new tagline just came out in April. ‘More than fast. More than signs.™’”07-18-12-fast-signs.gif

    Noting that it was not easy to find a retail building for sale, Pittman is pleased with the location.

    “All of our good customers are literally right around the corner,” Pittman said. “It gives us the ability to expand into new areas. It gives us more room, more parking and easy access. Most of our business is other businesses. Visibility is important. You want your customers to be able to fi nd you.”

    And the increased size of the new location will provide plenty of space for the Pittmans and their staff, which has grown to 10 full- and part-time employees.

    “It’s 6,700 square feet,” said Pittman. “We’re taking 4,600 feet of it and leasing out 2,100. It’s basically twice as big as our center is now.”

    The Pittmans’ success with a franchise business in which they had no previous experience or knowledge is no doubt the result of their absolute commitment to customer service and long-term relationships with clients, as well as an advantageous business environment with close ties to Fort Bragg and the military community. Would he, looking back, make such a decision again?

    “Absolutely! I’d have done it quicker!”

    FASTSIGNS is currently located at 2703 Raeford Rd. The new center at 2807 Raeford Rd., is expected to open its doors this summer. For more information, call (910) 678-8111 or visit their website.

    Photo: Fast Signs is looking to build new relationships as the business expands.

  • 07-18-12-airplane.gifExcitement spreads across the face of a young boy as his mother hands him a used remote-control car she found at a local yard sale. It wasn’t just any remote control car, it was identical to one he had recently lost when their home caught on fi re. The Piedmont Aeromodlers Flying Club also knows the joy of remote controls. The club builds and fl ies all types of model aircraft.

    On July 28 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., you can join in the joy and wonder of flying as the Cliffdale Regional Branch, Library hosts the Radio Controlled Static Airplane Show. Radiocontrolled static airplanes are scale modeled airplanes. The aircraft are normally built by the flyer, but can be purchased and are controlled by a transmitter. Radio signals are transmitted through the controller, which the pilot operates, to a receiver inside the aircraft.

    The airplane show will feature various types of model aircrafts, and showcase flying masterpieces and their builders. Some of the builders have been flying model aircraft for more than 37 years. Aircraft flown will be controlled from a small box (remote control) and vary in wing span from 24 to 120 inches. These flying wonders will delight the hearts of all ages. A flight simulator will also be at the library during the show where visitors can experience flying a simulated aircraft.

    This show is just one of the exciting features that the Piedmont Aeromodlers Flying club brings to the Cumberland County area. Located off of Haywood Road, this club is a high flyer when it comes to charities and local fundraisers. They have participated in supporting the Falcon’s Children’s home, Toys for Tots and other local fundraisers. Flight instruction is also available for children at the Academy of Model Aeronautics.

    Each year, three main events are held by the club. These events are: the Aerobatic Contest, the Fun Flyers and the Scale War Bird, all of which are open to the public. Novices as well as experienced model flyers are encouraged to attend. The Aerobatic contest spurs interest from Florida all the way to Pennsylvania, the Fun Flyer’s event is normally held in the spring and features larger model aircraft, and around November, the Scale War Bird event features military or war related planes. For information regarding the Flying Club, go to www. piedmontaeromodelers.com.

    If you are interested in modeling airplanes, intrigued by aircraft, or simply fascinated about aeronautics, take off to the air show. The pilots who have so caringly and carefully crafted these models would be delighted to see you there. Perhaps as they share their love of fl ying and model aircrafts you would be inspired to start a modeling hobby of your own. Or perhaps you may be inspired to soar in your life, to take fl ight past the blowing winds and demands and gain control. If nothing else you will have a chance to experience some outstanding fl ying works of art.

    Photo: The airplane show will feature various types of model aircrafts, and showcase flying masterpieces and their builders. 

  • 07-18-12-young-jeezy.gifAfter 25 years, the Foxy 99 Summer Jam is still going strong, with Young Jeezy as the big name this year. Featuring both big names and local musicians, the Summer Jam draws thousands of people every year, fi lling up the Crown Coliseum. This year, the artist lineup is quite impressive, featuring not only Young Jeezy but Elle Varner, Yo Gotti, Kstylis, Driicky Graham, Shaggy, Sterling Simms, Pleasure P and Joe Moses.

    North Carolina native Driicky Graham of Oxford is most famous for his song “Snapbacks and Tattoos” which fi rst was aired on NYC’s Hot 97. Since then, he has worked with eOne music (formerly Koch Records) and reached No. 63 on Billboard. With his new mix-tape, Ya Gotta Start Somewhere, available for download, he has to be on cloud nine. Hosted by DJ Ill Will, the mix-tape has 15 songs by Driicky, and word on the street is that he spits like Kid Ink and is a breath of fresh air in the rap world. There is sure to be more from him in the near future with his growing fan base and new mix-tape, Ya Gotta Start Somewhere.

    When Summer Jam started becoming a large attraction for hip hop and rap enthusiasts, Foxy 99 decided to pull major artists into its lineup. With past performers such as J Cole, Rick Ross and Ludacris, Foxy 99 got into a major bind last year. They weren’t able to come up with any major artists for their 25th year of Summer Jam, so they postponed it, then cancelled the whole event. Cancelling wasn’t what Foxy liked doing, but the big names were on tour and weren’t going to be available in time. With that discouraging note behind them, Foxy 99 has decided to continue its tradition of Summer Jam this year by revamping the whole concert into a bigger event than years past, their intention is to attract more people and bigger names to perform in future Summer Jams.

    With Young Jeezy as the headliner, people are excited about the concert. His career started in 2001 under an independent label, he joined Boyz N Da Hood in 2005, the same year his solo major debut Lets Get It: Thug Motivation 101 was released. With several records to pull from such as The Recession, Thug Motivation 103: Hustlerz Ambition and several others, Jeezy can always surprise the audience with the songs that he chooses for the night. Thug Motivation 103: Hustlerz Ambition debuted at No. 3 on Billboard 200 in December of 2011, selling 233,000 copies in its fi rst week. Needless to say, people are pretty excited for this event.

    Summer Jam 2012 will be held in the Crown Coliseum, like previous years, and it will start at 6:30 p.m. July 28. Tickets cost anywhere from $10 to $60 and can be purchased on the Crown Coliseum’s website at www.atthecrown.com, or at www.Ticketmaster.com.

  • A Diamond in the Park Plan07-18-12-lakerim_000.gif

    There is a real diamond in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan that has not had much discussion. That gem is the Senior Citizens’ Center listed as an addition behind the Aquatic and Therapeutic Swimming Pool in Mazarick Park.

    The verbal thunder is roaring over the referendum and the tax rhetoric is deafening. And rightly so, the tax questions need to be addressed and proper concern given to the financing in this difficult economy.

    But there is a time (as in the darkest moments of the Great Depression) when a vision has to be offered up — especially if it potentially knits a sense of community.

    As presented, the Master Plan for Parks and Recreation does offer something for everyone — youth to seniors.

    My soapbox is the senior center — and it has been my rant for more than 13 years. $500,000 in encumbered funds was set aside several years ago for the exclusive use of building a senior center. And there it sits aging, just like the population in Cumberland County.

    More retirees are choosing to remain in Fayetteville, a community they have come to know, enjoy and contribute to during working careers. Many are military with a wonderful heritage to share; others are locals and the guardians of the local history and legends.

    In spite of recent setbacks that challenge the quality of living in our community (i.e. the closing of the Museum of Art), the Botanical Garden, Special Operations and Cape Fear museums, our theatres, the festivals and the historic ambiance of the restaurants and boutiques on Hay St. have started to build a “destination” label for Fayetteville.

    But if you take an “investment” perspective into community growth, it has to be more than attracting another DOD contractor or building another multi-family complex. High density housing, stalled traffic, fast food paradise and high local taxes are not attractions to convince many new retirees to relocate into Fayetteville and are causing other (often more affluent) residents to reconsider a move to a quieter, greener lifestyle.

    The pace of our present lifestyles often give short shrift to the older residents, but step back and assess their contributions both in money and as volunteers to our charitable and cultural organizations. (It may surprise many that more than 50 percent of the national GNP is generated from volunteers). They also are the heart of the craft manufacturing in Fayetteville, turning out pottery, paintings, sculpture, quilts, jewelry — and even moonshine jelly making a collectors and tourism market that turns a few dollars in the local economy. They sing, play in bands, dance and on the stage — and that results in more coins passing palms to support struggling nonprofits and local charities. Many seniors work part-time in small businesses that cannot afford a full-time workers requiring full benefits or babysitting so children can go to work. The day of “rocking chair” senior citizens is a myth.

    The question of course is “What does this have to do with the senior citizen center proposed in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan?” If the stereotype of senior citizens should be burst so should the public concept of a senior center.

    Fifteen years ago I went with a Fayetteville delegation to visit the senior center in Wilmington, N.C. Certainly it had the “required” activities — exercise areas, a card room, a billiard room, classrooms with computers, craft rooms and an area just get together for a cup of coffee. But it also was a successful model for public/private investment.

    The center boasts a great restaurant (private) that also serves as the community distribution point for the meals-on-wheels program (public). A large auditorium with a stage is used to produce plays written by local playwrights (private) and concerts (private/public). The main floor is used for ballroom dancing and various exhibitions. And a local entrepreneur leases space as a consignment store for the arts and crafts being made onsite.

    In times of community emergencies such as hurricanes, the center serves as headquarters for emergency responders and as a shelter for Wilmington, N.C. citizens.

    And if none of the above convinces you that a senior center cannot only be self-supporting but a small but mighty economic driver — residents from Oak Island, N.C., pay fees to be able to use and attend activities at the facility.

    Let’s find a way to finance the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and all the wonderful ballparks, swimming pools, stadiums, skateboard parks, green space and the multiuse Senior Citizen’s Center — whether $34 annually on a $150,000 home, a small sales tax or use fees. The Center already has $500,000 in its checking account. Let’s leverage it!! We have everything to gain and a huge opportunity to lose.

  • Craving authentic Italian cuisine? Conveniently located near Cape Fear Valley Hospital, L07-11-12-little-italy.gifittle Italy is truly a gem in Fayetteville. Their motto? “Where we eat and speak Italian.” And they mean that literally — both Joe and Antonella Scibila speak fluent Italian and Sicilian. Their goal is to provide Fayetteville with a true touch of Italy right in the heart of Fayetteville.

    Giuseppe “Joe” Scibila, a native of Sicily, immigrated to the United States at the age of 18. Once here, he went to work at an Italian restaurant and fell in love with the owner’s daughter, Antonella. Antonella’s family, also from Sicily, had migrated to Brooklyn, N.Y., before eventually settling in the Carolinas.

    Joe and Antonella eventually married. In 1995 the young couple opened their own restaurant, Roma Pizza Cafe, in downtown Fayetteville on Person Street. After 12 fruitful years in that location, they sold the restaurant to relocate to Myrtle Beach, S.C. However, the pull of long-time customers and friends convinced them they needed to move back to the area. Says Antonella, “When you’ve been in business so long, your customers no longer are customers, they become your friends.”

    With their new venture, Little Italy, they were determined to give clients authentic Italian decor. They used their own photographs of scenery from their visits to family still in Sicily, and had them enlarged into murals to give customers the feel of sitting at an outdoor Italian cafe. A charming faux Italian terra cotta roof line and baroque arches frame the full color scenic snapshots completing the look. You will truly feel like you have stepped right into an Italian forum.

    As you would imagine, their extensive menu is impressively Italian. Specializing in homemade pastas and sauces, you will find classic favorites like homemade lasagna, fettuccini alfredo, ravioli and veal or eggplant parmigiana. “All ingredients are fresh and most of our produce is from locally owned farmers markets,” explains Antonella.

    Feeling a bit more adventurous? Be sure to try one of the house specialties like the chicken sorrentino. A sumptuous chicken breast is layered with a thin slice of ham, eggplant and fresh mozzarella then sautéed in a delicate wine sauce with fresh mushrooms and minced onions over a bed of penne pasta.

    If you don’t see a favorite on their menu, just ask. According to Antonella they can probably make it for you. They have many items for vegetarian diners, as well as an option to have gluten-free penne pasta prepared with any of their pasta sauces.

    For those in your party that are not in the mood for pasta, Little Italy also serves hot and cold subs, pitas, and of course, authentic New York-style pizza.

    Be sure to save room after dinner. No Italian meal is complete without an original cappuccino accompanied by a piece of genuine New York-style cheesecake, tiramisu or a fresh baked cannoli.

    Little Italy can be found at 1400 Walter Reed Rd., Suite 130. The restaurant is open at 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day except Saturday when they open at 1 p.m. They also do local catering. In a hurry? You can even get your dinner to go by calling 867-8700.

    Photo: Little Italy provides a great atmosphere and delicious food.

  • uac071112001.gifThinking of cool ways to escape the scorching days of summer? The Fayetteville area has many museums and galleries with activities and exhibits to suit most anyone’s interests. Engage your brain, support the arts and maybe even learn a thing or two.

    Museum of the Cape Fear- The Museum of the Cape Fear is located near downtown Fayetteville on Arsenal Street. Permanent exhibits include displays featuring North Carolina ranging from the Paleo-Indian period through the early 1900s.

    It’s Electrifying!Opens July 14 and runs through Sept. 16. The traveling exhibit, sponsored by the North Carolina Museum of History, showcases how electricity changed lives in the early 20th century.

    Also located on the property are the Poe House and Arsenal Park. The 1897 Poe House offers a peek into life in the early 20th century in the south. Tours are available and highlight women’s roles, African-American history, children’s roles and technological, economic and social changes in southern North Carolina and the country during this era.

    Arsenal Park was used by the federal government to manufacture and store ordnance in the mid-1800s. It was commissioned in 1838. During the Civil War the site was used to produce rifl es and ammunition. In 1865, Arsenal Park was destroyed by Gen. William, T. Sherman and his troops as they moved to Atlanta.

    Programs at the Museum include the History Ranger Program, Mommy, Me and the Museum Makes Three and 2nd Saturday Art Festivals. Find out more at museumofthecapefear.ncdcr.gov or by calling 486-1330.

    The Arts Council - A strong supporter of the arts and local artists, the Arts Council Fayetteville/Cumberland County switches out exhibits monthly. Through July 21, visitors can enjoy Reflections: Empowering People with Disabilities. July 27-Aug. 18 check out Recycle! It’s Second Nature, a show that will feature work by artists of all ages who submit artwork from recycled materials. This show is sponsored by the City of Fayetteville’s Environmental Services Department. The Human Form debuts Aug. 24 and runs through Sept. 29.

    The Arts Council also hosts 4th Friday each month and provides grants to local arts-related organizations and and artists in the community. Neighborhood Art Attacks are sponsored periodically by the Arts Council, as are the International Folk Festival and Dickens Holiday. Find out more about the Arts Council Fayetteville/Cumberland County at www.theartscouncil.com.

    Cape Fear Studios- Located at 148 Maxwell St. in downtown Fayetteville, Cape Fear Studios is an artist cooperative featuring the works of local painters, photographers, sculptors, potters, woodworkers, glass artists and jewelers. Offering a new exhibit each month, Cape Fear Studios hosts both national and local exhibits. Stop by and maybe you will catch a local artist at work in one of the many studios.

    In addition to exhibits, the gallery offers classes in several mediums including painting, drawing and stained glass. Cape Fear Studios also partners with Cape Fear Botanical Gardens on projects and classes.

    Find out more about Cape Fear Studios at www.capefearstudios.com.

    Gallery 208 - An intimate gallery located in the corporate offi ces of Up & Coming Weekly at 208 Rowan St., Gallery 208 features the hyper-realism works of Phillip Kidd and Rose-Ann San Martino.

    Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum - From Native-American trails to steamboats and trains, explore the importance of the early trade communities of Cross Creek and Campbellton. This museum outlines the development of the plank road system that connected Fayetteville to other towns throughout North Carolina. African-American slave labor was used to build the plank roads. Formerly, the building was home to the Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley Railroad Company, which opened in Fayetteville in 1879 as a reorganization of the former Western railroad.

    The museum hosts themed exhibits throughout the year and also participates in 4th Friday events and hosts the Fayetteville Farmers Market on Saturdays and Wednesdays during the harvest season.

    Find out more about the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum by calling 800-255-8217 or visit ww.fcpr.us/transportation_museum.aspx.

    Fascinate U - Filled with education hand-on exhibits, this kid-friendly museum offers a place for kids to grow, learn, create and play. With events like Make It Take It and Super Science Saturdays, kids can learn while participating in fun filled and interesting activities. On the first and third Saturdays of the month, the Cape Fear Railroaders hosts an open house from 12-4 p.m. The model-train exhibits include a winter wonderland and Thomas the Train.

    Fascinate U is a strong supporter of 4th Friday and features a craft and free admission during 4th Friday. Find out more about Fascinate U at www.fascinate-u.com.

    Airborne & Special Operations Museum - Located in the heart of downtown Fayetteville, the Airborne & Special Operations Museum offers a unique educational experience on the United States military.The museum is currently hosting The Animal Called POW: U.S. Special Forces Prisoners of the Vietcong, an exhibit that describes and shows what life was like for Special Forces and Military Assistance Command soldiers held as prisoners in South Vietnam. Tour the Forrest of Darkness, check out the inside of an indoctrination hut, examine a tiger cage (torture cell) and learn about how rescue missions are planned and conducted. The exhibit runs through January of 2013.

    Permanent exhibitions at the museum cover the 1940s when the U.S. Army first tested parachute teams and concludes with airborne and special operations units of today.

    The simulator adds excitement to any visit to the museum with exciting films that put the viewer at the center of the action.

    N.C. Veterans Park is adjacent to ASOM and complements the museum. The park opened in 2011 and is built on the theme “Veteran’s Journey: life before, during, and after service.” The secondary theme is rebirth and healing.

    The park features a 3,500 square foot visitors center that includes a Service Ribbon Wall made of fused glass that represents every service medal awarded since the Civil War. There is also a chandelier made from 33,500 dog tags.

    The North Carolina Soils Wall is built with solids collected from the state’s 100 counties. Soils native to North Carolina are featured throughout the park.07-11-12-cover-story.gif

    Find out more about ASOM at www.asomf.org and the N.C. Veteran’s Park at www.ncveteranspark.org.

    82nd Airborne Division Museum - Military enthusiasts are in for a treat at the 82nd Airborne Division Museum. The museum showcases the history and development of airborne forces. Check out the many artifacts related to all things airborne. There are several military aircraft on display as well exhibits covering World War I, World War II, post World War II, Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Grenada, Operation Golden Pheasant, Panama, Desert Shield/Storm, Hurricane Andrew, Operation Restore Democracy: Haiti, Operation Restore Hope: Cuban Refugees, Operation Joint Endeavor: Bosnia, Operation Allied Force: Kosovo, Operation Enduring Freedom: Afghanistan, Operation Iraqi Freedom: Iraq, Hurricane Katrina and Division Reorganization.

    The museum collects artifacts so that future generations can understand the past and learn from it. Find out more about the museum at www.82ndairbornedivisionmuseum.com.

    The JFK Special Warfare Museum- The U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Museum collects preserves, exhibits and interprets historical property used to support the training and mission of the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. It is the regimental museum for the U.S. Army Special Forces, Civil Affairs and Military Support Operations. Exhibits range from World War I displays of the Office of Strategic Servic, the original special-service force to current military operations. Find out more about the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Museum Association at www.jfkwebstore.com.

    Methodist University - Housed within the William F. Bethune Center for Visual Arts, the David McCune International Art Gallery coordinates exhibitions of art by students, regional, national, and international artists, educating students and the public through a diverse representation of fine art.

    The McCune Gallery is open from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. To find out more call the gallery at 425-5379.

    FSU- Opening July 28 and running through Aug. 1, is the Discover Art exhibition. Aug. 4-18 the feature exhibit is High Times, Hard Times, North Carolina, curated by Soni Martin. On Aug. 16, don’t miss the lecture by Dwight Smith – Art: Abstraction, Social Change and Cultural Identity in My Postwar America. The lecture runs from 2:30-3:30 p.m. There will be a reception from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. on August 18.

    FTCC - Visit www.faytechcc.edu or call 678-8400 to fi nd out more about its galleries and fi ne arts programs.

    Photo: Bottom right; Cool off at some of the local museums and galleries. 

  • WORDS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

    The words make the difference
    In the world of adult contemporary music what makes Christian songs different is primarily the lyrics. I07-11-12-mercy--me.gifn this week’s edition of The Buzz, we highlight the words from a few of the more popular Christian songs of the day.

    When Mercy Found Me – Rhett Walker Band
    Album - Come To The River
    But that’s where I met Jesus
    In one moment everything changed
    Who I was got washed away
    When mercy found me
    My savior’s arms were open wide
    And I felt love for the very first time
    When mercy found me

    The Hurt & The Healer – MercyMe
    Album - The Hurt & The Healer
    It’s the moment when humanity
    Is overcome by majesty
    When grace is ushered in for good 07-11-12-toby-mac.gif
    And all our scars are understood
    Jesus, come and break my fear
    Wake my heart and take my tears
    Find your glory even here
    When the hurt and the healer collide

    Forgiveness – Matthew West
    Album - Into The Light
    It’s the hardest thing to give away
    And the last thing on your mind today
    It always goes to those who don’t deserve
    It’s the opposite of how you feel
    When they pain they caused is just too real
    Takes everything you have to say the word
    Forgiveness, forgiveness 07-11-12-matthew-west.gif

    Me Without You - TobyMac
    And where would I be, without you
    I’d be packing my bags when I need to stay
    I’d be chasing every breeze that blows my way
    I’d be building my kingdom to just watch it fade away, it’s true
    That’s me without you

    Like all great songs, the music and production are top notch. The difference is the impact the lyrics are having on the lives of those who choose to listen. Contemporary Christian music — give it a try…it could change your life.

    Photos: Top right; MercyMe, middle right; Toby Mac, bottom right; Matthew West
  • 07-11-12-duke-children\'s.gifChristmas isn’t what you typically think of in July, but for many bikers in the Fayetteville area, it’s all that’s on their mind right now. For nine years and counting, bikers from Fayetteville and the surrounding area have come together to help the children of The Children’s Miracle Network and Duke Children’s Hospital.

    In years past, the bikers had to pay $15 and an unwrapped gift; addi-tional riders had to pay $10. The gifts are put in the “treasure chest” for the children at the Duke Children’s Hospital. Throughout the years, William Winford has seen changes in the event. Due to its location in Fayetteville, many troops have been overseas during the event, but there is still a good turnout from the other locals. Even with the downward spiral of the econo-my in the past few years, he has still seen how the area embraces the event and the numbers of bikers increase, it is a little bigger and more promoted every year, they have advertised in areas that they haven’t even looked at for advertising in years past.

    They are expanding their advertising, so they can get more riders year after year because this event means a lot to the children of the hospital and to their nurses who give them the toys. It also means a great deal to the riders — some of whom were patienst at Duke or whose children have been helped by the facility.

    In providing the best care possible to society’s most vulberable, Duke Children’s Hospital focuses on excellence in the clinical care of infants and children; innovation in basic and applied research; leadership in the educa-tion of health care professionals; and advocacy for children’s health. The in-sititution has 28 pediatric specialties, 178 total beds, sees 176,000 pediatric outpatients and 7,000 pediatric admissions each year. The average length of an in-patient stay is nine days. There are 34 regional outreach programs, and the hospital conducts 169 research studies each year.

    The more riders that the toy run has, the bigger impact they can have. “I’ve got a number of bikers in mind that I want to come out this year,” said Winfred. “In years past we have had around 300 bikers come, but this year, I want 350 to 400 or 500 bikers to come out for the ride.”

    There will be a lot of activities going on such as 50/50 drawings, raffles and other events to help raise money for the hospital. This will be the last year that Rocking Harley, a long-time sponsor of the event will be involved with the toy run, but next year the group organizers hope to have another supporter take their place.

    “For the bikers, we will have live entertainment at Legends before the ride,” said Winfred. “Once we get to Duke Hospital, they will have a fresh lunch prepared for them by Texas Roadhouse.”

    Once the bikers have had their lunch, they will make the official presentation of the toys and gifts.

    If you are interested in participating in the ride, it will take place July 21, rain or shine. Registration begins at 8 a.m., and the bikers depart at 10 a.m. from M&M Leather & Custom Cycle/Victory of Fayetteville on Bragg Boulevard. The cost to ride is $15 and an unwrapped gift, and any passengers are $10 each. The bikers will have police escorts through the whole ride. When you sign up, you will receive an vent T-shirt and event pin.

  • 07-11-12-swampdogs.gifThe Fayetteville SwampDogs continue to find success on and off the field in 2012, as the All American Summer of Fun has proven to be one of the best seasons yet for the Dogs. As the CPL regular season nears its end, the team has cemented itself as one of the premiere clubs in the league.

    The league leaderboards are sprinkled generously with SwampDogs players, as individual success has translated to overall team success on the field.

    Zach Gawrych (Tampa) has been an elite catalyst for the offense, as he consistently finds himself in the leadoff spot each night. His ability to put pressure on opposing defenses with his baserunning ability has led to his leading the league in runs scored.

    Sal Giardina (Lynn) has emerged as the offensive leader of the club, as he currently leads the league in RBIs, and has hit the most home runs on the Dogs’ roster.

    The pitching staff has been arguably the most impressive aspect of the team throughout the season. Their 2.45 ERA is far and away the lowest of any unit in the CPL. Layne Somsen (South Dakota State) currently leads the league in strikeouts and is a crucial part of the starting rotation.

    The Dogs will play four home games in the next week, including this evening’s Non-Profit Night. A Lupus awareness group will be on hand to help inform fans about their mission. Freaky Friday will give fans a chance to participate in a costume contest, with next Monday’s Faith and Family Night followed by Lumberton Night on Tuesday. The first 500 fans, 21 & older, receive a pilsner glass courtesy of Healy Wholesale and Fat Tire.

    As always, the Miller Lite Liberty Lounge will be open with eight different beers on tap for one dollar each, and hot dogs and hamburgers all night long. Free popcorn, peanuts and soft serve drinks are also available throughout the game.

    Photo: Don’t miss another fun-filled game. There is always lots to do at the Swamp.

  • Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter(Rated R) Four Stars

    07-11-12-movie.gifAbraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter(105 minutes) is a movie that knows exactly how silly it is, and demonstrates it by playing straight all the way through. Some people might argue that because it is so silly it should have been less serious, but those people are wrong. I, for one, do not need to be hit over the head with humor, and if this film had gone for more obvious comedy we would have ended up with another Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter. Yes, that is a movie and I watched it, and it is not nearly as cool as it sounds.

    It is 1818. Vampires have infiltrated every level of American society thanks to the invention of sunscreen and CGI. A young Abraham Lincoln, confronting the realities of slavery, is also exposed to the creatures of the night. Eventually Abraham Lincoln (Benjamin Walker) grows up to resemble a young Liam Neeson and screws up his courage to slay some vampires. Seeing as how he doesn’t have a clue about killing the undead, he is lucky enough to make a friend willing to school him, Henry Sturgess (Dominic Cooper).

    After a training montage, Lincoln is dispatched to Springfield, Illinois with strict instructions to keep a low profile and not hook up with any chicks. He immediately finds a room and employment with Joshua Speed (Jimmi Simpson). Since Jimmi Simpson is incapable of looking trustworthy I spend the rest of the movie waiting for him to double-cross the heroes. Eventually, the romantic subplot kicks into gear with Mary Todd (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) showing up to complicate his after-hours hobby, because Abraham Lincoln doesn’t follow instructions very well.

    Even though the head vampire Adam (Rufus Sewell) is totally aware that Sturgess is training vampire slayers, he is apparently in no hurry to put a stop to that. I suspect that is because Adam is a poorly conceived character, and his sister Vadoma (Erin Wasson) is not much better. Basically, she is there to wear a corset and look hot while acting as a counterpoint to Mary Todd. They are both just so darn supportive of the men in their lives! When Adam finally figures out who is slaying vampires in his town via some shoddy plot convenience, he lays a trap. He kidnaps an old friend of Abraham’s, pretty, pretty Will Johnson (Anthony Mackie).

    Despite the wisdom accumulated from a vast lifespan, the many powerful minions surrounding him, and Abraham’s stupid decision to bring an untrained civilian along on his rescue mission, our heroes manage to escape. The narrative skips over the specifics of their travel back home, probably because figuring out how they manage not to get killed and eaten by Adam on the way is too tricky for the writers. Once home, Lincoln marries Mary and enters politics on a platform of ending slavery, motivated by the knowledge that ending slavery will prevent vampire domination of America. No, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, but really, you’re watching Abraham Lincoln killing vampires, so how much sense do you need this to make?

    Director Timur Bekmambetov has a very distinctive visual style, and if the narrative isn’t doing it for you, at least it’s pretty to look at. You can even play a nice game of spot the Timur image — the scene at the end with the train going off the rails is reminiscent of the train scene in Wanted, for example. Overall, this is a movie that sticks close to its roots and should appeal to its target audience of comic book fans. If it does well enough at the box office, maybe we can get them to produce a sequel … George W. Bush and the Creature from the Black Lagoon.

    Now showing at Wynnsong 7, Carmike 12 and Carmike Market Fair 15.

  • Words Make a Difference

    The words make the difference

    In the world of adult contemporary music what makes Christian songs different is primarily the lyrics. In this week’s edition of The Buzz, we will be highlighting the words from a few of the more popular Christian songs of the day.

    When Mercy Found Me – Rhett Walker Band
    Album - Come To The River

    But that’s where I met Jesus
    In one moment everything changed
    Who I was got washed away
    When mercy found me
    My savior’s arms were open wide
    And I felt love for the very first time
    When mercy found me

     07-11-12-mercy--me.gif

    The Hurt & The Healer – MercyMe
    Album - The Hurt & The Healer

    It’s the moment when humanity
    Is overcome by majesty
    When grace is ushered in for good
    And all our scars are understood

    Jesus, come and break my fear
    Wake my heart and take my tears
    Find your glory even here
    When the hurt and the healer collide

    Forgiveness – Matthew West
    Album - Into The Light
    It’s the hardest thing to give away
    And the last thing on your mind today
    It always go to those who don’t deserve
    It’s the opposite of how you feel
    When they pain they caused is just too real
    Takes everything you have to say the word
    Forgiveness, forgiveness

    Me Without You - TobyMac

    And where would I be, without You
    I’d be packing my bags when I need to stay
    I’d be chasing every breeze that blows my way
    I’d be building my kingdom to just watch it fade away, it’s true
    That’s me without You

    Like all great songs, the music and production are top notch. The difference is the impact the lyrics are having on the lives of those who choose to listen. Contemporary Christian music — give it a try…it could change your life.

    Photo: MercyMe

  • 07-11-12-methodist.gifMethodist University President Ben Hancock is proud to announce that Marty V. Cayton has been named the new director of the Center for Entrepreneurship in the Reeves School of Business.

    Cayton, a 1990 MU alum-nus, is owner and president of Amerizon, Inc. He will start his new position Monday, July 2. Along with the directorship comes an appointment as an assistant professor of busi-ness administration. Methodist University plans on expanding its educational offerings in en-trepreneurship, taking advantage of a minor in entrepreneurship available to students interested in going into business.

    “Methodist University is so pleased to have attracted someone of Marty Cayton’s caliber to serve as the new director of the Center for Entrepreneurship,” said Dr. Hancock. “His experience as an entrepreneur, knowledge of the center and its programs and commitment to the community make him the ideal person to move the center forward, building upon the suc-cess of long-time director Dr. Sid Gautam.”

    Gautam, who retired earlier this year, founded the CFE in 1973, with a mission to help entrepreneurs succeed in business. Since then, the CFE has delivered exceptional educational experiences, networking opportunities, and recognition for entrepreneurs, students, small business owners and profes-sionals in Eastern North Carolina.

    Cayton has been very active with the center for Entrepreneurship for the last six years and also sits on the advisory board for the CFE. In 2009, the CFE named him Economics and Business Alumnus of the Year, and this year his company won the CFE’s American Business Ethics Award.

    “We are so fortunate that we found an entrepreneur and successful business executive right here in the Fayetteville community who is prepared to direct the many community programs of the Center for Entrepreneurship and has many new entrepreneurial ideas to enhance the Center’s continual growth,” said Joe Doll, dean of the Reeves School of Business.

    After an enlistment with the U.S. Navy, Cayton started working at his fam-ily’s company, North Carolina Communications, in 1988 while he attended Methodist University to earn a bachelor of arts in business. He was promoted to business manager and was responsible for the company’s sale in 1995. Cayton joined the new company, Mobex, and ran its Midwest division. After leaving Mobex, he purchased many of the company’s acquisitions, including the original family business. These acquisitions became Amerizon Wireless in 2003. Cayton also earned a master’s degree in business from Taylor University in 2005.

    Cayton is a member of the YMCA Board of Directors in Fayetteville, and he is on the Board of Visitors and the Alumni Board at Methodist University. He and his wife, Joy, and three of their four children — Jed, Jenna, and Jocelyn — are active members at Village Baptist Church, while their oldest son, Jaron, is a junior at Methodist University and an active member at Fayetteville Community Church.

    Methodist University is an independent four-year institution of higher education with more than 2,400 students from 41 states and 53 countries. Methodist University offers more than 80 majors and concentrations, 100 clubs and organizations, four master’s degree programs and 19 NCAA III intercollegiate sports. For more information, please contact Leslie Emanuel at the Reeves School of Business at 910.630.7047. To learn more about Methodist University, please visit methodist.edu or facebook.com/ourMU-world.

    Photo: Marty V. Cayton

  • uac070412001.jpg Visitors to Gallery 208 will be nothing short of astonished. While viewing the oil paintings by Phillip Kidd, you are going to have to control your impulse to peel the tape off the surface of one of Kidd’s oil paintings. You’re going to feel confi dent that a card from the game of Monopoly on the surface of a different painting could also be removed from the painting’s surface. Then you discover it’s all an illusion; Kidd is a painter of hyper-realism and every object in the painting has been meticulously painted to appear as if it actually exists.

    Kidd’s style of hyper-realism is not something we often see in our local and regional art venues. Known as Trompe l’oeil (“fools the eye”), Kidd brings a unique sense of humor to his paintings; small in scale, his skill level is extremely high — looking at the paintings you feel comfortably uncomfortable. He stimulates our imagination and earns our respect for the talent it takes to create works in that particular genre of painting.

    In one of his paintings, a crimped tube of Winsor Newton flake white oil paint is held to a vertical surface by a piece of masking tape. In another painting a Twining bag of tea is taped to a caulk board with a piece of masking tape; a line drawing of a cup is under the tea bag and appears to be drawn with chalk. Everything I have mentioned is an illusion, painted in oil.

    In Kidd’s paintings the size of the object(s) is correct, he pays close attention to every minute detail; the fine distinction of light and color are skillfully incorporated to create an illusion of the threedimensional. He is part of a tradition, the pursuit of realism in art, which has dotted the western tradition, beginning with the Romans. His style is a genre that has continued to be practiced since the Renaissance. Today this style of super realism has been influenced by a modern quest — a preoccupation with perceptions in art and painting.

    There is nothing traditional about the way Kidd learned to paint in this style. His father chose a career with the U.S. Air Force so the family did a great amount of traveling. While his father was stationed at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Ala., Kidd attended high school in Montgomery. It was during his last year in high school that a field trip to an art museum infl enced his choice about his own career.

    He shared the following with me: “It was during my senior year, we took a field trip to the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts and I saw a Trompe l’oeil exhibit featuring all the best of today’s artists. I had never heard of this style and never knew people were doing this or even capable of it. It hit me that this was what I had been working towards with my pursuit to make my work look realistic.”

    The problem for Kidd was that most art schools or universities do not teach the techniques he sought to learn. So, starting in high school through his education in the arts at Auburn University at Montgomery, Kidd taught himself by study, trial and error how to paint in the Trompe l’oeil style. After seeing a work by Anthony Waichulis at the Montgomery Museum exhibit, he emailed him occasionally to ask questions about techniques. Kidd noted: “I maintain this communication with Waichulis today. I am also still inspired by the old masters and the history of art.”

    Kidd doesn’t use any technology in his paintings, no transfer techniques. His panels are sanded and sealed as smooth as glass before he begins painting. As Kidd says, “There are no tricks to what I’m doing; it’s just brushes in oil on panel. The ideas in my paintings are simple and sometimes comical; I paint them simply for the joy of the fi nished product.”

    The Leonard McLeod Gallery is hosting a totally different type of exhibit. Original colorful drawings by Rose-Ann San Martino were created to illustrate a recent publication by Sharon Murphy Yates: The Journey from Oz: Seven Steps for Finding Your Way Back to Places You Never Intended to Be.

    According to Yates, “The Journey from Oz is a simple message of hope and encouragement for anyone confronting challenges in life. With warmth and understanding, it offers simple supportive advice to guide readers toward help and healing one step at a time.” Knowing the art work of San Martino, Yates felt she was the perfect artist to illustrate the book. 07-04-12-gallery208.jpg

    San Martino took the challenge with confi dence and vigor and felt Yates’ writing was very visual.

    San Martino noted an example: “When I read, ‘Well I’m out of bed and I have clean underwear’ on is something I can instantly visualize. As well, ‘Figure out what you need and leave the crap behind’ is another example of the visual. For me it easily translates into a suitcase and packing; but what is it in your life journey you need to leave behind — anger, an attitude of pleasing everyone, lies, — these are things that weigh you down.”

    Although the book is serious and therapeutic, the combination of easy reading and the illustrations make it highly user-friendly. Yates explains: “I wrote the book for adults who might be going through diffi cult situations, but never really thought about targeting any particular age group. No matter your age, everyone can use a little guidance and encouragement at different times in their lives.”

    San Martino’s illustrations reflect her fine art painting style — colorful and the use of repeating patterns to create texture, meaning and rhythm. She reflected on her illustrations by saying, “I think the illustrations reflect what is said in the book in a cheery, colorful, literal way, but they also invite you to look a bit closer. The lack of depth, bright colors and purposeful naiveté are to remind the readers of childhood illustrations they might have read, pictures they might have drawn. I think the decorative design patterns tie the illustrations together and keep the mood from being too serious.”

    The project took the artist and writer three years to complete. Both had input as to the layout of the book and the details for each section. San Martino did sketches, cropped and experimented with colors; Yates was there to give her personal feedback about each sketch.

    “Rose-Ann and I talked about the book and the message I wanted to convey, she read the text and then brought me ideas. She made it really easy because she had a way of taking my ideas and adding elements that made them better. Sometimes (like in the illustration about packing) she would refl ect the ideas in the text in ways I hadn’t thought about. I think that creativity added a lot to the way readers can connect with the words,” said Yates.

    Visitor to the Leonard McLeod Galley at Up and Coming Weekly get to see both exhibits and will meet Phillip Kidd, Rose-Ann San Martino and Sharon Yates at the opening reception on July 12 between the hours of 5 and 7 p.m. It’s free to the public, so everyone is invited. The exhibit will remain in the galleries through late August. For information call Up and Coming Weeklyat 910-484-6200.

    Photo: The hyper-realism of Phillip Kidd brings a new dimension to the ordinary.

  • 07-04-12-basket.jpgWhat do art, music, crafts, history and food have in common? They are all a part of the Museum of Cape Fear Historical Complex 2nd Saturdays Arts Fest.

    The Arts Fest takes place on July 14 and August 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The festival is a delightful mix of history and local creativity. People attending the festival, which is located on the grounds of the 1897 Poe House, will have the opportunity to sample treats from the Poe House Kitchen, to explore the work of various artists and crafters, take in exhibits and listen to great musicians. The event is free; however, several vendors will be on site.

    The idea behind the 2nd Saturday Arts Fest is to “display art in a cultural setting,” said Leisa Greathouse, curator of education at the museum. The Basket Buddies, Sally’s Beads, Jazzy Girl, Trink’s Store, Growing Stitches, a Bee Keeper and the American Red Cross are some of the vendors and exhibitors that will be present. Displayed and items for sale include, custom pet portraits, hand woven baskets, painted wood items, quilts, beaded jewelry, custom clocks, crocheted items and more.

    Concessions will be provided by Big Ed’s Creek Sauce and Catering. The museum is still accepting applications for vendors and there is no fee to set up as a vendor or exhibitor. 

    “We are willing to accept anyone who has homemade crafts or makes things themselves to help promote them and their craft,” said Greathouse.

    For more information or for a vendor application call 486-1330. There is no deadline for vendor applications.

    Promoting the creative industry to spur economic stimulus is one of the reasons that the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources started the 2nd Saturdayevents. Many of the items displayed, such as homemade baskets and candles, are “novelties today, but for people a long time ago it was a necessity.”

    “Candle making was chore done on the farm in the fall. It was not for fun, but anyone who wanted light took the time to make candles,” said Greathouse.

    Along with all of the great art, majestic music, exciting exhibits and flavorful food, visitors can enjoy the “make-it and take-it” stations. At these stations visitors can make hand-dipped beeswax candles, weave on a hand-held loom, make a bracelet or bookmark and paint a water-color picture. These are great activities not just for adults but for children as well.

    The 2nd Saturday’s Arts Fest is not just another Saturday afternoon. It’s an afternoon stocked full of creative expression, historical content and community support. Come and be enlightened and inspired by the cultural arts. Take the time to explore the vendors and exhibits, engage in craft activities, try delightful treats such as BBQ and fritters and explore the Poe House, which displays life in the first decades of the 20th century. Music, crafts, arts, history and food — it’s all there, the only thing missing is you.

    Find out more about this and other fun events at the Museum of the Cape Fear at museumofthecapefear.ncdcr.gov or by calling 486-1330.

    Photo: Homemade items like baskets will be for sale at the 2nd Saturday Arts Fest.

  • 07-04-12-_war_veterans_holding_american_flags_m.jpgThe Feeney family is familiar with the military. It’s been their way of life for generations. In fact, it is the military that brought them to Fort Bragg.

    As soldiers the Feeney men have travelled the world defending freedom and carrying out the will of the American people under the orders of various Commanders-in-Chief. Through the years, they’ve never forgotten the people who treated them kindly and shared stories and experiences over a cold one, so it only made sense that once their time in uniform was complete, they would open Feeney’s Irish Pub and offer the same hospitality and experience to friends and fellow service members.

    On July 7 from 4 p.m. – midnight, Feeney’s Irish Pub and Concerned Veteran’s of America invite you to a patriotic welcome-home party in honor of veteran’s.

    “We have been shown a lot of support over the years and this is what we are doing to say thanks, to show we care,” said Donald M. “Buddy” Feeney III. “It’s not just for vets though. It’s for anyone who has served, has supported those who serve or who just wants to come out and have a good time and say thanks to the many generations of the military who have served in our nation’s wars.”

    Entertainment will include Autumn Nicholas, Strong Hold and the Cris Cox Band. Rock 103 is scheduled to broadcast the event live. Drink specials and door prizes are part of the event, too.

    “This is going to be a fun event, everyone is welcome, military or not,” said Feeney. “Next month we are looking forward to honoring military spouses and we hope people will join us for that as well. The sacrifi ces of military spouses are really overlooked a lot of the time and we want to show them how much we appreciate what they do and endure on behalf of their soldiers.”

    Although he is not a politician, Feeney recognizes the value of an informed electorate and the power of the vote, which is why Concerned Veterans for America is participating in this event.

    “Military people have the right to vote by absentee ballot, but sometimes it is not always an easy thing to do. The laws can be confusing and the process is not always as streamlined as it could be,” said Feeney. “The laws change all the time and people never know it. The Concerned Veteran’s of America will have a booth to educate people about the process — not to try and sway them one way or the other on issues or even to register them to vote. They want to educate people about the process and share information with them and make it easier for military members to exercise their right to vote.”

    Voting is just a small part of the CVA mission.

    “In short “Concerned Veterans for America is an organization made up of veterans and family members of veterans who are dedicated to preserving the freedom and liberty we and our families so proudly fought and sacrifi ced to defend,” said Kate Pomeroy, communications director for Concerned Veterans for America. This includes standing for freedom and American strength, getting the country’s priorities straight, defending the American dream and fi ghting for the future. Find out more about CVA at concernedveteransforamerica.org.

    Feeney’s Irish Pub is located at 3624 Ramsey St.

    Photo: Members of the Concerned Veterans of America (shown above) are teaming up with Feeney’s Irish Pub to host a welcome home party for Fayetteville’s veterans. 

  •  07-04-12-swampdogs.jpg

    The Fayetteville SwampDogs have enjoyed another stellar first-half of the season this year, cementing themselves as one of the premiere clubs in the Coastal Plain League. Fans have poured into “The Swamp” consistently from the start of the summer, and look forward to an even better second half of the campaign.

    Team USA was in town on June 25, giving fans an opportunity to see the elite collegiate talent in the country play against the SwampDogs in front of a rau-cous crowd. The Dogs impressed throughout the game, proving that they can compete with any level of competition.

    The July 3 Fireworks Extravaganza was the biggest and brightest show the team has had yet, with fans piling into “The Swamp” to catch the action that followed the game. The annual event has become a staple in the Fayetteville-area social calendar, as thousands of loyal SwampDogs fans once again came out to show their support of the team.

    Fayetteville will play three home games in the next week, beginning with Opening Night Part Deux on July 5, where fans can relive some of the best sequels of all time. The first 500 fans receive a souvenir team photo on July 7, with Guaranteed Win Night on July 10, where fans will receive a free general admission ticket to the next game if the SwampDogs lose.

    As always, the Miller Lite Liberty Lounge will be open with dollar beers, hot dogs and hamburgers all night long.

    Photo: The SwampDogs are enjoying a great season this year.

  • Rock of Ages (Rated PG-13) 4 Stars07-04-12-movie.jpg

    Adam Shankman was the genius that directed the Prop 8 musical short (if you haven’t seen it do yourself a favor and Google it. I promise you won’t regret it). However, that genius did not translate into an awesome adaptation of the popular off-Broadway musical, Rock of Ages (123 minutes). If you like musicals, you will like this. Just keep in mind that the material is in no way transcendent. Also, in my version of the film Alec Baldwin and Russell Brand spent a lot more time making out. And Mary J. Blige was an actual character instead of an afterthought.

    Picture 1987 in your head. You are probably picturing denim and bad hairstyles. If you can imagine watching that for two hours while sitting in a karaoke bar having its “Dinosaurs of Rock” night, you don’t actually need to see the movie. But maybe you are dying to see a country singer and a would-be Menudo member pretending to be hard rockers? Or maybe you want to see Tom Cruise grabbing women and being both gross and shirtless? Well then, this is the movie for you.

    Sherrie Christian (Julianne Hough) is a wide-eyed innocent from Oklahoma. Her dream of becoming a famous singer leads her to L.A., where she meets bar-tender Drew Boley (Diego Boneta). He wants to be a singer too! They have some much in common! Predictable love story ensues, which I watch intently in order to hear a few moments of “Don’t Stop Believing,” the best Journey song ever.

    After a bit of back and forth, Sherrie gets a job working at the same club as Drew, which is owned by Dennis Dupree (Baldwin) and Lonny Barnett (Brand). They need the extra help because they’re hosting the final concert of Stacee Jaxx (Cruise). Too bad the Mayor (Bryan Cranston) has his wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones) are picketing the club in an effort to rid L.A. of its corrupting influence.

    The night of the big show arrives and the opening act is a no-show. Since Drew is too much of a wimp to speak up, Sherrie carpe diems by convincing the owners to give her a shot at realizing her dream of becoming a singer. Or at least that’s what would happen in a movie a bit more female friendly. In fact, she gets the owners to let Drew have a shot and wanders around humming “Stand by Your Man.”

    Before the show, a reporter (Malin Ackerman, continuing her efforts to make us forget the one cool role she had in Watchmen) arrives to interview Jaxx. The entire female cast falls over at the mere sight of Jaxx and she is no exception. This is extremely irritating to me. Even more irritating is the way that Cruise is paid huge amounts of money to act crazy on film when it doesn’t require him to act at all.

    Drew misinterprets a moment between Jaxx and his girlfriend, and then unleashes a misogynistic onslaught all over her. This rejection leads her to recommit to pursuing her dream for about five minutes, but then she gives up when she doesn’t become an instant singing sensation. Meanwhile, Drew descends into the seedy underbelly of a Boy Band factory.

    As Drew is drawn further and further into the degradation of pop-rap and multi-colored oversized shirts, Sherrie decides to work at a strip club where the ladies do pole tricks that must be the envy of even the most creative Cirque du Soleil gymnast.

    Overall, if you’re anything at all like me, you will sing along to the songs dur-ing the movie, and consider buying the soundtrack while planning to listen to it only when you are alone. I mean, this was no Jesus Christ Superstar, but it wasn’t bad.

    Now showing at Wynnsong 7, Carmike 12 and Carmike Market Fair 15.

  • Ways to Enjoy the Summer07-04-12-senior-corner.jpg

    Enjoying a breezy spring day or the warm summer temperatures don’t have to be a dis-tant memory for seniors and caregivers. After being cooped up in the house for possibly months at a time, senior adults can breathe in the fresh air, even if they are experiencing mo-bility problems. It takes some advance plan-ning and choosing an activity that won’t seem like a chore, but it’s worth getting out of the house, for you and your elderly parent.

    The benefits of getting outside

    A main advantage of heading outdoors, even for a short period of time, is being able to soak up the sunlight, which generates Vitamin D — necessary for brain, bones and muscle function. Some doctors even prescribe sunlight as a source of Vitamin D, which research also finds can improve cognitive function.

    Another key benefit is that being outside enables elders to socialize and interact with caregivers as well as other adults, children and animals. Those activities can give people an extra spring in their step and rejuvenate them.

    Although caregivers may be aware of the benefits, sometimes it seems as if the obstacles, such as wheelchair access, bathroom access, frailty and fatigue are too great to overcome the great outdoors.

    Caregivers can start to prepare elders with mobility problems to take the steps to head outside. Your physician can suggest chair exercises to increase stability and build muscles.

    Even though the temperatures may be pleasant, it’s also important to make sure an elderly family member stays well hydrated; if not, it can impact muscle function and blood pressure and lead to a dangerous situation.

    Types of outdoor activities for caregivers and seniors

    Instead of being overwhelmed by the potential challenges, focus on activities and interests that you and the elderly person you’re caring for enjoy.

    Here are 10 suggestions:

    • Catch a sporting event. Watching a grandchild’s soccer game or attending a professional game, like baseball.

    • Fish for fun. For folks who enjoy fishing, you can cast a rod from a pier or other location, even if someone is wheelchair bound.

    • Be a tourist. Take a tour of our town to see the local sites.

    • Take a dip. For some folks, it may just be putting a foot in the pool, while others may be able to handle low-impact water aerobics.

    • Stroll around. If a walk is possible, start slow with a few minutes and build that time steadily.

    • Be a bird lover. Checking on a birdfeeder daily can give seniors a reason to go outside.

    •Pedal around. Rent a three-wheeled bicycle, which are easier to mount and ride, and also could offer back support.

    • Go fly a kite. Head to a park or beach and get a kite soaring. Let a senior individual take control, which they can do while sitting down. If children are around, they can get involved by trying to keep the kite in the air.

    • Picnic outdoors. Seniors can watch children run around or enjoy the buzz of outdoor activity at a park or playground

    .• Celebrate the holidays. From Fourth of July fireworks to Labor Day concerts, there are plenty of community events this summer with opportunities for seniors to get out and be part of the crowd.

    All of these events are available in the Cumberland County area. Just check out Up & Coming Weekly.

    Photo: There are many benefits to getting out and enjoying the summer weather.

  • uac072711001.jpg Orange County Chopper fans, now is your chance to see Paul Teutal, Sr. and his crew work their magic in person. On Friday, Aug. 5, at the Florence Civic Center in Florence, S.C., Teutul and company are planning a bike build-off and concert that is sure to get your motor running.

    The show is about more than just performing though, it is about connecting with the audience and drawing them into the experience, too.

    “It starts off with our Orange County Chopper (OCC) band. They open up and play some songs and then introduce me and generally I ride out on a P.O.W. bike or one of our theme bikes,” said Teutal. “We bring lots of T-shirts and Frisbees and we sign them and throw them out into the crowd. I try to get the audience to interact with me, and the guys who are involved in the show. “

    Then the bike build-off begins. There are two teams; each one builds a bike on stage and whoever finishes their bike first is the winner. Once the bike is completed, the teams have to start it up and burn the tire out on the stage to win. And, it all has to be done in one hour.

    While the music is playing and Teutal is entertaining the crowd, feel free to check out the several bikes that will be on display.

    “We are bringing a bunch of bikes that we’ve done on the show,” said Teutal. “Then we have a bike that we’ve built — there is a raffle and somebody at the show wins that bike. Sometimes we build a “greenie,” which is an old school bike, and sometimes we build one which is called an “original,” which is more of a chopper. I am not really sure which type of bike we will be building for this event, but either one, they are equally nice.”07-27-11-chopper1.jpg

    A big supporter of the military, Teutal is hoping for a chance to see some service members at the show and is looking forward to entertaining them, too.

    “I think that it is well known that we are very involved with the military and I think that for them to be able to come down and have some regular interaction with me and the OCC band would be good — I think that would be exciting for those guys, too.”

    Even though the OCC crew is busy doing shows on the road, it has not slowed them down at all in reaching their goals and growing as a company. They just signed on for another season of American Chopper and continue their work as reality performers and cutting edge custom-bike builders.

    “I think that we area always into the next level, so innovation is what we strive for,” said Teutal. “Every time we do a bike we try to incorporate innovation and eventually we want to be able to build bikes that represent the times we are living in, you know? Like in the auto industry — if they are building electric cars or cars that run on ethanol or cars that run on batteries, we want to match that technology in what we do.”

    07-27-11-chopper2.jpgIt’s quite a difference from where he started. Back in the early ‘70s it was Teutal, his welder and a pick-up truck. Success hasn’t changed him though, in fact, he says he’s grateful for the chance to work hard and get ahead.

    “I still feel the same way I did when I was in that welding truck 40 years ago, you know what I am saying?” said Teutal. “Only now I am enjoying the things that I could not enjoy back then.”

    The bike build/concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25-$35 and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000.

    Photo: Motorcycle enthusiasts need to jump on their bikes and make the short ride down to Florence to check-out the crew of American Chopper in action on Friday, Aug. 5.

  • 07-27-11-fort-bragg-5k.jpgStudy after study has come to the conclusion that family time is a good thing. Doing things together helps build and strengthen relationships whether it’s your family, friends, neighbors or coworkers.

    Other studies have come to the conclusion that physical activity is good not only for your body, but it is emotionally benefi cial, too. These two well-established facts make the Fort Bragg Family Fun 5K a no-brainer when the question arises “What are we going to do this weekend?” The fact that it is free and no registration is required is just a bonus.

    On Saturday, July 30 grab the family, a friend, a coworker or your neighbor and come to Hedrick Stadium on Fort Bragg and join the hundreds of other participants in a morning of fun and fi tness. The event is open to military/government ID card holders and family members.

    You don’t have to be an athlete to come out and enjoy the race. In fact, you will find people of all fitness levels in attendance. Look for everyone from athletes who are training for other races, to soldiers or retirees walking to recover from surgery, to families with young children in strollers and wagons and everything in between.

    The race starts at 8 a.m., although folks generally show up before that to warm up, meet their exercise partners and even socialize a little. Several post organizations come out to show their support as well. MWR brings the intercom system and music, and often, organizations wait at the fi nish line with refreshments and other goodies for the athletes.

    “We have several organizations that come out and participate and support the event,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Donald Hardy, event coordinator. “It is a good opportunity to provide people with resources and information about the different programs on post, so they usually have plenty of magnets, flyers and other helpful and informative items available to take home.”

    The 3.1 mile route starts and ends at Hedrick stadium and makes a loop along Long Street, Manhay, Sicily, Normandy, Reilly and Sedgewick back into the stadium where there is about three quarters of a lap to get to the fi nish line where participants will fi nd refreshments like water and fruit.

    Still relatively new, the monthly Family Fun 5K has grown considerably since its start last fall.

    “The first event we had 208 people show and that was in September,” said Steve Johnson of Fort Bragg MWR. “At our most recent event we had 865 participants.”

    With support like that, plans are to continue with the monthly race and continue to support healthy living and relationship building.

    “It has been very well received,” said Johnson who works at many of the races. “We have received positive feedback, so from an organizational standpoint that is very gratifying for us.”

    The July 30, Aug. 27, and Sept. 17 events are scheduled to start at 8 a.m. because of the heat. Beginning in October, the start time is expected to return to 9 a.m.

    Johnson also noted that there are a few expected changes for the August event. “We need to give people a heads up, that the Hedrick Stadium parking lot is going to be paved. Work begins in August on that. At this point it is very conceivable that we are going to have to modify the start and end point for the Aug. 5k.”

    More information will be released on that once a final determination is made. Look for updates on the Fort Bragg MWR Website. For more information about this event, visit www.fortbraggmwr.com.

    Photo: Fort Bragg families gather at the finish line after completing the Fort Bragg Family Fun 5K.

  • 07-27-11-stuffthebuslogo.jpgIf you’ve been shopping lately, you’ll notice enormous back-to-school displays. Those super sales on school supplies have already begun. It’s hard to believe that summer is already more than half gone.

    This year as you stock up on school supplies consider this astonishing statistic. Last year in Cumberland County alone, there were nearly 900 students considered homeless. When families are struggling to keep a roof over their heads, making sure that their child has enough pencils and paper to make it through the school day is a minor concern. While some kids are agonizing over wearing just the “right” backpack on the fi rst day of school, some kids are hoping they’ll have one to carry.

    Started in 2007 by the Cumberland County school social workers, Stuff the Bus is an annual event to make sure that students living in shelters and transitional housing are prepared for school, easing the burden on parents and teachers. This year’s Stuff the Bus event kicks off Aug. 5 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Walmart located at 4601 Ramsey St. This is the beginning of the tax-free weekend, so all your donations can be purchased tax free.

    Be sure to bring the kids! Not only will they be taking donations, but Buster the Safety School Bus will be on site. They will also have tours of the bus by Miss Fayetteville, Katie Ann Mills, and there will be information available on school-bus safety and student services. This is a great way to introduce the school bus to your child just starting school, and at the same time modeling to all your kids the importance of helping those less fortunate.

    Says Pamela Story, coordinator of the event, “We currently partner with Operation Homefront of North Carolina to assist with their Backpack Brigade give-away. Since our first drive where we packed and distributed 80 new book bags fi lled with supplies, last year we stuffed and delivered 426 throughout every Cumberland County School. Our goal this year is 600. We receive a small grant through the Department of Public Instruction to identify homeless students and coordinate services for them, including school supplies, transportation, free breakfast and lunch, clothing and assistance with enrollment issues. By collecting donations, this reduces the amount of items we must purchase for our students currently living in transitional housing, emergency shelters, or in other living situations that are not permanent nighttime residences.”T

    eachers and mothers alike will tell you that nothing disappears faster in the school year than pencils and paper. Like the stray sock in the dryer, those items seem to just vanish within a few weeks of school. Story says that the most needed items are backpacks, three ring binders, marble composition books, flash-drives and school uniforms, as well as plenty of paper and pencils. Remember, teachers also ask students to bring in items such as hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes to help keep the classroom a safe and sanitary environment.

    Not sure what to give? They will also be taking tax-deductible cash donations as well as gift cards.

    If you aren’t able to drop by on Aug. 5, donations can be made at the CCS Central Services building at 2465 Gillespie St. from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. all summer long.

    Know someone who might be in need? Bookbags with supplies will be made available on a fi rst-come, fi rst-served basis through each school’s social worker after Aug. 18, so be sure to contact the child’s school for more information about how to have a child identifi ed for consideration.

    For more information on how you can help, contact CCS Social Work Services at 910.678.2621.

  • Female Pulchritude: Too Perfect to be Real

    One recent hot-as-the-hinges morning, I was beating it out on an air-conditioned gym’s treadmill and switching among the several TV offerings on my headset. As you might suspect, I am far from an ardent fan of Fox News, but a story Fox aired early that particular morning did catch my attention. It was taking a look at what the “virtually” perfect images, of what my father would have called “feminine pulchritude,” now pervading our popular culture are doing to very real teenaged girls and young women.

    07-27-11-margaret.jpgTranslated, that asks what the ubiquitous Photoshop-perfect images of various celebrities and models are making us think about ourselves.

    I have a business acquaintance who proudly displays a lovely and glamorous photograph of his wife in his office. It looks like her, only much better as all bumps, variations in skin tone, wayward hairs and the red in her eyes have been digitally handled, leaving only the good and only a little of the real.

    My friend’s wife, though, is — shall we say? — a woman of a certain age, and her photograph, however improved, is not likely to have any effect on teen07-27-11-margaret-2.jpgagers or young women.

    That is not the case, of course, in our broader celebrity-obsessed culture in which girls and young women see and compare themselves to images of others which have been airbrushed and highlighted and whose body parts have been made smaller or larger depending on which is culturally more desirable. Slender arms, legs and rumps but big eyes and breasts are the picture of perfect, whether the real person actually possesses those attributes or not.

    Maybe a few real women do meet these ideals naturally, but most women do not and never will, even though thousands now try to do so by every means they can think of and afford, including surgery. The thinking seems to be that “if my fi ll-in-the-blank is too big or too little, too lumpy or too white, I will just buy this product or service, eat less and exercise more until I look just like that gorgeous movie star fill-in-the-blank.”

    American women, you say, have always loved and emulated celebrities, which seems true enough to me, so what is the big deal? The danger here is not so much our young women feeling good about these other women as feeling bad — really bad — about themselves by comparison. The message many young people get from looking at perfected images is that they are not good enough as they are and that they must do all they can to “correct” themselves. The saddest manifestation of this I ever saw was a girl who graduated from a local high school several years ago. She had been a good student, and as a graduation present her parents gave her breast enhancement surgery.

    Would you send your high achieving daughter that message?

    I came home from the gym and did a little searching and found a good bit of Internet activity on this topic, including a Photoshop demonstration which took an obese woman in lacy undies down to a slender woman in the same, though much smaller, undies. If I had not seen the video, I would not have known it was the same person.

    This is what happens in magazine photographs that look too perfect to be real. They are.

    I also learned that I am far from the only person worried about this.The venerable Girl Scouts of the USA, an outfit that has the best interest of young women at heart if ever there were one, partnered with Academy Award-winning actor Geena Davis and other notable women including North Carolina’s own Senator Kay Hagan. Earlier this year, they formed Healthy Media: Commission for Positive Images of Women and Girls. The idea is to encourage national discussion around this issue, to recommend positive changes to policy makers, and to back media, which are focusing on balanced images of women and girls.

    The Fox news personnel discussing this issue that morning as I slogged along on the treadmill included two women and two men. The women wore sleeveless dresses displaying toned arms and hemlines at mid-thigh displaying tanned legs in stiletto heels. Both sat ramrod straight occasionally crossing and uncrossing their lovely legs. The men wore dark business suits and slouched on the set sofa as they discussed women’s body images.

    My Internet search revealed that the two women are among a group known as the “Fox babes.” There are entire Websites devoted to them, including one in which the babes on the news set speak mutely while the thumping strains of “New York, New York” pound on and one which conducts a weekly poll on who is the “sexiest Fox News Babe.”

    I am not kidding you.

    I also think this is exactly the sort of thing Healthy Media is worried about.

  • Someone will finish in first place at the Run for the Red on Saturday, Aug. 6, but the real winner will be the Highlands Chapter of the American Red Cross. Billed as “the hottest race in the South,” the event, which is in its fi fth year, is one of the relief organization’s biggest fundraisers.07-27-11-run-for-the-red.jpg

    Last year’s event included more than 500 runners and raised slightly more than $10,000, according to Victoria Raleigh, executive director of the chapter. This year the group hopes to see close to 700 participants and raise $15,000.

    “All the funding stays here locally,” Raleigh said. “We’re not a government agency, so we rely on the support of the American public to perform our humanitarian mission.”

    The race has a new route this year, starting and ending in downtown’s Festival Park, where the group will also hold a Be Red Cross Ready Day.

    “It will provide an opportunity to ensure everyone has a fire plan, knows how to make a disaster kit, what to do in case of a power outage and other general preparedness information,” said Raleigh. “We will have coloring books for the kids and our American Red Cross Blood Hound will be there as well as Miss Fayetteville 2011, Katie Mills.”

    In light of the recent tornadoes, and with hurricane season underway, Raleigh says no one can be too prepared. There will also be information available for people who want to become Red Cross volunteers.

    “(Nationally) we’re a 97 percent volunteer-based organization,” Raleigh said. “Here locally, for every one paid staff we have about 35 volunteers who support our mission.”

    If helping out the Red Cross isn’t enough motivation, the race will award cash prizes for the top three male and female runners in 5 and 10 kilometer runs, starting at $100 for third place in the 5K and going up to $250 for first place in the 10K. There is also a one-mile fun run that will loop around the park. All of the fun run participants will get a medal, as well as the top times in 14 age groups of the two races. For those not handy with the metric system, 10 kilometers is 6.2 miles, and the 5 kilometers is 3.1 miles.

    The course is USA Track and Field Certifi ed, which means the route has been accurately measured and that runners’ performances can be accepted as a record or be nationally ranked.

    Unlike last year, when the event was scheduled on the same day as Airborne Day, Raleigh said she expects to see a lot of military runners.

    “We’re so pleased to have them back,” she said. “Some units are choosing to run as a team. We’re doing a competition to see which group and/or unit will have the most participants.”

    Groups don’t have to be military, Raleigh said, citing examples of local businesses and school groups who have already registered.

    The cost to register for the race is $35 for the 10K, $30 for the 5K, and $5 for the Fun Run. There are discounts for military and groups of 10 or more.

    Registration and more information can be found online at http://www.highlandsarc.org. Runners are encouraged to register in advance.

    The 10K race will start at 7 a.m., the 5K will start at 7:45 a.m., and the Fun Run begins at 8:30 a.m. On race day, packet pick up will start at 5:30 a.m., or runners can pick up their packets on Friday, Aug. 5 from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Highlands Chapter, 807 Carol St. The fi rst 750 race participants will also receive a free t-shirt.

  • While there are many unanswered questions about the 2012 election cycle — about the economy, the Republican presidential nomination, and the contours of North Carolina’s electoral map, for example — no mystery remains about the state’s gubernatorial election. It will be a rematch between Democrat Beverly Perdue and Republican Pat McCrory.

    Their 2008 contest was one of the closest in state history. Perdue, then lieutenant governor, narrowly defeated the outgoing Charlotte mayor, in part because of an Obama surge that benefitted Democratic candidates all the way down the ballot.

    Both nominees had won what initially promised to be competitive primaries. Perdue defeated Democratic rising star Richard Moore, the state treasurer and former Hunt administration official. McCrory defeated three other major GOP candidates: state Sen. Fred Smith, conservative activist and attorney Bill Graham, and former Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr.

    If you’re a fan of party primaries, 2012 will disappoint you. Neither Perdue nor McCrory seems likely to draw a serious challenge. Moore, Smith, Graham, and Orr all appear to be done with runs for elective office, though not necessarily with public affairs. None of the Democratic or Republican leaders in the General Assembly has expressed any interest in the race. No members of the state’s con-gressional delegation or mayors of the state’s largest cities have, either.

    In short, no experienced challengers with political heft and fundraising po-tential are on the horizon right now for either of the 2008 nominees. So they are already preparing their general-election campaigns for 2012.

    Just because next year’s race for governor will likely be a rematch, however, doesn’t mean it will be simply a replay of their first contest. In fact, the 2012 race will be significantly different.

    The main reason is that Perdue is now an incumbent governor, not an aspiring one. Whether she likes it or not, voters will reward Perdue with reelection based not on what she promises to do during a second term but how they feel about what she did during her first one — and whether they think North Carolina is headed in the right direction as a consequence of her tenure. If the electorate is more optimistic then than they are now, she has a shot at four more years.

    If the electorate continues to feel as nervous about their econom-ic prospects as they do right now, Perdue will have a hard time winning reelection.

    It’s not a political dynamic unique to North Carolina. In 2010, incumbent governors or candidates of the same party of outgoing governors were wiped out across most of the country. Because Democrats held most of the governorships going into the cycle last year, they lost most of the races. But some Republican-held governorships flipped Democratic last year, too.

    To say that Perdue’s fate lies with voter perceptions about the future is not to say that Pat McCrory will be a bystander. It will be his task to draw connections between the state’s biggest problems and either inaction or wrongheaded action by Perdue.

    McCrory won’t win by running against the errors and misdeeds of prior Democratic governors. And he won’t win through some kind of complex trian-gulation maneuver, or by staying warm and fuzzy. Instead, McCrory will need to articulate a positive agenda of conservative reform and contrast it with the failed policies of a liberal status quo.

    For her part, Perdue won’t win by running against Republican legislators, most of whom the voters of the state couldn’t pick out of a lineup. She’ll have to defeat her actual opponent, McCrory, by raising doubts about his agenda while highlighting any signs of economic progress evident by next fall and claiming credit for them.

    Here’s what won’t be different next year. Just as in 2008, the Obama cam-paign will be competing aggressively for North Carolina. Democrats, Republicans, and affiliated groups will spend tens of millions of dollars on broadcast ads and organization to get their vote out.

    And, once again, history will be made. North Carolina will either reelect its first female governor or elect its first Republican governor of the 21st century.

  • Horrible Bosses (Rated PG-13)  5 Stars07-27-11-horrible-bosses-movie-poster.jpg

    Well, Four Christmases sort of sucked, but Director Seth Gordon hits one out of the park with Horrible Bosses (100 minutes). And we have to assume it was good directing, because screenwriters Michael Markowitz, John Francis Daley, and Jonathan Goldstein are all TV people, and not hilarious TV either … the one guy wrote for Becker and the other guy wrote for $#*! My Dad Says. I mean, Daley is funny as an actor, but he has hardly any comedy writing experience.

    Nick Hendricks (Jason Bateman) works for Dave Harken (Kevin Spacy, channeling Lex Luthor). I would love to say that bosses this horrible don’t exist, but I once worked for someone who made me sit in a chair outside his office for two hours a day in case he suddenly needed something. Speaking of people who need to be killed … he probably doesn’t. But forcing him to spend a little time as a powerless underling would provide him with some much needed perspective. And that brings us to minor issue number one … I don’t think the movie sold the au-dience on the need for the “horrible bosses” to die.

    No one will argue that this is anything other than a wish-fulfillment movie, since almost everyone has had a hateful boss that they daydreamed about offing. But at no point in the film do these guys seem believable as killers. And here is where the writing gets little bit forced. Logic is sacrificed to the central plot, as each reasonable alternative to murder is shot down by some bizarre bit of charac-ter background. Such as…

    Dale Arbus (Charlie Day! I Love You!) being a registered sex offender. Except not really. He is a registered sex offender only because he used a chil-dren’s playground as a bathroom in the middle of the night. So, even though he is an otherwise stand-up guy engaged to Stacy (Lindsay Sloane) he can’t get another job. Which means he is stuck working for the sexually aggressive Julia Harris (Jennifer Aniston, who should do more roles like this).

    Which brings us to Kurt Buckman (Jason Sudeikis). He works for the sweet-as-pie Jack Pellitt (Donald Sutherland, who I would find more believable as one of the Horrible Bosses). Too bad his nice boss dies, leaving him with the ex-ecrable Bobby Pellitt (Colin Farrell). Which brings us to minor issue number two. Bobby is too over-the-top to be a real person. He gets lines that are more broad character strokes than anything a real person would say. And I get that they were trying to make him look stupid in order to emphasize his own lack of self-aware-ness, but it is distracting. Have the character played by a Dennis Franz type, and it all becomes just a little more believable. I guess what I’m saying is that Colin Farrell can look pretty, but he can’t act, and when he tries to take away the pretty it only shows just how bad an actor he is.

    After setting up the characters, the three white-collars firm up their plans to kill their horrible bosses. Through movie logic, they end up at a bar in a bad neighborhood where they meet Dean Jones (Jaime Foxx). He becomes their mur-der consultant, and sends them off to do recon on their prey. Hijinks ensue, and it is genuinely impossible to predict where the movie is headed, which saves it from being too conventional and/or mean-spirited (and it was at risk for both).

    During their repeated attempts at surveillance, the police get involved. Interestingly, Charlie Day does a pretty good job of channeling Charlie Kelly from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia in the interrogation scene, and even though he doesn’t get a writing credit some of his dialogue seems directly in-spired by his best known character.

    Finally, for those of you who care, the NavGuide voice should seem very familiar … I thought it was Marshall Manesh from How I Met Your Mother, but it was actually the voice of Brian George who has apparently appeared in hundreds of other things.

  • On Saturday, July 30, the Wingmen MC of Fayetteville are holding a benefit run to help fight lupus. “All of the proceeds from this ride will benefit local people suffer-ing from lupus,” said Wingmen MC treasur-er and event spokes-person Robert Mas, who not only enjoys help-ing others but joined the Wingmen “for the friendship and camara-derie it offers.”07-27-11-wingmenlogo.jpg

    The Lupus Foundation of America estimates that 1.5 mil-lion Americans, and at least five million people worldwide, have a form of lupus. Although lupus can strike men and women of all ages, 90 percent of indi-viduals diagnosed with the disease are women. Most people will develop lupus between the ages of 15-44. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a report in May 2002 which indicated that deaths attributed to lupus increased over a 20-year period, particularly among African American women ages 45-64. However, it is not clear if the rise is the result of an actual increase in lupus mortality or better identifica-tion and reporting of deaths due to complications of the disease.

    The ride starts at Cape Fear Harley Davidson. Registration opens at noon, kickstands up at 1 p.m. Like most poker runs, riders get a card at the starting point and pick up a card at each stop along the way. By the end of the ride, each participant will have five cards. The best hand wins a prize.

    “We will also have a 50/50 raffle and prizes for best hand and worst hand,” said Mas. “We are expecting a good turn out and hope to have more than 200 people show up and partici-pate. We’d just like to encourage people to please come out and have a good time.”

    Photo: On Saturday, July 30, the Wingmen MC of Fayetteville are holding a benefit run to help fight lupus. 

  • uac072011001.jpg It’s taken a few years, countless man-hours and the dedication of many in our community to turn Fayetteville from Fayettenam into a three-time winner of the All-America Cityaward. Fayetteville’s Downtown has come a long way. In fact, check out just one of the many downtown events like Fayetteville After 5, the Dogwood Festival, 4th Friday, the International Folk Festival or even the random afternoon stroll and it’s clear that downtown is a great place to spend time.

    As the synergy grows, new activities and businesses are drawn to downtown every month, which in turn brings more people looking to shop, dine and be entertained. One of the newest members of this dynamic community is the WRAL Downtown Fayetteville Trolley.

    In four short months, the trolley has grown from an idea to a team member among the various groups that work together to continually improve and build on the successes that Fayetteville has fought so hard to achieve and maintain. So the concept that started with the question “What can we do to make Fayetteville better?” is now seen at local events, festivals and special occasions like the N.C. Veterans Park opening.

    An entity unto itself, the WRAL Downtown Fayetteville Trolley is open to working with any organization that seeks to show off the many attributes that downtown has to offer.

    Currently, the trolley roams downtown on various routes, depending on the event (think Fayetteville After 5 and 4th Friday) and street closures. It winds its way up Haymount Hill providing residents an alternative to driving downtown.

    Many of the downtown merchant sponsors provide discounts and gifts that are packaged in eco-friendly bags that have become a valuable commodity.

    “I think it is a fantastic addition to downtown, especially for our special events,” said Downtown Development Manager Jamie McLaughlin. “It has created such a buzz. People have come downtown just to ride the trolley, and all of a sudden they are introduced to our great downtown shops and restaurants. I think it is a fantastic way to get to know downtown. On one trolley ride, people get a tour of downtown while they are enjoying being downtown.”

    The Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum has joined with the WRAL Downtown Fayetteville Trolley to bring historical tours to the public.

    “We have developed initially, three tours that we will use the trolley for,” said Historic Properties Manager Bruce Dawes. “One is a general historic tour of downtown Fayetteville, and it will take in a number of historical sites that we will travel by on the trolley. Some of those sites will be a ride-by and some will be an opportunity to get off the trolley and perhaps go inside different historical buildings.”

    There is a separate church tour as well. The church tour takes in the six nationally registered historic district churches downtown, and again, some of those will be ride-bys and some at some of the churches, the passengers will go in and take a look around.

    The last tour is a military tour which talks about the history of the Fayetteville community as a military community predating Fort Bragg, going back to the time of the Revolution and Liberty Point and taking it up to the present day.

    Large groups (20 or more) are also invited to contact the museum and create their owntour.

    “If there is a particular group that is interested in a historic era or event, we can do that,” said Dawes. “As a local museum we have a lot of access to information that we can use to create individual tours. The weather now is brutal to be walking around and the trolley would give groups a chance to have access to an air-conditioned vehicle and still be able to see the sights.” 

    Trolley Spokesman and Lead Manager Mark Henderson, is excited about the warm reception the trolley has received so far and has big plans for meeting the needs of the community as opportunities arise.

    “My hopes are for the trolley to become the singular attraction that encourages many others to help and to think outside of the box in creating activities for downtown,” said Henderson. “We have07-20-11-trolley-at-night.jpga unique downtown and weshould use every opportunity to capitalize on that fact. We have already booked our first tour, a combo downtown/historical tour for a family reunion group. We are working with a unit at Fort Bragg to transport them to a social from Fort Bragg to the Botanical Garden. We are well on our way to becoming a downtown staple. We hope to have our Website up very soon that will have predetermined routes and times, becoming a lot morepredictable.”

    If you are interested in booking a tour, or to find out more information, give the trolley office a call at (800) 779-8827.

    Photo: Currently, the trolley roams downtown on various routes, depending on the event and street closures. 

  • 07-20-11-at-the-crown.jpgFrom hockey games to concerts and shows, the Crown Coliseum always provides premier entertainment to our community, and on July 30, it will deliver yet again. On the July 30, the Crown will offer not one, but two dynamic shows that will get you on your feet and out of your seat as it hosts the All Star Rock Concert at 8 p.m. in the Crown Center Theatre and the Carolina Crown Southern MMAs Biggest Bash at 7 p.m. in the coliseum.

    The All Star Rock Concert features 1980s artists including John s (Eddie and the Cruisers), Robbie Dupree, Jimmy Hall of Wet Willie, Joe Lynn Turner of Rainbow, Deep Purple and Orleans.

    Collectively, the performers have more than 40 top-selling records and dozens of gold and platinum songs between them and they will bring all of your favorites to the stage. The performers will belt out some of the best music of the ‘80s including: “Dancing in the Moonlight,” “Dance with me,” “Steal Away,” “Keep On Smilin’,” “Still the One,” “Stone Cold,” “On The Dark Side,” Smoke On The Water,” “My Woman From Tokyo” and many more.

    “This concert will pack more mojo per square inch of stage floor than almost any band we can think of — and they produce an evening of hit songs that audiences know and love, sung by the people that made them hits,” Crown promotional staff say of the concert.

    Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased through the Crown Center Box Offi ce, Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets and by calling 1-800-745-3000. Ticket prices for the pit range from $35- $46. Ticket prices for the fl oor range from $25- $35.

    If the ‘80s isn’t your scene, maybe you will want to take in the bone crushing action as the Carolina Crown Southern MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) Biggest Bash gets under way. This annual event is known as the Super Bowl of the MMA.

    Banned for 14 years in the state of North Carolina, mixed-martial arts is a full contact sport. As well as allowing a both striking and grappling, the rules of MMA permit a wide variety of fighting techniques, skills and a mixture of combat sports. Originally the competition was promoted as an effort to find the most effi cient martial arts for real unarmed combat, but rules have been added for the safety of the competitors and mainstream acceptance. It may also be commonly referred to as ultimate fi ghting, pride fi ghting, no-holds barred (NHB), free fighting and cage fighting.

    CFP President Doug Muhle says “We are excited that MMA fans in Fayettville will have the chance to witness the awesome intensity of a world class MMA event!

    ”The event will feature 12 MMA cage fights, with three CFP world MMA titles on the line. The evening will feature nine amateur and three professional MMA cage fights.

    A portion of the night’s proceeds will be donated to The Wounded Warrior Foundation.

    Tickets are on sale now through the Crown Box Office, ticketmaster.com, all Ticket Master outlets, or by phone 1.800.745.3000. for sponsorship VIP tables and tickets sales, CFP rep Joel White can be contacted at 470-6974. Ticket prices for floor seating range from $42-$ 110. The doors open at 5 p.m., with the event starts at 7p.m.

    Photo: Two fighters participating in the Carolina Crown trade blows during a previous event. To see all the action, take in the fights at the Crown on July 30.

  • As temperatures soar, everyone is seeking relief from the heat, so leave it to the the Fayetteville Downtown Alliance to find a way to put our minds on cooler times. On July 22, from 6 to 10 p.m., come celebrate Christmas in July during this month’s 4th Friday festivities.

    Don’t wait until Black Friday to start your shopping, you can get a jump on it as many of the downtown merchants will be offering special Christmas discounts. Walter Guy Jewelers will even offer a Christmas layaway plan to help you get a handle your Christmas budget. Several merchants will offer Christmas refreshments, like Holmes Electric, who will share their famous Christmas Open House goodies, while others will give out door prizes.

    And what’s Christmas without kids? The Downtown Alliance wanted to make sure they get into the Christmas spirit as well, so be sure to bring the kids. There will be free Christmas craft projects for the young and old. And don’t forget to pop in at the Cotton Exchange for its free train ride around downtown. Try your hand at art at Gregs! The shop will offer paint your own ornaments for just $5, half off the normal price of $10. And don’t forget to stop by the Fascinate-U Children’s Museum. There is even a rumor that the big guy will be checking his summer schedule to see if he can take a break from his busy toy making to join us for 4th Friday.

    In keeping with the generosity of the American spirit at the holidays, several exhibits that give us inspiration to reach out to the less fortunate among us will be on display. The Second Harvest Food Bank, established in 1982, will host a raffle. They will have information about their programs, to help raise awareness of hunger in the area. Operation Christmas Child, one of the largest Christmas gift-exchange programs in the world, will be on hand to show how you or your local organization can join this giant yearly Christmas gift distribution project to some of the poorest communities on earth.

    With summer in full swing, it is also a time that many families are moving in to our community. This gives us the perfect opportunity to showcase many of the beautiful residences in our fair city.

    The Arts Council will open its Parade of Homes exhibit during the July 4th Friday event from 7 to 9 p.m. Each original work of art must contain a house and r07-20-11-parade-winner-2010_lores.jpgeflect the spirit of Parade of Homes.

    According to Mary Kinney, marketing manager for the Arts Council, “The winner will be announced that evening and awarded $2,000 by the Home Builders Association of Fayetteville. First place art will be used on promotional materials for the 2011 Parade of Homes, to include the cover of 70,000 tour-guide magazines, which will also feature the winning artist’s biography.”

    Cash prizes for second and third place will also be awarded.

    Come see local artists, musicians and dancers and stroll the historic district in the cool of the evening. Watch a potter creating a bowl or join the drum circle at our iconic Market House. While you’re checking out the local shops, be sure to stop in at Sunflower Fibers and wish them a happy one year anniversary!

    Celebrate what makes Fayetteville such a fantastic place to live: small town warmth coupled with big city sophistication.

    Photo: This painting won the 2010 Parade of Homes Exhibit at the Arts Council.  

  • A Fresh Breeze Upon Our Land07-20-11-margaret.jpg

    Betty Ford was a daughter of the World War I generation who came of age in the World War II era. She married a veteran of the War to End All Wars and raised children in the 1950s and ‘60s, a time when Moms were Moms, Dads were Dads and children had a fabulous time running around with each other in what we thought of as neighborhoods and what is now considered sprawl.

    Betty Ford and many other women of that fabled generation lived with courage within the social framework of their times, and they managed to retain their individuality and spirit. They were, in the lingo of their era, “tough cookies.”

    When Betty Ford died earlier this month, she had been off the national stage for nearly three decades, a misty historical personage for most Americans under 40. Make no mistake, though. Betty Ford was a real woman who changed the way we see ourselves and our American way of life simply by living hers openly and honestly.

    It is painful to remember what a low time 1974 was in our nation. Richard Nixon had just resigned, the only United States President ever to do so. His Watergate scandal toppled him and instilled in the American public a poisonous cynicism about politics and government that damages us to this day. Betty Ford’s husband, Gerald, an affable Republican Congressman from Michigan, had been plucked up to replace Nixon’s also corrupt vice president. Both Gerald and Betty Ford must have been flabbergasted not to mention terrifi ed a short year later when Nixon departed, catapulting a Congressman who had expected to retire — and the wife who desperately wanted him to — into the White House as leader of the free world.

    I can remember my own disgust standing alone in the small living room of my Chapel Hill apartment watching our nation’s new President, Gerald Ford, tell us that “our long national nightmare was over” and then pardoning Nixon. Millions of Americans, including this one, were outraged, but over time I have come to understand the deep wisdom of his action. Our nation did not need and would have been further sundered by a long and ugly criminal trial.

    Meanwhile, Betty Ford was busy being — well — Betty Ford. With her undefi ned but very real duties as First Lady and four children who thought they were going home to Michigan now living in the White House, life was full. She sometimes referred to herself as the “First Momma,” which many Americans took to include not only her own children but them as well.

    She was a warm and relaxed First Lady, a welcome reversal of the Nixon’s cool formality. White House parties were said to be fun again, and Betty Ford was anything but partisan, endearing herself to Americans of all political persuasions. She was open and outspoken on topics most Americans kept close to the vest in the 1970s. Shortly after moving into the White House, Betty Ford informed Americans that, yes, she and the President would indeed be sharing a bed there. What’s more she would not be surprised if her young adult children experimented with marijuana, and she was certainly willing to discuss the topic of pre-marital sex with them and about them.

    In a most un-Republican departure from the standard party line, Betty Ford was an avowed feminist all her life. She was a prominent supporter of the doomed Equal Rights Amendment and wore buttons to prove it. On the always controversial issue of abortion, she was pro-choice, saying babies are “a blessing, not a duty.”

    Her most lasting contributions, though, stem from her own health battles.

    Two months after becoming First Lady, Betty Ford underwent a radical mastectomy and talked openly about it at a time when the “C” word still seemed taboo. We all know women and families who lives have benefi ted by her candor about her own breast cancer.

    Then came her public bout with alcohol and prescription drugs. After family and friends confronted her in what we now call an intervention, she was reluctantly treated. When that was all over, she and a friend went on to found the Betty Ford Center for the Treatment of Addictions. Thousands of people have sought help there including celebrities and ordinary folk.

    Rock star Stevie Nicks says simply that she would “be dead” without Betty Ford, and it is impossible to imagine addiction treatment in our country today without her honesty about her own problem.

    She topped off her “new life” with a new face — she got a face lift to celebrate and told us all about it, bringing openness to yet another aspect of American life.

    Betty Ford could not boast a resume of professional accomplishments, but we are a more open nation because of her time on the national stage, something she called “an accident of history.”

    Her beloved husband of 58 years, Jerry, said it this way. “When the final tally is taken, her contribution to our country will be bigger than mine.”

    Photo: Betty Ford in her official White House Portrait. Ford brought an openess and spirit of fun to the White House and taught America about honesty.

  • A recent survey by Japan’s Osaka University Graduate school of Medicine found that people who participated in hour-long, twice-a-month laughter or music sessions lowered their systolic blood pressure (the top number) by an average of five or six points over three months.

    According to www.help-guide.org, laughter is good for your health and offers the fol-lowing benefits:

    Physical Health Benefits:                                                                                                                             • Boosts immunity                                                                                                                                             • Lowers stress hormones                                                                                                                                • Decreases pain                                                                                                                                              • Relaxes your muscles                                                                                                                                   • Prevents heart disease

    Mental Health Benefits:                                                                                                                                 • Adds joy and zest to life                                                                                                                                • Eases anxiety and fear                                                                                                                                 • Relieves stress                                                                                                                                              • Improves mood                                                                                                                                              • Enhances resilience

    Social Benefits:                                                                                                                                             • Strengthens relationships                                                                                                                             • Attracts others to us                                                                                                                                      • Enhances teamwork                                                                                                                                      • Helps defuse conflict                                                                                                                                     • Promotes group bonding

    Since many people live alone or in situations where laughter is not a regu-ar activity, in order to gain the benefits cited, you might need to create the op-portunity to laugh.                                                                • Watch a funny movie or TV show.                                                                                                                • Go to a comedy club.                                                                                                                                     • Read the funny pages.                                                                                                                                   • Seek out companionship with funny people.                                                                                                 • Share a good joke or a funny story.                                                                                                              • Check out your bookstore’s humor section.                                                                                                  • Host game night with friends.                                                                                                                       • Play with a pet.                                                                                                                                             • Got to a ‘Laughter Yoga” class.                                                                                                                      • Goof around with children.                                                                                                                            • Do something silly.                                                                                                                    07-20-11-laughing-granny.jpg                    • Make time for fun activities ( e.g. bowling, miniature golfing, karaoke).

    You might also take yourself less seriously. Learn to laugh at yourself. Share your embarrassing moments. You might also laugh at times when normally you might respond in a different manner. Put a toy or funny plaque on your table to remind you to laugh. Watch how children deal with situations and emulate them.

    Spending time with a friend can brighten the day of any individual, especially a senior. Since many seniors live alone or may have lost contact with their friends, they might be limited on who is available for fun-filled activities. In that case, hiring a caregiver can fill that void.

    As laughter, humor and play become an integrated part of your life, your creativity will flourish and new discoveries for playing with friends, coworkers, acquaintances, and loved ones will occur to you daily. Humor takes you to a higher place where you can view the world from a more relaxed, positive, creative, joyful and balanced perspective.

    Photo: As laughter, humor, and play become an integrated part of your life, your creativity will flourish and new dis-coveries for playing with friends, coworkers, acquain-tances, and loved ones will occur to you daily.

  • ARIES (March 21-April 19) You don’t like to be told precisely what to do. You need the free-dom to make your own decisions. Then again, having too many choices is almost worse than having none. This week offers you just the right amount of structure.

    TAURUS (April 20-May 20) You give your all to the projects and people around you. So choose your work carefully. You’re so deeply committed and motivated, and it would be a shame to waste this energy on anything other than what you really, really want. Think long and hard about what is going to make you happy, and write it down.

    GEMINI (May 21-June 21) There’s an atmosphere around you. Sometimes it’s an at-mosphere of playfulness, silliness and whimsy. Other times, your personal environment is seri-ous, thoughtful and regimented. You are very much in control of the mood this week.

    CANCER (June 22-July 22) Sometimes you wonder if your accomplishments will ever be enough to make you feel that you have indeed “arrived.” Give yourself overdue credit, and you just may realize that you “arrived” long ago and have been here all along, deserving of respect, love and acceptance.

    LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) You could spend a lifetime searching for your purpose and never completely defi ne it. You are too multifaceted to pin down in a single statement. So don’t worry about trying to fi t in or do what you should.

    VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) You have a system of reward and punishment, but you don’t consciously realize what it is. Think about the things you do to make yourself feel bad or good. You will determine the fairness and effec-tiveness of these methods and work toward a better system.LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) A loved one may secretly fear that she has little to give compared to another person in your life. You realize that all humans are vulnerable to feelings of inad-equacy. Your compassion and understanding will heal the situation or at least calm it for the time being.

    SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21) You may not realize how low your level of inspiration is until you fi nd yourself wandering through the aisles of a store or library, looking for nothing in particular. An aimless search will bring you to your next awesome source of inspiration.

    SAGITTARIUS(Nov. 22-Dec. 21) A father fi gure will play a role in the way karma unfolds. If you play your cards right, you’ll gain a position of power. It is crucial that you show humility, understand your place and pay respect where it is due. You will be promoted and praised because you are emotionally generous.

    CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) You won’t give up on what you want, but you also see that pushing your agenda, for the time being, isn’t working. So you’ll set it aside for a while, will-ing to see if there isn’t something better that is supposed to happen.

    AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) You’ll carefully plan out events, though you’re also fl exible enough to abandon what’s not working. There’s no shame in turning to plan B, C or D. Your balanced mix of attentiveness and free-spirited attitude is a recipe for success.

    PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) You have certain habits that are so much a part of your everyday life that you don’t even think of them as behav-iors anymore. Rather, they are just what you do when you are “doing you.” But you’re changing this week, and you could decide that a certain habit is unnecess

  • Have you ever thought about what you would do if you have a mishap when you are far away from home? I have. After crashing last year in Arkansas, it really had me thinking about the “what ifs” of motorcycle riding.

    This is the time of year when many of us are making plans to travel. July is the BMW International Rally in Pennsylvania and the Wing Ding Goldwing Rally in Knoxville, Tenn. In August there is the 71st Sturgis Rally in South Dakota. There are hundreds of other events and destinations that will take us and our bikes far from our homes.

    This year, I have plans to ride off-road through Colorado and Utah. Since my crash, I’ve added a few more survival tools for my riding peace of mind.

    First, you need to be prepared. It is never a good time to learn to swim while in the middle of a flood. Neither is trying to develop a plan in case you crash.

    The first responder(s) should you crash, will probably be your riding buddy or buddies. My riding friends have exchanged healthcare information, phone numbers for each other’s loved ones and we tell each other where important medications will be in the event one of us needs something. This includes medications and allergic reactions medications. Also, you should know your friends blood type and any other pertinent information.

    A first-aid kit has been added to my emergency supplies, which contain materi-als for hard wrecks. Let’s face it. Most first-aid kits will do nothing for a real motor-cycle crash, so we have created our own first-aid kit which will have provisions for broken limbs, ribs and/or deep cuts.

    It is very possible that we will have to make it to some kind of road intersec-tion, so a GPS is a must. Knowing your location will save you time of telling first responders where to meet you if needed. If you do wreck, you will need to mark the location of your friend on your GPS. Don’t forget to do this because if you leave your friend you may not remember how to find him or her when you return.

    You cannot always count on cell phone protection and during a crash, and that time may be the difference between life and death. I’ve added a SPOT Personal Tracker to my bike (www.findmespot.com) that will provide a variety of information and rescue help. With the press of a button your SPOT will transmit your location via satellite and the folks at SPOT will dispatch rescue services to your location and notify the people that you have designated on your SPOT alert list.

    The SPOT will get you to a hospital but then what? What if you are too hurt to travel back home or in an unsatisfactory hospital and need transporta-tion? What if your bike is unable to be ridden? Now there is a new service called MedjetAssist. MedjetAssist offers an assistance program specifically tailored for the motorcycle rider. This unique program was developed with the help and input of motorcycle enthusiasts.

    MedjetAssist is an annual membership program (not insurance) which provides the arrangement of worldwide air medical evacuation and consultation services to its enrolled members when they become hospitalized while traveling more than 150 miles from their primary residence. The evacuation benefit is good whether travel-ing in the next county, state or outside the country. The Motorcycle Protection plan can be added to any annual membership for an additional fee ($25 per year).

    MedjetAssist also provides medical ICU air transport and evacuation to a hospital of your choice. They provide up to $3,500.00 for the return of your motorcycle to a shop or dealership of your choice. They will arrange to have your bike returned to you if you are physically u07-20-11-med-jet.jpgnable to ride because of a crash.

    Medjetassist is cheaper than what you would expect to pay to get your bike to a dealership (depending on where you are) so it is worth checking out. There are a host of other benefits and plans by this company. For more information and terms check out www.medjetassist.com.

    With a little preparation and planning you can do a lot to help ensure you are not left high and dry.Ride Safe!

    Photo: MedjetAssist is an annual membership program (not insurance) which provides the arrangement of worldwide air medical evacuation and consultation services to its enrolled members when they become hospitalized while traveling. 

  • LARRY CROWNE(Rated PG-13) 2 Stars07-20-11-larry-crowne-movie-poster.jpg

    Watching Larry Crowne (99 min-utes) is like sinking back into a nice posturepedic bed with a tequila and prune juice smoothie in one hand and a copy of The Bridges of Madison County in the other. See what I did there? I compared watching the movie to being old! In the interest of fairness, (or to avoid ageism) I know plenty of the over-65 set who jump out of planes and like to ride motorcycles. But that’s not the kind of person who is going to see Larry Crowne. They’re all over in the theater next door, watching Transformers 3, with the rest of the free world. But not me, since I’d sooner bite my own arm for blood than vali-date Michael Bay’s “vision.” So really, watching Larry Crowne was an act of defiance, flung in the face of people that insist Michael Bay is an actual director instead of what he really is — a carica-ture of a human being.

    I was all set to watch a sort of modern Death of a Salesman, or possibly an existentialist commentary on the plight of the modern American working man. Nope. Nothing happens in this movie. NOTHING. Just Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts phoning it in while a cast of supporting characters tries desperately to be real people instead of poorly drawn robots. Well, Sulu is pretty cool, if you’re looking for a professorial role model. His evil laugh was the highlight of the movie, all the more so because his class has no idea how to respond, which is what usually happens when I try to crack jokes in my classes. Although he is much nicer about the cell phone issue than I am. He just takes the phones. You don’t want to know what I do with them.

    Seriously though, this movie is blander than a bulk container of generic oatmeal. We open with what I am pretty sure is The Traveling Wilbury’s, in case you had any doubt about who this movie is for. Larry Crowne (Hanks channeling Forrest Gump more than he probably realizes, what with clarifying “Crowne with an E” every time he meets someone) is a charming enough guy, expending an awful lot of energy for his corporate masters, but seemingly happy with his place in the scheme of things. That all changes when his big-box store downsizes him out of his job, in an overdone scene done much better in other movies and televi-sion shows (even a partial list would take up the rest of the review space so do your own research on this one).

    After a few scenes with his neighbor (Cedric the Entertainer, who is not, ahem, entertaining me at the moment), Larry decides to go back to school. Finding financial aid, enrolling and picking his class schedule takes him all of an afternoon, so this movie immediately loses a star for crossing over into the science-fiction genre. He ends up in a class taught by Mercedes Tainot (Roberts), who apparently lives in some wonderful alternate universe where professors can cancel classes that are too small without consulting administration, and with no apparent financial repercussions. Too bad Crowne shows up just in time which forces Tainot to hold class. She gives a horrendous first day speech (Wow. I hope I don’t come off that preachy in my first day lectures.), and Crowne heads to his next class.

    The rest of the movie goes down pretty much how you expect it to from the trailers. Wilmer Valderama shows up looking better than he usually does, and Pam Grier shows up looking much worse than she usually does. In the name of humanity, why have we decided to let Nia Vardalos continue to write movies? Overall, it was tremendously depressing to watch actors making such terrible, terrible choices. But maybe you’re into that sort of thing.

  • For many students, the college enrollment process is a complex ex-perience. Counselors at Fayetteville Technical Community College realize that the maze of procedures, deadlines and paperwork can be frustrating for freshmen students. Even students who have attended FTCC previously find the changes in the process somewhat con-fusing. As a response to this dilemma, FayTech NOW, the New/Returning Student Orientation Workshop, was created. It is currently being implement-ed as a way for Counseling Services to more effectively assist the large number of new and returning students who de-sire approval into one of the more than 150 curriculum programs available. This group session also reduces the wait time that can be a result of seeing many stu-dents in individual counseling sessions.

    Students have two options. They can attend the session face to face or online. The same material is covered in both. The face-to-face group session is facilitated by counselors who are knowledgeable regarding the enrollment process. Counselors explain to the group the different important links on the website and assist them in choosing a program. Students may ask questions and get assistance with understanding the requirements. The FayTech NOW group sessions are held in the Tony Rand Student Center, and students who need to attend should sign in at the Counseling Services desk.

    The online option is available through the FTCC Website. This is done indi-vidually. At the end of the online workshop, students must successfully complete and electronically submit a short assessment. Their program approval paperwork is sent to them via e-mail in three business days. The FayTech NOW online workshop can be found on the Counseling Services webpage (www.faytechcc.edu/counseling/default.asp) by clicking on “New Student Orientation.”

    The approval designates the curriculum program that the student will gradu-ate from and the classes they will need to complete and places them at the appropriate academic level based on either placement assessment or transfer credit in reading, English, and mathematics. Students are also assigned an academic advisor, generally in their program area, to assist them in achieving educational goals.

    One of the most challenging aspects of going to school for those who are new or challenged with the computer is that FTCC is “going green” to recycle and reduce the use of paper products. Therefore, all i07-20-11-college.jpgnformation that formerly was sent through snail mail can be accessed via the internet. The key to being successful is to learn to make good use of the website (faytechcc.edu) and all of the free educational resources available to students at FTCC.

    FayTech NOW is not appropriate for every student. Some will still need to be seen individually by a counselor. Students who have a concern or a question are always welcome to visit Counseling Services for assistance. Students who have attended FayTech NOW have responded favorably to learning useful solu-tions to eliminate enrollment problems. This cuts down on travel, expense, and time spent visiting the various offices to seek assistance. Students find the tips for success useful and eagerly ask questions and get answers. Counselors find the group format ideal because they are able to impart valuable information to more than one student at a time, cutting down on individual sessions and freeing up time to spend on other tasks. Students are encouraged to take advantage of yet another great benefit of attending FTCC.

    For questions or more information contact, colee@faytechcc.edu, 678-8365 or nancec@faytechcc.edu, 678-8411.

    Photo: Counselors at Fayetteville Technical Community College realize that the maze of procedures, deadlines and paperwork can be frustrating for freshmen students.

  • uac071311001.jpg When you think American wines, most people think Napa Valley, but North Carolina vineyards are putting their mark on the American wine scene. And that’s only fitting, as our state is the home of our nation’s first cultivated grape: the scuppernong.

    A cousin to the muscadine, the scuppernong was fi rst sighted by French explorer Giovanni de Verrazano in 1524. Sixty years later, Sir Walter Raleigh’s explorers wrote, “The coast of North Carolina was so full of grapes that the very beating and surge of the sea overfl owed with them.

    ”It was on this voyage that Raleigh discovered the famed “mother vine” of the scuppernongs on Roanoke Island. Cuttings from the “mother vine” were transplanted along the coast and as far west as Fayetteville, and from their bounty a rich wine history was born in the Old North State.

    From 1835 until the Civil War, more than 25 wineries were operating in North Carolina. The war disrupted the industry briefl y, but by the turn of the century, many vineyards were thriving and wine was a rich commodity for the state. The industry has had its ups and downs over the past 100 years, but today it is thriving with more than 100 wineries operating throughout the state

    .Today, you can travel from the coast, through the Piedmont and up into the mountains and fi nd a taste of Carolina throughout your travels. Here is a sample of what you will fi nd on your journey:

    Coastal Wineries

    Silver Coast Winery, located just 15 minutes inland from Ocean Isle Beach, produces 10,000 cases of wine annually. Visitors may take 20-minute tours of the facility, which will take them from the grapevines to the wine cellars. The winery offers tastings in its elegant tasting room where the friendly staff will help you select wines, and a small shop provides a collection of enticing gifts. In addition, visitors can view and purchase original art work from various local artists.

    The Silver Coast Winery is 9-years-old this month. Winemaker, Dana Keeler, who came from the Finger Lakes region of New York, is celebrating six years at the winery. The winery is the 22nd opened in the state and the first in Brunswick County. The Silver Coast Winery specializes in the native muscadine grape but also imports many grapes from the Blue Ridge Mountain area.

    Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday until 7 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. Combine a day at the beach with a wine tour and an art exhibition. For further information and directions, go to www.silvercoastwinery.com/winery.html.

    Founded in 1976, Duplin Winery, located in Rose Hill, invites visitors to stroll through its Winemaking Museum to learn the history of the south’s oldest and largest winery. The winery produces more than 1,000,000 gallons of wine, selecting grapes from more than 1,400 acres across four states. Although the muscadine is a winery favorite, Duplin Winery offers 12 traditional wines as well as blends and champagne.

    For three generations, the Duplin Winery has remained family-owned and operated. The Duplin family decided in the early ‘70s to create a market for their grapes and started making wine. In-laws, grandchildren, aunts and uncles all pitched in stomping grapes and bottling wine. The rest is history. The family is devoted not just to its own winery, but to wine in general, and the industry itself and has grown in sales by more than 10 percent each year.

    Free tours are available Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and free tastings are offered Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The winery is closed on Sundays.

    For more information, visit the website at www.duplinwinery.com.

    Just 25 miles from downtown Wilmington, the Bannerman Vineyard has been cultivating grapes since 1973. A family-owned business in the heart of Pender County, the vineyard spans 20 acres.

    Featuring the “muscadine” grape, similar to a Concord grape, wine made from this fruit has unique nutritional characteristics. Due to its ingredient, “resvertrol,” consumers have the benefi t of a healthy anti-oxidant which can lower cholesterol. Just think: drink wine and get healthy. The ingredient can be found in both the red and white muscadine wines.

    The Bannerman family works long days at the vineyard during the “off season” (November to July). Hours for tasting then are Wednesday through Saturday from 12-4 p.m. or by appointment by calling 910-259-5474. During the season (August through November), the vineyard is open from Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and on Sundays 12 - 6 p.m.

    Piedmont Wineries

    When you’ve finished your visit to the coastal wineries, head to the central part of the state where a vast array of wineries await you.A short jaunt down Highway 87, Lu-Mil Vineyards can be found just north of Elizabethtown in the small community of Dublin. The vineyard sits on the family farm of the late Lucille and Miller Taylor. Leaders in the agricultural industry, the family started the vineyard as a means of testing new machinery for the wine industry. Those tests spawned a successful vineyard, whose fi rst harvest occurred in 2005. That was the same year the vineyard’s gift shop and tasting room were offi cially opened to the public.

    Taylor Divine is a 100 percent semi-sweet mid-harvest white wine made with a blend of scuppernong and Carolos grapes. Bladen Blush is a late harvest blend of muscadine grapes that produce a full, sweet taste and mild, pleasant fi nish. Cape Owen Red is made of native muscadines. It is the sweetest of the sweet wines. Old Cumberland, which is a soft, dry white wine made from the early harvest of muscadines, was named in honor of Cumberland County. Harmony Hall is made from the magnolia grape and is cold fermented for a smooth, sweet and fruity white wine. The vineyard is open daily for free wine tasting, but you can also spend the night in one of the Vineyard Cabins.

    For more information, visit the website at www.lumilvineyard.com.

    As you travel east, you will encounter a number of other wineries that make up the Uwharrie Mountains Wine Trail. Located in the heart of the Piedmont, the Uwharrie Mountains Wine Trail will take you to a number of wineries all within a very short drive of each other.

    Stony Mountain Vineyards has a simple mission: Make great tasting wines and create wonderful experiences and memories for its customers.

    The vineyard is owned by the Furr family. Ken Furr is a 30-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps who retired with the rank of colonel. He is the winemaker and the general manager. His wife, Marie, is retired from civil service, and manages the tasting room and events. Their son, Devron, is a teacher, a member of the National Guard and the assistant winemaker.

    Unlike many North Carolina vineyards, Stony Mountain offers a variety of traditional varietals including: Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache and Syrah Sangiovese. They also offer four fruit wines: Very “Beary” Red, which is made from blackberries and a dry red wine; Blackberry, which is a semi-sweet red berry wine; Strawberry and Peach. They also offer a White and Red table wine made out of muscadine

    .Winery tours and tastings are available by appointment. For more information, visit www.stonymountainvineyards.com.

    Uwharrie Vineyards is operated by Chad Andrews. A gregarious host, Andrews is knowledgeable about all aspects of wine making and is quick to answer questions or explain the process to you.

    Located just 25 minutes east of Charlotte, the vineyard is comprised of 50 acres of grape vines, and houses a 14,000 square foot facility that include a visitor’scenter, a formal banquet hall, a large tasting bar and a unique gift shop.

    Andrews embraces the motto of the vineyard: He enjoys life to the fullest, takes many things casually, with the exception of his wine. When it comes to his wine, he is a perfectionist, carefully testing and balancing each and every vat of wine. Also something of a health nut, Andrews does not add any preservatives to his wine. “If you can’t pronounce it, it shouldn’t be in the wine,” he said.

    The vineyard offers four different varieties of wines: white wines, red wines, blush wines and port Style.

    The Carlos is a full-bodied dry white wine. The Magnolia is a favorite of many visitors. It has the sweet taste that many in the South prefer in their wines. It has a rich fruit taste with a apple and pear finish. A recent offering is a Muscat, which has a slightly sweet, aromatic and sensual taste. It expresses cantaloupe and honeydew flavors over a citrus core structure.

    The Noble and Noble Evening Pleasure are signature red wines. The Noble is full bodied with a berry and spice overtone. It is cold fermented, and ends dry. The Noble Evening Pleasure is soft and sweet with wild berry overtones.

    Two of the most popular wines are the port-style wines: the Red Velvet and the Frost Velvet. The Red Velvet is a blend of the vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon and the Noble. It has a sweet beginning and a dry finish, which by in large comes with its alcohol content of 15.4 percent. This wine has been featured on Good Morning America, MTV and was selected as the ceremonial wine of the U.S. Army Special Forces and the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.

    The winery is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. While the winery is fl exible on tours, as a rule, tours start every hour on Saturday and Sunday, with tours on a request basis during the week. For more information, visit www.uwharrievineyards.com.

    Mountain Vineyards

    Once you leave the Piedmont, you can head to the mountains where a number of vineyards wait to entertain you.

    A little more than a decade ago the 167-year-old Shore farm in Boonville grew tobacco as it had for many years. Realizing that he had to diversify or face being the last of six generations to farm the land, Neil Shore, chose a different crop. He enrolled in Surry Community College’s viticulture program in the 1990s. A farmer since he was 16-years-old, Shore planted 15 acres in grapes in 2001, and07-13-11-wine-glass.jpgnamed the winery Sanders Ridge after one of his ancestors. “He learned that there’s not a lot of difference between growing grapes and tobacco,” his wife Cindy said. “His inspiration was to pass something along to his kids and still keep the farm viable.”

    Cindy manages the tasting room and works at the family’s certifi ed organic vegetable farm. Neil’s daughter Jennifer helps a few days each week.

    Nine grapes are planted including Viognier, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Cindy believes they’re the only North Carolina winery to plant Muscat Canelli, a cousin of Riesling. Their French-American hybrid Chambourcin is bottled as Sweet Kate, a floral delight named for another ancestor. Sanders Ridge is open daily (except Christmas, New Years and Easter) noon to 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.sandersridge.com.

    Raffaldini Winery owners trace their roots to 14th century Mantua in the Lombardy region of Italy where their ancestors were farmers with a long history of growing their own grapes and making their own wine. They purchased the Yadkin Valley winery property in 2001 after surveying more than 60 sites. “This location is exceptional because it has some of the same characteristics and features as in central and southern Italy,” said Thomas Salley, marketing director for Raffaldini.

    The family planted more than 30 different grapes on 43 acres before settling on those that have proven to be successful. “We focus on Pinot Grigio, Vermentino, six varieties of Sangiovese, Montepulciano and Orange Moscato. This year we planted some Nero d’Avola,” Salley said. They also grow Malbec and occasionally buy Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc from other local growers. The first vintage was bottled on site in 2003 and an early tasting room opened in 2004. During 2007, the family constructed a villa reminiscent of Italian family homes with an events room upstairs and a tasting room downstairs. Their members gather at the villa for private tastings and club events including the annual Italian Festival in September.

    Raffaldini is open Mondays from 11a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday 11a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.  Tours are Wednesday to Sunday 1-4 p.m. For more information, visit www.raffaldini.com.

  • 07-06-11-extreme-home-makeover-lolog.jpgExtreme Makeover: Home Edition, the Emmy-award winning hit reality show on ABC, is coming to Fayetteville, N.C. to surprise one very deserving family and they have chosen Blue Ridge Log Cabins to lead the charge in building a new home. The identity of the family receiving a complete home rebuild from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition will be revealed on Thursday, July 14 during Extreme’s, “Good Morning!” wake up call.

    The Fayetteville Dogwood Festival is proud to be one of the hosts of a very special project to benefit the deserving recipients. Blue Ridge Log Cabins, R. A. Jeffrey’s — a Bud Light distributor and the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival, together will produce Heroes, Hearts and Hardhats Music Festival on Sunday July, 17th in Festival Park. All of the proceeds from this all day event will be donated to the family build fund.

    The festival includes food vendors, face painting stations, inflatable waterslides, cold Bud Light — and of course free entertainment! Donations will be accepted throughout the day, and proceeds from the food vendors, waterslides, soda, water and beer sales will be presented to the family.

    The USO of North Carolina will also be on hand with their bus and N.C. Mobile unit collecting non perishable food and travel-sized personal hygiene items.

    The day’s activities begin at noon and run through 9 p.m. Entertainment will include a lineup of performers like Da Throw Back Band, a festive 70’s style show band, Jamie Tate, a North Carolina native with fun tunes like “I’m One Beer Away From Loving You”, and of course a few other surprises. The event headliner will be country artist Josh Thompson.

    Josh Thompson is a songwriter and performer from Cedarburg, Wisconsin. Thompson’s blue collar lifestyle can be found in many of the songs he has written, which includes the title track of Jason Michael Carroll’s current album Growing Up is Getting Old. Following his Top 20 Debut “Beer On The Table” his second single and album’s title track “Way Out Here” is already in the Top 40.

    We invite you to join us at the Heroes, Hearts and Hardhats Music Festival presented by Bud Light to make a difference in the lives of the deserving recipients.

    For more information about the festival, please contact Carrie King with the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival at 910- 323-1934 or cking@faydogwoodfestival.comFor more information regarding sponsorship opportunities and construction needs, please contact Blue Ridge Log Cabins athttp://www.joinextreme.com/northcarolinadonate/constructionmaterials.

    To make a direct donation to the family build fund please visit http://www.joinextreme.com/northcarolina/builderfamilyfund.

    Or if you have a product or service that you would like to donate please email Blue Ridge Homes at extreme@blueridgelogcabins.com and tell us about it.

    Photo: The Fayetteville Dogwood Festival is proud to be one of the hosts of a very special event in support of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and their project, which will benefi t a local family.

  • Wine aficionados in search of special labels, those who want to learn more about grapey goodness and people just hunting for a unique gathering place can all find what they’re looking for at The Wine Café, which uncorked about six months ago in Hope Mills’ Millstone Towne Centre.

    A retail store and tasting room, The Wine Café offers close to 200 labels of wines and craft beers from all over the world for sale by the bottle, as well as a constantly changing selection of 12 wines at a high-tech, self-serve tasting station. At least once a month, the café holds a free wine tasting. Because they are held at different times, customers can check the business’s Facebook page or the café’s web site, www.thewinecafeus.com, to fi nd out when the next event will be.

    On July 7, the store’s owners, Angie and Ray Malvave, celebrated their birthdays with a tasting of their personal favorite wines. As well as sharing the same vintage — they were born on the same day in the same year — they also have an interesting love story.

    As children in Puerto Rico, Angie and Ray were middle-school sweethearts, though she says he got mad at her because she wouldn’t kiss him. Fast forward 25 years, add a Facebook reconnection, and Angela found herself in a place she never thought she’d be. Not just by moving to Cumberland County, but opening her own business.

    “I always had a dream of opening my own business, but it’s hard to quit your job and start a new venture,” she said.

    But it wasn’t too hard to quit her healthcare marketing job to move to this area to be with Ray, who recently retired from the military. The couple was married in December.

    “When Ray was ready to retire, we could have gone anywhere, but I really like the people here, the charm of the southern thing,” she said. “In developing the concept for the store, I wanted a big-city concept in a small city with a community feel for it.”

    Figuring out what that concept should be was a little harder, but, in her choice of business, like her marriage, she sees a divine hand.

    “I prayed,” she said. “The same way God brought me here and put us together, he will show me the business. Then we were having wine one afternoon in the backyard — a Grenache — and then I was like, wine! Wine it is. It was out of the blue in a way, the revelation I was praying for.”

    In some ways, it wasn’t too surprising. In her many work and leisure travels all over the world, she says she always went places with vineyards.07-13-11-wine-cafe.jpg

    “I’ve always been a wine lover,” she said. “I consider wine like an art. The complexity of producing the wine … it amazes me how you can open a bottle of wine today, and the same vintage one year later will taste completely different.”

    Taste is something to experience at The Wine Café. The café’s tasting station works with pre-paid cards, which the business loads like a debit card for a one-time fee of $3, or for free if the customer puts $30 or more on the card. The reusable, rechargeable card is put into the tasting station by the customer, who then pulls down a glass from the rack overhead and chooses a 1 ½-ounce taste, a 3-ounce half glass, or a 5-ounce full cup of wine with a push of a button.

    The choice of wines in the tasting station is changed every couple of weeks. Prices vary with the selection, but recently ranged from $1.50 to $5.40 for a taste, and $5.20 to $18 for a full glass.

    “The idea is for the customer to experiment with different varieties,” she said. “I can be talking about wine for a long time, but until a customer tastes it, the aromas and fl avors … it opens the mind of many customers to try things they’d never ventured to try before and expand their palate.”

    The store’s wine selection is divided by new world wines (from Chile, Argentina, South Africa, New Zealand and the United States) old world wines (Europe), sparkling, and sweet. Labels on the racks list tasting notes and pairing suggestions. The café also offers deli plates, cupcakes, gift baskets and can make special orders for labels that customers are looking for.

    The Wine Café is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sundays from 1 to 6 p.m.; closed Tuesdays.

    Photo: Angie Malvave, of The Wine Cafe, draws a sample of wine.

  • 07-13-11-sheree.jpgFirst opened in March of 1980, Bob & Sheree’s Wine Shoppe has been an icon in Fayetteville for the last 30 years.

    When first generation Italian Robert Accetturo moved to North Carolina with Sheree, they were seeking to combine Sheree’s California wine training with Bob’s retail and pub business experience. North Carolina did not even have a liquor license to handle Bob and Sheree’s request. A license had to be specially crafted to allow them to work with both beer and wine, and to allow taste testing to be handled on the premises. Bob and Sheree were eventually asked to make a choice between wine tasting or beer tasting, the state would not allow both. In the end, they chose to offer wine tasting.

    Although Bob passed away Christmas of 2009, the business remains a family run business with Sheree at the helm and their son, Nunzio, helping run the two Fayetteville shops. Family and history are an important part of the life of the shop. Sheree speaks with passion about not only the business, but the importance of community and culture and how “bringing the best to the table” helps others make and maintain their connections with their loved ones.

    The shop’s main vision is educating its patrons in making personal selections that will please each individual’s palate. Its goal is to “help you make the right decision every time you come in,” says Sheree. She equates selecting the right beer or wine to people selecting a particular scent to wear.

    “I can’t ask someone to wear my perfume,” she says, “It fits like a puzzle, there is not one grape for everyone — each person is different.”

    She is so committed to satisfaction that the shop offers a 100 percent unconditional money back guarantee on purchases made, even if you just did not like it

    .The shop prides itself on offering a wide variety of wine and beers that are not available elsewhere in the community. A best seller for the last 15 years, Moscato D’Asti by the Saracco family was brought to Fayetteville by Bob and Sheree. Sheree recounts that when Bob was born in Chicago, the midwife listed on Bob’s birth certificate was from the Saracco family.

    They also have upwards of 1,200 beers available at any given time. When Sam Adams introduced its limited edition Infi nium beer last year, the entire state of North Carolina was only allotted 40 cases. Sheree’s shop was given one case. She called the company directly to plead for more than those 12 bottles for the Fayetteville community, and was rewarded with an additional three cases. She took no advance orders, but offered them on a first-come first-served basis — one bottle per person.

    Active in the community, the shop hosted wine tastings on Fort Bragg for the incoming commanders for more than 15 years. In past years they have hosted afternoon wine tastings at the shop, with the well-known DJs of Bob and Sheri in the Morning, capitalizing on the name word play. The shop’s staff has also taught classes to the staffs at local restaurants, helping to teach servers the proper way to serve and present wine, and how to deal with tricky customers.

    While many of the wines and beers you will fi nd on hand are imported, you can also fi nd some great local products. If you are looking to acquaint yourself with some North Carolina wines, Bob & Sheree’s may have the widest selection in the area. The shop carries many of the state’s wines in both red and white.

    With two locations, (2828 Raeford Rd. and 238 Hay St., Bob & Sheree’s Wine Shoppe offers much more than a fantastic selection of beer and wine from around the world. The shop offers “vintage hospitality” that is rare in our fast-paced society. Be sure to check out their Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/pages/Bob-Sherees-Wine-Shoppe.

    Photo: Sheree offering a toast in the shop.

  • Benjamin Franklin is credited with having said that “Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance”. 07-13-11-grapes-and-hops.jpg

    Perhaps local wine-shop owners Teresa Swint and her father, Howard Johnson, “no we don’t own hotels, tee hee” says Swint, had similar thoughts when they decided to open Grapes & Hops on Ramsey Street seven years ago.

    Swint said she had long thought that there needed to be a wine shop on the north end of town. When she and her dad decided to go into business together, it was an obvious choice for them.

    Before opening Grapes & Hops, Swint, an accountant, and Johnson, who retired from hospital administration, admit they knew nothing about wine and beer. With a huge learning curve to overcome, and armed only with a desire for knowledge, they threw themselves in feet fi rst. Becoming masters in their fi eld, their focus now is on their customers.

    Swint says that where wine was once consumed more by retirees, a younger demographic is now embracing the experience.

    “I am not sure why the resurgence,” says Swint. “My only thought is that you can have so many different experiences with wine, reds versus whites, etc., whereas a gin and tonic is a gin and tonic.”

    The wines at Grapes & Hops come from all over the world, however, some, like Duplin, Shelton, Raylen and Dennis originate right here in the Tarheel state. Swint says her store specializes in good customer service and that they will gladly special order wines for their patrons.

    Every Friday the store opens new wines and offers free samples. She adds that by purchasing in a shop that employs wine stewards, you can receive personal recommendations and suggestions.

    If you’re looking for a theme for your next party, Swint says that “wine tastings can be a fun thing to host.”

    Local wine enthusiast, David Evans, and Swint, both, suggest having a theme to your wine-tasting.

    “Cabernets from South America or Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand,” is a good place to start says Swint. She adds that “the difference in growing regions and the taste of the wines would surprise most people.”

    When asked to describe the steps involved in tasting, Evans explains, “before tasting the wine, hold the wine up to a light or against a white background and assess the color. White wines will be pale to golden, depending on its age, whereas red wines will range from light red to almost black. The darker the red, the heavier the fl avor.”

    The next step according to Evans is to “swirl the wine in the glass. After you swirl, look at the sides of the glass and you will see streaks coming down the sides. These are called ‘tears’ or ‘legs’. If the legs come down thin and quick then it’s probably a light and low-alcohol wine. If the legs come down slower and thicker, it’s probably a heavier and higher-alcohol wine.”

    The wine gets swirled again, then it’s time to inhale the wine’s aroma. According to Evans, “If it’s a red wine, it may be earthy and spicy and may be Old-World style, whereas a New-World wine may be fruity.”

    The best step in the process comes next.

    “Taste the wine,” says Evans. “Notice how it feels at the tip of your tongue, in the middle and on the sides of your mouth. Be aware of how long you can taste the wine after you have swallowed it.”

    Both Evans and Swint suggest having food available should you host a wine tasting. Swint says to serve “both soft and hard cheese, plain crackers and fruit.”

    If you prefer trying your hand at making your own wine or beer, Grapes and Hops also sells supplies to get you started. In addition, they make lovely gift baskets that are perfect for every occasion. Visit them at 5407-C Ramsey Street or give them a call at 822-8700 for more information.

    Photo: Grapes and Hops offers a wide array of wines to residents of North Fayetteville.

  • This, That and the Other

    Individual human beings are the most fascinating creatures on God’s green earth.07-13-11-vet-park.jpg

    We love them, hate them, help them, get angry with them, follow them, watch them on television.

    Nothing is more riveting to us than other human beings. It is sometimes interesting and instructive to look at ourselves as a group, though, and the U.S. Census — conducted every 10 years — provides us with the data to do just that. Some of the information is interesting, some of it is positive and some of it causes concern.

    A quick look from the 2010 Census.

    Cumberland County has historically been younger than the rest of our state and nation, and it remains so. The obvious reason for this is our signifi cant military population, just the age to have young families, and they do. We are more transient than most other places with a full 10 percent fewer of us living in the same house we did a year ago than others in our state and nation. Not surprisingly, we also have a lower level of home ownership.

    A quick trip to any public place in our community affi rms that we are far more diverse than the rest of our state and much of our nation, again because the military brings people of all ethnicities and heritages to our community, enriching us in all kinds of ways from language to food. We display this diversity proudly every fall at the International Folk Festival.

    On the concerning side, our median household income is about $2,000 below the state number and $9,000 below the national median. A contributing factor to these discrepancies is certainly our education level. Fewer Cumberland County residents have college degrees than those elsewhere in North Carolina and across the nation, but we do graduate from high school at a higher percentage.

    And, while North Carolina as a whole had explosive growth over the last decade at 18.5 percent and the nation grew almost 10 percent, Cumberland County’s growth was a modest 5.4 percent. It is important to note, though, that the census fi gures were collected before BRAC’s growth really got underway.

    This data and much more is available from the US Census Bureau and, just like a photograph of your last birthday party, it gives us a snapshot of our community, state, and nation as we were in the spring of 2010.•

    • • • • •

    Most of us succumb to impulse purchases from time to time, and my particular weaknesses in this area often involve books.

    On the sale table of a local book emporium, I recently fell victim to Christopher Buckley’s sweet, charming, poignant and occasionally laughing-out-loud funny, memoir of his parents, Losing Mum and Pup.

    Buckley’s parents were, of course, William F. Buckley Jr., the Lion of the Right in American politics, and Pat Buckley, a socialite at the top of New York and European circles for decades. Both died within a year of each other in 2007 and 2008, and Christopher, their only child, remembers his far-from-average parents with both love and consternation at the traits that made them both extraordinary human beings and a one-of-a-kind mother and father.

    I confess that I cannot remember ever agreeing with William F. Buckley Jr. on anything political, and his effete and often comical mannerisms drove me crazy. But there is no getting around the fact that he was a brilliant, elegant, erudite and prolifi c writer who sent me to the dictionary on a regular basis, as does his son.

    Christopher reports that even at the end his father’s words fl owed out “punctuated and paragraphed,” and that he could write his columns — about the length of this one — in fi ve minutes, most often with no corrections or editing. His books about sailing the seas are wonderfully readable and unequaled.

    Christopher Buckley writes about his parents with great love and with great understanding that remarkable as they may have been, they were his Mum and Pup. My favorite line may be this:“Great men … tend to be the stars of their own movies.”

    • • • • • •

    By the time you read this, North Carolina will have celebrated and dedicated our state’s new $13 million Veteran’s Park in downtown Fayetteville.

    It is North Carolina’s tribute to those who have served and will serve us and all Americans in our military, and it is in the right place in our community where heroes live next door.

    It will be here when you and I are not, honoring those who have been brave and those who will be.

    If you saw him, I hope you took a minute to say thank you to former North Carolina Senator Tony Rand.

    The North Carolina Veterans Park is his legislative handiwork, the product of his understanding of the sacrifi ce freely and lovingly given by generations of North Carolinians and other Americans and of the special and unique role this community continues to play in military history.

    Trust me on this one.

    I was there.

    Photo: The N.C. Veterans Park opened last week. Those in attendance heard a little from former N.C. Senator Tony Rand. Rand was the man behind the park in the N.C. Legislature.

     

  • 07-13-11-duke.jpgThere are some who would argue that bikers are scary. Their view of motorcycle riders involve visions of violent biker gangs out looking for trouble, not the many groups of riders who raise funds for the less for-tunate or the groups like the Patriot Guard Riders who honor fallen soldiers at funeral services across the country.

    On Saturday, July 16, in an annual show of compassion that has be-come an event that many look forward to with great anticipation, Victory of Fayetteville is hosting the 9th Annual Christmas in July Toy Run.

    As in years past, each rider is asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy in addition to the $15 entry fee. Passengers are welcome and it costs $10 for them to participate.

    The event actually starts the night before the ride, on July 15. From 6-8 p.m. riders gather at Legends Pub on Bragg Boulevard, catch a bite to eat, listen to the live entertainment and preregister for the ride. Legends owner Holly Whitney has been a supporter of the event since its inception and looks forward to hosting the pre-ride registration party each year.

    On the morning of the 16th, riders meet up at M&M Leather on Bragg Boulevard. Technically registration starts at 8 a.m., but event coordinator William Winford says that folks start registering right after set up is done, around 6:30 a.m.

    The ride starts promptly at 8 a.m. and lasts two hours to the minute accord-ing to Winford and ends at Duke Children’s Hospital, which is where the fun really begins. The event is designed to support the children and families of Duke Children’s Hospital in conjunction with the Children’s Miracle Network.

    “Once we get to the parking garage at the facility, Texas Roadhouse has al-ready been up there for a few hours and has prepared a meal for us — right in the parking garage,” said Winford. From the garage, the riders travel by foot to the hospital complex foyer. “Once we get to the complex, we form a human chain from inside the hospital foyer to the parking lot. The gifts are transferred by hand, from person to person, so people actually get to see and feel their toy being donated to the hospital.”

    Unfortunately, due to the nature of some of the children’s illnesses, it is not possible to deliver the gifts directly to kids. That must be left to the hospital staff. The generosity does not end with the toys though. Each year the Wal-Mart Foundation writes a check to the Children’s Miracle Network matching the monetary value of gifts and dona-tions raised by the Christmas in July Toy Run participants and sponsors. The Children’s Network then donates the matching contribution to Duke Children’s Hospital. Over the past 8 years, more than $98,000 has been donated in conjunction with this event.

    After the presentation of toys and funds to the Duke Children’s Hospital, everyone departs and comes back to M&M Leather for music and food.

    The entire ride is escorted by law enforcement, from Fayetteville to the Duke Children’s Hospital parking lot. While each jurisdiction provides law enforcement along the way, Cumberland County sends escorts along for the entire ride as a contribution to the cause, since the motorcade can be as long as ¾ of a mile some years.

    As one of the original riders, Winford has a deep commitment to Christmas in July.07-13-11-baby.jpg

    “Certain things just get into your blood. This is how Christmas in July is to me,” said Winford. “We have actually had riders on this event who were Duke children themselves, or whose children were Duke children. It is a very emotional and significant event for them. It runs deep and has real purpose and meaning. It hits people individually and it really hits this community.”

    Winford recognizes that an event like this has no success without the support of the community. And like it does in so many countless other ways, the local citizens and businesses have stepped up year after year to do what is right and to help their fellow man … and children.

    Call 426-5082 to find out how you can help.

    Photo: On July 16, in an annual show of compassion that has become an event that many look forward to with great anticipation, Victory of Fayetteville is hosting the 9th Annual Christmas in July Toy Run.

  • Bad Teacher (Rated R)  2 Stars07-13-11-bad-teacher.jpg

    From an objective standpoint, Bad Teacher (92 minutes) should have been super funny. The pedigree promises inappro-priate jokes that make the audience laugh despite themselves. Screenwriters Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg have done some very funny episodes of The Office, and Director Jake Kasdan did an amazing job with 2007’s Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. Too bad the concept fails horribly.

    Much like lead Diaz’s other attempts to play nasty (Very Bad Things, The Sweetest Thing), Bad Teacher falls completely flat, primarily because there is never any depth to her nastiness. She is not particularly funny as a “bad” teacher, mostly because she re-ally isn’t that much of a bad teacher. I mean, she’s no Mr. Chips, but she is more apathetic than bad. You could call her a “bad per-son,” but there isn’t a whole lot there to distinguish her badness from the badness of any other character in the film. And honestly, when you come right down to it, when you put together a movie of this kind you need to push the envelope to get the laughs, and this is all very standardized.

    And her nemesis, Lucy Punch, is pretty in a quirky way, but plays Ms. Squirrel as very passive aggressive. The film as a whole would have been far more satisfying if the two female leads had gotten a bit more physical. If you’re going for gross-out humor, you have to mean it. There should have been punch-ing, poo flinging, full frontal exposure ala Waiting... and instead, we get a faceful of poison ivy and inappropriate displays of adolescent sexuality.

    The major problem seems to be that neither the film, nor the actors, knows what is supposed to be going on. Is the film funny because everyone is so hate-ful? Is the film funny because teenagers are clueless and the bad teacher tells them how stupid they are? Is the film funny because the bad teacher embezzles (but only a little bit) and steals an exam (which emphasizes memorization and rote learning rather than true understanding or creative thought)?

    Elizabeth Halsey (Diaz) plans to marry rich and wrap up her career as a teacher. One wonders how she became a teacher in the first place, since you generally need to pass a certain number of teaching reviews and competency exams, but whatever. One might also wonder how she managed to convince her fiancée to get engaged in the first place, since the moment his mom steps in her plans are blown, because she is in no way sincere. But then, the fiancée is as dumb as a box of hammers, so mystery solved. In fact, all the men in the movie are as dumb as a box of hammers.

    Principle Wally Snur (John Michael Higgens) has a bizarre dolphin fetish and fails to call Ms. Halsey on any of her be-havior. Substitute teacher Scott Delacorte (Justin Timberlake) is a milquetoast who is supposedly in love with one teacher, but ends up in bed with Ms. Halsey for no obvious reason. Of course, that lack of on-screen chemistry might be related to the fact that they are real life exes. State Testing Dude Carl Halabi (Thomas Lennon) is dumb enough to get tricked by an Annie wig, drugged, and blackmailed … and I am not buying that he was in any way interested in her to begin with. And let’s not even mention the gym teacher! As a romantic lead, Jason Segel is just starting to move past picking up the roles that Seth Rogen rejects as too schmoopy … but his interest in this chick is never adequately explained. He doesn’t get enough screen time to flesh out the relationship, and he doesn’t come off as the type to pursue someone so clearly dysfunctional.

    Mostly, the film moves from sketch to sketch to illustrate that Elizabeth is a bad teacher long after the audience has got-ten the message. Yes, some of the jokes work. Too bad most of them don’t.

  • This is the first season for Fayetteville After 5 under new management. Starting with the May 19 concert that featured The Tams, the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival has been at the helm. With all the other community events that the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival puts on — the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival, Historic Hauntings, New Year’s Eve Party in the Park and the Miss Fayetteville Dogwood Festival Pagaent — it is no surprise that the transition has been painless for concert attendees. Carrie King and her staff know how to host a great party.

    On Thursday, July 21, The Embers will perform at Festival Park. This marks the third of five concerts for this season of Fayetteville After 5. Local favorites, The Tams opened the season in May and were followed by Café’ Mars in June. The August concert will feature another local favorite, Suicide Blonde on Aug. 18. The concert series will conclude with The Band of Oz performing on Sept. 15.

    No strangers to the music scene, The Embers have been performing to-gether for decades. In fact, their website, www.theembersband.net, points out that “After 17 albums, numerous single releases, The Embers are one of the most popular bands as well as one of the most active groups in the country. The Embers boast an average of 300 dates per year all ranging from Toronto to Florida, and westward to California and Hawaii.”

    The album Beach Music, Super Collaboration, which featured The Embers, among other internationally known recording artists, received international critical acclaim. It not only “evoked the best of memories and emotions for anyone who has been touched by the magic of beach music,” according to www.theembers.net. It also “introduced newcomers to the same passion that has made these enchanting melodies one of the greatest music phenomena of all time.”

    Their latest album The Show Must Go On featured the single “The Last Time I’m Saying Goodbye” which debuted at number four in the UK’s Soulwalking charts.07-13-11-embers.jpg

    In addition to the great music, Fayetteville After 5 is a great way to relax with friends and family and take a break from the worries of the work week. Enjoy a corn-hole tournament, participate in the 50/50 raffle and the prizes and giveaways. Like always, there will be food and beverage vendors (no out-side food or beverages are allowed within the park), and plenty of space on the promenade to get up and dance.

    The gates open at five. Attendees can look forward to hearing a perfor-mance by local talent before the headliners perform around 7 p.m. The event is free and takes place downtown at Festival Park, so bring a blanket or a lawn chair to enjoy the show. Find out more at www.faydog-woodfestival.com.

    Photo: The Embers are set to entertain at Fayetteville After 5 on July 21.

  • 07-13-11-teen-explosion.jpg“Children are the world’s most valuable resource and it’s best hope for the future,” said John F. Kennedy; but in a world rife with issues and conflict, the future doesn’t always seem promising. On Friday, July 29, T. Pinckney and Associates is presenting the Teen Explosion Conference in order to prepare today’s students for the best fu-ture possible.

    The institute is partnering with businesses in the Sandhills region of North Carolina to sponsor an annual end-of-summer culminating event that encourages teenagers to plan for a successful school year and apply themselves at their high-est capacity upon returning to school,” their website explains.

    Mind OVER Matter Youth Development Institute was es-tablished in 1997, and is the organization that is partner-ing with local businesses, such as Kidsville News!, Kaplan, Inc., Pinckney & Associates and Up & Coming Weekly, to present the Teen Explosion Conference.

    Mind OVER Matter Youth Development Institute provides organiza-tional consulting for many different nonprofit organizations. “An organiza-tion with capacity is like a tree with good roots. We help your organization grow healthy roots!”

    The self-proclaimed primary goal of this organization is to support youth with skills that they need to be successful, by emphasizing the value of self, interactions with others and the impact this has on social and aca-demic development. It specifically services youth ages 11-19, or grades six through their freshman year in college. Mind OVER Matter Youth Development Institute is a nonprofit, and specializes in organizational de-velopment, program evaluation, staff training, strategic planning, and youth program development and monitoring services.

    Dr. Teresa Thompson-Pinckney, the founder of the Back-to-School Teen Explosion Conference, explains the day as, “ a day for the business community to support our teenagers in an environment that makes the daily rigor of going to school relevant to our future generation of employees. When many teens graduate from high school, according to the private and public sector, our young people do not have the skills needed to succeed at work. This conference offers teens an authentic experience to learn strate-gies for school success, understand how to prepare for college and an op-portunity to interact with business and community leaders.”

    Some highlights of the conference include a presentation on effective testing strategies sponsored by Kaplan as well as presentations on the importance managing finances and preparing for college with a 10-year plan.

    The conference will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Hotel Bordeaux & Conference Center.

    It is open for all who wish to participate ages 13 through 18. Registration begins at 8 a.m. For more information, contact Teresa Thompson-Pinckney at 486-4084. Breakfast and lunch are provided for participants.

    Photo: On Friday, July 29, T. Pinckney and Associates is presenting the Teen Explosion Conference in order to prepare today’s students for the best future possible.

  • The Green Lantern  (Rated PG-13)  Three Stars07-06-11-green-lantern.jpg

    Green Lantern(105 minutes) is a film for the adolescent boy in us all. What’s more, the characters and the actors portray-ing them are very much aware of this fact. The acting is wooden, the dialogue exposi-tory and forced, the plot overly complicated. All in all, it’s not the worst comic-book movie of the last 10 years (I assume no list is necessary, but if you want perspective compare it to X-Men: Last Stand. There. Now don’t you feel much better about The Green Lantern?), but it is far from the best.

    The film respects the comic book my-thology, even if I don’t. There were rumors that the filmmakers were experimenting with a comic twist on the story and were in talks with Jack Black (!) to star as Hal Jordan, and it’s a good thing they went with a more straightforward version. Director Martin Campbell didn’t do a terrible job, it is more that he didn’t do an amazing job, so the film comes off as very middle of the road forgettable. This is exactly the kind of generic super-hero film that makes just enough money so everyone involved can tell themselves they did a good job, and then move on to their next project.

    Millions of years ago, the Guardians of the Universe used the green essence of will power to create power rings that could manifest anything the wearer thought of, in a sort of intergalactic version of The Secret. Wow. Now I am thinking of one of my ex-boyfriends who told me he was a guardian of the Universe right before he broke up with me. Seriously. He was not joking. I thought he had a creative mind and a rebellious streak, but no. He was crazypants.

    Anyway, these guardians created a UN-type security force called the Green Lantern Corps. Abin Sur (Temuera Morrison) is a senior member of the Corps charged with containing Parallax (Clancy Brown), who escapes and mortally wounds Abin Sur. Abin Sur, clearly wounded so badly he forgets that his magic ring gives him the power of intergalactic flight, manages to get into a spaceship and fly to earth. Meanwhile, test pilot Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds) shows up so late for his big test flight that he doesn’t even undergo any of the flight prep one assumes experimental pilots need before they’re allowed to take the throttle. Oh well, at least he managed to find time for hate flirting with Carol Ferris (Blake Lively). Fun game! Take a shot every time she accuses him of acting like a child! Right around the last third of the movie, everything will seem much more entertaining.

    Hal and Abin finally manage to get in the same scene, and naturally Hal buries the alien and flees the scene with magic ring and magic lantern in tow just before the government shows up. Although it seems like, since Hal isn’t a doctor, much less a specialist in alien physiology, he maybe should have considered the possibil-ity that Abin Sur was in some kind of regenerative alien coma and not risked bury-ing him alive? That’s not a spoiler … it just seems like taking the time to build a burial cairn when the military was bound to show up any moment when you have no way of verifying the alien is dead-dead was possibly a tad misguided.

    Well, it seems to work out. And Hal is whisked away to the planet Oa where he meets Tomar-Re (Geoffrey Rush), Kilowog (Michael Clarke Duncan) and Sinestro (Mark Strong). Meanwhile, exo-biologist Hector Hammond (Peter Sarsgaard) has been tasked with creating some alien autopsy footage for use on the SyFy network. You might think the government would spring for some kind of biohazard suit and thick plastic gloves, but you would be wrong. These cost sa-ing measures result in Hector Hammon absorbing the yellow power wielded by Parallax, setting up the action in the second half of the film.

    The mythology continues to develop, the story gets infinitely more complicated, and the finale fails to deliver a satisfying conclusion. However, there is an after credits scene.

  • As the Fayetteville Young Professionals’ (FYP) second year comes to a close, I’d like to thank everyone who has joined, volunteered, sponsored and attended our many events this year. We’ve made new business contacts, learned07-06-11-fyp-logo.jpg new skills, made some memories and most importantly initiated lifelong friendships. 

    When I joined the FYP steering committee two years ago at the request of the Chamber of Commerce, I never imagined that from that those 20 people who sat around a table planning, laughing and even arguing, that FYP would grow to almost 500 members. The Fayetteville Young Professional’s success is a testament to the need our community’s 20-40-year-olds have to reach out and connect.

    It’s cliché to say it, but FYP has changed my life. I have never been part of a group that has been as rewarding. While the new friends, parties, athletic activities and professional-development opportunities have all been really fun, being a part of a group that also has so much impact on the community has been unexpectedly satisfying. From giving out gifts at the Salvation Army, to cleaning up our newly minted All-America City with Fayetteville Beautiful, FYP has done a lot to give back, thus affording me the opportunity to get to know my community and give back as well.

    Additionally, as an organized group, the Fayetteville Young Professionals have made Fayetteville’s business leadership take note of everything that professionals in the 20-40 age group have to offer. FYP gives our age group more weight and cred-ibility. Instead of just being the young guy at the end of the hall, now we are the young guy or girl who can call and mobilize 20-50 people for a meet up at a local restaurant, or team for a non-profit activity. As an organized group, we are able to make the connections that have taken established business professionals years to make and in a fun, friendly, non-intimidating environment.

    Fayetteville is changing and it is exciting being a part of that. It is not the same place that many of our parents grew up in. Many of our members are from all over the world. They have moved here for careers or to come back and take over fam-ily businesses instead of venturing out to make their mark in other places. They’ve done this because of the opportunities that this community provides and the qual-ity-of-life improvements that have occurred. Our community has changed from a small town to a big city, which unfortunately has made it harder to meet people. FYP provides that venue. I can’t tell you how often I have heard someone say, “I had no idea there were so many young career-ori-ented people here.”

    One of the things that FYP has expanded this year has been our “Meet ups.” Those events have been very successful and draw a diverse group de-pending on the location and time. I’ve not been to a meet up where I haven’t met a new Fayetteville Young Professional member who heard about us on Facebook, through an employer or friend, or even saw us at many of our monthly events. By hosting these events at different locations, it has exposed our members to a lot of new places in the com-munity that they had never been to. Our Lunch and Learn events have also continued to grow, with on average 30-40 young professionals attending our educational series, which are sometimes presented by other young professionals.

    Remember, FYP is your group and it is what you make of it. Many of our new activities have come at the suggestion of new members interested in trying out a new activity or something they have a special interest. Next year promises to be even better

    .If you are interested in joining, volunteering on a committee or renewing your membership, be sure to visit our website at www.fayyp.org.

  • Just because the 4th of July has passed, it doesn’t mean there won’t still be fireworks in Fayetteville. The Fayetteville SwampDogs are making a hard push towards the playoffs, and now is the best time to get your tickets to see the team live in action at J.P. Riddle Stadium.07-06-11-swmpdogs.jpg

    The biggest upcoming nights are just around the corner, including the 2011 CPL All-Star Game, part of the SwampDogs All-Star Summer of Fun. Tickets are limited for the All-Star Fan Feston Sunday, July 17, as well as the All-Star Game itself on Monday, July 18. The Fan Fest includes a home run derby, as well as the 2nd Annual Guns-N-Hoses charity softball game, pit-ting members of the Fayetteville Police Department against the Fayetteville Fire Department, so don’t miss out on a great event full of fun and surprises, and a chance to see the stars of to-morrow, today!

    Before that, though, there’s plenty of great SwampDogs action to catch at “The Swamp.” July 6 is Hospitality Appreciation Night at J.P. Riddle Stadium, as the SwampDogs cater to all of those who cater to us. Everyone working in the hospitality industry will receive a $1 off a general admission ticket to the game against the Wilmington Sharks. It’s also Ladies’ Night, so all ladies will be able to buy one general admission ticket and get another general admission ticket free!

    Then it’s time to grab your four-leaf clovers, because the following night, July 7, is Summertime St. Patty’s Day! Come celebrate the Luck o’ t06-29-11-swampdogs.jpghe Irish, and the first 500 lucky fans, 21 and over, will receive a pint glass courtesy of Yuengling and Healy Wholesale. It will be a night filled with Irish nicknames, Irish food, Irish music — everything that comes with a tra-ditional Irish celebration! It will also be Fayetteville Observer Night, where fans can come and see the Weekender bug, so grab your green and come to July’s best Irish celebration.

    On Saturday, July 9, the SwampDogs will host the Morehead City Marlins, and the first 500 fans in attendance will receive a new, insulated lunch bag, presented by Cape Fear Orthopedic. It will also be NC State Night, so wear your Wolfpack gear and receive $1 off a general admission ticket.

    Don’t miss out on your chance to catch the best base-ball in town, all part of the Fayetteville SwampDogs All-Star Summer of Fun. For more information or to order your tickets, call the SwampDogs office at 426-5900, and we’ll see you at “The Swamp!’

  • Theatre Celebrates Past, Looks to Future With New Direction

    In 1962, a group of like-minded individuals got together to dream. As is the case with those with vision, their dream wasn’t small. Their goal: the development of a regional theatre in their community. Driving that vision were Bo and Herbert Thorp, and with the hard work, talent and dedication of the Thorps and their friends, that dream became a reality. And, 50 years later, the community can celebrate that dream during the Cape Fear Regional Theatre’s 50th Anniversary.

    uac070711001.jpg Never known for doing things in a small way, the theatre will celebrate its anniversary with an ending, a beginning and an award-winning season featuring some of the community’s most talented performers.

    For Bo Thorp, who has been the heart of the theatre for its 50 years of existence, this season is somewhat bittersweet. She can look back fondly at the success of the theatre, and look to the future as she takes a step back and the theatre welcomes its new artistic director, Tom Quaintance.

    Quaintance, who has more than 18 years of professional experience, directed Hairspray last season at the CFRT, and was chosen by a special committee appointed by the CFRT board of directors after a two year search.

    “Tom Quaintance is an amazing director and educator who will successfully lead the CFRT into its next chapter,” said Thorp, who will remain at the theatre throughout the 2011-2012 season as the Founding Artistic Director. “We are very excited about the leadership and artist abilities that Tom will bring to our community, and I look forward to continuing to work with him.”

    For his part, Quaintance, is excited about the move to Fayetteville and the challenges presented at the theatre.“I am thrilled with the opportunity to join the Cape Fear Regional Theatre family and am humbled to follow in the footsteps of the great Bo Thorp.”

    Quaintance looks forward to working with Thorp over the upcoming season to learn the day-to-day interworkings of the theatre and to create a vision for the theatre.

    “One of the main things I want to do is to get out into the community and listen,” he said. “My immediate plan is to get out into the community and get in touch with the people. I want to listen not just to the patrons, but those who do not come to the theatre. I want to fi nd ways to bring them in.”

    “For 50 years, the CFRT has been synonymous with professional, quality work that engages, inspires and enlightens the community, and I am especially excited to be arriving as the theatre reaches this extraordinary milestone. I have always believed that theatre is an essential part of any vibrant community, and I want the CFRT to always be a refl ection of this area and its positive attributes — warm, open, interesting and diverse. On a personal note, my wife and I are expecting our fi rst child in July, and we cannot think of a better place to raise a family than Fayetteville.”

    07-06-11-cfrt-logo.jpgThe Season

    The CFRT 50th Anniversary Season brings some of the best of Broadway and the best of the CFRT stage for a compelling season.

    Boeing, Boeing

    September-October 2011

    Written by French playwright Marc Camoletti, Boeing, Boeing, made its English-language debut in London’s West End in 1962. It centers around the love life of Bernard, a man whose love life is a perfect balancing act: When one of his stewardess girlfriends touches down, the next one is already in the air. What could go wrong? The play, which was made into a move in 1965, and had a recent Broadway revival is, according to The New York Times, “The very opposite of what you might expect. It’s not smutty at all. It’s deliciously, deliriously innocent.”

    Miss Saigon

    November 2011

    Set to run in conjunction with Fayetteville’s Heroes Welcome Home for Vietnam Vets, the staging of Miss Saigon is no accident. This is an epic love story set in war-torn Saigon amidst the turmoil of the Vietnam war. An American GI and a Vietnamese girl fall in love, only to be separated by the fall of Saigon. Their struggle to fi nd each other over the ensuing years ends in her making the ultimate sacrifi ce for the child he never knew.

    Encore! 50 Years

    January-February 2012

    It’s the show loyal fans and patrons of the CFRT have been waiting for; performances highlighting 50 years of CFRT performed by your favorites. Special guest stars will return to the CFRT stage to recreate the role that have endeared them to the audience. This musical is guaranteed to be a showcase of the drama, song and dance that has cemented the CFRT’s reputation as the region’s premiere theatre.

    The Great Unknown: A New American Musical

    February-March 2012

    This is a new musical. The CFRT will be the originating theatre and the first to stage this work by William Hauptman, author of Big River and Jim Wann, composer of Pump Boys & Dinettes.The Great Unknown is a jubilant Americana musical about big dreams and even bigger risks. Hoping to inspire and revive a fractured nation, one-armed Civil War veteran John Wesley Powell lead a daring expedition of veterans down the Colorado river to the Grand Canyon in the spring of 1869. With a contemporary folk/musical theatre score enhanced by environmental elements, The Great Unknown is an American musical adventure.

    On Golden Pond

    April-May 2012

    Presented to great critical and popular acclaim fi rst off and then on Broadway, this touching, funny and warmly perceptive study of a spirited and lovable elderly couple facing their twilight years introduced a signifi cant playwright to the theatre world. This show will star Thorp and Mayon Weeks.

    Special Productions

    The Night of January 16th

    September 2011

    A revival of the CFRT’s fi rst production to be held in its original location — the historical courthouse on Dick Street. The story is a murder trial, but without a prearranged verdict; the verdict is decided by a jury selected from the audience. By design the evidence is presented in such a way that the decision must rest on the jurors’ fundamental attitude toward and life and toward man’s potential for greatness. Mayon Weeks will direct the show.

    The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

    Dec. 6-16

    The 21st annual production of Barbara Robinson’s holiday classic. This hilarious Christmas tale is a wonderful opportunity for students to perform.

    50th Anniversary Golden Gala

    Feb. 11, 2012This is the event of the season! Celebrate 50 years of magic. This black-tie gala is the ultimate back stage pass. Come lift a glass and toast the region’s premiere theatre.

    Othello

    March-April 2012

    Presented as The Class07-06-11-tom-cfrt-page.jpgic Theatre Series Production, the show will be performed at Fayetteville State University’s Seabrook Auditorium.

    An Evening With Bo

    Spring 2012

    Celebrate 50 years of Founding Artistic Director Bo Thorp at the CFRT, with an intimate evening with special guests, performances and reminiscences. A reception to follow.

    28th Annual River Show

    May 2012

    A great tradition continues on the banks of the Cape Fear River at the Sol Rose Amphitheater, Campbellton Landing.

    Photo: Tom Quaintance 

  • Although the curtain has barely come down on the 2010/2011 theater season at Gilbert Theater, the staff is already07-06-11-community-favorites.jpghard at work preparing next year’s entertainment for the community. Here is a peak at what is in store.

    No stranger to the Fayetteville theater-goers, The Rocky Horror Show is back and it opens Sept. 22 and runs through Oct. 9.

    “We are opening with our Rocky Horror Show. It is turning out to be a tradition like Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. It is so popular and so well attended. It is a good balance to the things that are less well known and are perhaps more thoughtful,” said Lynn Pryer, Gilbert Theater founder and artistic director, adding that “We do such a good job with Rocky — I thought our live musical version was more entertaining than the movie. We will have a lot of the prior cast returning, too. That is something that is always a joy — doing the “Time Warp” again.”

    As a part of the Dickens Holiday celebration that happens annually downtown, the Gilbert opens its rendition of A Christmas Carolby Charles Dickens.

    “This is our fifth or sixth season doing the Dickens Holiday,” said Pryer. “Last season, we introduced our new set on casters, so we’ve got quite a good look for our space. We have our wonderful cast, largely returning. It is a great addition to the downtown celebration as it presents the entire story on stage, while outside they have people dressed as Victorian characters walking around the streets and all. I think it is a great addition to the day.”

    The season’s third production is another source of pride for the Gilbert staff. It is an original play, by local Vietnam vet, writer, poet and playwright Stephen Miles. It takes place in a retirement home with seniors, one of whom has Alzheimers, and one of whom fi nds out that he is terminally ill. Pryer noted that it is done with a lot of humor, but a lot of pathos as well. Clusters will run Feb. 2-19, 2012. And will be directed by the author.

    “A year from this week ,we will have produced our 100th play and something like a quarter to a third of them have been original scripts,” said Pryer. “We are very proud of that. It is part of our mission.”

    Shakespeare’s comedy As You Like Itpremiers March 29, 2012 and runs through April 15, 2012. To escape death, the extraordinary Rosalind, her brave cousin Celia and one of Shakespeare’s funniest fools flee into the woods. There, in the bewitching Forest of Arden, they discover shepherds and aristocrats, country folk and lovers — and, ultimately, life, love, joy and freedom. Shakespeare’s glorious and wise comedy reminds us of everything it is to be alive.

    The final play of the season will be somewhat of a surprise. Pryer had planned to end the year with a drama, but his personal decision to retire caused him to rethink that and it was changed to a yet-to-be named piece.

    “When I did decide to leave, I said, ‘I don’t want to go out on a downer of a play,’ so this last one will be a musical,” said Pryer.

    Just like his theatrical career, the 2011/2012 season offers a little bit of everything and something for everyone. According to Pryer it’s been a great ride.

    “This time next year I will have been here 20 years. I came here because my son was here and I was very excited about once again living in the south. I had lived here as a missionary for a church years ago, I was a librarian at an all-black high school. I had lived in the south in Virginia, when I was in the Navy, so I was very excited about living in the south. I have a very soft spot in my heart for it. I came here looking for an opportunity, for a satisfying third act, and I definitely found it.”

    Find out more about Gilbert Theater at www.gilberttheater.com

    Photo: Gilbert opens season with The Rocky Horror Show.

  • With the blossoming of a new summer, so too blossoms a new season for the local theatre community. One group in particular has some very exciting possibilities in store for the community. They are the River Valley Players.

    The River Valley Players are a local nonprofi t theatre troupe consisting entirely of volunteers who perform in order to support local charities.07-06-11-erin-crider.jpg

    “We are striving to help other people that need help. Local charities that need an extra boost, and if we are able to help them in any way this is what we try to do,” says Gerry Cruse, founder and director of the Players.

    When asked about which charities they choose to support, Cruse responded with, “We just get together and our board decides which one we want. We try to keep it local. Occasionally something comes up, like maybe a cancer research, or something of that sort, because we have all been involved in one way or another with that kind of an incident. But mostly we try to keep everything local if we can.”

    Most recently the Players have supported Wounded Warriors with a musical tribute to the military, and are preparing to hold auditions for a performance to benefi t the Fayetteville Urban Ministries. Cruse describes the upcoming performance as, “a series of four short plays, all comedies, all very, very funny.” It will be preformed August 19-20 at the Haymont Grill. They also will have a Christmas performance, but that has yet to be decided upon.

    The River Valley Players started several years ago in response to the disaster in New Orleans caused by the infamous Hurricane Katrina.

    “I was working at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center at that time and we had a show group in there and we decided to do a show to raise funds for the children that had been displaced by Katrina, and we actually raised about $3,000 on that occasion,” said Cruse.

    The biggest new project Cruse has in the works however, is a permanent home for the players and a community theater.

    “There is an opportunity for the River Valley Players to obtain a building on Trade Street in Hope Mills that will make a perfect little community theatre,” says Cruse excitedly. “It will be a community theatre; there will be rooms that could be rented for functions. The theatre itself will be small but can be dressed up as a wedding chapel, and people can have receptions there. It’s just a good scheme, and we think it would do great. We would like to have, during the summer and continuing if necessary, theatre camps for young people. And also really involve the youth of Hope Mills in the performing arts, because there is nothing live in Hope Mills other than what’s in the schools,” Cruse explained.

    The River Valley Players face the same issues most non-profit organizations face, however. They need support, and they need volunteers. When asked if she had enough volunteers, Cruse responded simply and firmly with a single word, “No.”

    With the opportunity of obtaining a building, the group needs support from the community more than ever. “If we could get that going I would be totally delighted. It’s two buildings; they are about a hundred years old. So they are going to have to have some work done to bring them up to code before we can even start to think of putting stuff in there, let alone a gathering place for people. So, we have to make sure all of that is correct, and compliant with ADA rules. But I’m hoping we can get enough support to do this,” said Cruse.

  • 07-06-11-temple-season.jpgIn the heart of historic downtown Sanford sits the Temple Theater, just off Carthage Street. Built in 1925 and restored in the 1980s, the Temple Theater may look like a museum, but is an active live-production theater today. While Main Stage Productions only run from September through May, the summer is a special time for patrons.

    Every year the Temple Theater runs a Youth Conservatory through the summer months. This is a special theater training camp for kids ages 8 to 18, with a cost of $300 per child. It is so popular that the theater runs two separate camps each summer. According to Jordan Childress, marketing director, both three week sessions filled up on registration day in April within 30 minutes of opening. This year it expanded the slots available from 38 to 45 to accommodate as many campers as it could.

    After the three weeks of daily rehearsals and lessons, campers will do four performances of Alice in Wonderland, an original adaptation by the theater’s Producing Artistic Director, Peggy Taphorn. Music for this production was done by Michael Hoagland, based in New York. Hoagland is the same artist who wrote the music for the theater’s popular original production of A Christmas Carol, which is done each December.

    The public is welcome to come see either session’s production of Alice in Wonderland. Performances for the first conservatory will be July 8-10, and for the second conservatory on August 5-7. Tickets for the conservatory performances are $12 for adults and $6 for kids. Performance times vary, so please see the temple website for specifi c dates and times. www.templeshows.com/html/summer.html

    Calling all actors! On July 23, the theater will hold auditions for the 2011-2012 theater season. Performers are paid actors drawn from all over the triangle. Auditions will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The theater performs eight Main Stage productions and four Black Box productions each year.

    On tap this season are some great plays, many of which are sure to be community favorites. Guys and Dolls will start the season on Sept. 15 and will run through Oct. 2.

    Dial “M” for Murder will bring mystery to the stage Oct. 20-Nov. 6. The theater’s annual production of A Christmas Carol will end the 2011 shows, with a run from Dec. 1-Dec. 18.

    The new year will come in with a bang, as Country Royalty comes to the stage Jan. 12-29, 2012. And, get ready for side-splitting comedy in February, as The Odd Couple runs Feb. 16- March 4, 2012.

    The season will end with the wacky Little Shop of Horrors, April 26-May 13.

    Temple Theatre offers the most flexible season ticket packages around. They are on sale every season from June through Sept. 10 - Oct. 3. Choose from the four or six ticket pass and then use them in any combination that you wish. The four-ticket Flex Pass is $72 and the six-ticket pass is $108. Call the box offi ce at 919-774-4155 to get all the details!

    Teens wishing to try out for the Temple Teens group will audition at 4 p.m. on July 23. Temple Teens is a special group of teenage performers who prepare 30-45 minute shows around town at fundraisers and other events all year long.

    The theater is calling for logo submissions for a new fall fundraiser. It is hosting the Brick City Beer Fest on Oct. 15, which will be an annual event.

    Taphorn says, “The winning design will become the offi cial Brick City Beer Festival logo. Also, the winner will receive two T-shirts and two season tickets to Temple Theatre’s 2011-2012 season.”

    Logo applicants must be residents of North Carolina and at least 18 years of age. Please call the theater for additional information at 919-774-4512.

    Tickets for the Beer Fest go on sale July 10 for $25. Tickets will sell for $35 on Oct. 15. Due to the limited space at Depot Park, where the event will be held, advance purchase is strongly recommended. Designated driver tickets for those who will not sample beer will be $10 in advance and $15 at the door.

    Since the theater is often rented out for other events, be sure to check the Temple website for other concerts and benefits.

  • “Move that bus!” These are the words residents of Fayetteville/Cumberland County will soon be hearing.

    Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, the popular Emmy Award-winning ABC Television reality show, is bringing their famous bus to Fayetteville to surprise one very07-06-11-extreme-home-makeover-lolog.jpg lucky local family with a complete home rebuild. Along with host Ty Pennington and the rest of the Extreme team, local volunteers and builder Blue Ridge Log Cabins will race against time to construct an entire house for a deserving family.

    Fayetteville Mayor Tony Chavonne helped make the announcement at a press conference hosted by the builder earlier today in Fayetteville.

    “It’s an honor that a family from Fayetteville has been chosen to receive the home of their dreams, courtesy of the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition team and Blue Ridge Log Cabins,” said Mayor Chavonne. “We have been presented with a great opportunity for our citizens to join together to help one of our own and show the world that Fayetteville truly is America’s Hometown.” 

    Log homes are rare on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, and log homes built through a fully modular process have been unheard of... until now. Blue Ridge Log Cabins, an 18-year-old company, has built more than 980 log homes throughout the nation and more than 500 in North Carolina.

    “We couldn’t be happier to work alongside this fantastic community, and we hope everyone will turn out and join us in building an extraordinary home for this deserving family,” said Blue Ridge Log Cabins President and CEO Chip Smith.

    The theme for the build, “Heroes, Hearts and Hard Hats,” was selected in honor of the patriotic pride and community spirit of America’s Hometown. Fayetteville’s heroes are being asked to come forward and participate in the seven-day, televised construction project. Community members, volunteers, leaders, craftsmen and business owners are all welcome.

    While behind-the-scenes planning is taking place at warp speed, the name of the family and the exact location of the home will not be released until Thursday, July 14 when the design team and a crew of volunteers surprise the lucky family with their well-known, “Good Morning!” wake up call. Five families in the Fayetteville area are being considered as finalists.

    If you want to participate in the project, here are some dates you will need to keep in mind. A community pep rally is slated for Thursday, July 7 from 5-7 p.m. at the Crown Coliseum.

    On Thursday, July 15, the lucky family will be notified at 8 a.m. with a megaphone shout-out from the Extreme team.

    Just one-week later, on Thursday, July 21, the completed house will be revealed and those famous words, “Bus Driver, Move That Bus!” will ring throughout Fayetteville.

    To find out how you can get involved, visit www.blueridgelogcabins.com or www.joinextreme.com.

    Photo below: The cast of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition will make a local Fayetteville family’s dream come true this month.

      07-06-11-extreme-team.jpg

  • My Dad has always been a Yankees’ man. It didn’t matter if the team was winning or losing, he was pulling for them. I grew up watching the N.Y. Yankees play ball in our living room — via the television — throughout my childhood.

    My Dad loves the game of baseball. In his younger years, he played pitcher on a team in Alexandria, La. I remember the whole family loading up in the station wagon to go watch him play. At the time, I thought he should be playing for the Yankees. Such is life through the eyes of the child.

    Later, I frequently found myself at the ball fi eld watching my older brothers and sister play softball. My brothers were giants on the fi eld. You could always count on them to knock it out of the park. And my sister, Susan, was no slouch either. She played a wicked fi rst base and no one could touch her at bat.

    I played one season of softball, and realized it really wasn’t my sport. But it didn’t stop my love of the game.

    My husband is a Yankees’ man. That and his service in the military are the two reasons I think my Dad loves him so much. When we found out I was expecting, the first thing my husband bought was a ball glove. When he presented it to me with a big smile on his face, I had a brief glimpse of my future... countless hours spent shuttling our little slugger to the ball park, sitting in the heat or rain watching games and waiting for the agony of defeat. I have to admit, I wasn’t too excited about that picture.

    Thankfully, things change.

    Our little one has, in fact, grown up with a ball of some sort in his hand since he was 4-years-old. His first venture into the world of athletics was T-ball. And like every mother who ever sat her son the field, I chased him around and tried to get him to understand that the butterfl ies were not what he should be interested in, but rather the ball hurtling from the sky at his head.

    Our next foray into the athletic world was basketball. Again, he was 4. He and his teammates were more interested in sliding down the floor of the YMCA gym than actually learning the fundamentals of the sport. And my son, JohnJohn, seemed to think that basketball was a contact sport. My husband and I took great pleasure from the calls of the other parents who would yell, “JohnJohn get the ball from him,” and watch as he tackled the opposing player to get the ball away.

    Finesse was not his strong point.

    Soccer seemed to be a good fit. He liked playing the goal. And I liked him in the goal. He dominated the goal. No one came into his goal, and pity the poor child who tried.

    I remember sitting in my chair at the end of the field right by the goal — far away from the other parents — cheering him on. Later, friends explained to me that yelling, “No one comes in your goal — you own it” and “There’s no crying in soccer”— after he was hit in the face by the ball — wasn’t exactly cheering.

    Soccer taught me that I had a competitive monster just waiting to come out.

    Football was also a good fit for our boy. Somewhere around the age of 6, he started to grow. He has remained at the 95th to 98th percentile for his age in height and weight, so his appearance at football tryouts made coaches smile in antcipation.

    He loves the game, and he is good at it. But baseball is truly his passion.

    For the past five years, he has played at the Gray’s Creek Recreation Center. For the majority of that time, he has played for the same coach and with many of the same players. These boys have grown-up together and they have jelled into a pretty amazing team.

    Our coach, Jim Lisi, has more passion for the sport than anyone I have ever met. But it’s not so much about winning, rather about encouraging the boys to do their best. Practice after practice, night after night, he put the boys through countless drills.

    I remember the first season he coached, the boys didn’t even get on the field until they mastered what he called the fundamentals of baseball. We parents would sit and watch and wonder when they were ever going to get on the fi eld and how all of the little drills would make them a team. We couldn’t see it, but Jim did.

    As is the case with every coach and every parent, we did not always see eye to eye. But Jim always took the time to listen, and, when he found merit in what we said, tried our way. Sometimes that got lost in translation, and rather than seeing how he bent, we saw only that it wasn’t as far as we wanted.

    As parents, we sometimes grew tired of the numerous practices and his expectations of his team. While parents would mutter amongst themselves, the boys kept playing. They kept learning, and along the way, they kept winning.

    As I watched our team win, I realized that Coach Jim was teaching the boys more than baseball. He’s been teaching them about excellence, about never settling for less, about never giving anything than their best. Those lessons aren’t always easy for 9- and 10-year-olds. Heck, they aren’t easy for adults.

    But year, after year, our boys took those lessons to heart. So much so, that it altered their decisions. Last fall, my son opted out of football because he wanted to show Coach Jim that he could excel as a catcher. He made a conscious decision to give his best — even though he knew he wouldn’t be the starting catcher when he returned for spring ball.

    That’s the kind of choices that many of the boys on our team have made over and over again, and this season, it paid off for them.

    Our team, the Gray’s Creek Yankees (you didn’t really think it could be anything else, did you?) won our league championship.

    Coach Jim was named the head coach for the All-Star Team. Being on that team was my son’s goal.The day the team was picked, Jim came by our house to let JohnJohn know he made the team. Why? He knew what it would mean to him, and he wanted to see the look on his face.

    Our All-Star Team had a heck of a run. They won their pool, beating fi ve of the best teams in the county. They played with the hearts of champions and with a kindness and spirit that is rarely seen in league sports.

    Our season ended on Thursday, June 30, as we fell 4-3 to the North Fayetteville All-Stars in one of the best ball games I have seen in years. Both teams played with a heart and spirit that made baseball the American sport.

    On the sidelines, a huge group of Gray’s Creek residents — many of whom didn’t even have children playing on the team — cheered them on. Even in defeat, the crowd roared their approval and love for this team.

    Watching, I realized that this is why we choose to live in a community like Gray’s Creek. It’s th07-06-11-all-american-season.jpge people. It’s the love and support they have for their children and their neighbor’s children. I listened as person after person told player after player that they had played an excellent game and had nothing to be ashamed of. The boys looked to Jim to see if this was right.

    He didn’t fail them.

    We may not have made it to the state play-offs, but we had an All-American season, and that’s a memory and an honor that no one can ever take away from these boys.

    Go Grays Creek All-Stars!

    Photo: Gray’s Creek All-Stars showed community its heart.

  • “And they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fi ght against nation nor train for war anymore”     Isaiah 2:4

    07-06-11-swords-into-plowshares.jpgThe North Carolina Farm Center for Innovation and Sustainability with its ally, the N.C. Wal-Mart Foundation has declared war:

    A war on hunger! A war on military veterans’ unemployment! A war on the waning sustainability of small farms!

    The N.C. Swords to Plowshares project will train veterans and active-duty troops leaving the military in agricultural enterprises and innovative farming practices. Vets will get hands-on experience in organic pesticides, solar drip irrigation, biochar topsoil, “green organics” and high-tunnel technology in an “agricultural boot camp.”

    Two-thirds of the training will focus on utilization of the land, equipment and skills that will allow the participants to compete for jobs in the state’s agricultural industries.

    Unemployment among military veterans is a shocking 33 percent and jobs (particularly without skills) are as scarce as hen’s teeth. But collaboration with community partners such as Fayetteville Technical Community College, the Workforce Development Program and the Military Business Assistance Center and armed with a $50,000 grant from Wal-Mart, the Farm Center hopes to shift the attention of young warriors from the battlefi elds of Iraq and Afghanistan to the farm fi elds of southeastern North Carolina.

    A national trend to grow food locally in order to assure food safety and food security has lead to the realization that young soldiers possess many of the qualities to succeed in naturally grown and organic-farming enterprises and related businesses.

    Agriculture, like the military, is not for the faint of heart. Soldiers have to be able to operate independently, take risk, not be afraid of hard work and long days, be disciplined and enjoy the physical and the outdoors (i.e. does not want to sit behind a desk).

    The mission: Feed the forces (our communities), develop the opportunity to grow your own business and decompress in an environment that creates rather than destroys.

    Archie’s Acres is teaching Marines from nearby Camp Pendleton, Calif., to wage a “ground assault” on stray frogs that would clog an irrigation system. In Central Florida, a wounded warrior who left farming to join the military has come full circle, designing a wheelchair-accessible farm to grow “red, white and blueberries.”

    Farming is one of the 10 Best Green Jobs and, according to CNN’s Money, demand for organic farmers is Number 2 in “hot jobs” in the “green space.” Many vets come from rural backgrounds and have access to low-interest loans to go into business for themselves.

    In North Carolina, young recruits to agriculture would rejuvenate the aging farmer population which is both dwindling and has an average age of 58-years-old. Farming has become the cause du jour among young people with college degrees and trust funds, but the “gut” sense of the old timers is when many have dropped out, the vets will still be there.

  • bof-2011-logo.jpgWith Fayetteville’s recognition as an All-America City, our new and exciting Botantical Garden Complex, a re-invigorated downtown and the recent opening of the N.C. Veterans Park, I guess it is getting pretty diffi cult to pinpoint just what we like “best” about this community.

    For the 14th year in a row, we are going to try. Yes, get ready Cumberland County, Fayetteville and Fort Bragg — it is that time of year again when we poll our Up & Coming Weekly readers and ask them to share their opinions about local issues, people, businesses and organizations that in one way or the other has made an impact on our community during the last 12 months.For 14 years, this has been our way of monitoring local community development and our quality-of-life index while allowing us to acknowledge and congratulate publicly those who have dedicated themselves to improving our quality of life by leaving an indelible mark on our community.

    If you are a regular reader of U&CW, you know we take this reader’s survey very, very seriously. Our staff goes to great lengths to find, congratulate and salute the “best of the best.” For those of you who may be new to the community and not familiar with the process, we encourage you to participate by completing the ballot found on page 27 and 28 of this issue and submitting it before the deadline of August 4th. Best of Fayetteville ballots my also be downloaded from our website by going to Up & Coming Weekly’s website and free electronic edition at www.upandcomingweekly.com. Most importantly, make sure you follow these instructions:

    1. Fill in and complete at least 15 categories.

    2. Include your name and address.

    3. Complete only one entry per person.

    4. Mail in or deliver to our offi ce (208 Rowan St.) only one entry per envelope.

    5. The most important thing: DON’T CHEAT! Not that you would, of course, but tell your friends and associates it will do them no good to try and “stuff” the ballot box.

    Like I said, we have been doing this for years and we take this survey very seriously. Our readers trust our publication and have confidence in the people, businesses and organizations that support our community newspaper. And, unlike most other local contests or newspaper reader’s choice surveys, all of Up & Coming Weekly’s Best of Fayetteville ballots are mailed directly to a local CPA’s offi ce where the process of counting, auditing and verifying begins. It is here that incomplete, duplicated, falsified, doctored and suspicious ballots are revealed and disallowed. Yes, this is a very costly and time-consuming process, however, one that has a 14-year track record of success and dependability and has proven to be quite effective. The end results have been that the Best of Fayetteville readers survey and recognition has been able to maintain its high level of integrity, dignity, honor and pride. Each winner is proud to display their plaque or certifi ate provided by our original sponsor Jimmy Keefe and The Trophy House.

    So, please participate by  lling out and submiting a ballot. Tell us like it is, and we will tell the community. Curious minds want to know: Who is the Best of Fayetteville? You may even win $100. We have a special drawing from all the valid submitted entries. The winner will be presented $100 at the Best of Fayetteville party on Sept. 13. We hope to see you there.

    Don’t forget: This year you can vote online. Include your email address on the ballot and we will subscribe you to our “free” Online Early Bird Edition. Remember, stuffi ng the ballot box will not help. To really promote your cause, business or organization just tell your friends to pick up a copy of Up & Coming Weekly, follow the instructions and VOTE. If you do not have access to the Up & Coming Weekly at your business or organization, call us at 910 484 6200 and we will make sure you are directed to the closest available outlet. With more than 500 locations county-wide that shouldn’t be a problem. Above all else, have fun with this and feel free to call me anytime. We love to hear from our readers.

    Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly and for making us Fayetteville and Cumberland County’s #1 Community Newspaper.

  • 07282010healthy-families-build.jpgThe pop hit song “The Greatest Love of All,” by Michael Masser and Linda Creed, begins, “I believe the children are our future.” The Partnership for Children of Cumberland County (PFC), a nonprofi t organization and local administrator for North Carolina’s early childhood initiative Smart Start and the More at Four Public Pre-Kindergarten Program, exemplifi es that statement in its efforts to provide Cumberland County’s 25,300 children with access to high-quality early childhood development programs. Such an endeavor is daunting in the best of times, but even in today’s challenging economic environment, the PFC continues to provide “The support you need to help children succeed.”

    “We started our new (fi scal) year on July 1,” said President Eva Hansen, “and we have had some challenges with reduction of funding, but we’re expecting less than a 3 percent cut, and we are losing about 64 pre-Kindergarten spots out of 2000. Considering the state of the economy, it could have been a lot worse. We’re very appreciative of all the support. I think it demonstrates acceptance that early childhood development is really a critical component to our ability to compete in the global economy and contributes to our future prosperity because we’re growing and developing the future.”

    Hansen elaborated on some of the organization’s ongoing and upcoming programs to foster the healthy development and growth of children.

    “We did have, for three years, a project-funded activity with the Museum of Arts called Art Trunks Parent Kit. Since the museum closed, there was concern about what would happen to that activity,” Hansen said. “We’ve been able to absorb it through our Child Care Resource and Referral department and the Resource Lending Library so that there are trunk kits that will still be available to child care centers, and the parent kit will also be available.”

    A trunk kit, Hansen explained, depicts different cultures and scenes that are used for early literacy and incorporates music and all kinds of exciting things that teachers and child care centers can use with young children to improve literacy and education. A parent kit includes manipulatives and ideas for activities that parents can do with their children. They can check the kits out at no cost and return them within a period of time.

    “They are very popular,” said Hansen, “and we think we’ll be ready to get that going again in the middle of August.”

    In addition to the Art Trunks program, PFC is excited to offer a new activity and service program called Raising a Reader, an evidence-based early literacy and parent engagement program to improve the reading-readiness skills of children ages 0-5.

    “Fayetteville State University is going to be the primary service provider in collaboration with the Cumberland County Public Library and the PFC Child Care Resource and Referral Department,” Hansen said. “It’s going to focus on child care centers and students in the Cumberland County School System that are in high-risk areas.”

    PFC offers many other events and volunteer opportunities, including Operation Ceasefi re Movie Nights, with free admission, popcorn, drinks and prizes; Book Club on the fi rst Tuesday of each month from 10:30 -11:30 a.m.; Story & Art Time on the second and fourth Fridays of each month from 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon and Grandparent Support Group on the third Tuesday of each month from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.. On September 16 and 17, PFC will cosponsor a conference, “Forward March: Moving Children Forward During Challenging Times,” at Snyder Memorial Baptist Church.

    PFC, located at 351 Wagoner Dr, Suite 200, in Fayetteville, can be reached at (910) 867-9700 or via its new updated Web site, ccpfc.org.

    “We are located in the FPC Research Center with many other organizations,” said Hansen. “There’s an opportunity to connect with many other services,” which helps fulfi ll the PFC’s mission statement, “To build partnerships with families and the community so that all children have the opportunity to succeed in school and be prepared to contribute to our social and economic future.”

  • uac072810001.jpg Every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday the building that houses the Catalyst Community slowly comes to life. The handful of dedicated volunteers enter the building and begin the process that has, over the past four years, improved the lives of many in the Massey Hill Community.

    One man, who asked not to be identifi ed, busies himself in the kitchen, while David Clark gases up the van and heads out on his route. The Price family moves around like the well-oiled machine they are — making copies, setting up tables, preparing lessons and their hearts for the evening to come.

    At the center stands Pastor James Sizemore, who, along with his band of brothers, founded the Catalyst Ministry four years ago. With all the preparation ready, they wait. It isn’t a long wait.

    The van, which Clark, the karate sensei, drives on nightly routes pulls back in front of the building located on Gillespie Street. Almost before it comes to a stop, the doors open and children, with smiles a mile wide, pile out of the van. Sometimes Clark takes several trips, but the result is the same. The children enter their sanctuary, a place where they found a family many did not know they were missing.

    The Massey Hill Community has a long history. Over the years it has evolved from a mill village to a less than desirable neighborhood. While politicians talk about cleaning it up and improving the homes, many of which are in poor condition, the people who live in the community go about their daily lives. For some, it is merely a stop. They light there for a month or two and then move on. For others, it is home. Whether the people in the community are there for the long haul or just a brief stint, the volunteers at Catalyst want to make a difference in their lives. To hear Sizemore tell it, it’s a God thing.

    “Catalyst is an odd little place,” said Sizemore, as he refl ected back on the start of the outreach. “I was unhappy with regular church. I felt like people’s needs were not being met at regular churches — whether that be physical, spiritual or mental.

    “The particular church I was attending tried to implement some of the things we do at Catalyst but it didn’t work out. I felt the Lord tell me to step out on faith — and that’s what I did.”

    Sizemore was joined by a core group of fi ve other volunteers and the ministry has evolved since then.

    “We did not know where we were going to go. But we wanted to go somewhere we could make a difference. I would drive around town praying and looking, and I happened upon Massey Hill and knew this was it. It was really a God thing.”

    When the group set up their outreach in a house on Gillespie Street, the community really didn’t know what to think about them. There are 20 some churches within walking distance of the ministry, but many people in the community do not feel welcome there, according to Sizemore.

    “It took about two years of hard work and building trust for them to understand that when we say we accept you, we accept you — not matter who you are, what you’ve done — because they have been turned away by so many churches. They’ve gotten to a place of understanding that we are there for a purpose,” he said.

    That purpose is the intentional living of faith. There is no paid staff. The church does not take up an offering, but rather operates on the belief that God will provide what they need. The core group of volunteers are consistent. The people in the community know that when the doors are open, they will be there with arms wide open.

    The outreach has a number of programs under its umbrella. There is a recovery program for people dealing with substance abuse. There are parenting classes for those parents who want to particiapte. There are women’s Bible studies and men’s prayer groups. There is an outreach to the Hispanic population in the community. There’s a Sunday worship and Bible study. And then there is the children’s outreach. That may be the heart of Catalyst.

    The children’s ministry brings children off the streets three times a week. They get a hot meal, are given help with their school work, are offered classes like gardening and karate. They participate in a youth group, book clubs and fi eld trips to the library and other places of interest in the community.And every Sunday morning they are taught about God — but only after they are fed a hot breakfast.

    “Every time you see Jesus presented in scripture — it usually revolves around food — and the fact that he is feeding people physicially and spiritually. We honestly believe in the case of the population we work with they aren’t going to hear one word you say about God until they have something to eat. Basic human needs supercede a lot of times the presentation of the Gospel. We feed people because that’s what Jesus did.”

    And the feeding doesn’t stop at the ministry. Every Friday during the school year, volunteers in the outreach load up the van and pack backpacks full of food from the Second Harvest Food Bank. The food goes to Cumberland Road School, where it is dispersed to children who may not otherwise have anything to eat over the weekend.

    “Each backpack is fi lled with enough food to meet the child’s nutritional needs over the weekend,” said Jennifer Price, who along with her daughter, distributes the food at the school.

    The lack of food is only one of the needs the organization seeks to meet. They also seek to provide a sense of stability and hope in what can sometimes be a hopeless environment. The children are drawn to the volunteers. Price and her husband Curtis are constantly reaching out to give hugs and praise to the children. They respond with smiles, and with hard work.

    “It comes down to the core of what you believe,” said Jennifer. “If you believe that the whole purpose of life is to love your neighbor as yourself, then this makes sense.”

    The Price family spends countless hours in the community, but for them, it is what they are called to do. “We are blessed and are able and very willing to be here. We believe it is our priority.”

    That comes out in their interaction with the children who fl ock around them. Since the ministry has been in place, they’ve seen the lives of children change. Students who were struggling in school, are now succeeding. Children who were afraid to speak, now run up for hugs. There are high school students who are reading college-level books and discussing them with intelligence.

    Some of that comes from the discipline inspired by Clark, who uses karate as more than just a weapon.

    “I emphasize honor, respect and discipline — hopefully it gives them a foothold on things they are not getting at home. Some of the kids don’t have dads at home. Some have mothers at home that just are not mothers,” he said. “We try our best to fi ll in the gaps to give them a whole life. We offer them things that in other situations they wouldn’t have a chance in the world to take part in.”

    Clark is living his ministry. He moved from Raleigh and moved into the house where the outreach initially started. It hasn’t been easy. His house has been broken into three times. His work truck has been sacked.

    “It’s not my stuff anyway,” he said. “The Lord gives it to us. If it helps somebody else, then it helps them. I love teaching. I love working with the kids. There’s nothing better than working with them especially when you are teaching them something and they haven’t quite caught on. When it snaps in place, the look on their face is just priceless. I don’t think I could do it without that.”

    So he lives in the community, and watches out for the children and their families. And, he intentionally lives his faith. “Truth to be told, back in the day, these kids could have been me,” he said.

    For Pastor Sizemore, he doesn’t wish for more money for the ministry, rather his prayer is that more people would open their hearts and spend some time making a difference in the lives of others. “We need people to come along side us. It’s easy to pay someone’s light bill. It’s a lot more diffi cult to walk beside them through the whole journey.”

  • 07282010juvenile-assessment-ctr-logo.jpgRaising kids can be tricky, even in the best of circumstances. Parents often do their best and still struggle as they watch their youngsters make poor choices, fall in with the wrong crowd and end up facing serious consequences. Quite often it can seem like there is no one to turn to until it is too late and little Johnny or Suzy is facing the judge in juvenile court. It doesn’t have to be that way.

    The Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC), in its own words, was established to serve as the focal point within the community in assessing the underlying problems of at-risk youth for parents, schools, law enforcement and the courts.

    The agency serves a wide range of youth and their families, everything from kids who are under court supervision to at-risk kids who have yet to find themselves in big trouble but seem to be headed in that direction.

    “We get referrals that come from schools — especially the school resource officers. Mental health also sends us kids,” said Richard Alligood, JAC program manager. “Our largest number of referrals though, come from parents who have heard about our services and law enforcement offIcers who get calls from parents who are having diffIculty and seeking advice as to which way to go.”

    When families come to the JAC, they are screened and interviewed separately and then given a case manager. The goal is for the case manager to help get these families with at-risk kids plugged in to the resources that they need, whether it is a referral to mental health, counseling services or one of the many other programs available through the system.

    “Our goal is to spend about six months on each case,” said Alligood. “We do a lot of the initial screening and interviewing and then put these kids in touch with the people that can help them. After about six months we can usually extricate ourselves from the situation and let them continue on their course of treatment.”

    Of course, if a child needs a case manager for more than six months that is not a problem. JAC is about doing the right thing and changing lives.

    The JAC is a nonprofit organization and operates under the umbrella organization CommuniCare. On a budget of just under $400,000 they keep a pretty steady case load of about 200 families. In the fi scal year 2008/2009, 49.73 percent of their clients saw problems either eliminated or reduced at home and 54.75 percent experienced a reduction or elimination of problems at school.

    Of course, a large part of the success or failure of a student in these programs is directly related to the amount of support they get from the adults who are responsible for them.

    “We generally see three types of parents,” said Alligood. “There are the parents who are 100 percent dedicated and willing to do whatever they can to help their child be successful.”

    Then there are the parents who will participate in the programs and support their kids when it is convenient. “These kids have a little bit of a tougher time,” said Alligood. “But it is the parents who don’t participate at all that really hinder their child’s progress. How can a young person attend an event if they can’t drive and mom or dad won’t bring them? We serve kids who are 6- to 17-years old. Most of them can’t drive.”

    For more information about JAC and other great programs that CommuniCare offers visit www.cccommunicare.org.

  • 07142010swimming.jpgIf you are looking for a powerhouse of an organization that packs a lot of punch for Fayetteville area kids — and their families — check out the YMCA.

    Their motto is building strong kids, strong families and strong communities. They are committed to putting Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all. Locally, the YMCA has two sites, one on Fort Bragg Road and one on Ellison Street in Hope Mills.

    By providing reasonable membership rates that start at $12 a month for youth and go up to $90 per month for a family of four, the YMCA looks to make healthy living affordable.

    Swimming lessons are available at the Rae O Hope pool on Hope Mills Road as well as the Fort Bragg Road indoor pool. The Rae O Hope outdoor pool also offers seasonal membership as well.

    With school out for the summer, the YMCA is adding day camps to their repertoire. Through Aug.13 preschool discovery camp is offered for children between the ages of three and fi ve who have not yet attended kindergarten. According to the website “The curriculum is an enhanced version of our P.R.E.P. (Preschool Recreation and Education Program) which runs during the regular school year with additional fi eld trips and activities such a swimming and nature hikes.” This camp is offered at the Hope Mills location.

    The Summer Blockbuster camp is offered at both locations. It runs from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. There is a new theme every week that includes special guests and field trips. Kids have to be between the ages of five and 12 to attend.

    “Summer camp programs go on one fi eld trip at least once a week, they go swimming, and we do arts and crafts,” said Audraw Williams, YMCA site director. “The theme this year is blockbuster. We take little movies and show it to the parents at the end of each week. Basically we pick a movie and we make arts and crafts related to that movie.”

    There is a sports program that accommodates kids from three to nine years old. The goal here is to help children learn/ develop basic skills and rules, teamwork and confidence. Leagues offered are basketball, soccer, flag football and baseball.

    “We offer cheerleding and gymnastics in September too,” said Williams. “We have a school of dance that is called Angelic Arts. Our swim team is a year-round program that serves ages 5 and up.”

    Times are tough all over and nonprofi ts are no exception, but the local YMCA continues to serve the community, and do their best to reach as many people as possible.

    “We are a nonprofit and it is all about community,” said Williams. “To make it affordable for everybody to use is one of our missions. We don’t turn anybody away. We try to get everybody into the facility.”

    For more information visit www.fayettevilleymca. org or call 323-0800.

  • School will be starting soon and the Cumberland County School System wants to make sure that students are prepared by having the “Help Stuff the Bus” initiative on Tax Free Friday, Aug. 6 from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. at all Wal-Mart locations.

    The collection sites are on Raeford Road, Skibo Road, Ramsey Street, Hope Mills and Spring Lake. Cumberland County School employees will be at each Wal- Mart location collecting donations of school supplies from sun up to sun down.

    “This is the third year we have had this school-supply drive,” said Pamela Story, Cumberland County Schools’ social work coordinator. “We are partnering with Operation Home Front and will distribute the donations to the homeless and less fortunate students in the Cumberland County and Fort Bragg School Systems.

    Story added that last school year more than 400 backpacks were given to Cumberland County School students and this year’s goal is to stuff 600 backpacks. More than 600 homeless students have been identifi ed in Cumberland County Schools for the 2010-2011 school year.

    The items most needed include backpacks, three-ring binders, pocket folders, loose leaf paper, mechanical and colored pencils, school uniforms, hand sanitizer, marble composition books, and other items.

    “The donations we collect reduces the amount we must spend from our McKinney Vento Homeless Education Grant that assists students in homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters and transitional housing,” said Story.

    “The items will be distributed after August 18,” she noted, adding that families in need of school supplies should contact the school social worker at their child’s school.

    “We are proud to add the Spring Lake Wal-Mart as a collection site this year,” said Story. “We are overwhelmed by the number of volunteers who have agreed to help out such as athletes, school clubs, sororities, the police department, school social workers, banks, concerned citizens, and we hope to see everyone at one of the area Wal-Mart locations.”

    Donations are also being accepted at the CCS Social Work offi ce located at 2465 Gillespie St. between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. For more information call 678-2419 or 678-7014.

  • 07-21-10-billiards.gifWith a history that spans hundreds of years and a following that numbers in the hundreds of thousands at least, pool is a game for everyone. In fact the American Pool players Association (APA) boasts a membership of more than 265,000 and more than 250 franchises. Fayetteville’s APA league has more than 1,600 members according to League Operator Tom Dosier.

    As the league operator, Dosier considers it his responsibility to keep the local billiards subculture fun and interesting. One of the ways he does that is by bringing in national talent a few times a year.

    On Friday, July 23 Dominic “The Drill Instructor” Esposito will be running boot camp at Corner Pockets at 3116 Bragg Blvd., from noon to 6 p.m.

    Esposito’s love of the game and impressive skills have resulted in him being ranked in the the top 20 world class instructors by Pool & Billiard magazine. He is the head instructor of Pro Skills Drills Boot Camp, a staff writer for Pool & Billiard Magazine, Author of Pro Skill Drills, inventor of The Jest “Aiming “ jump cue and two time BCA 10 Ball Champion, Orlando, Fla.

    “Well, what he does is he shows you different ways to improve your game no matter what skill level you are at,” said Dosier. He teaches different techniques and drills that you can practice to improve where you are in your game — and it is a six-hour block of instruction. It will be a fun time for everybody whether they just come out to watch or come out and participate.”

    It costs $50 to reserve your slot (there is limited enrollment so don’t wait) and another $25 at the door. So for $75 attendees can look forward to handson instruction, one on one evaluations, and improvement in your game regardless of skill level, free lunch and hourly prize drawings.

    If you can’t make the boot camp or it just isn’t your style there will be some entertainment later in the weekend that you won’t want to miss. “On Saturday night he will be putting on a show,” said Dosier. “It is a three-hour show that starts at 8 p.m. at Corner Pockets. It is just entertaining for the people in the league. We are doing this just to promote the game.”

    For more information or to register give Tom Dosier a call at 868-8514.

    Tina Johnson with APA President Renee’ Lyle. 

  • The Last Airbender (Rated PG)  3 stars07-21-10-avatar.gif

    I admit I did not watch the original series. After watching M. Night Shyamalan’s lackluster (and more than a little racist) version, I wish I had. Shyamalan’s career started off strong, but quickly degenerated into a series of farcical box office flops too dependent on his signature “twist” to sustain creditability. The Happening offered the promise of better things to come, but The Last Airbender (103 minutes) fails to deliver on that promise.

    The world created by DiMartino and Konietzko is distinctly Asian and references authentic cultural practices, celebrating diversity. The world created by Shyamalan relegates Asian actors to background roles and villainy while the heroes are all obviously caucasian. This is even more inexplicable considering the caucasian heroes live in the middle of villages filled with Asian characters.

    This is not to imply that there are not Asian actors in primary roles. Adding insult to injury, consider the main villain, Prince Zuko (Dev Patel, Slumdog Millionaire), alongside a number of other villains primarily played predominately by Asian actors. Central casting can hide behind choosing actors over ethnicities, but there are so many prominent/qualified Asian actors it is especially offensive to think that Hollywood values them so little. Did anybody even call Kal Penn? What about John Cho? What about Michelle Yeoh? What about that chick from Glee? The list goes on.

    The myth behind the show involves element-based tribes, the Airbenders, the Waterbenders, the Earthbenders and the Firebenders. The Firebenders are the film’s antagonists, and this tribe seeks to dominate the rest of the world. They began taking control with the disappearance of an Avatar capable of controlling all four basic elements approximately 100 years prior to the film’s opening.

    In the present, the Avatar Aang (Noah Ringer) is rediscovered and immediately begins to suck screen time while running around with a cheap version of Falcor the Luck Dragon from The Neverending Story. He begins hanging out with the wonder twins Katara (Nicola Peltz) and Sokka (Jackson Rathbone). Between the three of them, they have the acting ability of one child star, so in any given scene only one of them is really selling the story while the other two look on blankly.

    The three begin a pilgrimage to various ruins on the way to the big waterbender city while dodging several factions of the Fire Nation. Their most persistent pursuers include Prince Zuko and Admiral Zhao (Aasif Mandvi) who are unable to play nicely together.

    The acting grows increasingly worse, the plot grows more and more complicated, new characters are introduced, but nobody in the audience cares. The reason nobody really cares is because the real stars of the film are the elements, twisted into new life by skillfully applied CGI. The FX guys and gals are the saving grace of an otherwise poorly realized vision, giving us something to look at instead of the dead eyes of the leads. Though enjoyable on a basic level, the film fails to achieve the bright contrasting tones of other visually arresting action movies (Curse of the Golden Flower; Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon).

  • Lovell Pulley is the local artist being exhibited in the McLeod Gallery at Up & Coming Weekly. Pulley opens in the small local gallery during the same time as the regional artist, Judy Jones, is hosted in the Gallery 208. Both artists were selected for their choice of a limited color palette, a minimalist approach to image making, and both artists are examining something about nature.

    Pulley is a local artist who uses the computer to generate works of art with a twist about human nature. States of being, status quo, in contemporary culture is the artist’s content; yet his content iscloaked in humor. From his skin chart to the violence in America, Pulley reduces his images to simple scenarios of a story or symbols of American culture gone awry. Double meaning is always present; in every work there is a message to examine or refl ect on.

    A minimalist artist in design or composition, Pulley reduces his images to a series of black, white and grey with a pop of color somewhere in the image for a focal point. Representing youth culture, his images are messages in a stylized fl attened format. Unlike many contemporary artists who embed meaning, Pulley approaches meaning from a direct approach.

    There nothing subtle about Pulley’s approach to content and message, instead he holds a contemporary mirror up to the viewer in every work. In all his work the artist is asking: What do you think about this?

    Pulley’s works will be unveiled on Thursday, July 22 at an exhibit opening at the offices of Up & Coming Weekly. The event kicks-off at 5:30 p.m., and features great art, artist’s talks from Jones and Pulley, as well as food and drink. The event is free and open to the public.

  • The summer is hot, and it’s going to get a lot hotter when Summer Jam, an annual Fort Bragg event, returns this month. Only this time, the event, which is usually held on the hot pavement of the Fort Bragg Fairgrounds will chill a little, as it makes the Crown Coliseum its new home. Summer Jam XXIV is slated for July 24, and while the venue may be different the same phenomenal talent and fun that has made it such a successful event has not changed.

    Admittedly, there are some pros and cons to the new location.07-21-10-summerjam_.gif

    “We don’t have to worry about things like parking and heat-related illness,” said Rhett Stroupe, special events coordinator at Fort Bragg Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR). “Although the seating capacity is 8,200 at the Crown, at the fair grounds it is 12,000, and usually that is fi lled up.”

    Sponsored by Fort Bragg MWR and local radio station Foxy 99, the entertainment is scheduled to include Ludacris, Monica, Rick Ross, Lyfe Jennings, Gyptian, J Cole, Cali Swag District, Party Boyz and Danny Bee.

    “Our line up is very good this year,” said Stroupe. “It is probably one of the best that we’ve had as far as artists go, and last week we added Fantasia to the list as well. I think the word is out among the artists that this is a very good show and it is also an opportunity to entertain our soldiers.”

    The pre-party starts at noon in the lower parking lot of the Crown Center. Doors for the concert open at 4 p.m. and the concert starts at 5:30 p.m. The concert is open to the public. While Summer Jam is a popular event that the soldiers and community look forward to every year, Stroupe sees this as more than just at show.

    “This is an opportunity to provide quality entertainment for our soldiers and the local community and to provide them an escape from the stressors of every day life,” he said.

    In addition to putting on a top notch event, the organizers have added a new twist this year for certain audience members.

    “One thing we are doing different this year is that active-duty military are eligible for one free ticket. They have to go to the Tickets and Tours offi ce here on post to get it, and the deadline is close of business Wednesday, July 21,” he said.

    A valid military ID card must be presented in order to receive a free ticket. Please note that ID cards will be checked at the venue as well. Stroupe recommends that soldiers picking up a free ticket who are planning to attend the event with friends and family should consider purchasing tickets when they pick up theirs to be sure that seats will be together. Tickets range in price from $20 to $40, and they can be purchased through the Crown Coliseum box offi ce, Tickets and Tours on Fort Bragg, Ticketmaster or Foxy99 Ticket Stops. All sales are fi nal and tickets are nonrefundable.

    For more information, visit the Website at www.fortbraggmwr.com or call 396-9126.

  • For the past two months there has been a new component to 4th Friday. While the monthly events that we’ve come to know and love downtown — the music, dancing, speakers, exhibits, vendors and more — still grace Hay Street and the surrounding area, Arts Alive has been added to the monthly event to share the world of art with the community in a new and refreshing way.

    07-21-10-arts alive.gifArtists spend three hours, from 6-9 p.m. on the fourth Friday of the month making their art in the studios, in the galleries and even in the streets along Maxwell and Franklin Streets.

    Arts Alive is really a way for us to accomplish two goals,” said Chris Kastner, executive director of Cape Fear Studios, one of the Arts Alive participating galleries. “It gives local artists a chance to exhibit their work and share their knowledge of their craft, and it educates the public about art which is part of our mission statement.”

    This format is designed to bring a richer experience to the folks who take the time to come downtown and enjoy the monthly festivities. Coming to Arts Alive is the difference between seeing a pretty painting hanging on a wall and talking with the painter about their work and their technique as they mix shades of vibrant colors on the palette, layer them on the canvas and assemble an image, right before your eyes.

    It is the difference between seeing a shiny, multicolored raku pot on a gallery shelf and watching the potter apply the fi nish, pull the pot from the fl aming kiln and scrub away the ashes to reveal a one of a kind vessel, explaining the process, entertaining questions and engaging the crowd the entire time. And on and on it goes. The woodcarver — why does he use that particular wood, is it native or exoti, and why that particular chisel or lathe? Where does the photographer fi nd her subjects, her inspiration? Why did the basket weaver choose the reed she did and why did she make the Nantucket basket instead of the Iroquois water basket?

    These are questions that can only be answered by watching artists as they work, by asking questions and engaging in the process. The jeweler, the glassblower, the classical guitarist, the poet, the songwriter — who knows which one you will fi nd at Arts Alive and what secrets they will share with you … what lessons, artistic treasures and memories you will take home?

    As the Arts Council reaches out to local artists and invites them to submit their works for jurying into Arts Alive, look for 4th Friday and Arts Alive to continue to grow and to offer new experiences. In fact, this month, on July 23, there will be a new exhibit space along Maxwell Street. Just across from the Arts Council Building parking lot. Look for a window display featuring the works of Arts Alive participants. As the number of artist participants grows each month, the window display will refl ect their contributions.

    “This is really an attempt to reach out to local artists and give them another place to exhibit their work,” said Mary Kinny, marketing manager of the Arts Council of the new window exhibit. “While there are other exhibiting spaces in town, this is a way to tie those windows to our Arts Alive event. It is a way of having Arts Alive all month long and it gives a sense of the divesity of art that we have here.”

    For more information about becoming involved in Arts Alive contact Ashley Hunt, Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County special events coordinator at 323-1776.

    Greg Hathaway, a local artists paints on maxwell Street, while a musician performs.

  • 07-21-10-ryan.gifWhen Nicole Overteem heard Ryan Kishbaugh’s story, she felt an immediate connection, and she knew that there had to be a way to help others facing similar struggles.

    Ryan Kishbaugh was a stellar student and athlete attending Fayetteville Academy when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma during the fall of 2002 —his senior year.

    Kishbaugh’s future had seemed solid. He had been accepted to Princeton and the world was just beginning to open up for him. He died in 2003 following complications from a bone marrow transplant. Kishbaugh’s father, Dr. David Kishbaugh, started the Ryan Patrick Kishbaugh Golf Invitational as a way to honor his son. It has grown over time and is now an event that the community looks forward to every summer. This year, the tournament will be held July 24, at Cypress Lakes Golf Course, a poignant date for Ryan’s friends and family because it is just two days before his 25th birthday.

    When Overteem heard the Kishbaugh story, it really hit home with her.

    “I approached Dr. Kishbaugh about this idea. I had to do something for young adults who who have a chronic illness and want to be collegiate athletes,” said Overteem. “I was very lucky that with my chronic illness, I was able to compete at the collegiate level in swimming. I’ve had some up and downs and I was lucky that I never lost my scholarship — so I wanted to pay it forward and give other young adults the same opportunity that I received.”

    It only seemed natural, considering Ryan Kishbaugh’s love of sports that his legacy be a part of her plan.

    While the tournament will be run exactly the same way, according to Overteem, it will benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the Courage, Confidence, Wisdom and Strength (CCWS) Foundation, which Overteem started with Dr. Kishbaugh. These are virtues that are required of every athlete, but are especially rele07-21-10-ryan2.gifvant to those battling chronic illness.

    “The scholarships won’t all stay local,” said Overteem. “We will send out our packet of info to case workers and case workers will distribute the information to young adults who have chronic illnesses that they know can benefi t from this. The case workers will be in large hospitals around the nation.”

    With more than 60 golfers already registered and corporate sponsorships from the RPK Center, Carpe Diem, Valley Regional Imaging, Cross Creek Imaging and Family Foods, Overteem is anticipating that the event will be a success. The Fayetteville Academy is sponsoring the hole-in-one prize — $40,000 in cash or four years tuition at Fayetteville Academy.

    Registration starts at 7 a.m., and there will be a shot gun start at 8:30 a.m. Visit the CCWS Foundation Facebook page or the Ryan Patrick Kishbaugh Memorial Golf Tournament Facebook page for more information or to make a donation.

     (Pictured top left): Ryan Kishbaugh (Bottom right): Participants in last year's golf tournament.

  • uac072110001.gif Fayetteville residents are blessed with a vibrant and changing arts scene. Nowhere is that better seen than the performing arts, particularly in the area of dramatic arts. This year local residents have not one, not two, but three great theatrical seasons to look forward to, with great seasons planned by the Gilbert Theater, the Givens Performing Arts Center and the Cape Fear Regional Theatre.

    Gilbert Theater

    We all know the history behind the Gilbert. Started in the basement of founder Lyn Pryer’s home, the Gilbert has grown into a successful venue that offers the traditional (A Christmas Carol), alongside the not so traditional (The Rocky Horror Show.) With a shorter season than its counterparts, the Gilbert is a grass roots, community-focused and operated theater. Its performers, by-in-large, come from within the community, and many of its productions are original works. The same can be said of the upcoming season.

    The Gilbert kicks-off its season with the quirky musical The Rocky Horror Show. The much beloved musical will open on Sept. 23 and run through Oct. 10. It’s a story that is wellknown by a certain generation. It’s a tale of love, lust and biological advancement all carried out in a crumbling castle. It’s a story that will make you laugh, and get on your feet and dance.

    The second show of the season is the highly anticipated annual telling of the story of Scrooge. A Christmas Carol is07-21-10-gilbert-logo-bw.gif one of the theater’s mainstays, and is looked forward to each year by the community. It is an adaptation by Kent Smith and Marcela Casals, and will run from Nov. 26 through Dec. 12.

    An original production, Dateline Greensboro, written by John Merritt tells the story of the 1960 Greensboro lunch counter sit-in. It is slated for Feb. 3-20.

    One of America’s favorite playwrites, Eugene O’Neill, wrote A Long Day’s Journey into Nightabout his family and their home on the Connecticut coast. It is scheduled to run March 31-April 17.

    The final show of the season is Headsets, written by William Missour Down. The play is a comedy that tells the story of a falling-down theater on closing night of a very bad production of Hamlet.

    The Gilbert is located at 116 Green St. in downtown Fayetteville For more information about the Gilbert and the upcoming season, check out the Web site at www.gilberttheater.com or call 678-7186.

    Givens Performing Arts Center

    Located on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, the Givens Performing Arts Center brings a wide variety of profession07-21-10-givens.gifal performances to the surrounding the community.

    The arts center hosts not only the Broadway and More Series, but also a children’s series, a distinguished speakers series and a nostalgia series. Each event is designed to entertain and educate the audience. The shows,which are available at a per ticket price, which ranges from $20 to $40 per ticket, can also be purchased at a subscription rate for the entire season.

    This year, the excitement is quickly building over the Broadway and More Series, which will bring not only great theatrical works, but also musical performances from around the world. The season begins in October with a performance of Oklahoma! and ends in April with a performance of Romeo and Juliet by the Russian National Ballet.

    Oklahoma! will be on stage on Friday, Oct. 22 at 8 p.m. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, two Academy Awards, a Grammy and a special Tony Award, Oklahoma! is the classic American musical that launched the remarkable songwriting collaboration of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein. Set in turn of the century Oklahoma, against a backdrop of the high-spirited rivalry between local farmers and cowboys, Oklahoma! is the cherished love story of Curly, a handsome cowboy, and Laurey, a winsome farm girl. Featuring such favorite numbers as “People Will Say We’re In Love,” “Oh What A Beautiful Mornin’,“ and “Surrey With A Fringe On Top,” this landmark musical is a true treasure that can be enjoyed over and over again!

    Legally Blond is slated for Monday, Nov. 1 at 8 p.m. The hilarious MGM fi lm is Broadway’s new smash hit musical. Legally Blonde follows sorority star Elle Woods, an underestimated blonde who doesn’t take “no” for an answer. When her boyfriend dumps her for someone more “serious,” Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books, and sets out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before: Harvard Law. Along the way, Elle proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style.

    The Color Purple is on stage on Thursday, Jan. 27 at 8 p.m. The play is a soul-stirring musical based on the classic Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker and the moving film by Steven Spielberg. It is the unforgettable and inspiring story of a woman named Celie, who fi nds her unique voice in the world.

    The National Philharmonic of Poland will perform on Friday, Feb. 4 at 8 p.m. The history of the Opole, Philharmonic of Poland can be traced back to the years immediately following World War II. One of Poland’s leading Orchestra’s, the Opole, Philharmonic of Poland was founded in 1947 and became the resident Orchestra of Opole. In 1952, a major Performing Arts Center was built in the city of Opole as permanent home to the Opole, Philharmonic of Poland. In June of 1969, the Orchestra was awarded by the Ministry of Culture of Poland the State Award for Arts Excellence in honor of the great Polish Composer Jósef Elsner.

    Tango Buenos Aires will dance into your heart on Tuesday, March 1 at 8 p.m. Tango Buenos Aires has become one of Argentina’s great cultural exports, known throughout the Americas, Europe and the Far East as the most authentic and uncompromising representative of the Tango.

    Tango Buenos Aires was created for the “Jazmines” festival at the famous Buenos Aires cabaret “Michelangelo” by renowned composer and tango director Osvaldo Requena. The company met with tremendous success and was immediately added to the season of the General San Martin Municipal Theatre.

    The Russian National Ballet’s performance of Romeo & Juliet will end the season on Thursday, April 14 at 8 p.m.The Russian National Ballet Theatre was founded in Moscow during the transitional period of Perestroika in the late 1980s, when many of the great dancers and choreographers of the Soviet Union’s ballet institutions were exercising their new-found creative freedom by starting new, vibrant companies dedicated not only to the timeless tradition of classical Russian Ballet but to invigorate this tradition as the Russians began to accept new developments in the dance from around the world. Today, the Russian National Ballet Theatre is its own institution, with over 50 dancers of singular instruction and vast experience, many of whom have been with the company since its inception.

    To order tickets for any of the shows or to buy a season subscription, contact the box offi ce at 910-521-6361 or 1-800-367-0778 or visit the Web site at www.uncp.edu/gpac.

    The Cape Fear Regional Theatre

    Bo Thorp, the leading lady of local theatre, has spent a lot of time thinking about the upcoming season at the Cape07-21-10-cfrt.gif Fear Regional Theatre. This season is a prelude to the celebration of the theatre’s 50th anniversary, and Thorp and company are looking to pull out all of the stops.

    “Trying to choose the plays for the season is hard. It’s awful because there are so many to choose from,” explained Thorp. “What we look for fi rst is what the audience will like the most, and then what they want to see, and what will enrich their lives.”

    Thorp said that the local audience isn’t really keyed into titles, so the theatre staff has to work hard to sell the audience on plays they might not recognize. “We know what they would like to see, but sometimes we have to convince them they want to see it,” she laughingly said.

    The first show of the season, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, falls into that category. Thorp said the show is great fun, and becomes even more so for audience members who have a chance to participate. Each evening, four members of the audience will join the cast in the production. The show is scheduled for Sept. 23 to Oct. 10

    That musical production will be followed by A View from the Bridge, Nov. 4-21. The Arthur Miller drama is fi ercely compelling and tells a story of love, belonging and betrayal.

    Over Christmas, theatre’s much beloved production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever will run from Dec. 9-19, and delight the community. Thorp said this production has done so much over the years to build confi dence in children and to introduce them to, and bring them into, the theatre family.

    The over-the-top musical Hairspray will usher in 2011 as the cast shakes and shimmies its way onto the stage Jan. 21-Feb. 13. Thorp said the show is well known and will bring a wide audience to the theatre.

    Rumors, by Neil Simon, will be on stage April 1-17. Rumors tells the story of four couples who gather to celebrate a 10th wedding anniversary of their best friend only to discover a series of events that will leave you laughing until you cry.

    I love you, you’re perfect, now change will be on stage in June. It is a celebration of the mating game, and takes on the truths and myths behind that contemporary conundrum know as “the relationship.”

    There will be three special performances this year. In March, the theatre family will tackle Lunch at the Piccadilly again, which will be fi lmed by UNC-TV for broadcast.

    The Classic Theatre Series will also present Our Town in March, and the season will wind up with the 27th Annual River Show, which will pay tribute to Hank Williams: Lost Highway running May 13-29.

    “We hope our audience is going to love this season, our 49th season,” said Thorp. “This is our run-up to the 50th season, and it’s the start of our celebration.” For more information, visit the theatre’s Web site at www.cfrt.org.

  • 07-21-10-dave-wilson.gifBill Bowman, publisher of Up and Coming Weekly, has afforded me his Publisher’s Pen space in this issue to announce the latest information on Moses Mathis, more commonly known as the Bicycle Man, and his work for underprivileged children.

    Last Friday’s issue of the Fayetteville Observer included an op-ed written by me that described the Martin Luther King Jr. Committee’s latest offer to Cumberland County regarding the Washington Drive property (a.k.a. the Blue Street property) which is owned by the committee. The offer of conveyance made this past April by the committee has not been acted on by the commissioners.

    On or about July 9, Attorney Ronnie Mitchell, legal counsel to the MLK Committee, advised me in conversation that the committee had met earlier that week and had developed an alternative offer to the county which could facilitate the Bicycle Man’s occupancy of the Blue Street building in an expedient manner. The offer is a license agreement that the county could accept from the committee which would, in turn, allow the county to re-licen07-21-10-bicycle.jpgse the property to Mathis without actually owning it.

    The details of the offer, as described to me by Mr. Mitchell, included a fi ve-day window for the county to act after receipt of his letter describing details of the offer. While Mr. Mitchell’s decision to delay the actual mailing of the letter was well intentioned and helpful, it clearly indicated that he and I did not adequately communicate regarding the planned mailing date. As it has turned out, the letter was not mailed until July 19. On July 16 county attornies received e-mail copies of the letter to provide them with extra time to consider the legalities of the offer and to advise county management and the county commissioners.

    The county commissioners will have the full week of July 19 to either accept or reject the committee’s latest and most likely last effort to help Mr. Mathis. Acceptance of the license agreement will also keep the offer of property conveyance alive until Dec. 31. The next and most obvious question is: Will the commissioners act favorably on this matter or simply let the opportunity die?

    Efforts by two commissioners, Chairman Billy R. King and member Ed Melvin, to bring the matter to a discussion level have been squashed by the board majority. My conversations with both King and Melvin regarding this situation have convinced me that they are sincere in their efforts to have the county step up to its responsibilities to Mr. Mathis and his program.

    Cumberland County originally conveyed the property to the MLK Committee years ago. The conveyance was completed in good faith by both parties, no doubt, but the situation has changed. The property has no actual value, in fact, it is a liability, due to the soil contamination that exists. Ultimately the county must take back that which has become a “white elephant” to the MLK Committee.

    If the county does accept the property back it will be at once required to address a litany of building-code violations associated with the dilapidated buildings. The metal building Mathis has occupied and wishes to reoccupy is not in code violation. The City of Fayetteville has been sitting out in the weeds in this matter, seeing no dog in the fi ght for them. It would be helpful if the city would take some steps to allay the county’s concerns over this aspect of this now rather complex issue.

    Commissioners King and Melvin must garner support from at least two other commissioners so that this matter can be put to rest, at least temporarily. In the time remaining this year, Mr. Mathis can prepare his bicycles while others seek out a more permanent home for his program.

    Readers interested in seeing the Bicycle Man’s program endure should call, email or write commissioners and express your concerns and preferences about this situation. But do so quickly. Time is running out.

    (Photo top left) David G. Wilson

  • uac071410001.jpg With record-breaking scorching temperatures, thick humidity and heat indexes over 100 degrees, many are staying inside to avoid the hot weather. But for those who want to get out and enjoy the summer, what’s the best way to stay safe?

    Drink It In

    It is often hard to tell just by looking at someone whether or not they are dehydrated. People may not know what signs to look for in others or themselves if they are dehydrated.

    Some of the first signs of dehydration are heat cramps in the legs or abdomen, due to a drop in electrolytes after long exposure to the sun, sweating, and feeling tired or excessively hot. How much water people drink after going to the bathroom can also affect hydration. When people sweat or use the bathroom, fluids are essentially leaving the body. If people do not re-hydrate with water, they may feel cool, moist to the touch, pale or dizzy and could potentially pass out.

    In severe cases, a heat or sun stroke may occur. If someone has hot, red skin that feels dry or moist, are vomiting or have a high body temperature they are at risk for a heat stroke. Immediately call 911 then apply ice packs, wrapped in a cloth or other material, to the person’s armpits, groin, wrists, neck and ankles to help cool them.

    In order to avoid dehydration it is best to never be outside between 11 am and 2 p.m., when the temperature is the hottest, don’t eat heavy meals, be aware of the heat index and humidity, wear light weight and loose clothing, take frequent breaks when doing yard work or working outside, avoid alcohol, soft drinks and other07142010waterguy.jpgdrinks with caffeine and drink plenty of water.

    “There is a disagreement on drinking eight glasses of water a day,” said Mary Lou Powers of the Highland’s Chapter of the American Red Cross. “Eight glasses should be a minimum because everyone knows their own body.”

    Powers also pointed out the importance of never leaving children sitting inside cars, regardless of the time of year, and checking on people who live alone and especially on those who live without air conditioning.

    “A lot of people who don’t have a cool place will go somewhere with air conditioning like a mall or library,” said Powers.

    The easiest way to stay safe and hydrated is to always use the “buddy system.” Having a buddy with you while playing or working outside will help keep you hydrated by checking up on one another and will help prevent the negative effects of dehydration.

    Powers further suggested that people should wear hats when they are outside and should wear sunscreen, reapplying it every 45 minutes even if the label says it is waterproof. She stressed that it is very important to read the labels on sunscreens and to be very careful with babies outside because their skin is very sensitive to sunlight. 07142010guyonbike.jpg

    With pet friends we want to remember to provide clean water for them at all times and give them breaks every 10 to 15 minutes to drink water when playing with them. Try not to play with them during the hottest hours of the day. For cool refreshments to keep pets well-hydrated, freeze water with flavored biscuits or treats inside, or freeze a little vegetable broth inside their water. For further information, call your local veterinarian.

    Heat It Up

    Summer is here and people are pulling out their grills for picnics, cookouts and outdoor fun. When preparing for a grill-out, one of the most important things to remember is grilling safety. Roger Sullivan, Captain and Public Educator for the Fayetteville Fire and Emergency Management department offered these safety tips: 07142010flameburger.jpg

    • For first time use on a cast iron grate or griddle, wash it thoroughly with a mild dishwashing liquid to remove the protective wax coating that is applied to the grill for shipping. Rinse with hot water and dry completely with a soft cloth or paper towel. Do not allow the griddle to drain dry and do not wash in a dishwasher. Then season the grates or griddle, to prevent rusting and sticking, by spreading a thin coat of solid vegetable shortening over the entire surface of the grill with a paper towel. Do not use butter or margarine for seasoning.

    • Remember propane and charcoal grills should only be used outside, a good distance away from the home itself, deck railings, out from under roof overhangs and tree branches.

    • Indoor use of propane or charcoal grills may result in death by fire or CO poisoning.

    • Always keep children and pets away from the grilling area. -Set up a three foot “kid-free zone” around the grilling area in order to prevent accidents. -Keep grills away from any lawn games, play areas or foot traffic.

    • Grill chefs should use long handled grilling tools in order to ensure safety from heat and flames.

    • Never leave your grill unattended.

    • Keep your grill clean by removing grease and fat build-up on the grill itself and trays underneath.

    • Consult your grill manual for proper detergents and devices to clean the grill after its first use.

    Charcoal Grills

    For charcoal grills, a charcoal chimney starter will allow a grill to be started using newspaper as a fuel. A chimney starter is a metal cylinder with a charcoal grate mounted inside. The unlit charcoal is placed in the top of the cylinder then the newspaper is placed into the bottom underneath the grate and when lit, it burns and lights the charcoal. Chimney starters can be purchased at most hardware stores.

    Only use charcoal starter fluid on charcoal grills and do not add any starter fluid or other flammable liquids to the grill fire once it has started. Remember to always keep charcoal starter fluid out of children’s reach and away from all other sources of heat.

    Electric charcoal starters can also be used as an alternative to starter fluid, matches or gas lighters. An electric charcoal starter is a simple device with a handle on one end and a loop of metal on the other, which serves as the heating element.

    When finished grilling, coals should be completely cool before they are disposed of in a metal container.

    Propane Grills

    Before using a propane tank each year the gas tank hose should be checked for leaks by adding a light soap and water mix to the hose. A propane leak will release bubbles. If the grill has a propane gas leak, determined by the smell or soapy bubble test, turn off the gas tank and grill if there is no flame. If the leak stops, get the grill serviced by a professional before using it again. If the leak does not stop call the fire department immediately. If you smell gas while grilling, get away from the grill immediately and call the fire department, but do not attempt to move the grill. Always remember to never store propane gas tanks in buildings or garages and if storing a gas grill inside during the winter, disconnect the cylinder and leave it outside.

    Always use only equipment with a recognized testing laboratory on it and follow manufacturer’s instructions on how to set up a grill and maintain it.

    In a three year period, U.S. fire departments responded to 7,900 home fires involving grills. Leaks or breaks is the leading contributor to gas grill fires.

    Get Wet, But Not Wild

    by DR. SHANESSA FENNER

    Summer is here and it is time to relax and have some fun. Following these safety tips for swimming and 07142010swimming.jpgboating activities can ensure that a fun time is also a safe time.

    Tips for safe swimming

    • Don’t run around the pool.

    • Learn how to swim. • Swim at a depth that is safe for you.

    • Don’t dive into unknown waters. Enter the water feet first.

    • Make sure the water is clean from leaves, dirt, and other debris.

    • Stay away from drains and filters. Hair or clothing can become tangled in these structures that could trap you under the water.

    • Keep TVs and radios a safe distance from the water.

    • Drink plenty of water to avoid heatstroke and dehydration.

    • Keep an eye on your kids at all times.

    • Swim near a lifeguard.

    • Take frequent breaks.

    • Never swim alone 

    • Learn to perform CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation).

    • Use plenty of sunscreen. Tips for safe boating

    • Do not drink alcohol while boating.

    • Wear a PFD (personal flotation device) at all times. It keeps you floating if you are too tired to swim or hit your head and lose consciousness.

    • Tell someone where you are going and when you will return.

    • Do not allow passengers to ride on gunwales, seat backs, or outside of protective railings.

    • Bring a weather radio to update you on the weather.

    • Keep emergency supplies on board such as floating devices, maps, flares, a fire extinguisher, and a first aid kit.

    • Test the boat lights and anchor before you leave the dock.

    • Operate the boat at a safe speed.

    • Have a designated lookout for swimmers, other boaters, and objects.

    • Make sure you have enough fuel and oil for the entire trip.

    Pants All Around

    by ERINN CRIDER

    Summer should be a time fun in the sun and lazy pool days with your fuzzy friend. Most people are well aware of the dangers of heat for the elderly and infirm, but it is also a serious threat for animals and needs to be taken seriously.

    Heat stroke is a serious problem when it comes to pets. Pet experts from the Today Show say that the basic rule of thumb is if it’s too hot for you it’s too hot for your pet, especially since they have a less efficient cooling system. It is also more dangerous for dogs with short muzzles, elderly pooches, those with dark hair or a tendency to over exert themselves. Also, it can help to adjust your pets exercise regimen. For example move play time to the morning or evening after the weather cools off, and don’t be afraid to cut walks short if it is hot.07142010dogatbeach.jpg

    Knowledge is power, so knowing the signs of heatstroke can help you save your best furry friend. Danger signs include: excessive panting, rapid breathing, excessive drooling, dark or bright red gums or tongue, staggering, temperature above 104, bloody diarrhea or vomiting.

    If you suspect that your animal is suffering from heatstroke immediately call your vet. To help cool your puppy down you can offer it ice cubes to lick, apply rubbing alcohol to its paws or give it Pedialyte to restore electrolytes. Water should be cool but not cold, to avoid shock.

    “A lot of people try to cool the pet too much at home, but sometimes you get into a hypothermia situation. Douse it with cool water, have a fan blowing on the dog, but don’t immerse it in an ice bath. Get it to an animal hospital fast. A dog’s normal temperature is 102º — heat stroke is around 106º and up. But when their temp gets back down to 103, stop cooling them so you don’t risk rebound hypothermia,” explains local veterinarian Dr. Lisa Jonas of Cape Fear Animal Hospital.

    Heatstroke can really mess up your summer, but there are definitely some other dangers to look out for during the warmer months, such as the sun. Many people think that because of their fur pets are not susceptible to sunburn, but that is completely untrue. Your pet is even more prone to sunburn if it has light hair or pink skin. You should consult your vet about what kind of sunscreen is good for your pet.

    “Many people get their long-haired dogs clipped in the summer, which really isn’t necessary unless it’s a heavily matted coat. Their natural hair cover helps keep them cool and protects them from sun damage,” said Jonas.

    Water safety is also something of which to be aware. A pet should never be left unsupervised in a pool because it can drown if it can’t figure out how to get out of the pool and becomes too exhausted. It’s a good idea to teach your pet the way out of the pool or consider using a pet ramp or pet life vest.

    Many people go to the beach in the summer and may bring along their pets. It’s important to remember that not all dogs are great swimmers, and even if they are, they can be caught by the undertow or rip current. If the sand is too hot for your feet it’s also too hot for your pet’s delicate paws. (That goes for asphalt, too.) The best vacation for your dog may be to leave them at home.

    “They do not enjoy being on the hot beach while you suntan. If they get in the water and drink the salt water, then they are going to have diarrhea,” adds Jonas. And that won’t be fun for either of you.

    Finally some tips to keep your buddy cool during the hot summer days: make sure that your pet has access to fresh water at all times, adjust workout routines to the cooler part of the day, and if your pet is outside make sure it has shade and maybe even a kiddy pool to cool off in, and do not leave your pet in the car even with the windows down even “for just a second” it’s just not safe.

    “There is no safe time frame, or amount of open windows — it’s an absolute rule — don’t leave them in the car. And if pets have to be outside, make sure they have shade and fresh water,” says Jonas. And remember, these tips are for cats, too!

    Also be sure to protect your pets from heartworms (transmitted by mosquitoes) with a monthly preventative medication. Stay safe, and keep your best fuzzy friend safe this summer too.

     

  • 07142010leisa.jpgLet’s just be honest here, Fayetteville is known for a lot of things — being a top notch tourist destination isprobably not one of them though. There are plenty of people working hard to change that, and Curator of Education at the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex Leisa Greathouse is one of them. She is a Fayetteville native, a team player with a drive to showcase the best that the area has to offer, a staunch supporter of the art, culture and history that abounds here, and a valuable asset to the community. Her hard work and contributions have not gone unnoticed.

    Greathouse was recently awarded the first national Certified Tourism Ambassador (CTA) of the Year Star Award for her tireless work on Fayetteville area history, tourism, marketing and visitor service.

    “I was just giddy inside when I found out,” said Greathouse. “I was tickled, and I won’t make any bones about it. It has been rejuvenating. Professionally, it is probably the top thing I’ve ever achieved and it solidifies my more than 20 years of service to the state of North Carolina. It really meant a lot.”

    The CTA program is fairly new to Fayetteville — Greathouse is a member of the first local graduating class. The program aims to increase tourism by inspiring front line hospitality workers to work together to make every visitor encounter a pleasant one. According to www.tourismambassadorinstitute. com. The premise is simple: If front-line employees and volunteers (those who come into immediate contact with the visitor) provide quality service to visitors (convention attendees, visitors, business travelers, etc.), the visitor is more likely to have a positive experience. Visitors who have a positive experience are more likely to return at some point in the future. They will share their perceptions with their friends. Everyone benefits – the tourist, the hospitality industry, the local economy and, most importantly, the frontline ambassador.

    For Greathouse this program has been a long time coming.

    “In one sense we’ve been waiting for something like this to come to the community,” said Greathouse. “I think it will unite us. The tourism industry is made up of so many organizations — businesses, nonprofits, cultural organizations — it was really hard otherwise to get all these groups together and that was a real problem in our community for a long time. The CTA program brings us all together and helps us learn about each other and the result is better service to our visitors and our customers.”

    So we don’t have a leaning tower, a sandy shore, an uber-large canyon or a snowy mountain peak to draw visitors this way. We’ve got our history, heroes and a hometown feeling going for us, and a growing number of tourism ambassadors who are looking to impress, befriend and inform visitors as they pass through, and hopefully inspire them to return and even spread the word about the great folks that live here, the interesting events and things to do in the area and the hospitality of the folks that make this such a unique community.

    To find out more or become a Certified Tourism Ambassador visit http://www.visitfayettevillenc.com/ or call the Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau at 888-98-HEROES.

  • 07142010chemosystematics.jpgJudy Jones, a printmaker and entrepreneur, from Raleigh, North Carolina, is an artist who has remained true to her art form; at the same time she has developed a successful business that supports herself as an artist and other artists.

    The Visual Arts Alliance is pleased to have the opportunity to introduce the original prints of Jones to the Fayetteville area in Gallery 208 during the exhibit Cause and Effect: The Prints of Judy Jones, July 22 – September 16, 2010.

    Visitors to Cause and Effect will be pleasantly surprised by mixed media works which are unlike anything being produced in the region. A subtle color palette is used to create pictorial tension between object and abstraction, patterns and drawing, mixing the organic with the man made.

    Her approach is to work in distinct themes and is presenting works from two themes she has undertaken in the last several years — Random Events (Cruciferae Series) and the Parrot Plant Series. Both exude the artist’s sensitivity to material and intent — materials can include chine collé, graphite or white charcoal in combination with traditional woodcut and contemporary printmaking techniques.

    Jones’s artistic complexity is veiled in the minimalist art style. Viewer’s won’t see-hear the loud clanging of a fire alarm, instead they witness a smoldering fire. The design in the Cruciferae Series, at first, seems straightforward, a decorative intent. It is not until the viewer takes some time to unravel the implied intricate complexity of the design that they understand Jones is telling a story.

    For Jones, being an artist is a lifestyle. She also has an extensive education in the arts. She earned a B.A. in Studio Art at UNC Pembroke in 1989 and in 1992, an M.A.Ed. degree at East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina. Her education includes an Art Therapy degree from Buffalo State University of New York.

    Her work experience is varied and includes, but has not been limited to, being an instructor at The Print Studio in Naples, Florida. She has been the coordinator for the Youth Program of ArtsCool Summer Arts Program for Kids in Naples, Florida, and an adjunct Professor at the Edison Community College in Naples.

    After leaving Florida, Jones relocated back to North Carolina. Her teaching efforts resumed in her small printmaking studio at Artspace in Raleigh, North Carolina. Since then Jones has been dedicated to being an art advocate for the printmaking medium and was one of the key organizers of PoNC (The Printmakers of North Carolina) in 2006. As stated on their website: “PoNC is a collective of artists determined to create traditional and non-traditional, hand-pulled prints, and to promote the education and the exploration of the print medium.”

    PoNC is now housed at 311 West Martin Galleries and Studios in Raleigh, North Carolina. 311 West Martin Galleries is owned by Jones and her husband; the business is located in the Warehouse District of downtown historic Raleigh, N.C. There are currently 14 tenant artists working and showing in the studios and galleries of 311. Their exhibition space features the work of tenant artists and alternately, that of emerging artists as well as some of Raleigh’s favorite established artists.

    It’s still a difficult economic time for artists and galleries, but as you can see, Judy Jones has made it work. In the 311 space is where you will find Jones’s printmaking studio; she shares the space during workshops. She remains a committed artist and entrepreneur, a prolific producing artist who continues to promote the arts in the greater Raleigh area.

    For artists and art patrons interested in seeing Cause and Effector hearing Jones talk about her work, you will want to be at the artist’s reception on Thursday, July 22, 2010, from 5:30-7:00 p.m., at Gallery 208. Gallery 208 is located in the offices of Up & Coming Weekly at 208 Rowan St. As always, the public is welcome to attend!

  • 07142010poh-cover-pic.jpgFridays are magical. They signify the end of the week and the beginning of the weekend, but the fourth Friday of every month is even better. It means that a new month with fresh possibilities is on its way, and more importantly that the streets of downtown Fayetteville are about to come alive with local art.

    On July 23, downtown will be crawling with the creative and the inspired demonstrating for the casual passerby. Everyone from puppeteers, poets and painters to the wandering musician will be out on the streets performing.

    This month, the Arts Council Fayetteville/Cumberland County has partnered with the Home Builders Association of Fayetteville to bring a new kind of exhibit to the community — A Parade of Homes.

    “Last year was the fi rst year that we did a contest for our Parade of Homes marketing piece,” said Natalie Woodbury, executive offi cer of the Homebuilders Association of Fayetteville. “The winner that is chosen will be on all of the marketing materials for the parade of homes to include the cover of the tour guide magazines, all the billboards etcetera.”

    The exhibit will open at 7 p.m. during 4th Friday festivities.

    “The partnership between the Home Builders Association and Arts council is a really unique partnership,” said Woodbury. “We are both very proud of bringing the two industries together.”

    Art is usually presented as a fi nished product, but with the new Arts Alive aspect of 4th Friday, we common folk will be blessed enough to witness the dramatic transformation from thought to reality at this family friendly event.

    Along Maxwell street there will be different artists that, in the past, have included painting, glass work and jewelry making. Keep an eye out for Curtis Barnes to be among the artists. He is a wood worker who will be demonstrating on a small wood lathe. Expect to see him on Maxwell Street near Cape Fear Studios. While you are there, pop in and see the opening of the Cape Fear Studios 2010 Photography Exhibition.

    Roaming Hay and Person Streets, there will also be musicians, vendors and the regular Fourth Friday entertainment that we all look forward to each month. In several of the buildings along these streets and others downtown, such as Horne’s Cafe and Cumberland County Headquarters Library, there will be stationary bands performing, as well.

    Of course one could make an evening of just visiting the Art Center and touring Maxwell Street, but there will be exhibits all over downtown to check out. Fascinate-U Children’s Museum, Fayetteville Art Guild, Market House and Fayetteville Area Transportation Museum are just a few of the other places to check out. 4th
    Friday takes place from 7 - 9 P.m. Find out more at www.theartscouncil.com

  • The film starts off with one of the most artistically challenging Pixar shorts to date, Night and Day. The idea is that the 07-07-10-toystory3.gifanthropomorphized “Day” meets the anthropomorphized “Night” and beautifully scored brilliantly animated hijinks ensue. With that taken care of, feel free to skip the next four paragraphs, since I am about to indulge in a rant.

    I don’t know how to react to Toy Story 3 (103 minutes) with the childlike wonder that everyone else in America seems to reserve for movies that remind them of lollipops and teddy bears. Ok, the second and third films in the trilogy worked on adding some adventurous and determined female characters (even while subtly undercutting their agency by pairing them with romantic interests). Progress, not perfection, I suppose.

    However, while everyone else is worshipping at the altar of Pixar, I am wondering why all the characters are white. I also can’t help but wonder why the toys all paid so much hostile attention to the Ken doll (Michael Keaton). It is repeatedly emphasized in the film that as a girl’s toy the Ken doll possesses many feminine qualities. Not only are these qualities emphasized and mocked, Ken is never shown affirming his right to behave as he wants. In fact, his behavior (enjoying clothes, being romantic, writing in the color purple) is played for laughs throughout the film, the implication being that since he is a so-called girl’s toy he is not “masculine” enough. This begs the question; do presumably neutered toys care about your gender?

    But the most egregious –ism is in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it scene towards the end of the film. It happened so quick I can’t be sure I heard what I think I heard and a number of web searches failed to turn up any solid evidence. Never one for spreading rumors, I want to throw this out to see if anyone else noticed: a toy refers to the character of Big Baby as “mongo.”

    It is one thing for a movie like Shrek to use the term when referring to the giant gingerbread man. Not okay, but contextualized as part of a film in which boundary pushing was the name of the game. On the other hand, in a film such as Toy Story 3 rated G and marketed to children should the slur “mongo” be an acceptable way for one toy to refer to another? But this might be a tempest in a teapot. I heard the word, but I haven’t been able to get independent verification. End rant.

    All possible racism, sexism, heterosexism and other forms of prejudice aside, on the surface Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen) and the gang are in fine form. Andy (John Morris) is packing for college and clearing out his room. Inevitably he is forced to decide what to do with his beloved toys. After a mix-up his toys end up at Sunnyside Day Care under the seemingly benign Lotso (Ned Beatty). Life for the toys heads rapidly downhill as they discover the TERRIBLE SECRET haunting the seeming paradise of endlessly rotating children to play with. Of course, the whole plot is a kind of tribute to Orwell’s famous Animal Farm, where all toys are created equal but some toys are more equal than others.

    Honestly, 90 percent of viewers can just go to the theater with their kids and enjoy a nice afternoon without worrying about all the subtext. But for those of you bored with a conventional understanding, feel free to take your sociology textbooks along.

  • 07-07-10-team-usa.gifFor the second time in the last five years, the Fayetteville SwampDogs will play host to the nation’s collegiate baseball team, Team USA. On July 13 at “The Swamp,” fans will have the chance to watch their beloved SwampDogs in action against the premier collegiate players in the nation. The Fayetteville-Team USA contest will be presented by Family Foods Taco Bell and first pitch is at 7:05 for what guarantees to be an exciting night of baseball.

    “The SwampDogs have always been great hosts for our National teams and our International opponents,” said Team USA General Manager Eric Campbell. “We are excited about coming back to Fayetteville, as we know there will be a good buzz in the stadium and, as always, a competitive opponent on the field. Fayetteville is a good baseball town with passionate, supportive and educated fans.”

    The talent that has donned the red and white USA jerseys over the years has been impressive. Among the current Major Leaguers that played for the Team USA collegiate team are Philadelphia Phillies slugger Ryan Howard, New York Yankee Mark Teixeira, Colorado Rockies veteran Todd Helton and Washington Nationals phenom Stephen Strasburg. Strasburg played for the Team USA Collegiate team in 2008, along with Mike Leake, who currently pitches for the Cincinnati Reds. USA Baseball had 195 of their former players on MLB Opening Day rosters in 2010.

    USA Baseball invited 38 college players to the 2010 USA Baseball Collegiate national team trials, which are being held right now. A selection committee is formed to select players for the trials. The 2010 USA Baseball Collegiate national team manager, Bill Kinneberg (Utah), and his three coaches, Dave Serrano (Cal-State Fullerton), Ed Blankmeyer (St. John’s) and Nino Giarratano (San Francisco) along with a former athlete from the national team program form the committee. The list of roster-invitees for Team USA in 2010 includes players from college baseball powerhouses South Carolina, Clemson, TCU, UCLA, Cal-State Fullerton, LSU and Rice.

    The SwampDogs are one of two Coastal Plain League teams that will square off against Team USA. On July 12, Team USA will be taking on the Gastonia Grizzlies in Gastonia, N.C., at Sims Legion Park. Team USA’s stop in Fayetteville on July 13 is game two on their schedule leading up to the World Baseball Championships on July 30.

    “We are extremely excited about this great opportunity,” said SwampDogs head coach/Director of Operations Darrell Handelsman. “Our players get to take on the best in the nation at the collegiate level and our fans get to see future major leaguers in action. It doesn’t get much better than that.”

    The matchup will mark the second time in the last five years the two teams have played each other. The SwampDogs also took on Team Japan three years ago.

    For tickets, call the SwampDogs front office at (910) 426-5900.

  • As a teenager with absolutely no musical ability (seriously, the only thing I play is my ipod), I’ll be the first to say that young performers07-07-10-lakota.gifare pretty cool. And I don’t mean school band/orchestra performers (though they deserve their due) I mean kids out there doing their own music and with no grades involved — they do it for the love of music. There are plenty of teens like this out there, but very few are fortunate enough to be able to really pursue their dream, so having both the love and the opportunity is amazing.

    Lakota John is one such lucky kid. He started performing at a mere eight years old on the harmonica, his mother Tonia Locklear explained. Then when he was 10 he played the acoustic bottleneck slide. He is now 13 and plays the blues — and is pretty darn successful at it too.

    “I just listened to my dad’s music growing up, and I just started playing at places like at church — and I just like the blues.” Lakota John explained.

    The teenage years are all about learning. Learning how to deal with society, your place within, and how to be a grown up, but fun should never be far behind because until you turn like 30, depending on the person, you’re still a kid whether the law agrees or not. In what I consider to be the true teenage spirit Lakota John simply said, “I just like getting up and playing the blues on stage, and I like entertaining the crowd.”

    Well Bravo! I say. Music played for the sake of music is the best of all!

    Lakota John is pretty well known, and to some is considered a blues prodigy, but he owes part of his success to Claudia Schwartz who often invites him to play with her band Blues Enigma. Some credit is also due to Professor Mario Paparozzi who got him his first large show in Wilmington and taught him his first three chords. Also George Johnson who has been very supportive in welcoming him into the musical community, and introducing him to Schwartz and other artists, should be acknowledged and all should be given credit where credit is due.

    When asked what his favorite part of performing was Lakota John again answered simply and truthfully, “Just getting gigs and stuff.”

    Lakota John cites several different artists for inspiration such as Jimmy Hendrix, Duane Allman and several other notable musicians, but he doesn’t want to BE a musician. He wants to be an architect who performs music on the side.

    Being thirteen and a performer is impressive, and doing it just for the love of music is even more so, but having that chance to share it with other people who appreciate your work is extraordinary!

    (PHOTO) Local teen Lakota John loves to jam and play the blues.

  • 07-07-10-suicide-blonde.gifAs a child of the the 90s I missed out on the whole 80s scene, but I love music as much as anyone, and the 80s has some of my favorites. I can honestly say I have never worn parachute pants or leg warmers, and I’m not really sure why Members Only jackets were widely available or why gloves were fi ngerless (doesn’t that defeat the purpose?) — but I acknowledge that some of today’s trends are equally as questionable. Music however, transcends the decades.

    That is why I think Suicide Blonde, which is an 80s cover band based out of Raleigh, is not just for the nostalgic, but for anyone who likes music. They relive the 80s by performing notable songs from universally known bands such as AC/ DC, Def Leppard and Men With Out Hats. It’s like watching Vh1’s Best of the 80s live!

    The band consists of fi ve members. There is Dave Adams the front man and a keyboardist; Dustis Askew the guitarist; Lane Moss, the drummer; Warren Sumner the bassist; and keyboardist Greg Uselman, who is also the newest member. Each of the musicians has a unique background in music, but they are united with their intense love of music, and specifi cally the 80s era.

    “Suicide Blond can help bring back memories of movies like Pretty in Pink and St. Elmo’s Fire, what it was like to wear a mullet, hop in07-07-10-suicide_blonde_logo.gif the Trans-AM and drive to the blaring sounds of AC-DC, INXS, David Bowie or The Cure,” says Meredith Stiehl, the president of the Fayetteville Museum of Art, which sponsors the event.

    For those who have never been to a Fayetteville After Five, Stiehl says that there are a few things that you should know. First, to get in is free, but you might want to consider bringing some extra pocket change for beverages and snacks, and bring a chair or a blanket to comfortably sit back relax, and “take in the free entertainment.”

    Each Fayetteville After Five is different because of the bands, but Stiehl says it is, “always family friendly with plenty of room to lay out, throw a frisbee or for the kids to run around.”

    This month, July 15 is the big day for Fayetteville After Five, as part of the free concert series presented by the Fayetteville Museum of Art. The event will be held in Festival Park, at the corner of Ray Avenue and Rowan Street. The gates open at 5 p.m. and the performances start between 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Suicide Blond will start between 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. So at about fi ve, “head down to the park and forget the work day,” advises Stiehl.

    The event ends at 10 p.m., and as a reminder — no outside beverages, food or dogs are allowed in the park, but don’t worry, you won’t go hungry as there will be vendors present.

  • 07-07-10-vegas.gifIt’s Vegas, baby! I recently went on a fact finding trip not sponsored by the U.S. State Department to fi nd facts in Las Vegas. I didn’t fi nd any facts but I did manage to learn some stuff. For instance, there is not a lot of difference between a dry heat in Vegas at 106 degrees and a wet heat in North Carolina at 117 degrees on the old heat index. Both are reasonably miserable. An acetylene torch is also a dry heat.

    The trip out was fun. Our plane was diverted from Dallas due to thunderstorms. We got to land to refuel in wonderful Waco, Texas. Waco was once home to David Koresh and the Branch Davidians. I expected to see a plaque on the wall of the Waco airport commemorating Koresh or at least Janet Reno but all they had was the Waco Chamber of Commerce motto which is an upbeat, “Waco, We Do!”

    We were in Vegas for a brief trip so I remained on eastern daylight time while I was there. This meant I woke up about 5:00 a.m. Vegas time. Nothing is more uplifting than going down stairs and seeing people who have been up all night gambling still going strong at 5:00 a.m. My favorites are the morning gamblers on oxygen holding a cigarette in one hand and pulling the slot machine with the other. Vegas is fun for the whole family, particularly if you are the Manson Family. We stayed at the Bellagio, which I recommend if you enjoy paying $7.50 for a glass of orange juice with breakfast.

    In order to become one with the Vegas strip, I walked every morning before the sun got to its full broil setting. One morning I culture trekked from the Bellagio up to Fremont Street which is about six miles. Street people on Las Vegas Boulevard early on a Saturday morning are pretty colorful. I saw a couple of older ladies in motorized scooters buzzing down the side walk. One lady was on oxygen and I overheard them discussing where to have breakfast. It was inspirational, they weren’t as mobile as they used to be, but they were still out having fun in Sin City. As Teddy Roosevelt would say, “Bully for them!”

    I walked past the Circus Circus Casino and saw a sign for the “All You Can Stomach” breakfast buffet for only $9.99. The Circus Circus is up at the funky end of the strip and features a giant looming clown sign holding a hypnotic sucker to lure in hungry tourists. Anyone who has coulrophobia or clown fear, like I do, should stay away from the Circus Circus. That is one big angry clown they have up in the sky. He looks hungry. Another casino lured in hungry and insane tourists proclaiming, “With one pound of bacon, our BLT is heart stopping, nurses standing by.” You gotta love Vegas food, particularly if you are a cardiologist.

    Once past the Stratosphere, the Strip turns into a No Man’s land of wedding chapels, tattoo parlors, bail bondsmen and homeless gamblers. One chapel boasted that Joan Collins and Michael Jordan had been married there, though apparently not to each other. I walked past the world famous Drive In Wedding Chapel where you can get married in a pink Elvis-style Caddy in a driveway. It was next to the sleaziest and emptiest dust covered adobe style motel that exists in the western hemisphere. Pure Vegas.

    When I finally got to Fremont Street I was ready for a 99 cent shrimp cocktail. Unfortunately the BP Oil spill seems to have wiped out the cheap shrimp. I settled for a bagel and coffee. Fremont Street is old Vegas featuring very tired original casinos. At night it has a delightful light show under a several block long canopy of lights. Fremont Street in daylight is not so delightful. It looks like a hung over rentable lady of the evening without her make up or false teeth on a Monday morning. Even Vegas Vic looked carcinogenic in the dawn’s early light. It was pretty spooky.

    The World Cup was on in casinos all over town. I actually watched a soccer game and got caught up in America’s ancient soccer rivalry with Ghana. The crowd went nuts when we tied the Ghana team on a penalty kick. Americans actually cheering for soccer. As the King of Siam would say, “Is a puzzlement.” My wife Lani pulled for the Ghanians because “they have so little and we have so much.”

    Nothing is strange in Vegas, because everything is strange there.

  • OK, Fayetteville. It is that time of year again when we ask our Up & Coming Weekly readers to share with us their opinions about local venues, people, businesses and organizations that, in some positive way have made an impact on our community during the last 12 months. For 11 years, this has been our way of monitoring our community’s growth, development and quality-of-life index while allowing us to acknowledge and congratulate publicly those who have worked hard to leave their mark on this comm07-07-10-bof.gifunity.

    If you are a regular reader of Up & Coming Weekly you know we take the Best of Fayetteville survey very seriously. Ourstaff goes to great lengths to discover and salute the “Best of the Best.”

    For those not familiar with this process we encourage you to participate and fi ll out the ballot found on page 27 and 28 and submit it to us before the deadline. Most importantly, make sure you follow these important instructions:

    1. Complete at least 15 categories.

    2. Include your name and address.

    3. Send in only one entry per person.

    4. Mail only one entry per envelope.

    5. And, the most important thing, DON’T CHEAT! Not that you would, of course, but tell your friends it will do them no good to “stuff” the ballot box or “single shot”.

    Like I said, we take this survey very seriously and unlike other local ballots or newspaper reader’s choice surveys all of Up & Coming Weekly’s “Best of Fayetteville” ballots are mailed directly to a local CPA’s offi ce where they are counted, audited and verified. It is during this process that incomplete, duplicated, falsified, doctored and suspicious ballots are revealed and disallowed. As you can imagine this is a costly and time consuming process but one that has an 11-year track record of success and has proven to be quite effective. As a result, the “Best of Fayetteville” readers survey and recognition has been able to maintain its high level of dignity, honor and pride. Each winner is recognized with a plaque or certifi cate provided by Up & Coming Weekly and The Trophy House.

    So, please, fi ll out and submit a ballot. Tell us like it is! Curious minds want to know: Who is the “Best of Fayetteville?” You may even win $100.

    This year you can also enter online. Visit our e-edition and go straight to the online survey. Include your e-mail address on the ballot and we will subscribe you to our “free” VIP Early Bird Online Edition. Remember, stuffi ng the ballot box will not help. To really promote your cause, business or organization just tell your friends to pick up a copy of Up & Coming Weekly, follow the instructions and VOTE.

    If you do not have access to the Up & Coming Weekly newspaper at your business or organization call us and we will make sure you are directed to the closest available outlet. Above all else, have fun with it! Call me anytime and thanks for reading. I enjoy your questions and comments. I can be reached at 484-6200 or by e-mail at bbowman@ upandcomingweekly.com.

  • uac070710001.gif Being a kid can be a really tough job, even in the best of circumstances, nevermind the heart break and tragedy that so many of them live with every day. When kids are neglected, abused and hurting they don’t have the tools they need or access to the information that can change their lives. That is why it is so important that there are places they can turn to for help and people looking out for their best interests. In this fi rst part of a continuing series, we explore some of our community organizations that are making a difference in children’s lives in Cumberland County. The exploration will continue in our

    July 21 issue. The Child Advocacy Center deals in some pretty grim situations. In fact, according to their Web site:

    • Child abuse is a community health epidemic with long-term consequences for the child, the family, the community, and society.

    • Every 35 seconds a child in America is confirmed as abused or neglected.

    • Every six hours a child in America is killed by abuse or neglect.

    • One in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday.

    • Cumberland County has the third highest number of child abuse cases reported (4,923 in FY 04-05), the second highest number of cases substantiated (1,512 in FY 04-05) and the highest number of homicides from child abuse in NC (5 in 2004).

    • There are 386 sex offenders in Cumberland County registered with the NC Sex Offender Registry. (Actual number of sex offenders is generally thought to be 3 times higher than registered numbers).

    While these numbers are discouraging and even daunting, make no mistake, the Child Advocacy Center is there fi ghting for kids and working to protect them when it is hard for the youngsters to understand or even talk about what they have been through — much less defend themselves — and they are just one of many organizations that seek to better the lives of children.

    “Children that come through here have a pretty good safety net that is put in place for them,” said Roberta Humphries, executive director of the Child Advocacy Center in Fayetteville. “We help to facilitate the beginning stages of healing for that child. We have a forensic interviewer who is trained to conduct those interviews with children in a noninvasive non-threatenting and non-suggestive manner. That makes a big difference for the child.”

    The Child Advocacy Center, by their own defi nition, “is a child-friendly place where a multidisciplinary team of community professionals join hands to care for abused children. They aim to decrease the overall impact of abuse by reducing further victimization to abused children; by increasing the number of successful prosecutions of perpetrators; by encouraging parents and caregivers to stop abusive and neglectful behaviors; by reducing the long-term costs to society; and by decreasing the number of child abuse victims through awareness and prevention education.”

    In order to make interviewing children and information gathering more effi cient in child abuse cases, the Child Advocacy Center “brings together representatives from CC Department of Social Service’s Child Protective Services; CC Sheriff’s Offi ce; Fayetteville Police Department; Hope Mills Police Department; Spring Lake Police Department; the medical community via Southern Regional Area Health Education Center, Cape Fear Valley Health Systems and Womack Army Medical Center; CC District Attorney’s Offi ce; Guardian ad Litem; and Rape Crisis Volunteers of Cumberland County.”

    Instead of having to retell/relive their experiences over and over and suffering through endless interviews, more information is gathered in fewer sittings, giving children a faster start on the road to healing, and saving both families and organizations precious time in building cases against those who seek to harm the most vulnerable among us.

    Helping families and children to deal with abuse is just part of the equation though, education is also key in detecting and preventing abuse in our community. The Child Advocacy Center provides ongoing education to the organizations that partner with them, they review cases weekly, provide Continuing Education opportunities to organizations and professionals in the community and provide child abuse awareness and prevention information to the community.

    “Often people don’t know or don’t understand the impact of their actions on children, take shaken baby syndrome for example, some people just don’t understand how much trauma that causes,” said Humphries. “Unfortunately, whenever families face stressors, child abuse numbers go up whether it is a deployment or unemployment or who knows what. A lot of times it is just a matter of educating people and giving them the tools they need — like anger management skills that can make a difference.”

    For more information, to make a donation or to volunteer visit www. childadvocacycenter.com or give them a call at 486-9700.

    Fayetteville Urban Ministry: Finding Friends

    by STEPHANIE CRIDER 07-07-10-mom-and-son.gif

    Fayetteville Urban Ministry’s whole purpose is to show God’s compassion for its neighbors. They do this through several programs: Emergency Assistance, Adult Literacy, Find a Friend and the Nehemiah Project. 

    These are all practical programs that change lives for the better — and whether it is through direct services from Fayetteville Urban Ministry or the trickle down effect, the work that these folks do day in and day out, the dedication they show to their cause through out the year has an impact on young lives.

    The adult literacy program teaches basic reading, writing and math skills to adults who read below a sixth grade level. Volunteer tutors work one on one with the students. The facility has a library, computer lab and a learning room for students and tutors to use. While this particular program is for adults, imagine the benefIts that a young child receives in having a literate adult in their lives. Everything from bed time to the kind of job the adult can get changes.

    Ah, home sweet home — but how sweet is it really when rain or pine needles are falling through the roof, or the light fixtures are falling out of the ceiling or the floor has rotted away beneath you? Qualified contractors, volunteers and staff with the Nehemiah Project repair homes for moderate to low income home owners. According to www.fayurbmin. org/programs, last year this program performed repairs worth $120,547! Having a safe place to call home can make all the difference in the lives of youngsters and this program provides that.

    Food and clothing are pretty basic needs, but sometimes parents are unable to provide this for their families. Fayetteville Urban Ministry provides emergency assistance where clients are able to shop at no cost for things like clothes, linens, and hygiene kits at no cost. Emergency food assistance is also available for families in crisis.

    The Find a Friend Program is all about helping kids though. It focuses on pairing up youth with mentors and resources to make smart decisions and set them up for successful lives as adults. By helping youngsters to channel their energy constructively, develop a healthy respect for learning, improving social interaction skills and high self esteem Find a Friend helps the court system keep kids in positive, productive lifestyles.

    “We have been in existence since 1982, so we have turned around a lot of lives,” said Shauna Hopkins, Fayetteville Urban Ministry after school coordinator. “We currently have about 120 youth in the program but we serve almost 300 kids a year and our services are free of charge for the youth enrolled in our program.”

    According to Hopkins, Find a Friend has four different parts to it. The interpersonal skills part works on things like kids’ social skills, behavioral problems, anger management and peer pressure.

    “We also have our Beyond program which is building youth opportunities and destinies,” said Hopkins. “That is focused on gang intervention and gang prevention — we target certain areas in the community to help those kids out to stop them from being in a gang.”

    The one on one mentoring component helps any at risk youth get a mentor like a big brother or big sister. There is also a mentoring program for children of incarcerated parents. “All the programs work together hand in hand to provide wrap around services for the youth we serve,” said Hopkins. “We serve the entire Cumberland County area and we serve ages six through 17 so we are pretty strung out most of the time,” she added with a laugh.

    Not only does Hopkins get to work for an organization that makes a difference in the community, she builds relationships with the youth that come through the programs — and she loves it.

    “The kids are the best part of my day,” said Hopkins. “I do it for them. Every time I see them I am reminded why I go thorough all the paper work and the meetings and all that stuff. I have said for many years that children are our best natural resources and we need to nurture them because they are the future they are going to be running the country one day”

    To find out more about Fayetteville Urban Ministry, make a donation or referral, or to volunteer check out www.fayurbmin.org/ or call 483-5944.

    Boys & Girls Club: Teaching a Positive Life

    by ASHLEY YOUNG

    With a mission to inspire all youth07-07-10-boysgirlsclublogo.gif to become productive, responsible and caring citizens the Boys and Girls Club of Cumberland County strives to be a place where kids can be themselves, have fun with other kids their age and participate in structured activities, including basketball, softball, fl ag football and a game called “quickball.”

    “It’s an after school program for youth ages 5-18 that teaches health and life skills, character and leadership development education and career development, sports, fi tness and recreation and the arts,” said Don Williams, Chief Professional Offi cer for the Cumberland County Boys and Girls Club.

    Along with physical activities the club also implements a daily program called “Power Hour” which is a homework and tutorial enterprise to encourage kids to stay focused in school. Other programs include “Passport to Manhood,” for male children 11-14 years old, which encourages them to use responsibility and reinforces positive behavior, and “Street Smarts” which teaches kids to resist gangs and violence and resolve confLict in a peaceful manner.

    The Boys and Girls Club was started by two gentlemen in 1968 because of the need for kids to have something positive to do after school, with juvenile crime on the rise. The club has been in service now for more than 42 years and four are open throughout Cumberland County. Their hours are from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m., Monday through Friday during the school year, and 7:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. during the summer. Parents can make their children members by fi lling out an application at any Boys and Girls Club.

    The Cumberland County Boys and Girls Club welcomes kids of any gender, religion and race to come out and join the club. Scholarships are given to the kids so their membership is free. Many of the kids who spent their early years at the Boys and Girls Club have gone on to achieve academic success and many have joined the military. Donors and volunteers are welcome and with a faculty of one staff member per 20 kids, volunteers are needed.

    “I think it’s a great program that really helps kids and the community and there is so much kids can gain by being part of a Boys and Girls Club. I’ve been involved for 21 years,” said Williams.

    The Cumberland County Boys and Girls Club is located on 3475 Cumberland Road in Fayetteville and can be reached by phone at (910) 425-3852. For more information please visit ccbgc.org.

    Ashton Woods: It Takes a Village 

    by ASHLEY YOUNG

    Sixteen years ago the Cumberland Interfaith Hospitality Network recognized the need for temporary housing for homeless families and their children in our community. In 1997, the Cumberland Interfaith Hospitality Network along with The Women’s Center of Fayetteville and many private citizens created a dream which became the reality of Ashton Woods Transitional Housing Village.

    The village is a small community of 20 homes located on the corner of Bragg Boulevard and Old Shaw Road that was created for homeless families who need more time to get back on their feet than traditional shelters allow.

    The Women’s Center of Fayetteville led in fundraising efforts and accepted the property deed. Nearly half a million dollars was raised and the property of Ashton Woods was purchased. The Cumberland Interfaith Hospitality Network helped in funding efforts and secured other grants and donations towards this program.07-07-10-boys-and-girls.gif

    They also coordinated volunteers, managed the Ashton Woods property and worked with the families in need. Through this they were able to get hundreds of volunteers in the local community to help restore the homes and build a security fence around the village in order to prevent crime. Church youth and adult groups cleaned out and painted homes to prepare them. The City of Fayetteville provided funds to the Fayetteville Urban Ministries to help assist with the electrical, plumbing and HVAC repairs on eight of the houses. Ashton Woods offi cially opened in June of 1998.

    Families who live within the Ashton Woods community are provided with a two bedroom home and may live there for two years. The families are responsible for paying utility bills including water and sewer, heating, water heater and electricity bills. Rent of the houses is subsidized during the families’ stay in order for them to work on specific goals to help increase their wage earning potential. These goals include completing GEDs and college, earning certifi cate programs, such as forklift driving, getting certified nursing assistance, etc. Subsidy is provided due to the fact that each family is expected to obtain employment, while accomplishing these goals, however payment for part time jobs is often limited, yielding around $200 per week, which is not enough to pay traditional rent.

    Each family that lives within Ashton Woods participates in an intensive care management program which establishes a savings requirement to help prepare them for the move to permanent housing at the end of their stay. A spending budget is established to verify that all household income is being used to pay residents monthly utilities, pay debts that are owed and save remaining income for permanent housing goals.

    “Our organization has a professional team which works with each family establishing goals, tracking progress, verifying their fi nancials, bank statements and daily household expenditures,” said Denise Jiles, Project Director of the Cumberland Interfaith Hospitality Network.

    There are also services and support offered to children who have experienced signifi cant trauma due to their family’s housing instability. Also a fully functional library with over 2000 reading and reference resources, computers, tutors, and educational activities are provided so each child has the support necessary to continue their education and establish goals to keep them on the right track.

    Another program for the kids is that every 18 months in the Ashton Woods program, kids choose a community project that they work for in order to make a positive difference. Last year they chose the Cumberland Community Foundation where they raised resources for painting the Cumberland Community resource room. The children worked throughout the year to obtain paint supplies and other needed materials.

    “I believe this is one of the best programs for families experiencing homelessness in our state. It has been an essential part of recovery in the lives of hundreds of homeless children and their parents. I am proud to be a part of developing self suffi ciency in the lives of so many and hope that the impact we have continues to help our community in reducing dependency on public programs and eliminating homelessness one family at the time,” said Jiles. For more information, visit www.cumberlandihn.org/AshtonWoods.htm.

    Branching Out, Making a Difference07-07-10-great-oak.gif

    by DR. SHANESSA FENNER

    Great Oak recognizes and wants to address the socioeconomic issues among inner city male youth in educational achievement, juvenile incarceration, and joblessness and access to opportunities.

    “Great Oak held a two-week leadership and development summer camp in June,” said Bobby Washington, executive director of Great Oak Youth Development Centers. “It entailed a theory being taught in the morning followed by a fi eld trip or other community service event in the afternoon.” Washington added that the youth were shown business plans and taken to various businesses that have been planned and executed. The camp also focused on teaching the youth about successful teamwork, respect for themselves and others, and how to bring out a positive self-image. The culminating activity of the camp consisted of the youth creating a business plan and presenting it to others.

    Great Oak provides services to students aged 6 to 18. Parents, educators, or community offi cials must refer the students. The mission of Great Oak Youth Development Center is to provide a foundation for achievement and success among male youth within targeted communities by directly providing educational assistance, mentoring, leadership and skills training and cultural awareness activities. The defi cit is more pronounced and alarming for America’s black males.

    The programs offered are Effective Black Parenting, Men and Boys Unity, Mentoring, Leadership Academy, Parental Involvement, Summer Leadership and Entrepreneurs’ Camp, and Reading Buddies. Great Oak was recognized by the governor for North Carolina’s Volunteer Service Medallion Award and recognized by the Fayetteville Business and Professional League as the Social Entrepreneur of the Year.

    “It is our goal to expose the boys to education and cultural events,” said Washington. “We always work a college or university fi eld trip in when we take an extended field trip.”

    Great Oak is a charitable nonprofi t organization that relies on donations for a substantial portion of funding to run their program. Applications may be requested

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  • ballet.jpgBo Thorp knows a little bit about talent. As the artistic director of the Cape Fear Regional Theatre since its inception, Thorp has seen many talented individuals tread the boards at the theatre. Some of them have made their mark locally and regionally, while others have gone on to grace the stages of Broadway. So it’s with a history of making stars, that Thorp is issuing a countywide invitation to anyone who has ever dreamed of performing on the stage. Their backdrop, the first ever Fayetteville’s Got Talent competition. {mosimage}Thorp, and company, came up with the idea as a precursor to the new season. “It’s a way to get some new blood into the theatre,” said Thorp. “There are a lot of people who would never come to a formal audition for one of our plays, but we can get them to come to this more informal setting and show us what they’ve got.” So, if you can sing, dance or balance plates in the air, the CFRT wants to see you! “This is your chance to be on our stage,” says Thorp, adding that no previous acting experience is necessary to participate. If the idea of showcasing your talent appeals to you, here’s what you need to know: • Auditions will be held Monday, August 3. Performers ages 8-18 will take the stage at 4 p.m., while those 18 and older will follow at 6 p.m. • Three judges will be at the preliminary audition and the fi nal competition. • Those interested in auditioning for the 2009-2010 season may do so on August 3. • A pianist, a CD player and electrical outlets are available for instruments. • Auditions are limited to two minutes. • Performers selected will compete in the final eliminations on August 20 and 21st at Cape Fear Regional Theatre. • Top prize for 18 and older category is $500!{mosimage} • Additional prizes will be awarded. • Audition forms are available at the theatre and on the Web site at www.cfrt.org Fayetteville’s Got Talent provides a unique opportunity to perform on the CFRT stage. It is a way to showcase your talent while not competing for a specific role. If you are not able to audition on August 3, please call Lindsay at 323-4234 for an appointment. For more information, visit the Web site at www.cfrt.org.
  • 07-29-09cover.jpg In 1965 when the Montclair subdivision was built, it was an idyllic place for young military families to raise their growing broods. It was close enough to Fort Bragg for the soldiers to get to work on time, yet removed enough to keep their lives separate. The homeowners planted trees and fl owers and settled in. Many were delighted 10 years later when Cross Creek Mall opened, as they had all the convenience of the mall, but maintained their sense of community in their tree-lined neighborhood. Some of those families have retired, and now watch their grandchildren play where their children once played. New families have moved in, but they are still sheltered under the trees that those original homeowners planted. Over the years traffi c has increased, and enterprising drivers began using the neighborhood as a cut-through to Raeford Road. But the sense of community is still there. Neighbors cross the road to chat on sunny afternoons. They wave to one another as they get in and out of their vehicles. But they are afraid all of that is about to change thanks to the N.C. Department of Transportation. The DOT TIP Project U-4442 is designed to open up Glensford Road from the extension, which runs from Morganton to Cliffdale, all the way to Raeford Road. The project, which has been years in the making, is designed to ease the fl ow of traffi c from Raeford to Morganton, by aligning Glensford Road with Hope Mills Road. While many citizens might cheer the concept, the residents of Montclair do not. Don Garner, a local businessman and resident of Glensford Road, is fairly outspoken when it comes to the subject of the road construction. “In 2004, they started asking citizens to go to meetings about the proposed road construction. They enlightened us on their plans, and asked us for input,” he explained. “A lot of us gave them our input, but we never heard back from them.” According to Garner, the next time the citizens heard from the DOT was in 2007 when they were invited back for another community meeting. “They asked for our input, and we gave it,” he said. “In April 2008, they called us back and showed us plans and asked for our input, while showing us what they were going to do. They still haven’t heard what {mosimage}we said.” What the DOT did present to the citizens, and what is moving forward, is the construction of what residents call a “super highway” through their neighborhood. Imagine the Glensford Extension (the road that runs between Morganton and Cliffdale) dividing your neighborhood. That, along with three round-abouts, is what residents are facing. Garner said DOT offi cials explained that the addition of the round-abouts will keep traffi c moving, in lieu of stop signs, which would create stop-and-go traffi c. Garner said he isn’t opposed to the roundabouts, except that they take up a lot of property. His neighbors agree. Thomas Bell noted, “They are going to have to take out those houses where they put the round-abouts. Those folks are just going to lose their homes.” Homes that will have to be destroyed will be purchased by the DOT at fair-market value. Other residents will be affected in other ways, some very visibly and some not as tangible. The plans call for the widening of the two-lane road to four lanes, divided by a 16 foot grassy median, just like the median that divides the highway on the Glensford Extension. Additionally, sidewalks will be built on each side of the road, with a 5 foot setback from the road. To make up the difference in the land needed for the construction, the DOT is seeking to take 15 feet on each side of the road, which for the majority of the residents brings the road almost to their door steps. Currently, the majority of the homes sit on lots that are 80 x 140 feet. The DOT plan will cut the lots to 80 x 125 feet or 10,000 square feet, which residents understand to be the minimum for R-10 residential zoning. Some of the homes are on lots smaller than that and will fall under the 10,000 feet limit, which residents say will open them up to spot zoning, and will ultimately affect what they can do with their property. “That’s just one of the problems{mosimage} we are looking at,” continued Garner. “This highway is going to be just feet from our doors. The traffi c is going to increase dramatically, and with the amount of land they are taking, many of us won’t even have room to park our vehicles in our driveways.” Steve Averitte, who owns a small construction company, will be able to get two cars in his driveway once the construction is begun, but believes the back end of one vehicle will stick out into the sidewalk. And those trees, which provide shade in the summer and block the homes from the road, are already slated to come down. “It’s kind of ironic that one of the city’s goals is to preserve existing trees, and they are going to cut down all of these old growth trees all along this roadway,” said Steve. The residents say they understand the need for the road, but they don’t understand the need for its size. “Let’s put in a turn lane instead of a median, or if they really feel like we need a median, then put in a 2 foot median, with sidewalks on the edge of the road, like they are on Cliffdale,” argued Garner. “That way they wouldn’t have to take so much land, we could keep our yards and our trees and traffi c could still fl ow. We fi gure they are taking as much as they can for later on, then maybe they’ll make it six lanes instead of four.” The residents, who have already seen stakes with white fl ags going up in their yards, hope it’s not too late to change the DOT’s plans. They’ve been calling the Fayetteville City Council asking for their help. When contacted, Chavonne said, “The DOT had a series of public hearings, and it is my understanding that they were very controversial. It came to the council some time ago and decisions were made. It is a DOT road, and it is their responsibility. I have asked our staff to research the matter and to see if there is any recourse to change the plan. We understand that it is undoubtedly very unpopular in some people’s minds.”
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    Charis Duke has been composing since she was about eight. In her family that was no big deal, her three siblings grew up writing music a07-22-09cover.jpg s well. “In my family, growing up, it was normal for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day to give my parents songs that we had written or something like that,” said Duke. “I thought composing was normal, that everybody did it.” Duke’s early start in the musical arena has turned out to be a great boon for the folks of greater Fayetteville. She has brought her experience and talent to the children of Snyder Music Academy’s summer camp, and they, in turn, are sharing it with the rest of us. She’s written a children’s opera, and while the performers are kids, the show is sure to dazzle young and old alike. August 7-9, at the Sol Rose Amphitheatre at Campbellton Landing, Snyder Music Academy presents the east coast premier of Tom Sawyer. “This is a legitimate opera production. It is an hour and a half long — and it is for everybody. It is going to be quite entertaining,” said Duke. If you are thinking of Pavarotti type performances though, stop right there. This piece was written with young voices in mind and is more about learning and the musical experience, having a good time and putting on a fun show than it is about hitting and holding high notes. “While we do try to use the classical opera form, the music is eclectic in style and I borrow from the time period and location of the story so Tom Sawyer has a lot of what I would consider Mississippi fi ddle type music. I used the blues and boogie woogie and a little jazz because that is all from America’s background and also just so that the kids get a nice spectrum. I tried to just incorporate all kinds of styles so that they can learn as much as possible — and it makes it more fun of course,” Duke said. Joy Cogswell, Snyder Music Academy director, is delighted to share Duke’s talent with the community and is happy about the success of the camp so far. “I’m excited about it. We’ve got some really talented kids and they all seem to be really excited,” said Cogswell. “This is something adults can enjoy even if they don’t have kids to bring. It will be light and refreshing.” In addition to the performances, the audience can get into the spirit of the evening and take a riverboat ride before the fun begins. From 5-7 p.m., Freddie Mims of Cape Fear River Boats will be offering rides for $5 a person. There are food and beverages at the amphitheatre and at Locks Creek{mosimage} Seafood Grill & Oyster Bar, as well. “Folks can come and have a meal, take a riverboat ride and catch the show,” said Cogswell. “They can just make a night of it.” And what better way to spend a summer evening than enjoying a delicious meal, a relaxing ride on the river and an outstanding performance under the stars in the fresh air? The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available online at www.snydermbc. com or www.campbelltonlanding.com.
  • This 4th Friday, July 24, the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County debuts the juried photography exhibition, Get the Picture? Join us at the Arts Council Building, 301 Hay St., in historic downtown Fayetteville for live entertainment and refreshments from 7-9 p.m. Get the Picture is an eclectic exhibition of photographs from people all over thefourth friday.jpgarea. Shutterbugs turned in their artwork over the past weekend, and those photos chosen will be on display during 4th Friday and throughout the month. The 4th Friday event has been bringing together some of the area’s most talented artist, and showcasing the work of the unknown artist, for more than 10 years. It’s an event that invites participants to immerse themselves in the arts, both visual and performance, and it’s free. A variety of performers and vendors will be set up along Hay Street, which will be closed to vehicles from 5 until 10 p.m. The Arts Council gallery is open Monday throug Thursday, 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.; Friday, 8:30 a.m. until noon; and Saturday, noon until 4 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call (910) 323-1776 or visit www.theartscouncil.com. After you check out the Arts Council exhibit, be sure to wander downtown and visit some of these other great stops: Beads & Botanicals: Acoustic guitar by Jenelle Aubade-Caracas. Cape Fear Studios: Sculpture by University of North Carolina-Pembroke art professor Adam Walls and his students. Walls’ art includes plaster cast forms, steel fabrication, wood working and paintings. Student artwork includes sculptures in steel, plaster and stone. Refreshments. CJ Designs, Inc.: Italian artist Romana Gennaro. Her artwork has been displayed in galleries and museums throughout Italy and the U.S. Her eye for color and composition help her to create one of a kind intricate wearable art. Cotton Exchange: Jazz by Cape Fear Music Center. Refreshments. Fascinate-U: Make-and-take arts & crafts, floppy sun hats. Light refreshments. Fayetteville Area Transportation Museum: Exhibits and artifacts of transportation from days gone by. The museum is housed in the restored circa 1890 Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley Railroad Depot. New collection of vintage cars on display. Headquarters Library: Cool off with an exciting mix of blues from Claudia Swartz and Blues Enigma. Market House: Exhibition about the role of the local area relative to the Revolutionary War. Rude Awakening: Metal Art by David McCune. White Trash: Mosaic cakes & cupcakes by Michelle Legler.
  •     Six months ago, my first serious relationship ended. My ex, “Steve,” and I attend the same college, but rarely communicate anymore. It’s difficult, but for the best. The trouble is, my ex’s new love interest seems intent on becoming my friend. She friended me on Facebook, started calling me on my cell (a number I never gave her), and inserts herself into plans with mutual friends. She always mentions random facts about me that I don’t recall telling her, like, “Your parents have three dogs, right?” She compliments me then imitates what she compliments, like, “I love your highlights, can I have your stylist’s number?” I want to tell her things tanked with my ex for a reason, and becoming my clone, or even my friend, isn’t the best idea, but I’m uncomfortable discussing my ex with her and don’t feel over him enough to be comfortable getting close to her. For some reason, I’ve been too proud to share this with her. Yet, on my more charitable days, she seems sweet, and I don’t want to hurt her feelings. What boundaries are reasonable to set up?
        —Invaded


        When he looks deeply into the limpid pools of her eyes, does he say, “Baby, have I ever told you...my ex-girlfriend’s parents have three dogs?”
        Sure, that factoid could’ve flown out in casual conversation, but it isn’t just that factoid or others like it. It’s the combo platter of stuff — from friending you on Facebook to digging up your cell number to hijacking your hairdo — that makes this feel like a hostile takeover in the form of a girl-crush. Ok, she “seems sweet.” You know what they say: You catch more flies with honey. But, ask yourself this: How do you feel about being the fly? Go ahead and answer — if you don’t have to run off to have a latte with her to discuss Steve’s snoring.
        Of course she wants to be in your life — much like a deer tick wants to be in a dog. She’s probably not evil, but suspects she’s lacking in something he wants; something that might rub off on her if she spends enough time with you. She’s taking advantage of a tendency women have, especially 20-something women, to feel they have to be “nice” to anyone who has yet to, oh, call them a slut and push them off the roof of the student center. But, make no mistake, you’re not being nice. You’re being intimidated into a “friendship” that probably keeps you from moving on. You just broke up with your ex, and now you have to break up with his new girlfriend, too?
        Here’s a transcript of what should be the extent of your relationship with this girl: “Hey, how’s it going?” And then keep going. That probably doesn’t seem “charitable,” but I’m guessing you aren’t wearing a Santa suit and a big white beard and ringing a bell outside Target. You owe yourself first and foremost. Figure out what works for you, and if something doesn’t, don’t let it in your life. Yes, it’s that simple.
  •     While Iran’s leaders saber-rattle and quote the Quran, the country’s multitudes of young adults are embracing New Age self-help, as exemplified by the best-selling books and sold-out seminars of motivational guru Alireza Azmandian, according to a June Wall Street Journal dispatch from Tehran. Though young adults in Turkey and Egypt have stepped up their religious fervor, that is not so in Iran. Said a 25-year-old aerospace engineer: “Religion doesn’t offer me answers anymore,” but “(Azmandian’s) seminar changed my life.” The Oprah Winfrey-touted book, The Secret, is in its 10th printing in Farsi; yoga and meditation are big; and advertising abounds on the virtues of feng shui and financial management.

    The Continuing Crisis
        Randall Popkes, 41, and his son Joshua Williams, 22, were arrested in West Des Moines, Iowa, in May and charged with an attempted safecracking at the Des Moines Golf and Country Club. A security officer had noted their license plate as they sped away after a frustrating session in which they had cut into the safe but could not open it.
        At press time, a court in Athens, Greece, was considering a challenge brought by three residents of the island of Lesbos in the Aegian Sea to prevent a Greek gay and lesbian organization from referring to homosexual women as lesbians, arguing that such usage insults their heritage, since Lesbos residents have traditionally been called “Lesbians.” On the other hand, Lesbos was also the birthplace of the poet Sappho, a heroic woman among gays and lesbians for her early references to her love of other women.

    Yikes!
        The Panda Chinese Restaurant in York, Penn., was already in trouble in an early June city sanitation inspection, with demerits piling up because of accumulated grease, insects in the seating area and rotting lettuce, according to a York Daily Record report. Then, in the middle of an inspector’s visit, he came upon a live snapping turtle in the restaurant’s main sink. Said the inspector, “I had to sit down and gather myself before I could speak.” The manager said he had seen the turtle outside and had brought it in for safety: “It was wrong that we put it in the sink.”

    Family Values
        Spare the Gun (Hammer), Spoil the Child: Darrell Walker, 30, was arrested in Bartlesville, Okla., in May after his 8-year-old son told police that his dad routinely shoots him (and his younger sister) in the leg with a BB gun if they misbehave.
        Robert Cisero, 46, was arrested in Medford, Ore., in June after (according to police) he hit his teenage daughter in the ankle with a hammer to feign a “skating” injury, for which she could get a prescription for pain medication, which he then commandeered.

  •     Have you noticed the large number of mopeds, scooters and motorcycles on the road these days? My prediction is you will be seeing more. With the price of gas going higher and the price of insurance going up, people will be forced to find cheaper means of transportation. Two wheeled vehicles provide higher miles per gallon gas averages. Motorcycles range from 35 to 50 mpg and scooters can average up to 85 to 100 mpg.
        So what is the difference between a moped, scooter and motorcycle? A moped is usually defined by its legal classification and definitions differ state-by-state. In North Carolina motorbikes under 50 cubic centimeters are considered mopeds. Bikes that exceed 50 cc’s are considered scooters or motorcycles.
        Scooters are like motorcycles and require a license, tags and insurance. The difference between a scooter and a motorcycle is also defined by law. The big difference is capabilities. Scooters are generally less powerful and have a one-piece frame. I say generally because there are some manufactures that are producing scooters that exceed 600 cc!
         {mosimage}According to the N.C. Department of Transportation Web site, “You must be age 16 or older to operate a moped on North Carolina highways or public vehicular areas. A driver’s license is not required, and the moped does not have to be registered, inspected or covered by liability insurance. A motorcycle safety helmet is required by law when operating a moped on North Carolina highways. A moped cannot have an external shifting device or have the capability of exceeding 30 mph on a level surface.”
        Scooters are relatively easy to operate and most scooters are now automatic. If you’ve never ridden one before it is pretty easy — you just need a little balance and hand and feet coordination. When you look at the cc level, consider your travel distance and your weight and body size. The larger you are the more engine will be needed to move you. You will need to decide if you want a 2-stroke or 4-stroke engine. The 2-stroke engine requires you to mix gas and oil to run correctly. New models use oil injection systems that allow the mixture to happen automatically. Since you are burning oil and gas together you will have more smoke from this engine. The 4-stroke runs like a car and uses regular unleaded gas and is more ecologically acceptable.
        Consider storage. If you are using it to get to work you may need a place to store work items and your riding gear. The laws are also dependent on the type of bike you use. The moped is treated like a bicycle and a motorcycle. You must follow the traffic laws, you cannot drive on a sidewalk and you must wear a helmet. A scooter is treated the same as a motorcycle and the same laws apply.
        Finally, take a motorcycle class. No matter what you are driving the class will teach the rules of the road.
        If there is a topic that you would like to discuss, please send your comments and suggestions to motorcycle4fun@aol.com.
  • The Dark Knight (Rated PG-13) FIVE STARS

        Batman Begins had a better story, but in every other way The Dark Knight(152 minutes) surpasses the previous film. Christopher Nolan does everything right; Christian Bale manages to capture both Bruce Wayne and Batman; Gary Oldman plays Gordon with the perfect mix of cynicism and optimism; and, Maggie Gyllenhaal is a welcome replacement for the clunky Katie Holmes. Heath Ledger does the seemingly impossible, playing The Joker as a psychotic anarchist, without inviting unfavorable comparisons to Jack Nicholson’s take on the character. The only fly in the ointment is the somewhat inadequate characterization of Aaron Eckhart’s Harvey Dent. In an otherwise passable film, no one would notice that Harvey Dent is poorly written, but this film is spectacular, which makes all the errors, however minor, stand out.
        Bruce Wayne/Batman (Bale) continues to terrorize the criminal’s of Gotham with his intense raspy voice and newly redesigned Batsuit. Both Alfred (Michael Caine) and Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman) work behind the scenes, supplying him with wisdom and nifty gadgets, respectively. Lt. Jim Gordon (Oldman) has teamed up with new District Attorney Harvey Dent (Eckhart) to take a decisive stand against Gotham’s organized crime, which is working well until The Joker (Ledger) surfaces. The Joker is not interested in money, but in destroying the tenuous moral fiber of Gotham’s embattled citizenry and corrupting symbols of law and order. The primary plot is nicely supplemented by two subplots: a love triangle and a morality play. 
    The love triangle between Wayne, Dent and Rachel Dawes (Gyllenhaal) treads dangerously close to cliché, but is redeemed when it is resolved in a somewhat surprising way. There is a slight issue with Gyllenhaal’s “damsel in distress” character; even so, she manages to inject some empowerment into a relatively small role.  {mosimage}
        While The Joker represents the ultimate in murderous evil, there are shades of gray to Batman, Dent, and even average citizens. Are symbols more important than truth? Is it moral to suspend civil rights to save lives? Audiences will leave the theater pondering these types of questions, and it is safe to leave — sadly there are no nifty extras awaiting the vigilant during the credits.
        From an artistic standpoint, Gotham is filmed as a city in balance between night and day. While Batman Begins seemed to focus on the city at night, here there are some truly startling transitions between the light and the dark. There is even one scene in which The Joker is briefly shown without his makeup in the full light of day — so briefly that the entire audience seemed to gasp.     
        Despite the flawlessly balanced components, nothing is perfect. Some scenes went on a little too long without adding anything to the overall impact. Towards the end of the movie, when “Batvision” (really) is introduced, I started getting a headache. The Harvey Dent subplot is weak, and played with a little too much square jawed heroism to make the character’s action later in the film truly believable. 

  • Flashpoint shoots first and asks questions later

        The line between good and bad cop shows is often thin. At first glance, Flashpoint(Friday, 10 p.m., CBS) seems like a standard entry in the genre: The members of a Strategic Response Unit deal with conflicts at home while handling hostage situations at work. But this series is a cut above.
        You’re struck by the lack of flashy quick cuts and roaring rock music during a crisis. That’s always been the easy way to build excitement, but Flashpointchooses the hard way: getting inside the characters’ heads, both cops and criminals. There’s an eerie calm as the police surround a man with a gun and the snipers take their place on the rooftops. A trigger is pulled; a bad guy lies dead on the concrete; a sense of regret sets in. The snipers’ disorientation is palpable, and is mirrored in the filmmaking. Sound recedes and time slows. Even the criminal is granted a moment of humanity as a family member mourns over his corpse.
        {mosimage}Flashpoint is a rarity among TV cop shows. It doesn’t take killing lightly.

    The Fairly Oddparents
    Friday, 8 p.m. (Nickelodeon)
        The twisted toon about fairy godparents weighs in with a timely parody. A rogues’ gallery of supernatural creatures participates in the Fairy World Games, which are just like the Olympics. Events include cloud diving, rainbow jumping and the one-million-year dash.
        The Fairy World Games’ motto is “cheaters never win, and winners never cheat.” In that sense, I guess, they aren’t exactly like the Olympics.
     
    Long Way Down
    Saturday, 9 p.m. (Fox Reality)
        This charming series will chronicle Ewan McGregor’s 15,000-mile motorcycle trip with his friend Charley Boorman. They plan to ride from the northern tip of Scotland to the southern tip of Africa, passing through 18 countries. “Like a boy, I’m excited,” Ewan chirps, while Charley makes motorcycle noises with his lips.
        The friends’ enthusiasm is infectious. It’s also slightly mad. The first episode covers the preparations for the trip, and it’s filled with more bad omens than Macbeth. There’s trouble getting passports. A rash of kidnappings breaks out in Ethiopia, forcing Ewan and Charley to take a hostage-training course. Ewan breaks his leg in a motorcycle accident. Charlie is detained by police at an airport and misses the flight to the Scottish starting point. Finally, his wife’s lung collapses just before the trip begins.
        You’d think that would be the last straw. But nothing will stop these insanely determined adventurers. “If we canceled the trip, it would just put her under more stress,” Charley reasons.
        You can rest assured that, short of nuclear apocalypse, these two will make it to South Africa. Actually, even with nuclear apocalypse.

    The Two Coreys
    Sunday, 10 p.m. (A&E)
        The Two Coreys is about former child stars who happen to be named Corey. Nowadays, that’s enough of a hook to build a reality series around. Corey Feldman and Corey Haim were in a few movies together back in the day, and now they’re both a couple of bums. In this week’s episode, they enter therapy to try to rebuild their friendship. Later, Feldman invites Haim to his house, where Haim is shocked to discover an intervention. He denies having a substance-abuse problem and storms out of the room. Both Coreys decide that this marks the end of their fragile relationship.
        And I’ve decided it marks the end of my fragile relationship with The Two Coreys.

  •     Richard Allman doesn’t have to worry about what kind of legacy he’s leaving for his son.
    Allman and his boy, Derek, have left their mark together, creating music captured for posterity on a CD entitled Temporarily Breathing.
        The Allmans, along with father and son team Allen and David Diffee, recently released the self-produced CD under the aptly titled band name Fathers and Sons. It’s a disc that crosses the generational gap, proving that good music is good music, no matter your age.
        Richard, 50, who currently lives in Raleigh, says Derek, 21, has always been interested in music, having formed a band with David Diffee called Stitch which toured and even won a battle of the bands contest here in Fayetteville, playing its own brand of Generation X rock. But then Derek attended college and learned there is much more to the musical lexicon than Staind, Chevelle and Mudvayne.
    “He went to college and ‘got educated,’” said Richard, who has been playing music off and on with partner Allen Diffee since 1980. “He came home and said, ‘you know, Dad, Bob Dylan is pretty good. The Beatles are pretty good.’”
        Derek’s epiphany about the timelessness of good music led all four to retreat to Richard’s basement studio to create a CD chock full of influences from rock’s biggest names — Dylan to John Fogerty, the Allman Brothers (no relation) to Pearl Jam.
        The resulting musical stew is a pot of feel good rock ‘n’ roll, utilizing a wide range of instruments including electric and acoustic guitars, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, harmonica and jaw harp.
        Perhaps the best track on the CD, which is consistently good from beginning to end, is “Days in July,” a rollicking number that is infused by multi-instrumentalist Richard’s rolling banjo and saturated with upbeat and heartfelt lyrics such as “With a little bit of love and patience everything will be all right/Like Days in July it will never be cold outside.”
        Fair warning: If you’re a fan of the painfully introspective beats of shoegaze rock or the kill ‘em all attitude of death metal, this probably isn’t the disc for you.
        The band keeps things percolating on “Questions for a Simple Man,” implementing a multi-guitar attack reminiscent of Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Outlaws, then kicking it into Allman Brothers territory with Dickie Betts-approved licks from Richard and some excellent slide work by Derek that is reminiscent of the late, great Duane Allman.
        Derek’s plaintive fiddle stands out on “A Lot of Good People,” offset by a chiming acoustic that brings to mind Roger McGuinn and the Byrds. Again, the lyrics and feel of the song are decidedly upbeat, despite a maudlin beginning in which the singer says “he left with a 20 and the clothes on his back;” eventually, the singer finds renewed faith in humanity as he learns “A lot of good people live in this world/They help the lost people find their way.”
        The rest of the songs are pretty much in this same vein. This is not “message” music: Fathers and Sons doesn’t want to change the world or tell you who to vote for — they simply want you to rock, and when appropriate, to slow down and just roll with the good time tunes and “hurts so good” ballads that fill the disc.
        And unlike most “basement tapes,” the sound of the CD is just as warm as the lyrics; the guitars and drums and bass lines have a retro, analog feel, as if everything was played through an old Neve tube console — surprising since Richard said the project was created using PC-based software and solid state modeling amps. Despite the use of thoroughly modern production techniques, every song drips with that tube warmth and feel of an early-1970s circa LP; it’s so authentically old school that I found myself longing for a lava lamp, beanbag chair and some shag carpet. If you still have a mullet, you’re golden.
        Both the Allmans share vocals on the CD, while the elder Diffie contributes vocals, as well as keeping the beat with his metronome-like drum work. David Diffie’s bass is melodious, yet not too upfront in the mix.
        “We’d like to maybe play some gigs, maybe get down to Fayetteville for a show or two if some club will have us,” said Richard, “but we didn’t go into this thing looking for fame and fortune — it is just something that combines the love of music shared by a couple of dads and their sons.”
        I can, without hesitation, say that in this case the old bromide “like father like son” has never sounded better.
        If you would like to learn more about the band or buy the CD, check out the following Web sites: www.myspace.com/temporarilybreathing or www.kunaki.com/sales.asp?PID=PX0050L95R.
  •     Dear EarthTalk: Should we expect to see “plug-in” hybrid cars anytime soon? I’ve been hearing they are on the horizon but I wonder if that means in one year or 10.       
    -— Bill A., Stratford, Conn.


        Gasoline-electric hybrids now, like Toyota’s popular Prius, don’t need to plug in — you just fill their tanks with gasoline and the battery keeps charged by the internal combustion engine and by energy generated from the wheels when braking (a feature known as “regenerative braking”). The battery then powers the electric motor when it is called into service during idling, backing-up, crawling in gridlock, maintaining speed while cruising, and for extra uphill power when needed. As such, the electric motor is essentially a back-up engine while the hybrid relies mainly on the gasoline engine.
        Plug-in hybrids take the concept further by plugging into a regular electric outlet to enable the vehicle to operate solely on its electric motor for ranges of 40-50 miles or more on a single charge. This has profound implications for commuters who need only drive short distances to and from work every day and who may be able to do so solely on electric power. The gasoline engine then becomes the supplemental one for when the car needs to travel farther than the electric engine can take it.{mosimage}
        According to researchers at the University of California Davis, the electricity cost for powering a plug-in hybrid is only about one-quarter of the cost of powering a like-sized gasoline vehicle. Other benefits include far fewer fill-ups at gas stations and the convenience of recharging at home.
        Toyota, currently the world’s largest producer of hybrid vehicles by far thanks to the success of its Prius, announced that it expects to have a commercially viable plug-in hybrid available to consumers as early as 2010 and is now testing prototype versions of plug-in hybrids at two California universities.
        Felix Kramer of the California Cars Initiative (CCI), a non-profit dedicated to promoting plug-ins, called Toyota’s announcement “stunning and very welcome,” and says that these vehicles will be the cleanest practical cars on the road in a world where gas stations dot just about every intersection. The promise of such cars, says CCI on its Web site, is that drivers will have a “cleaner, cheaper, quieter car for local travel, and the gas tank is always there should you need to drive longer distances.”
        U.S. automakers are also jumping onto the plug-in bandwagon. General Motors says that it will have mass-market plug-in hybrids — modifications of its Saturn Vue and Chevrolet Volt — on the road by 2010. Ford has also developed a small fleet of plug-ins, but is not yet ready to offer them to the public. Fisker, a U.S. start-up focusing on the creation of high performance, energy efficient vehicles, plans to sell an $80,000 plug-in hybrid sports car by late 2009. Chrysler’s Sprinter van was the first plug-in from a major U.S. manufacturer, but it is only presently available to a limited number of institutions as a fleet vehicle.
        Plug-ins have also caught on elsewhere. Chinese carmaker BYD plans to sell a plug-in hybrid sedan in the U.S. within five years. And Volkswagen hopes to have a plug-in hybrid Golf ready to roll by 2010.
        CONTACTS: California Cars Initiative, www.calcars.org; BYD, www.byd.com; General Motors, http://www.gm.com/experience/fuel_economy/news/2008/hybrids/plug_in_vue_011008.jsp; Fisker, http://jalopnik.com/344419/detroit-auto-show-fisker-karma-luxury-hybrid-only-80000.
        GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EarthTalk, c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; submit it at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/thisweek/, or e-mail: earthtalk@emagazine.com. Read past columns at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/archives.php.
  •     A look at the Top 40 songs in our culture today will surely prove that “love” is a predominant theme in our world. Love has been the theme of the greatest movies, the greatest songs and the greatest books. And love is the predominant theme in the Bible.
        The apostle John wrote about love in his tiny book called 1 John. And in that short, five chapter book, John tells us that, “we should love one another” (1 John 3:11, NASB). John then gives three principles of love.
        First of all, when we love one another, we show to the world that we are Christians. John says “we know that we have passed out of death into life.” Death, here, refers to the eternal separation from God; while, life refers to eternity with God. He then says, “we know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren.” (verse 14.) So our love for others is a sign of our faith. John records Jesus as saying, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13.) And that is exactly what Jesus did for us.
        {mosimage}John gives a second principle, love is an action. There is a significant difference in me telling my wife “I love you” and actually showing her I love her. Love should be more than words that come from our mouths. Love is an action. John writes, “let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth” (verse 18). Someone once said, “Love is a verb!” Love is to be expressed in the actions of our day-to-day routine. Find someone who needs to be loved on today. Do you have a neighbor who is lonely and needs a friend? Maybe a military family that is dealing with the loss of a friend in service? Seek out a family that is struggling financially, and give them a substantial financial gift to help them along. And tell your spouse and kids that you love them … not in your words, but with your deeds.
        Finally, John gives a third principle: Love frees our hearts from condemnation. Have you ever avoided someone only to second guess your actions later? Perhaps it was the poor man on the street corner or a hungry child at the store. Later, you get home to the comfort of your house and you begin to think, “Maybe he really did need a dollar.” When we love unselfishly, then our heart will not condemn us with those guilty feelings. So let your heart be free by living the truth of loving one another. Remember, God loved you even when you were dirty with sin, unloving, ungrateful, and unwilling to change. “For God so loved the world, that He sent His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, emphasis added.)
  •     North Carolina’s General Assembly went home last week without coming up with a way to deal with the projected shortfall in the state’s employee health care program.
        When the legislators come back next year they might want to take a look at some radical ideas for saving health care dollars proposed by UNC medical school professor Nortin Hadler in his new book, Worried Sick:     A Prescription for Health in an Overtreated America.
    Hadler would restrict funding for medical procedures that have not been scientifically proven to provide positive benefits.{mosimage}
        What kinds of procedures is he talking about? Surely not the ones that many think have given us better health and extended our lives like:
        •Coronary artery bypass grafts, angioplasties or stents to save lives or improve symptoms;
        •Arthroscopy for knee pain;
        •Any surgery for backache;
        •Statin therapy to reduce cholesterol and thereby save lives;
        •Newer antidepressants for situational depression;
        •Drugs for decreased bone density;
        •PSA screening and radical prostatectomy to save lives;
        •Screening mammography to save lives;
        •Many a cancer treatment to save lives;
        Hold on to your hats. These are exactly the kinds of treatments that Dr. Hadler would limit. According to Hadler, when these procedures have been subjected to rigorous scientific measurements of their impact on large groups of patients, their demonstrated favorable results are minimal or negligible.
        Hadler’s conclusions run counter to the individual experiences of many of us. We know people who have regained strength and good health after heart, back or knee surgery. We have heard testimony from people with family histories of heart disease testify to their improved cholesterol counts thanks to the statin drugs their doctors prescribed. We have seen friends suffering from depression improve after taking one of the new drugs. In response, Hadler tells us to look at the numbers — the ones that show the results, over time, of these treatments as they are compared with the results where these treatments were not given.
        In Worried Sick, Hadler sets out his version of “the numbers.” Chapter by chapter he lays out the results of “double blind” surveys that have evaluated these and other popular treatments. According to Hadler, the purported benefits of these treatments, often costly and sometimes risky, do not stand up to the scrutiny of these tests.
        In many, if not most, cases a doctor’s recommendation or performance of these treatments is what Hadler calls Type II medical malpractice. There are two kinds of medical malpractice, he explains. Type I is “doctors doing the necessary unacceptably poorly.” Type II is “doctors doing the unnecessary, albeit very well.”  
        It would probably take a well-trained statistician to evaluate properly Dr. Hadler’s summaries of the results of the multiple surveys he uses to show that these treatments are “unnecessary.”
    But assume for a moment that he is correct. If these treatments (and other similar ones) are really unnecessary, Americans are wasting a lot of money to pay for them. So is the North Carolina state health plan.
        Hadler presents a detailed proposal for health care reform. Its key feature would severely limit reimbursements for any treatment that does have significant positive benefits as measured by rigorous scientific evaluation.
        Worried Sick is a long book. Sometimes there is “TMI” (too much information) to make for easy reading and understanding of Hadler’s important main points. But anyone who wants help in evaluating any one of the treatments will welcome the details that Hadler provides.
        More important perhaps, Hadler’s challenge to the value of these treatments demands a response from the physicians, pharmaceutical companies, and others who sell these treatments’ benefits and urge us to “take advantage” of them.
        I would like to hear their rebuttal — point by point.
        And, maybe our legislators would also like to hear what they say.
  •     {mosimage}The Fayetteville Public Works Commission continued its commitment to a sustainable community as it broke ground on its LEED-registered Customer Service Center Wednesday morning adjacent to the PWC Operations Complex on Old Wilmington Road.
        The 10,000 sq ft. building will be one of the first buildings in Cumberland County to be built to LEED standards and is expected to be open in mid to late 2009. LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED is designed to promote design and construction practices that reduce the negative environmental impacts of buildings and improving occupant health and well-being. The PWC Board and General Manager were joined by members of the Fayetteville City Council during the ceremonial groundbreaking as well as the designing Architect- Walter Vick, AIA of the LSV Partnership of Fayetteville and the General Contractor- Construction Management & Development Services, LLC of Raleigh. System WorCx is the project’s commissioning and LEED Consultant.
        The center will serve over 25,000 customers that visit PWC each month and is one of eight projects currently LEED registered within Cumberland County.
        When completed, could be the first local project to be LEED certified. The project meets over 25 LEED standards including:
        •Providing parking for low emitting/fuel efficient vehicles & carpool/vanpool vehicles.
        • Storm water runoff controlled through bioretention basin.
        • Located on public bus routes.
        • Use of low-flow water fixtures and waterless urinals.
        • Building features, efficient geo-thermal heat pump, electrical systems and automation systems are designed to reduce energy consumption.
        • Geothermal heat pump eliminate the use of refrigerants.
        • Solar reflectant roof surface.
        • Motorized louvers on building’s west side will minimize energy cost by adjusting to the sunlight exposure.
        • Revolving door will minimize air loss and help maintain optimal operating temperatures.
        • Use of durable, long-lasting materials minimize maintenance costs and use of cleaning chemicals.
        • Use of building materials include at least 20% recycled material.
        • Incorporates day lighting and direct/indirect lighting fixtures with lighting controls.
        • Lighting installations minimizes light pollution from building.
  •     For 25 years, the Temple Theatre has been bringing professional theatre to the residents of Lee County and the surrounding area. The historic theatre, located in downtown Sanford, is celebrating its 25th season this year and plans to do it in style, bringing eight mainstage productions to the stage in its 2008-2009 season.
        “We are really excited about the upcoming season,” said Karen Brewer, marketing director of Temple Theatre. “We are bringing in a lot of shows that will hopefully bring in lots of people.”{mosimage}
        The box office season includes A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline from Aug. 28- Sept. 28; Christmas Spectacular from Nov. 28-Dec. 21; Hamlet from Jan. 8 –Jan. 25; Once On This Island from Feb. 5-22; Moonlight and Magnolias from March 12- 29, Little Women: The Musical from April 16-May 3; and Dames at Sea from May 28-June 21. 
        The Blackbox Theatre, a new smaller theatre within Temple, is a more intimate setting that seats 63 people. It features smaller productions such as Prooffrom Oct. 1-12; Stones In His Pocketbook from Nov. 12-23; Way to Heaven from Feb. 25-March 8; and Brecht on Brecht from May 6-17. Way to Heaven will be presented in English and Spanish versions. 
        “We are going to try to draw in the Spanish-speaking population,” said Brewer.
        Temple is a cultural center for Lee County and the surrounding region offering professional and children’s theatre to the area. The theatre, designed for vaudeville, seats 339 people, has an old fashioned orchestra pit, an advanced communication network and a computer-controlled lighting and sound system. 
    Some of the groups that have graced the Temple’s stage include the North Carolina Shakespeare Festival, the Red Clay Ramblers, the Kingston Trio, Glenn Miller and Count Basie. 
        The Temple Theatre School provides people of all ages the opportunity to take classes ranging from acting technique, improvisation, audition technique, musical theatre, voice and diction, stage combat and other specialty classes. 
        “We also have student matinees for some of these shows,” said Brewer. “We bring students in from the area elementary, middle and high schools.” 
        Brewer added that the actors come out after the show to talk to the students and allow them to ask questions. 
        Another project the theatre is currently focusing on is a fundraiser. 
        “We are trying to raise money so we can expand our restrooms,” said Brewer. “We are really growing and we want our patrons to be comfortable.”                                                                                                           The theatre is located in the downtown area of Sanford,. Show times are Thursdays at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. 
        For more information call (919) 774-4155. 

  •     {mosimage}Thanks to the media overkill concerning the deaths of soldiers Holly Wimunc and Megan Touma — as well as other highly publicized cases from the past related to victims that had Fort Bragg or Fayetteville ties — the area is being scrutinized and discussed in an increasingly negative light. Across the nation, folks are wondering what the military is doing wrong to create a breed of spouse abusers and batterers. Even though this perception is more myth than truth when you look at crime statistics, Fort Bragg does take measures to educate soldiers about spousal abuses and to council its victims.
        Tom Hill, the ACS-Family Advocacy Program Manager at Forth Bragg, said there is a program specifically designed to provide assessment and treatment for victims and perpetrators of family violence — including child victims — that is staffed by about 35 professionals.
        “Every instance of possible abuse is fully assessed and a treatment plan is developed for the family or individuals,” said Hill. “There are a wide variety of treatments available.”
    Hill said there are also preemptive measures to head off spousal or child abuse, providing a once-a-year workshop to provide the soldiers with information on getting help for family, relationship and parenting problems.
        Hill added that the program provides training and workshops to educate couples, parents and single soldiers on the prevention of dating violence, sexual assault, child abuse partner abuse and related problems.
        Cornell University studies effectiveness of the prevention program on a regular basis.
        According to Hill, preemptive programs that have been recently started to address this problem include: hiring a full time family readiness person for every battalion to help families cope when soldiers deploy; starting a victim advocate program where victims of partner abuse or sexual assault can call anonymously at any time day or night to get help; a new parent support program with 14 nurses who can go to the home and provide anything from advice on breast feeding to how to get a quick no interest Army loan to fix the car; the creation of an Army Community Service station inside the Cross Creek Mall to provide information about post programs; doubling the number of child care agencies on-base during the next year; and a Military One Source hotline that couples can call to get free off-post marriage counseling.
        As far as statistics showing the abuse rate of Fort Bragg soldiers, Hill says there are many factors that skew results.
        “The numbers tend to rise and fall for obvious reasons,” said Hill. “For instance, child neglect cases rise during deployments because there is one less parent in the home and the one left behind might become overwhelmed or not watch the kids as well. During deployments partner abuse cases go way down because there are less couples together, but when they return the numbers boost back up to pre-deployment levels. There’s an increase every summer partly because the children get out of school and there might be more arguments about discipline, etc.”{mosimage}
        There is also treatment for soldiers who are guilty of minor or one-time abuse, while instances of serious or serial abuse can land a soldier in prison and a discharge from the Army. Hill said that when a victim’s spouse is discharged or imprisoned for abuse, the victim and his or her children are are eligible for military pay, full commissary, PX, medical and dental benefits for up to three years after the incident. According to Hill, this policy was instituted to encourage victims to come forward who might otherwise not due to worries about ending a soldier’s career.
        And Fort Bragg is not an island when it comes to its handling of abuse. Hill said that when a child abuse report is made, the Cumberland County Child Protective Services is notified immediately about every case and is allowed free access to the family if they live on post.
        One of the civilians the military deals with in cases that need off-post attention is Lyndelia Wynn, director of the county’s Family violence program.
        Wynn said the county provides “safe houses” for the wives and children of military personnel, in addition to the general public, who are the suspected victims of abuse.
    And men.
        “People don’t think about it,” said Wynn, “but men are abused too.” 
        Wynn says her department services about 500 cases per year and that the majority of on-base abuse cases are handled by a victim advocate at Fort Bragg. She says that it’s hard to give statistics because there are so many other programs in the county that people will turn to, as well as seeking refuge with relatives or their church.
        She also says it’s impossible to pick out trends as to what time of the year abuse is most likely to occur.
        “One month you think you’ll be extremely busy it will turn out to be a slow month,’ said Wynn. “And then what you think will be slow months are busy. There’s no set pattern of when it will happen or who it will affect.”
        And certainly, no smoking gun pointing at Fort Bragg as a hotbed of abuse.
  •     {mosimage}Tom McCollum was born and raised in Fayetteville. He joined the Army to get out of this town. Over the years, his opinion on the city changed, and when he hung up his uniform for the last time, it was to settle in the city of his birth.
        His life has given him a perspective on the community, its people and their relationship to Fort Bragg that many do not have. Over the past several weeks, as a spokesman for Fort Bragg, he has used that perspective to try and tell a balanced story about our community, its problems and its strengths.
        McCollum has spent much of his time over the past several weeks talking about the recent murders of two Fayetteville soldiers — Holley Wimunc and Megan Touma. He has also been listening to the voices of the Fort Bragg community, and what he has found hasn’t been fear, but rather a strengthening of a bond in the community.
        “In reality, military wives don’t need to be frightened,” he said. “These are isolated incidents that appear to be domestic dispute based. Domestic disputes happen in any community.”
    He noted that the community has a great concern for the stress placed on military families, noting that when one member of the family deploys, the other spouse is left carrying the load of the home, but also operating under the stress of a lack of sleep and a lack of someone to carry the burden. “It can become overwhelming,” he said. “That’s why we have a number of programs at Bragg to help them deal with that stress.”
        He added that many of those programs work in concert with city and county agencies. “People don’t have to be on Fort Bragg to get assistance,” he continued. “About 75 percent of our married couples live in Fayetteville.”
        Both national and local media have tried to find a tie to service in the military and violence, with some media outlets suggesting that violence perpetrated by soldiers has become a drain on the community. “Years ago the Observer did a study that found that the majority of crime is not perpetrated by, but more directed towards them (the members of the military),” he noted. “It’s not an us/ them situation. We are all one community, and it doesn’t matter who starts it, what matters is how we fight it.”
        He said the key to fighting violence, particularly domestic violence, in our community is being aware of the problem and the resources available to help those who are victims of domestic violence.
        “If you think you have a problem with violence in your relationship, you have to take care of it before a hand is ever brought across the face. You have to back away from the situation and get help,” he said.
        Fayetteville Mayor Tony Chavonne has also had a tough few weeks. He sees the presence of the military in the community as a blessing, not a problem.
        “We are blessed to have these young men and women in our community,” he said. “They are the sons and daughters of America. The stress level in our community is not unique to Fayetteville. These deaths are tragedies, but it is an unfortunate coincidence coming so close to each other. Everyone is trying to make a connection, because it makes it more newsworthy.”
        He noted that while many are painting Fayetteville in a negative light, the facts simply don’t support that portrayal. Fayetteville’s homicide rate is lower this year than last. Crime overall has decreased over the past year. “We are making great progress,” he said. “People are happy here, we are creating a more attractive, clean and safer city. People are excited about what is happening in our community. It is our responsibility to provide an environment where people can feel safe.”
        He said that one of the biggest problems with the portrayal of the city in recent weeks by the media has been the media’s lack of interest in getting a true picture of our community. “The media is sitting around, waiting for the next news cycle, and ignoring the dozens of people who are walking by them. They don’t ask those people about their lives. They don’t recognize that the people they are portraying as violent could have been building a school, providing water or ensuring a democratic vote in a foreign country over the past year. Those stories are getting lost.”
        He noted that that was not unexpected. “We can’t be set back. Our mission is to move our community forward. We can’t be frustrated or surprised by their reports — we have to look at how we respond. We can’t just celebrate our soldiers upon their return — we have to work through all of these challenges as a community.”
        Chavonne noted that the media is trying to paint the soldiers as being inherently violent. “I don’t buy into that, and I don’t think most people do. The people I know who I’ve met who have served with multiple deployments come back with a greater appreciation of life,” he said. “If you knew these people — went to school or church with them, you would recognize the great love and appreciation they have for things we take for granted.”
        While many people try to define the community as separate — either members of the military or local residents — local leaders and members of the community recognize that there isn’t a line that separates the two.
        “Military communities have unique relationships,” said Chavonne. “We are blended. The great strength of this community is its relationship with Fort Bragg.”
        “There’s really no way to separate the two,” added McCollum. “The families are blended. It’s no longer a case of townies vs. the military. It is rare to find a family in Fayetteville that doesn’t have a relative in the military — even in the most established families, the ones who have been here since the 1700s. There is a co-dependency between the two. Fayetteville depends on Fort Bragg for its economy and Fort Bragg depends on Fayetteville for its quality of life.”
        The problem comes into play, both men agreed, when people choose to look at Fayetteville in the light of its Vietnam-era reputation. They pointed out that the moniker Fayettenam is long gone, but when Fayetteville gets national media scrutiny it is that picture that is imposed on the community.
        “Do we have a bad rep?” questioned McCollum. “Yes. Is it justified? No. It’s from people who have not spent time in this town, people who won’t take the time to come in here and take a look at it. It’s easy for people to fall back to stereotypes. This is the time for people to see our community standing shoulder to shoulder as we always have.”
  •     Joyce Fillip, an artist in the exhibit titled Forsaken: Edifice and Landscape at the Fayetteville Museum of Art, commented on her own work by saying that she is “constantly looking for images that cause one to reflect and look at life though a different lens.” Her comment sums up what all three artists have accomplished in this exhibit.
        {mosimage}A blockbuster of an exhibit, Forsaken: Edifice and Landscape will remain installed in the FMoA until Sept. 7. This is an exhibit you don’t want to miss! If you have never gone to the Fayetteville Museum of Art, then let this be your first trip; if you are an irregular visitor, then make your way to the museum before summer is over. I feel confident in saying no one will be disappointed!
        The divergence of artistic styles makes the exhibit that much more interesting than if it were a one-person show. All three artists, Joyce Fillip, Rachel Herrick and Rudy Rudisill, interpret our environment — nature and the manmade. Each artist brings us close to an interpretation of places and states of being.
        Joyce Fillip is exhibiting exceptionally large scale drawings (approximately 8 feet by 8 feet) in charcoal. Fillip’s black and white images of nature’s storms immediately remind us of the power and force of nature. Standing in front of her image of a waterspout or a tsunami we realize how small and insignificant we can all become with a simple shift of weather.
        The beauty of Fillip’s work is her interpretation of natural phenomena. Her stylization of great amounts of water in different states of being becomes patterns of harmony. Fillip creates the power of nature without chaos — at the same time we are remembering the devastation we have seen on television. For me, the juxtaposition of seeing harmony and knowing disharmony is the core of the aesthetics of her work.
        I like the fact that Fillip bases her work on observation and her imagination. She is not tethered to the photograph, instead her interpretations of natural phenomena is expressive in a way that evokes more than the actual storm itself, she evokes states of being — the sublime.
        In the work titled Tsunami, as in all her work, Fillip’s compositions and use of light is masterful. She controls the viewers’ eye like the director of a play. We visually move up the great wave then stall in the white of the crest. While on the apex of the wave, our eyes are drawn to the patterns of manmade architectonic forms caught inside the wave’s curl. The crest, a point of rest (and crushing power) always compels us return to its apex, only to find ourselves repeating the search to find the remnants of humanity inside the curl.
        Where Joyce Fillip’s works are moments of imminent danger, the work of Rachel Herrick is strikingly opposite. Herrick translates architecture into places of quiet repose and reflection. The opposite of Fillip’s expressionism is Herrick’s photorealism.                                                                                                              Herrick takes photographs of architecture (a minimum of two works are places in Fayetteville). After transferring the well-composed photograph to a backing, she then begins the process of subtracting visual information and then adding her own painterly touch. Layers of reduction and addition are manipulated to evoke memories of what places can represent for someone.
        Where Fillip’s work implies a moment in the present, Herrick’s work implies the past. Herrick’s aesthetics are reinforced by her use of materials. The well-composed photograph is transferred onto a rigid backing. (Before the photograph is transferred, the artist has already mounted an original old grain, seed or tobacco fertilizer sack from North Carolina-based companies to float the image on.)
        Her transfer technique allows her to keep as much of the lettering from the fertilizer sack as she feels is necessary to evoke the past, yet keep the integrity of the architecture dominant. Encaustic wax layers are used to further obscure. The thickness of the opaque encaustic is in contrast to the watercolor effects she creates. All complicated layers  create a new interpretation of photo-realism. Crisp edges contrast with the blurred, details contrast with large minimal shapes.
        In Tires on Bragg Boulevard or Pepsi Please, as in all her work, her dwellings evoke something of the past; a place once teeming with activity is now silent. The figure is always implied.
        Like Herrick, the figure is implied in the sculptures of Rudy Rudisill. Fabricated out of galvanized steel and copper, Rudisill is exhibiting medium-sized dwellings. Layered in meaning, the conglomerates of forms are mostly closed forms, doorways are usually not present, and an opening representing a window is highly infrequent. Instead, Rudisill plays with our sense of place by creating elongated forms with simple rooflines, and then juxtaposes elongated covered porches with the same simple roof shape. In some ways, they are fortresses.
        Reminiscent of barns and straightforward towers, Rudisill’s sculptures are places we may have wanted to venture into along the roadside, but didn‘t take the time. It’s too late now. In his work he has left out the entryways, we are forever on the outside searching for a place to enter or peer into the form itself. You can sense standing on the porch-like forms (if it were lifesize), but you are still on the outside.
        Dwellings as a subject are only the starting point for appreciating Rudisill’s sculpture. He is a consummate designer in the way he uses closed and open forms, repetition, scale, implicit and explicit shapes, the use of economy and contrast. In short, he is a design lesson at its best.{mosimage}
        When viewing the show as a whole, all the artists in this exhibit are particularly strong in design. There is a sense of controlled placement of an element or elements that overrides everything; yet at the same time, the work is far removed from simple design and ascends to complicated compositions. 
        Also particularly interesting is how none of the artists have been compelled to place a person in any of their work, yet the figure is always present. The architecture in the mixed-media works and sculptures are places we remember, we place ourselves there when we view the work — each artist knowing it would have been nothing short of extraneous to have placed a figure in their work. To have included a figure in any of the pieces would only stand to diminish our private and personal experience of the moment.
        Anyone visiting the museum is sure to be moved in some way by one of the artists, if not all three. It is well worth the trip to the museum to visit Forsaken: Edifice and Landscape, remember the museum is still free. Call (910) 485-5121 for information or visit th Web site at  www.FayettevilleMuseumArt.org.

  •     The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra has spent much of the past year introducing Fayetteville residents to symphony music, now it is with much excitement that the symphony announces its 2008-2009 Subscription Series Season: A Tour Around the World. 
         “My vision for this upcoming season is to provide a variety of concerts at various venues in Fayetteville,” said Fouad Fakhouri, music director and conductor of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra. “We have a number of soloists who will bring excitement and variety to our season.”
        Fakhouri added that the past season was a huge success and attendance was up and continues to grow steadily.  
    The tour begins in France with Fantastic French Favorites on Saturday, Oct. 25 at 8 p.m., at Methodist University’s Reeves Auditorium. French soloist Marylene Dosse will perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 followed by a performance of the French masterpiece Symphonie Fantastique composed by Hector Berlioz. 
        On Saturday, Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m., Holiday Celebration will be featured at Berean Baptist Church. The FSO will perform popular holiday favorites along with the 2007-2008 Harlan Duenow Young Artists Concerto Competition Winner; Dominic Mercurio, performing Capriccio Brilliant for piano and orchestra; the traditional Christmas Sing-a-Long; and Leroy Anderson’s holiday favorite Sleigh Ride. 
        Copland, Mozart and Dvorak will be featured on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 8 p.m., at Fayetteville State University’s Seabrook Auditorium. The audience will enjoy sounds of America, Bohemia and Austria, including Mozart’s First Flute Concerto performed by International flute soloist Ines Abdel Daim, Aaron Copland’s masterpiece Lincoln Portrait and Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8 will also be performed.  
        The season will conclude with Russian Favorites on Saturday, May 2 at 8 p.m., at Methodist University’s Reeves Auditorium. The concert features works by two of the most influential Russian composers: Stravinsky’s The Firebird Suite and Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony.               
         “We will continue the programs that we started last season and in the process of evaluating them,” said Fakhouri. “We will continue to put on the programs that have been successful.” 
    The programs include children’s educational programs, third grade concerts, library series and the Harlan Duenow Young Artists Competition.  {mosimage}
        “We are excited about this new season and hope to attract new audiences,” said a hopeful Fakhouri.
    You can save at least 10 percent over single adult ‘08-‘09 ticket prices. Seniors, military and students save even more. Tickets for the entire season can be mailed so there is no waiting in line. Get an additional $5 discount per season ticket if purchased by Aug. 1.
        One season ticket gains entry to all four season concerts. For more information call 433-4690.
  •     “Death from above” has never carried such cheerful connotations.
        On Saturday, Aug. 9, the Airborne & Special Operations Museum will honor the folks who made that slogan a part of the American vernacular when the facility celebrates National Airborne Day, commemorating the 68th anniversary of the Army Parachute Test Platoon’s first official jump and the eighth anniversary of the museum.
        The event kicks off at the museum starting at 8:30 a.m., the 82nd Airborne Division Band plays at 9 a.m., followed by freefall parachute demonstrations by the U.S. Army Special Operations Command Black Daggers, the 82nd Airborne Division All-American Freefall Team and the U.S. Army Parachute Team, otherwise known as the Golden Knights. Also, the 82nd Airborne Division Chorus will perform and there will be a platoon of soldiers demonstrating the use of their weapons. In addition, there will be an artillery field piece and some military vehicles on display, as well as riggers demonstrating the packing of parachutes. {mosimage}
        The planned keynote speaker for the ceremony is LTG Robert W. Wagner, commander, U.S. Army Special Operations Command.
        While the actual anniversary of the Army Parachute Test Platoon’s first jump is Aug. 16, Dr. John Duvall, director of the ASOM, said the museum has always celebrated National Airborne Day on a Saturday.
        “The 16th often falls in the middle of the week which isn’t convenient for most people, so we hold it on a Saturday,” said Duvall. “This year, the 16th actually falls on a Saturday, but the 82nd Airborne Association has its annual convention that weekend, so they are out of town.”
        Duvall added slyly that “there is no such thing as National Airborne Day” — at least not outside of Fayetteville.
    “That’s something that has to be approved by Congress,” said Duvall.
        Duvall says the paratroopers will land in a circle on the grounds of the museum, a sometimes tricky feat.
        “It’s a hairy business. … They have to clear it with the FAA because we’re in the flight path for the airport,” said Duvall. “And when the jumpers get level with Haymont Hill it affects the wind, as does the building itself. So we’ve had some interesting events where a paratrooper came down in the parking lot and one over on the other side of the railway station.”
        Other highlights of National Airborne Day include the selection of a soldier of the year from the 82nd Airborne, and the laying of black roses — the symbol of a fallen soldier — at the foot of monuments in front of the museum; the monuments include one dedicated to the members of the original Test Platoon and another to the members of the first black soldiers who went through jump school in 1943-1944.
        Even though the history of parachuting dates back to 1797 when Frenchman Andre-Jacques Garnerin jumped from a balloon at an altitude of 3,000 feet and employed a chute of his own design, the United States military was slow to recognize the strategic benefits of the device.
        Toward the end of  World War I, Brig. Gen. Billy Mitchell of the Army — an early true believer in the effectiveness of airpower — received approval to include a parachute drop of the 1st Division at Metz behind German lines; however, the war ended before the then revolutionary idea could be attempted, delaying the implementation of paratroopers in the United States for more than 20 years.
        Other nations, most notably Germany and the Soviet Union, began training paratroopers in the 1930s. In early 1940, Gen. George C. Marshall, chief of staff, told Maj. Gen. George Lynch, chief of Infantry, to push into development an “air infantry.”
        North Carolinian Maj. William Lee, known as the “Father of the Airborne,” was tabbed as the project officer, forming a test platoon at Fort Benning, Ga. On April, 1940, the German army’s effectiveness in utilizing paratroopers as it invaded the Netherlands lit a fire under this nation’s military powers that be and the paratrooper program was pushed into overdrive.
        “The Germans used them brilliantly, seizing some bridges in Holland in an almost special operations role,” said Duvall. {mosimage}
        The 501st Parachute Battalion was activated on Oct. 1, 1940, and, along with the 82nd Airborne, played a vital role in World War II, especially in the American invasion at Normandy on D-Day.
        The paratrooper training program was relocated to Fort Bragg in 1946, but not without some protest.
        “Bragg was an artillery base at that time,” said Duvall. “They didn’t want the paratroopers.”
        Despite those early protestations, the 82nd Airborne has become a symbol of Fort Bragg as well as a symbol of Fayetteville – a symbol that ties the military and the town’s citizens together.
        “National Airborne Day has proven to be very popular, usually attracting a couple of thousand people,” said Duvall, who added that the museum sees about 140,000 visitors a year.
        “So it’s always a pretty special day.”
  •     I have been a student of the land for the last 20 years and I have learned a very special secret. We speak to the future generations through the land as our forbearers whisper hints of their lives to us from the land. It is not our children, it is the land that is the link to our past and to our future.
        There is a small family cemetery on the farm — deep in the woods and marked by great red cedar trees that were traditionally planted at each headstone. The five small stones are records of a family that worked the longleaf pines from 1801 to 1900. An old map marks the site on Big Island that was the first change of horses on the Fayetteville-Wilmington stagecoach run.
        One of the last East Coast panthers roams the woods with the bear, wild turkey, quail and snakes. But it is the land that I love most — the coastal Bermuda fields where the goats browsed, the great cypress trees down in the lower swamp and that vast six-mile long field full of corn and soybeans that can be seen from the unbroken view at the upper end — it still takes my breath away. My husband, Steve, and I grew a million turkeys a year on the land and the day he died I had 1,000 Boer goats. {mosimage}
        On Aug. 8, at 10:08 a.m., I will forever surrender the farm back to the wetlands. I would not be truthful if I did not confess to a little sadness. But the land has been good to us over the years and deserves a rest and a return to its natural state. It is not the death of a farm but the “resurrection of the wetlands.” The climate is changing, population pressure is growing and the American way of life is facing challenges. We are going to have to rethink our large, fuel consuming farms and the way we use and store precious water; the role of the wetlands in filtration, clean air and energy; the need to adapt crops to changing environments to assure our food supply and the connections between human survival and the earth.
        I think it was Thomas Friedman who observed that “if we are the deluge, we are also the ark.”
    The North Carolina Farm Center for Innovation and Sustainability will also be born on Aug. 8. The vision for the center is to become an “incubator” in the purest sense of the word. Guided by a group of wise and talented advisors, “green entrepreneurs” will have a place to practice or plant an idea. Innovative “wizards” will have the opportunity to provide their bio-based technologies to landowners who in turn can put it into service. Perhaps a “green engine” can be sparked that will drive the future jobs that will grow from the ecosystems. And two years from now, once one million trees have been planted, the plan is to build a 100 percent off the grid sustainable “lodge” that will host community conversations, encourage think tank meetings and strive to forge our link to future generations of both mankind and the wildlife.
        Over the past seven years I owe a debt of gratitude to so many of you who knowingly or unknowingly gave me a lot of “buck-up and get on with it” support.  And when the temptation to “just sell the place” would come back I would remember the epithet I placed on Steve’s stone:
        “Man is temporary, the land is forever.”
        So, on Aug. 8, we are going to “stand this project up” and we invite you to celebrate it with us.
  •     I surprised myself not long ago when I realized I was mentally organizing my day to be as gasoline-efficient as I could possibly be. {mosimage}
        That meant thinking deliberately about what I had to do that day and structuring my schedule so that meetings and errands took place in the same part of town and that I did as much as I could in as short a time as possible and in as compact an area as possible. If it was not something I absolutely had to do that very day, I did not do it.
    I think millions of Americans are thinking exactly the same way.
        The last time gasoline was hard to come by and dear as well was in the 1970s, and I was a single working person living in Raleigh with a very modest paycheck.
        My friends and I ate lots of spaghetti and canned tuna, but we got by. Life went on, of course, and hard times eased. Most of us eventually slipped into laxer habits, with vehicles morphing over time into the seemingly steroid-enhanced SUVs we drive today. Times were good in the 1980s and 1990s, and we took to drinking expensive cups of coffee cuddled in fancy insulators that would have shocked my parents who were perfectly satisfied with the grocery store brand in a kitchen mug. Magazines told us all about designer everything, and even though most of us could not afford such luxuries, we looked anyway and perhaps wished we could or we bought knock-offs manufactured in foreign countries under who-knows-what conditions. Vacations to far-flung corners of the earth became reality for some middle class Americans. The notion of saving for a rainy day slid to the back burner for many of us.
    This time may be different. This may be, as economists say, a true “correction.”
        Analysts say we Americans may be learning a real lesson in personal economics, not unlike the one our parents and grandparents learned during the Great Depression. Many Americans have watched with growing dismay and feelings of helplessness as our expenses have risen relentlessly and our resources, such as the values of our homes, have shrunk.
        Here are a few statistics to illustrate how we are reacting to what is happening:
    Nielsen, a market research firm, reported earlier this month that almost two-thirds of us are cutting spending because of rising prices of gasoline, dairy products and other consumable goods we use often. That is an 18 percent increase from one year ago. Almost 80 percent of us are doing exactly what I find myself doing — organizing our daily schedules to be economical and efficient, and more than half of us are eating out less frequently. The International Council of Shopping Centers reports that sales at various discount operations and wholesalers are rising while sales at traditional retailers are dropping. Likewise, grocery stores report that sales of their house brands are up by more than 9 percent, and sales of branded products have risen by less than half that percentage.
    Vehicle sales tell a similar story.
        Large trucks and SUVs are being heavily discounted, with sales remaining grim. Toyota plans to shut down production of such large gas guzzlers. What vehicle sales that are taking place revolve around smaller, more economical models, and once again there are waiting lists for hybrids.
        The National Bicycle Dealers’ Association reports increased sales, though not of recreational bikes. They are selling traditional utility bikes and offering refresher training for folks who may not have ridden a bike in years.
        The question in everyone’s mind now is how long these changes in American buying habits are going to last. Are we Americans merely reacting to a challenging economy or are we truly changing our habits as consumers?
        Whether we all continue shopping at wholesalers and discounters and foregoing our cherished lattes is an open question, but my own take is that the changes associated with petroleum products and all they go into are permanent.
    I do not expect in my lifetime to see gasoline prices come back to where they were at the beginning of this decade, and even if by some miracle they do, we now understand that we must conserve our oil resources. Never again can we take any energy resource for granted — they are commodities, finite and precious ones. The American age of consumable and disposable everything ended in 2008.
        Analysts may debate the lessons of the current American economy for years, but one does stand out to me. We are learning that the great economic forces which surround us and which buffet the world from time to time are out of our individual control. What is within our control, however, is how we react to them. If what we are learning is to economize, conserve and save within our own little spheres, then we may well be returning to traditional American virtues of thrift, saving and planning for whatever lies ahead.
    That, to me, is not a bad lesson for us and for our children.
  •     In the coming weeks, much will be written and said about the Fayetteville Museum of Art and its relocation to Festival Park. The Fayetteville City Council will again weigh in on the subject during an upcoming work session, and only this past week, a group was formed to oppose the construction of the facility.
    We do not doubt that the construction of the new, modern facility will be a great addition to our community. Its presence  will only add more legitimacy to our city’s thriving, vital arts community. This is something that everyone on both sides of this discussion can agree on. What is at contention is whether the FMoA will contribute to Festival Park or detract from it. Those who think the FMoA building will detract from the park have been upfront and vocal about their concerns. They have written opinion pieces in the daily and community newspapers, blogged themselves blue and even handed out flyers in opposition to the construction during the recent Fourth Friday event. At least they are engaging our community in the discussion. They are making people aware of their concerns and they are inviting feedback.
        The question begs to be asked: Where is the FMoA and what is it doing to engage the community and build support for this important project?
        From where we sit, there appears to be a bit of arrogance in Dr. Menno Pennick’s response to the opposition — an attitude that seems to carry over throughout the organization. The museum’s board of directors may believe that since they have the rights and a deed to the land, this makes the construction of the facility a “done deal” that does not merit any further discussion. This would be fine if discussion were not already occurring, and if a groundswell of opposition to the plan was not growing. But since it is, it must be met head on.
        If the FMoA board is committed to this location then they are going to have to come out from behind their wrought iron gates and engage the community. This includes their detractors. The FMoA has made few attempts to do that. At the last Fayetteville After Five, they put a skeleton frame up to represent the footprint of the new museum building in the park. It was a good idea, but unfortunately, the frame did not extend to the parking spaces that will need to be built within the park — leaving its detractors fresh ammunition.
        Some board members have also penned articles in support of the museum, but they shy away from speaking directly to the community or making themselves accessible to listen to local residents about the situation. As recently as this past week’s Fourth Friday event, the opposition to the FMoA facility was on the streets engaging the community. Again, where was the FMoA?
        Maybe the FMoA doesn’t know how to wage this battle, or at least that’s the impression we get. Two weeks ago Up & Coming Weekly Publisher Bill Bowman offered Dr. Pennick space to write an editorial that could tell the museum’s story. That invitation was rebuffed. It seems that the museum doesn’t seem to realize who their friends are, or worse, still doesn’t care about making new ones.
        If the FMoA wants to truly become a part of the downtown arts community, then they need to be present now. The FMoA isolation is not strictly due to its geographic location behind Eutaw Shopping Center — it comes from a closed mindset that looks only at itself for itself and never at the community as a whole.
        For the FMoA to be successful (keep in mind, the board has to raise $15 million to build the museum) it has to engage the community. It has to become better at telling its story. And that, like the construction of the facility and raising the money is not going to be easy. They better get started and soon.
  •     I’ve been an out lesbian for several years and am only attracted to women. A close male friend recently confessed his feelings for me. I’ve known him for years, and we connect in a way I’ve never connected with anybody. If he were a woman, I’d consider him my soul mate. If only I could somehow make myself bisexual. I love him, but have no desire for mutual pants-less-ness. In fact, the idea of sleeping with him grosses me out. Does no sex have to mean no relationship? Lots of hetero women have low sex drives, and lots are married! Should I give a relationship a try, but mandate that pants must be worn at all times?
    —Dream Or Disaster Waiting To Happen?


        It seems you’re a lesbian, not a “lesbian” who takes vacations — hopping the ferry from the Isle of Lesbos to the mainland for the occasional hetero holiday. But, hey, why let that stop you from getting into a relationship with a straight guy? After all, as you point out, lots of hetero women have low sex drives, and lots of them are married (ideally, to men who also have low sex drives). The question is, do YOU have a low sex drive? Or, better yet, a nonexistent one? Does he? If not, you can announce that there will be none of that “mutual pants-less-ness,” and he could be nodding like a bobblehead, but consciously or subconsciously, he’ll be thinking, “Nah, I’ll get there. Just a matter of time.” It isn’t a malevolent thing, just how guys are wired.
        So you have “feelings” for the guy; I mean, in addition to finding him sexually repellant. You’ve known him forever, you have this amazing connection...why not add a whole new level to your relationship? No, not sex — bitterness and resentment, after he’s hurt that you won’t just try a little ride or two, and you’re hurt that he just won’t stop trying. But, if only he were a woman! If only you were bi! — as if bisexuals are the garbage dump of sexuality, attracted to anyone, as long as they’re a man or a woman.
        Be this guy’s friend by making him aware of how utterly nuts it would be for you to be his girlfriend. Be kind, but hit hard enough to knock the illusions out of his head: “Nothing personal, but my idea of an intense night in bed with the man I love is a heated political debate yelled between the top bunk and the bottom.”

    Got a problem? Write Amy Alkon, 171 Pier Ave, #280, Santa Monica, CA  90405, or e-mail AdviceAmy@aol.com (www.advicegoddess.com)
    (c)2008, Amy Alkon, all rights reserved.
  • Bomb’s Away
        After languishing for two years in the Irish legislature, the Nuclear Test Ban Bill of 2006 has recently been rethought and refurbished, according to a June report in the Irish Independent. Originally, the bill codified the U.N. Test Ban Treaty, adding some provisions specific to Ireland. Among those additions was the punishment for anyone detonating a nuclear weapon in Ireland: up to 12 months in jail and/or a fine of up to 5,000 euros (then, around $6,500), along with language that might even allow a person found guilty to apply for first-offense probation. The proposed punishment this time is expected to be considerably harsher.

    Can’t Possibly Be True
        In the 1920s, when inmate “chain gangs” were in their heyday, Alabama sheriffs were allotted a prison meal budget of $1.75 per prisoner per day, with thrifty sheriffs allowed to pocket any excess for themselves. According to a May Associated Press investigation, the policy, and the amount, are unchanged to this day in 55 of the state’s 67 counties, and also unchanged is the fact that sheriffs have cut the menus so cleverly or drastically that some sheriffs still make money on the deal. (The per-meal fee under the National School Lunch program for low-income students is $2.47.)
        Mr. Gokhan Mutlu filed a lawsuit in May against JetBlue Airways for more than $2 million after he was ordered out of his seat by the captain during a full New York-to-California flight and told to stand up or go “hang out in the bathroom” for the duration. Mutlu had only a gift ticket, and an off-duty JetBlue employee who had originally agreed to sit in the cockpit jump seat changed her mind and thus was given Mutlu’s seat. Mutlu pointed out that he was un-seat-belted during turbulence and during the landing.
        Not Exactly Hard Time: In May, St. Catharines, Ontario, judge Stephen Glithero released Wayne Ryczak on 14 months’ jail time already served, as punishment for strangling a prostitute in his trailer home. He claimed self-defense (improbable in such a strangulation), but had pleaded guilty to manslaughter, requesting via his lawyer a two-year sentence.
        Last year, Stephanie Grissom, driving 71 mph in a 55-mph zone, accidentally struck and killed a Howard County, Md., traffic officer when he stepped onto the highway to motion for her to pull over. In May 2008, the case was closed, with Grissom fined $310 and three points on her record.
  •     Someone asked me the other day what is the hardest part about buying a new bike? I had to think of my own experience on this one. I believe it is easier to decide whether or not to have open heart surgery than to decide on which bike is just right for you. The choices these days are almost mind boggling. Do you want a cruiser, street bike, touring bike, or enduro?
        Do you want a bike to ride across the world or just to hang out with your buddies?
        Then there are the colors. I love dark colors, but I want to be seen by the motorvehiclist on the road so I want something bright. Then you have to ask will you look cool enough?{mosimage}
        What about price? My goodness, you can get into a new bike for about $6,000 and quickly be in the $30,000 range. Want a chopper? Hang on to your wallet because the sky’s the limit.
        Believe it or not, none of these things are the hardest part. So what’s the hardest? It’s the wife. Yes, there it is, it’s out in the open. It goes something like this. “Honey, can we stop by the bike store and take a look around.”
        Of course you know in your mind what you want. You’ve thought about it; you’ve dreamed about it; you’ve talked about it to your friends; you’ve searched the Internet and done your homework. You know exactly what you want. You go into the store, you beeline right to the bike you want because you’ve already been there with your buddies. You look around like it is your first time there and then the salesman calls you by name. You look at your wife with your puppy dog eyes and game on.
        From my own experiences, buying a bike is a lot like the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. At first it is denial.
        She wants the whole subject to go away. At this point she is either for it or against it. If she is for it then you will skip the anger and go directly to acceptance. If she is against it, get ready and head immediately to the bargaining stage. Next comes bargaining. This is why you see so many big bikes out there like the Goldwing, Ultra-Glide, and K1200LTs. Even though the other bikes have backrests and other pleasantries for a passenger, it is here that that you will have to compromise in order to avoid some grief.
        So, here are few recommendations to help you get out the door and on the road: Tell your significant other that she can get one too. Tell her that all of your friends will think she is the coolest. Tell her that when she is on the back every ride will be like her own little parade. Oh, and don’t forget to tell her how much money you will be saving on gas and that will free up some of the family budget.
        For the owners of the bike shop it would do you well to recognize who the buyer really is. I’m not saying that the man doesn’t have a say, but let’s face it, if you don’t sell the wife you won’t make the sale.
    So my recommendation to you is: Make the shop lady friendly. Have clean bathrooms, provide her a beverage, a free jacket or helmet with the sale.
        Ask her about what new adventures the bike will take them on. Remind her of all the quality time they will share together because of the bike. This approach is a win/win situation; and if you play your cards right you, will go straight to acceptance and pass over the depression stage. However, blow this part and it is straight to the depression stage and back to bargaining.
        Good luck and game on!
        If there is a topic that you would like to discuss please send your comments and suggestions to motorcycle4fun@aol.com.
  • Wall-E (Rated G)
    Five Stars

        First, the audience is treated to Presto, a cute little Pixar short about a very hungry bunny, reminiscent of classic Tom and Jerry mayhem. Presto is followed by the main course, WALL-E(98 minutes), a nearly dialogue-free addition to the recent glut of movies with an environmental message. This is a primarily visual feast, but the film does not suffer for it. Director Andrew Stanton, who also helmed Finding Nemo, deftly walks the line between a movie with a message and environmental preachiness. 
        The premise of the film is deceptively simple; what if all the humans left Earth, but forget to turn off the last robot before they leave? WALL-E (Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth class, voiced by Ben Burtt) is the only functioning robot left from the thousands who were assigned to clean up the planet. Much like the little mermaid, WALL-E collects the relics of the human world without fully understanding the purpose of his trinkets. Through close contact with the trash that humans have left behind, WALL-E develops a human personality. He is also tormented by an increasing sense of being alone in the universe. While he has made friends with an unsquishable cockroach, until he meets EVE (Extraterrestrial Vegetarian Evaluator voiced by Elissa Knight) he is incomplete.{mosimage}
        When EVE is called away, he manages to follow her to the starliner Axiom, home to the remnants of the human race. While on board searching for EVE, WALL-E meets Captain McCrea (Jeff Garlin), John (John Ratzenberger) and Mary (Kathy Najimy). Our descendants have grown dependent on robotic chairs, and enjoy such delicacies as the Buy-N-Large Cupcake in a Cup. Years of space travel have weakened the bones and increased the mass of the human population, but they all seem really nice. They are pampered by their robot servants, but not rude. Apart from all the squishy consumption-obsessed humans, however, there are some robots with questionable directives — including AUTOpilot.       
        This is the first Pixar movie to integrate live actors (i.e. Fred Willard) into the film, but I didn’t really care for the effect. It looks fine, but live actors take away from the mood of the film. As expected, the early scenes on Earth display rich artistry, and never have piles of trash been depicted with such sun-kissed wind-ruffled beauty. With the fluid look perfected during Finding Nemo’s ocean scenes, the outer space scenes are unbelievable. When the action moves to the starliner, the animators do a nice job of creating diverse looks for the robot workers. The soundtrack nicely complements the whimsical atmosphere of the film, drawing heavily from extravagant musicals such as Hello, Dolly — a production that influences WALL-E on many levels. Much like Ratatouilleand The Incredibles, this is a truly family film that can be enjoyed by young children as much as adults.   
        Despite its basic enjoyability, there are some caveats. First, the film’s humans are depicted as fairly homogenous, lacking much racial/ethnic diversity. Second, the happy ending seems to come too easily, without any real effort or accountability on the part of the humans (with the minor exception of the captain). Finally, the Peter Gabriel song running over the end credits is really annoying.

  •     {mosimage}South Park’s Trey Parker and Matt Stone have combined last fall’s Imaginationland episodes into an animated feature film filled out with new material. Seen as a whole, South Park Imaginationland (Sunday, 10 p.m., Comedy Central) emerges as a work of cracked grandeur — a work of genius.
        As a satire of this moment in American history, the scenario is nothing short of perfection. Our fourth-grade heroes discover a leprechaun, who has come to warn of a terrorist attack in Imaginationland. This is the place where all the products of human imagination live together, from Zeus to Charlie Brown to Popeye to (brace yourselves, Christians) Jesus. Al Qaeda-style fanatics want to destroy our imagination in the name of (brace yourselves, Muslims) Allah, so they break down the wall that separates the evil parts of our imagination from the good parts. The bad stuff invades, setting Santa Claus on fire and mutilating Ronald McDonald. I can’t even bring myself to tell you what happens to a poor Care Bear.
        South Park Imaginationland is about the way we let terrorism affect our hearts and minds. But it’s about so much more. It’s a devastating parody of the trigger-happy military, the self-aggrandizing politicians, the go-along media, fatuous Hollywood types, pompous hero tales like The Chronicles of Narnia — in short, everything in our culture. There’s also an overload of grotesquerie, but that just comes with the fourth-grade territory.
        How much do you want to bet that South Park Imaginationland is ultimately remembered as one of the great artistic works of the 2000s?

    Mad Men
    Sunday, 10 p.m. (AMC)
        Critics have gone wild over Mad Men, set in an ad agency during the early 1960s. But it’s left me cold, and the season premiere fails to raise the temperature. True, the series seems deep, with its dark palette, somber tone, slow pace and literary allusions. If the new episode quotes Frank O’Hara, it’s got to be important, right?
        Self-important is more like it. Mad Men has been talked about in the same breath as The Sopranos, but the comparison merely serves to point up its flaws. The Sopranos’characters leaped off the screen; Mad Men’s sink into the plush 1960s furniture. The Sopranos had energy, humor and momentum; Mad Men just sits there, content to fuss with its period details.
        Skinny ties, beehive hairdos, pink cars and mink stoles don’t create a world. I believe that’s a job for good writers, directors and actors.

    Jurassic Fight Club
    Tuesday, 9 p.m. (History Channel)
        It’s not easy to knock our socks off with another documentary about dinosaurs, but that doesn’t stop the History Channel. This new series takes the approach of a horror-movie trailer, with shock cuts and ominous narration.The first episode tries to spook us with a dinosaur unearthed in Madagascar, supposedly as terrifying as North America’s T-Rex. We hear of razor-sharp serrated teeth and a battering-ram horn. The narrator fairly shudders as he accuses this species of “the most gruesome acts in the animal kingdom.”
        But the facts, as they slowly emerge, make it hard to sustain the terrible tone. The dino’s name is Majungatholus, which is not easy to pronounce in a scary way. The History Channel is forced to admit that this “fearsome predator” had poor vision, short legs and unusually small arms. A digital re-creation even makes the battering-ram horn look silly, like an out-of-fashion hat.
        I wouldn’t be surprised if paleontologists soon discover that other reptiles snickered every time Majungatholus limped into view.
  •     Darius Rucker is hard to define. If you read his blogs, you’ll find him talking about everything from the latest historical mini-series on HBO to wrestling legend Dusty Rhodes. So, it isn’t surprising, that Rucker, who is better known as the lead singer of Hootie and Blowfish, is at the top of the charts again — oh, that would be the country charts. Like I said, he’s something of a contradiction.
        Rucker rose to fame in the early ’90s when the band had a series of hits, “Hold My Hand,” “Let Her Cry” and “Only Wanna Be With You” off their Cracked Rear View Mirror. The band, which formed at the University of South Carolina, was a pop-hybrid that took the music world by storm. In 1994, the band won two Grammy Awards — Best New Artist and Song of the Year for “Let Her Cry,” as well as awards from MTV, the People’s Choice and Billboard. {mosimage}
    In online interviews, Rucker said the band’s climb to fame was “dreamlike.” “I’d wished for it, but I’m not sure I believed it, even as it was happening.... The whole thing was kind of a blur.”
        What was even more of a blur for Rucker was the way the band found fame. Having been raised in a home where country music reigned, he had long dreamed of fronting a country band. As he notes on his Web site, “I believe what we do with Hootie is not that far off from a lot of country music. I mean, when we first started out, I begged the guys in Hootie to be a country band, and I just got outvoted.
        “And I have always written country songs — in fact, a big joke in the band is that I write these country songs that they have to make rock,” he added. “So for me, this is really just part of the natural evolution of my career — inevitable, really.”
        The evolution, to date, has spawned one new song “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It.” The song has already climbed the country charts and has put Rucker directly in the country spotlight. Following a brief tour with Hootie this summer, he’ll hit the recording studio in the fall to complete his first full-length country album for Capitol Records. In the interim, he’s been spending some time watching some of his favorite country music performers perform. One performer who blew him away was Brad Paisley, and one performer he’d love to work with is Hank Williams Jr., having noted that it’s his dream to record “Family Tradition,” Williams’ signature song.
        “I’ve been in that little twangy rock cocoon for a while,” he said. “But now I get to come out and sing these songs. I plan to be doing this for a long time.”
        Rucker said fans of Hootie shouldn’t be surprised with his move to country. “I love music and for years I’ve listened to country artists. I mean, I grew up in South Carolina in the ’70s, you know. Some of my favorite memories of being a kid is sitting in front of an AM radio and flipping through stations. You would hear a Stevie Wonder song or something, then hear a commercial so you’d turn the dial . . . hear a Kiss song, hit another commercial so you’d turn the dial again . . . and then Buck Owens jumps out at you. His guitar has no bass and the high notes are higher than anything you think you have ever heard — I didn’t know who it was, but I listened to the deejay to find out. I just had to know.
        “I grew up with a mom that let me listen to whatever I wanted to, and a grandmother that loved country music, so it’s just naturally part of my background. It might sound funny now, but Hee Haw was a religion for me.  Every country artist that existed was on Hee Haw, and I saw ‘em all,” he noted in an online interview.
        So fans who loved Hootie, and there are many in Fayetteville, as evidenced by the turnout for the band’s performance at the Dogwood Festival, will not be disappointed in Rucker’s new direction.
        Having heard “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It,” it’s not much of a leap from Hootie’s earlier music. Rucker’s distinctive voice does not take on a country whine, instead, it maintains that smooth, storytelling sound that launched the band in the first place. The lyric isn’t beer drinking, love ‘em and leave ‘em, and there’s nothing about trains, but Rucker has a definite country hit — you can catch IT on his Web site, DariusRucker.com or buy it via iTunes.


  •     Dear EarthTalk: I need to replace my old TV. Can you tell me which of the latest models is the greenest? I was told that the flat-screen/plasmas are real energy hogs. What do you recommend?
                                     — Angela Montague, via e-mail


        According to The Wall Street Journal’s Rebecca Smith, a 42-inch plasma TV set can draw more power than a large refrigerator, even if the TV is only used a few hours a day. This is partly because many newer models don’t turn off but go into “standby” mode so they can start up fast later with no warm-up period. “Powering a fancy TV and full-on entertainment system — with set-top boxes, game consoles, speakers, DVDs and digital video recorders — can add nearly $200 to a family’s annual energy bill,” she adds.
        Smith recommends green consumers consider the Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) models, which typically uses less energy than comparable plasma sets. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a 28-inch conventional cathode-ray tube (CRT) set uses about 100 watts of electricity. A 42-inch LCD set might consume twice that amount, while plasma could use five times as much, depending on the model and the programming. For the largest screen sizes (60 inches and up), projection TVs are the most energy efficient, clocking in at 150-200 watts — significantly less than the energy a plasma set would use.
        “What scares us is that prices for plasma sets are dropping so fast that people are saying, why get a 42-inch plasma set when you can get a 60-inch or 64-inch one,” says Tom Reddoch of the non-profit Electric Power Research Institute. “They have no idea how much electricity these things consume.”
        For its part, the industry is taking some steps to make its products more efficient, and to improve disclosure of energy usage. In June 2008 Sony pronounced its new 32-inch Bravia KDL-32JE1 LCD model “the world’s most energy efficient television.” Slated for sale in Japan in August 2008 for around $1,400, the new set utilizes fluorescent tubes to create higher levels of brightness with less energy consumption, but still delivers large resolution, a high contrast ratio and a wide viewing angle.
        Beginning in November 2008, forward-thinking manufacturers will get a little boost from the U.S. government, which will start awarding the most energy efficient new TV sets “Energy Star” labels to help consumers identify greener choices. TVs bearing the Energy Star label must operate at least 30 percent more efficiently than standard models in both stand-by and active modes. Consumers can see which models qualify by visiting the televisions section of the EnergyStar.gov home electronics page. According to the EPA, if all TVs sold in the U.S. met Energy Star requirements, yearly energy savings would top $1 billion and greenhouse gas emissions would drop by the equivalent of taking a million cars off the road.
        Of course, the greenest option of all (aside from getting out from in front of that tube and spending more time outdoors) is to keep or repair your existing CRT unit (a digital-to-analog converter will be needed after February 2009 when new signal specifications go into effect). Most CRT sets use less energy than any of the LCD or plasma models, and if it ain’t broke, why fix it? Buying a new TV, even a greener one, only generates more pollution in production and transport, and creates waste in junking the old model.
        CONTACTS: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, www.epa.gov; Energy Star, www.energystar.gov; Electric Power Research Institute, www.epri.com; Sony Corp., www.sony.com.
        GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EarthTalk, c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; submit it at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/thisweek/, or e-mail: earthtalk@emagazine.com. Read past columns at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/archives.php.{mosimage}
  •     Remember when our imperial overlords in Raleigh deigned to let us vote on state bond issues? Legislative leaders have apparently decided that the idea of building a consensus around public debt is passé, and that the state constitution is a vestigial reminder of a quaint past, like a long-forgotten hula-hoop in the corner of the garage.
        Just before Independence Day, House Speaker Joe Hackney and Senate leader Marc Basnight emerged from seclusion to inform us peons that they had struck a deal on a 2008-09 budget plan. Responding to warnings about faltering revenues, they agreed to reduce planned tax cuts from $50 million to $20 million. The $21.4 billion General Fund budget represents annual growth of just over 3 percent, which is admirably moderate.
        {mosimage}But then came the sock in the gut.
        In recent years, legislators have grown increasingly comfortable with issuing certificates of participation (COPs) to fund the construction of prisons and other public buildings, rather than using general-obligation bonds. Technically, COPs do not pledge the full faith and credit of the state, and thus are not thought to trigger the state constitution’s requirement that public debts be approved by a vote of the people. Instead, COPs essentially give bondholders a share of revenues to be derived from a particular project. Of course, bondholders know that governments aren’t going to neglect to fund prisons, schools and the like. So in practice, there’s not a lot of difference.
        There is a limited role for COPs in a fiscally conservative government — when speed is truly of the essence, for example, and the borrowed amounts are small. Neither case applies here. The House had included $550 million in COPs projects in its budget plan. That was excessive and unnecessary, because House leaders admitted that many of the projects wouldn’t break ground for years, giving them ample time to submit them to referendum. Then the Senate came along and proposed $672 million in non-voted debt. That was exorbitant and outrageous.
        Here’s how fiscal mathematics in Raleigh works. When given a choice between excessive and exorbitant, you don’t split the difference. You add. So now we are facing an extreme result: more than $1 billion in new debt, including $750 million in COPs, $107 million in reissued bonding authority, and more than $200 million in additional bonds slated for 2009 or 2010. The COPs will cost taxpayers millions more to finance than would bonds. And legislative leaders admit that many projects won’t be built immediately, invalidating any argument based on urgency.
        Realizing that cutting voters out of the fiscal equation isn’t a presentable policy in an election year, Basnight and Hackney resorted to the old politician’s trick of magically transforming a cost into a benefit. The new debts, they asserted, would create 20,000 jobs in construction and related industries, putting $85 million back into the state treasury in the favor of taxes and fees.
        And what of the private spending that the new budget will displace by jacking up annual debt service? The question doesn’t seem to have occurred to Basnight and Hackney, operating under the assumptions that borrowing is income and that opportunity cost doesn’t exist. Public debts for infrastructure are justified only if the benefits from using the infrastructure to carry out legitimate government functions — incapacitating criminals, for example — exceed the full cost of the debt, including principal and interest over the life of the loan. They are never justified by the apparent economic benefits of building the infrastructure, given that the economic benefits are simultaneously lost in the private sector when the state confiscates private incomes.
        Any worthwhile capital projects in the proposed 2008-09 budget compromise should be submitted to the voters. It would reduce borrowing costs and give the public its constitutional due. But would you and other North Carolinians be likely to approve $1 billion worth of new debts in tough economic times? Basnight and Hackney seem to think the answer might be no, which is why they have decided not to ask you.
    Constitutional government is such a bother sometimes.
  •     Who in North Carolina owes the most to the late Sen. Jesse Helms?{mosimage}
        The past few days since Helms’ death have given commentators the opportunity to review his career and the contributions to history.
        The emphasis has been on his contributions, and in accordance with our good tradition of not speaking ill of people right after they die, the discussion of any negative impact he made has been muted.
        Who then was the greatest beneficiary of Jesse Helms’ presence in North Carolina politics?
        If you are listening to what most people are saying, it is the North Carolina Republican Party that owes the most. As the first Republican senator to be elected from North Carolina in the 20th century, Helms’ groundbreaking victory in 1972, they say, opened the floodgates. Each of four reelection campaigns brought more voters into the Republican fold and brought about more political victories for other Republican candidates.
        Not just North Carolina, others say, he was a major national figure. Ronald Reagan and the “Reaganized” Republican Party would not have happened without Helms, who, they say, kept Reagan alive as a political figure by bringing about Reagan’s 1976 upset victory over Gerald Ford in the North Carolina presidential primary.
        Of course, you’ll hear that political and religious conservatives, without regard to political affiliation, owe him a lot, too. His vigorous and inspirational cheerleading certainly mobilized and strengthened their causes.
    We are hearing much more about Helms’ contributions along these lines.
        But I have an entirely different idea.
        What group owes the most to Sen. Helms? My answer: The North Carolina Democratic Party.
        I wonder if you will agree with me.
        I contend that if it had not been for Jesse Helms the Democratic Party might have lost its dominant position in state government during the time Helms was in office. Like other southern state Democratic parties in the mid-20th century, North Carolina Democrats were used to having a virtual monopoly on political power. They were accustomed to governing, but the historic lack of competition from Republicans had left them without the experience to meet competitive forces. Without the need to develop a strong unified platform or set of principles to hold it together, it had none.
        Meanwhile, in North Carolina and throughout the South during the latter part of the 20th Century, Republican strength surged. First, in national elections, the “solid South,” including North Carolina, became “solid” for Republican candidates. Then, gradually but steadily, Republicans began to win control of southern state governments as well. For instance, in South Carolina and Georgia, Republicans have won and retained control of the legislatures and the governors’ mansions. Also in Virginia, Republicans won solid control of the state legislature, which they kept until last year when the Democrats regained control of the state senate by a very small margin.
        Meanwhile, in North Carolina, Democrats resisted the regional trend.
        During the Helms Era (1972-2008) Democrats maintained control of the state senate and, except for a four-year period during the 1990s, kept control of the state house of representatives. And, except for 12 years under Governors Jim Holshouser and Jim Martin, only Democrats have lived in the governor’s mansion.
        Why were North Carolina Democrats able to hold on to power in state government when Democrats in adjoining states were losing it? What held North Carolina Democrats together, even when there was no shared positive (conservative or liberal) ideology to rally around?
    Jesse Helms.
        Democrats who might not agree on anything else could agree that they didn’t like the things “Jesse stood for” or they didn’t like the negative and mean-spirited way they thought he operated. For them and for others, Jesse Helms’ national image was an embarrassment to their state. Fighting Jesse held North Carolina Democrats together, motivated them to work harder, and drew new people into their ranks.
        So, who will miss Jesse Helms the most? You know what my answer is.
  •     Cape Fear Valley Health Systems is building a new patient tower. In fact, it is almost finished. Scheduled to open in September, the new tower will have a large emergency department, a children’s emergency department, the heart and vascular center, radiology and imaging, a women’s unit and 96 inpatient beds.
    And what does any of that have to do with 4th Friday?
        “They had a budget to put some art work in there,” said Margo Jarvis, director of marketing and development for the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County. “So they pitched the Arts Council and we came up with this idea for a call for art.” 
        This is not the first time CFVHS has reached out to local artists — its Pavilion North on Ramsey Street also houses local works.                                                                                                                                         {mosimage}“They’re a really good arts’ steward in the community as a corporation, building these collections of art from local and regional artists,” said Jarvis.
        The theme for the exhibit is the brain child of William Avenel, vice president and chief information officer for CFVHS, also an artist who has contributed to the collection. “He wanted it to be original works from the artists,” said Jarvis. “He didn’t want it to have a health theme. He just wanted to see what the artists could come up with themselves, what they would create.” 
        The result is a wide assortment of media including acrylic, oil, fabric and photography.
        Because the new patient tower is such a large building, CFVHS wanted to send out the call to all artists in North Carolina and South Carolina who are 18 and older. And that is just what the Arts Council did.
    “We got nearly 250 pieces from 76 artists in 29 cities across the state,” said Jarvis. After it was juried by a juror from the arts committee, as well as a juror from the hospital, 44 of those works by 30 artists from 18 cities remained. Those 44 works will be on display this 4th Friday at the Fayetteville Arts Council, 301 Hay St.
        “I don’t think they (CFVHS) intend to buy all of them, but all of them are for sale,” she added.
        All of the pieces purchased by the hospital will be marked for their collection and the rest of the works are for sale and available to the public. Purchase awards will be announced at 8 p.m. There will be artists represented from all over the state, some as far away as Statesville and Wilmington.
        “It’s an exciting show and it is definitely a wonderful opportunity for the artists,” said Jarvis “I certainly commend Cape Fear Valley on their leadership and this initiative to use local artists and support that community.” 
        In addition to the art, the Arts Council will also host the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra Quartet, that will provide great music as you look at the art.
        The fun starts Friday, July 25, at 7 p.m., with several venues downtown showcasing various artists and performers. {mosimage}

    4th Friday Venues 
        •AIT Realty — Karaoke by the Spin Doctor. Refreshments.
        •Cape Fear Studios — Silk Comes to Life, Cary artist Deborah Younglao’s silk paintings and art quilts through Aug. 20. Refreshments.
        •City Center Gallery and Books — Presentation by the Downtown Alliance of the winners of the Glory Days Field of Honor photography contest.
        •Cotton Exchange — Jazz ensemble, Spontaneous Combustion, with new local talent. Refreshments.
        •Cumberland County Headquarters Library — Teen Open Mic for comics, poets, rappers, karaoke all-stars and musicians. Help transform this humble stage into a forum of art, attitude and creativity. Register to participate by calling 483-7727 ext. 300.
        •Fascinate-U Children’s Museum — Children create their own masks. Free admission. Light refreshments.
        •Green Light Gallery — Tropical Living, a non-juried art show by The Fayetteville Art Guild. Show features art, food, music, dance and poetry. Festive atmosphere will include decorations and costumes from the Caribbean.
        •Market House — Scottish heritage exhibition, including Cape Fear Scottish Clans, Highland Dancers and bagpipes.
        •Rude Awakening will host photographer Jennifer Seaman and her work.
        •Sfl+a Architects — The art of Kelly Green, music by Jesse Janes. Refreshments.
        •White Trash — Hand scrimshawed bangle bracelets by Jessica Kagan Cushman.
  •      After some questions and concerns by citizens and city officials alike leading up to the start of {mosimage}Fayetteville’s new trash recycling service, the success of the first week of recycling may just cause other communities to become “green” with envy over the city’s 75-80 percent participation rate.
        “It’s just wonderful,” said Fayetteville City Councilman Charles Evans. “I’ll admit I had some problems with it at first, but I can now say I’m very pleased with the participation of the residents.”
        Fayetteville City Councilman Keith Bates Sr. echoed Evans’ excitement about the participation of the city’s residents in the nascent program; however, he said the huge number of folks filling their blue recycling bins also created problems.
        “We completely underestimated the amount of participation,” said Bates, “and we shouldn’t have put out the delivery carts so early; I know mine was full when they picked it up, and as soon as it was emptied I just about filled it up again.
        “We had several citizens complain that their container was not picked up,” said Bates. “I apologized and said we’d get to them as soon as possible. This is new to us and new to Waste Management. But I know they are working hard — they picked up mine at 8 p.m. the first week and at 5 p.m. the next week. They’re working extra hours to get it done.”
        In addition to the high participation rate, the city’s residents are also doing it right: Jackie Tuckey, Fayetteville’s public information officer, said the recycled waste was “very clean,” with just small amounts of non-recyclable garbage placed in the bins.
        Tuckey said 287 tons of material were collected in the first week.
        The recycling program began July 7 for single family dwellings — multifamily dwellings must take their recyclables to one of seven  recycling sites: College Lakes Park, Ann Street Landfill, Massey Hill Recreation Center, Fire Station No. 17, the Cliffdale location, Fire Station No. 9, and Honeycutt Park. These sites accept plastic containers, newspapers and magazines.
        The annual fee for the service is $42, which will appear on the property owner’s tax bill around August. The recycling bins will hold 35 gallons and recyclables don’t need to be sorted.
        The following recyclables may be placed in the bins:
        •Newsprint with inserts and magazines;
        •Brown, clear and green glass containers;
        •Aluminum beverage containers;
        •Steel cans and plastic bottles;
        •Corrugated cardboard; {mosimage}
        •Office paper and residential mixed paper (junk mail, catalogs and paper board such as cereal/food boxes).
        The following cannot be recycled: sheet glass, mirrors, ceramics, china, plastic bags or cellophane film, styrofoam, soggy or waxed paper/cardboard, petroleum product containers such as oil quarts or oil jugs, plastic toys.
        The city is also stressing that the recycling containers be placed at least four feet from the curb so the trucks will have room to pick up the receptacle and tip it into the truck.
        “The trucks are manned by one employee who drives and operates the lift mechanism,” said Tuckey. “So it’s important that there is enough room for the truck to operate.”
        The city also requests that residents remove products (food, drinks, etc.) from the recyclables and rinse once; labels do not need to be removed.
        As the recycling service entered its second week, Fayetteville City Councilman D.J. Haire gushed about the early success of the program, lauding his own neighborhood for its “green” attitude.
        “I live in the Broadwell subdivision and I’m so proud of my own community, as well as the whole of Fayetteville, which has really embraced this,” said Haire. “It feels good to see them rolling those blue containers out to the curb.”
        Haire did add that he would like to see the addition of service for those physically unable to roll their recycling cart to the curb.{mosimage}
        “Some of the people who are physically unable to roll out their trash cans to the curb, they are also unable to roll out the recycling container,” said Haire. “I’d like something to be done for those folks. Other than that it’s turned out to be excellent for the city and its residents.”
        For information about the recycling program or to find out the schedule for the pickup dates, call 433-1329, or check out the city’s Web site at www.cityoffayetteville.org.
  •     It’s rare that theaters get a chance to revisit a play — but when they do, the play rarely goes on stage the same way it was the first time. Such is the case with the Cape Fear Regional Theatre’s second go at Lunch at the Piccadilly.
        “It’s not exactly the same show. We’re not duplicating what we had before,” explained Steve Umberger, the director of the show. “When we did it the first time, it was brand new to the stage and we got a chance to shake out the wrinkles, but there’s more to be done.”
    One of the first things that needed to be done was downsizing the cast. The initial play had a fairly large cast — something that becomes a detriment in trying to get regional theaters to put it on stage. With this rendition, two characters have already been cut from the show, all in order to make the show more “produceable.”
        For Umberger, that’s been a dream in the making. Since directing the first show at the CFRT, he has worked tirelessly to get the show back to the stage. The brief run at the CFRT is designed to prepare the cast for a two week run at the Parkway Playhouse in Burnsville. Umberger said the connection with the audience during the first run was the driving force behind his work to bring it back to the stage.{mosimage}
        “There was so a strong connection with the audience,” he said. “This play touches people on so many different levels. Everybody has some stake in what the characters are going through.”
        The story revolves around a group of residents in a nursing home who decide to “change the world.” Their revolution beings with the teachings of Rev. Flowers, who thinks churches and nursing homes should become one, otherwise known as nurches, to meet the needs of society. When the residents take back control of their lives, hilarity ensues.
        “People get a kick out of the characters written by Clyde Edgerton (the author of the book, which spawned the play).” he continued. “They are so real. It’s a great snapshot of how people think and act.”
        Leading the talented cast is the CFRT’s Artistic Director Bo Thorp. These days, Thorp spends most of her time out of the spotlight, so it is a treat for audiences when she steps onstage  — especially for Umberger. “Bo is one of the first ladies of the theater,” he said. “For some people, theater is at the core of their being, she’s one of them. She’s been doing this 45 plus years, it’s who she is in her soul — it’s not just her life, it’s her reason for being. Directing her has been such a good time. We have a common vision of the play. It’s more fun for us this time around. There’s less angst and more fun.”
        For Patty Curco, a transplanted New Yorker, the revisiting of the play has given her the opportunity to reinvent her character. In the last staging, Curco was asked to come to a reading by Thorp. She thought it was a cold reading just for the director and showed up in casual clothes and no makeup. What she found was an audience. “I must be pretty good at cold readings, because I was asked to join the cast,” she said.
    For that staging, she played her role fairly straight. She adopted a southern accent and tried to blend in with the group. For this staging, she sees her character as a transplant much like herself. So she’s playing her that way. “Over the past two years, I’ve thought about her a lot, and thought, why would she have to be a native-born — why couldn’t she be a transplant?”
        Local audiences will have only three opportunities to see the show before it heads to the mountains. The play will open on Friday, July 25, and run through Sunday, July 27. Friday and Saturday night the show begins at 8:15. Tickets are $20. Sunday’s matinee begins at 2:15 p.m. Tickets are $15. Tickets can be purchased by calling the box office at 323-4233.
  •     Lights!{mosimage}
        Camera!
        Alayna!
        Alayna Credemore of Hope Mills is hoping to hit the big time and become a Hollywood starlet when she travels to California on Aug. 6 to compete in Hollywood’s Best New Talent Awards 2008.
    Credemore, 11, is a novice actress, so even if she doesn’t win the prestigious competition — which will give her a chance to perform before talent scouts and agents — she’s hoping the exposure will put her on the road to stardom.
        “I want to be an actress,” said Credemore. “I’ll do anything... commercials, comedy, TV series, movies... I just want to act.”
        Alayna was “discovered” about a month ago when she and her family visited her grandmother in New York. On a lark, Alayna’s family took her to visit One Source Talent, through which she was invited to several casting calls, including an audition for a Jell-O commercial. Though she didn’t get a callback from any of the casting calls, her involvement and her online photos and portfolio did catch the eye of Hollywood East Casting in Wilmington, which sent Alayna an e-mail stating she had been selected to participate in Hollywood’s Best New Talent Awards 2008.
        Alayna’s family expressed surprise not only that she was chosen to fly to L.A. to participate in the event, but that she was even interested in becoming an actress.
        “We’ve always called her a drama queen,” said Alayna’s father, who wished to remain anonymous because of his involvement with Special Forces. “When she did her performances in New York we saw a side of her that we had never seen. She’s usually very quiet and shy, but at the audition a lady asked her why she should pick Alayna over everyone else, and Alayna said, ‘Because I’m unique.’”
        Alayna, a student at Gray’s Creek Middle School, will compete in the acting category when she goes to California. She must perform a drama skit, a commercial and do print and runway sessions.
    Alayna rewrote a monologue provided online for the drama performance and a family friend helped her write the commercial skit.
        The competition will be at the Kodak Theater. Past winners include Brad Kish, who played the lead in the HBO series High School; Elizabeth Yozamp, who has booked national commercials and national radio, and is presently filming Step Brothers with Will Ferrel and John C. Reilly; and Adrianne Leon, an Emmy Award nominated actress who is best known for playing Brook Lynn Ashton on the soap opera General Hospital and played the role of Colleen Carlton on The Young and the Restless.
        It’s a win-win situation for Alayna, as she gets the chance to perform and be seen by movers and shakers from Disney, 20th Century Fox and MGM while also receiving tips from acting coaches, as well as participating in seminars such as runway modeling; acting techniques; managing her career; and finding out what record companies are looking for when signing a talent.
        “Even if she doesn’t win she’s getting exposure to all these people in the business,” said her father, “and it will give her an idea of what she needs to do to get into the business.”
        In addition to her training in Hollywood, Alayna is also getting a little homegrown tutelage as well.
    “When we watch television shows we tell her to pay attention to the actors and actresses because she might learn something,” said her father.
        And maybe someday we will all be paying attention to Alayna on the silver screen.
  •     A piece of the puzzle that makes up Fayetteville’s rich and varied history will be coming home July 22 through July 26 when perhaps the area’s most important historical artifact, the Liberty Point Resolves, goes on display at the Fayetteville Area Transportation Museum.                                                                                                                                {mosimage}The document — originally called the Cumberland Association, though popularly referred to as the Liberty Point Resolves — was written on June 20, 1775, and it declared the county’s independence from Great Britain as the colonies prepared for what became the American Revolution. The text of the document was copied by the locally famous Fayetteville patriot Robert Rowan while attending a meeting in Wilmington; he was the first of 55 men to sign this declaration of freedom, all of whom added their John Hancock around or near Liberty Point — the exact spot is unknown.
        The Resolves were penned a little more than a year before the Declaration of Independence; patriots in Charlotte wrote their own declaration about a month before the Resolves, but the Fayetteville document remains the oldest surviving declaration in North Carolina.
        After the war, the Resolves stayed with Rowan until his death when the document passed into the hands of  Rowan’s stepson, William Berry Grove. After changing hands a few more times, the document eventually became housed in the Southern Historical Collection at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
        Bruce Dawes, Fayetteville’s historic properties manager, will drive to Chapel Hill and pick up the Resolves on July 21. It will be displayed at the Fayetteville Area  Transportation Museum inside a special case on loan from the Cumberland County Public Library designed to protect the fragile document. The display is being cosponsored by the Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.
        Dawes calls the document a “priceless” part of the area’s history. He says the Resolves and Rowan are intertwined in the accounts of that era — an era which saw Fayetteville become a vital cog in the struggle for independence.
    “Rowan, who has a street named after him in Fayetteville, is one of the great historical figures in our local history,” said Rowan. “Rowan was a member of the Sons of Liberty as early as 1710. He held a number of positions; even though he didn’t distinguish himself on the battlefield he was important in the logistics of the war, helping supply the army with clothing and other supplies.
        “During the war there was a salt supply near Cross Creek,” added Dawes. “Rowan earned the rank of colonel when he and a small band of volunteers fended off a mob of people who wanted to take the salt.”
        While Dawes said Rowan is remembered as one of the area’s great patriots, not everyone who signed the Resolves remained true to the cause. Dawes said two signers “switched sides” and joined the British cause after signing the declaration.
        “The revolution was very complex,” said Dawes. “At the time, it was a war against an established country that many here had strong ties to.”
        One of the signers who didn’t switch sides was William Herin; Herin’s great-great-great granddaughter, Fayetteville’s Gail Wilson, will be on hand at the opening ceremonies of the document’s presentation to help preserve the historical ties to her kin and the Resolves.
        “We’re very proud to be associated with it (the Resolves),” said Wilson. “We’re very excited, especially my two sons, who have told their friends all about it.”
        The grand opening ceremonies were held on Tuesday, July 22, at the Fayetteville Area Transportation Museum. Among those in attendance will be the local Marquis de Lafayette chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, the Liberty Point Daughters of the Revolution and the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry.
        Included in the wording of the Resolves is the following, powerful statement: “We therefore the subscribers of Cumberland County, holding ourselves bound by that most sacred of all obligations, that duty of all good citizens towards an injured country, and thoroughly convinced that under our distressed circumstances, we shall be justified before God and man in resisting force by force, do unite ourselves under every tie of religion and honour and associate as a band in her defense against every foe...”
        {mosimage}While the Resolves mention the need for force to wrest the country from the hands of the British, force shouldn’t pull you to the display at the museum — a sense of duty to our military heritage past and present should be enough.
        “This document represents Fayetteville’s history, especially the military aspect,” said Dawes. “Even before Fort Bragg, Fayetteville had chapter after chapter of involvement in helping protect this country. We are defined by the military. It is a special and important document for past and active members of the military, as well as their families, and for everyone in Fayetteville. This is a chance to see something they might never get another opportunity to see.”

  •     Doug Peters had his work cut out for him when he signed on as the new president and CEO of the Fayetteville-Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce. Just months before he made the move to Fayetteville, both the Fayetteville City Council and the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners were questioning how the money they were paying the organization was being spent. {mosimage}
        Peters heard and understands their concerns. That’s why as his first act as president of the newly renamed organization, he has implemented a 100-day strategic plan designed to bring greater accountability and a business mindset to the chamber.
        “All plans are a work in progress,” said Peters. “This plan is representative of where our priorities are currently, where we expect them to be as we move through my first 100 day tenure — which I hope is forever. I love Fayetteville.”
        Peters reiterated that he is a strategic thinker, and wants to make sure the organization is positioned well for the long-term.
        Already ongoing is a realignment of staff. He said the organization has some vacancies, and those responsibilities are being shifted to ensure that nothing falls through the cracks. “We are a people organization,” said Peters, explaining that much of the work of the organization is carried out by volunteers with staff guidance. “We want to make sure we have the right people in the right roles doing the right things for the right reasons.”
        The plan is also designed to build in accountability measures, create a set of values for the organization and create an environment that’s fun, yet productive.
        Key to the whole plan is improved communication throughout the community. During his first 100 days, Peters plans to meet with key leaders throughout the community to get their perspectives on the strengths, weaknesses and threats to the organization. He hopes to hear what it is they think the chamber should be doing. “We cannot be all things to all people,” he said.
        He added that he hopes to bring a transparency to the agency that has been missing. “I want the organization to do things as openly as it can. Obviously we can’t name names of companies who are looking at our area or give information that is not for public consumption, but we can meet with key individuals and share information and bring them to the table,” he said.
        In keeping with that idea, the organization will look at economic development losses to the community to find out why the county was not selected as a site for the new business. “The key is finding out why we were not selected,” he explained, “and then create strategies to strengthen these weaknesses.”{mosimage}
    Peters said the organization cannot keep doing business as usual. “We can’t keep doing activities because we’ve always done them,” he said. “We have to gain confidence in our ability to say no. We have to focus on key objectives. There are no sacred cows.”
        He will also start a benchmark process whereby the community will be compared to other communities of its size and demographic — the chamber will look at where we rank and what we, as a community, can do better. “We want to connect all the dots,” he said.
        Another benchmark he will look at is the satisfaction of the current membership of the chamber. “We’re going to ask them to rate us, and then create a report card with a baseline for improvement,” he said.
    Another set of partners he hopes to show improvement to is the organization’s funding partners. “We want to pull all of the foundational data together and then establish returns to measure progress and accountability for our funding partners,” he said. “We have to have accountability for our funding partners.         They have to know that there is a return on their investment. If we are not delivering value, then we are not getting the job done.”
  •     {mosimage}Remember the good old days when people believed the reason we invaded Iraq was to get cheap oil? How dumb was that? The White House and its happy band of neo-cons sure fooled us. I’ll admit to buying into the cheap oil theory. America was going to get Iraqi oil. We’d finally find out why our oil was buried under their sand. Gas would be too cheap to meter, like electricity from nuclear power plants was supposed to be. Noted geopolitics expert and gas station attendant Dr. Gomer Pyle says “Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!” Dr. Gomer reveals the real reason we invaded Iraq was not to get oil that was less expensive. We invaded Iraq to make oil more expensive.
        Who, you might ask, would want expensive oil? Do the names Exxon and BP strike a familiar note? The Olympic-sized level of cynicism required to figure out that invading Iraq was to create more expensive oil makes one marvel at the ability of the neo-cons to hoodoo their fellow gullible Americans. If there were a Nobel Prize for April fool jokes, the old switcheroo between invading for cheap oil morphing into invading for expensive oil would put Presidents W and Cheney in Stockholm next year to receive their prize from the King of Sweden.
        After the 9/11 attacks, America logically went after creeps in Afghanistan who planned and staged the attacks on America. It made perfect sense to try to kill the terrorists who killed 3,000 Americans. America once had the support of the world community in its fight against al Qaeda in Afghanistan. But there was a problem with confining the war to Afghanistan. Afghanistan has no oil. Running down and smoking out bin Laden wasn’t going to cause the price of oil to go up. There was no benefit for Big Oil with a war only in Afghanistan. Rummy and the neo-cons needed a war in a country with oil to drive up the price of gasoline. Voila, as the French would say: Invade Iraq and watch the price of oil soar. Afghanistan went to the back burner. Now, with the Iraq war front and center, we find the Taliban resurgent, the opium crops prospering and Pakistan crumbling. Gomer says “Oops.”
        Allow me to bore you briefly with some statistics. The day before we invaded Iraq in March 2003, the price of oil was about $37 a barrel. Now the price of oil is somewhere north of $140 a barrel. Halliburton’s stock price before the invasion was about $9 per share. Now it’s $46 a share. Oil company and Halliburton stocks were pretty groovy investments if you bought the day before the invasion. War is good for Big Oil and Halliburton.
        President W is a former oil man. President Cheney is a former Halliburton dude. Both of them have buddies in those industries. It’s only natural they would want to help out their compadres. If you can’t help your friends, who can you help? A war that quadruples the price of oil is a small price to pay if you exclude the costs in human life, injuries, materials and money. The Iraq War has been financed by the administration through sub prime loans from the Chinese. America may get foreclosed as a result. The balloon payment to Beijing won’t be due until W and Cheney are both safely out of office and making speeches for $50,000 a pop. Big Oil is making record profits as the lame ducks quacking away in the White House are making plans to give the oil industry one last door prize on their way to political oblivion.
        If you really wanted to increase the price of oil overnight to Mount Everest levels what would you do? Dr. Pyle suggests bombing Iran. The Iranians have been test-firing missiles that could reach Israel and American bases in the Middle East. They could shut down the Strait of Hormuz through which about 40 percent of the world’s oil chugs along in very slow moving target oil tankers. What a nice going away present for Big Oil to have the price of oil go to $400 a barrel overnight as a result of a new war with Iran as the Bush administration exits stage right.
        Gomer says fasten the seat belt on your bicycle. It’s going to be a bumpy flight.
  •     Years ago, before I was a wife, before I was a mother of three precious jewels, before I was an active participant in a family business, before I entered elective service, I was a member of the second class of trained counselors of a group of women and a handful of men who sought to address sexual assaults in Cumberland County.
        We were a small but committed band, and like many fledgling nonprofits and volunteer organizations, records were kept under members’ beds or in trunks of cars. Money was not much of an issue since we had none.
        Our entire focus was on providing assistance to the people who turned up in one local emergency room or another reporting a sexual assault.
        {mosimage}Like counselors of all sorts, we took calls and responded when “beeped” by an ER. We held hands with sexual assault victims as they underwent invasive medical exams, and we tried to provide support as they came to terms with their experiences, and in the rare instances they had to face their perpetrators in court we were there.
        I even testified in a case in which the sexual assault victim shot and killed the assailant, her live-in sweetie, an act for which she served prison time.
        The time for me to consider moving on came when taking calls became a burden for my young and growing family. What tipped me over the edge, though, were two different and unrelated 15-year-old sexual assault victims who seemed to feel that whatever had happened to them — and in both cases it was abnormal and criminal — was their lot in life.
        They were resigned, but I was stunned by their acceptances of what had happened to them and then angry about it.       
        I hope they got that way later.
        All of which has me thinking about the disappearances and deaths of young women and mothers, who were in so many ways just like millions of other young women and mothers throughout our country.
    The body of Meghan Touma was found decomposing in a Fayetteville hotel room.
        Holly Wimunc’s apartment was found smoldering by coworkers who came looking for her when she did not turn up at her job. Investigators located Holly’s physical remains in the remote North Carolina outpost of Sneads Ferry, not far from her estranged husband’s military assignment at Camp Lejeune.
        Her estranged husband has been charged in her death, and another soldier has been charged with helping to set fire to her apartment.
        And then there is Nancy Cooper, a woman with the same name as one of my longtime Fayetteville walking buddies.
        The Cary Nancy Cooper reportedly went for a jog on a recent Saturday morning, leaving her husband and two children at home. When she did not return as expected, a friend reported to law enforcement authorities that she was missing. Volunteers searched for her along her running paths, but several days later, their worst fears were realized. Cooper’s body was discovered near a planned residential subdivision.
    It is a wicked reality that strangers do sometimes assault and even kill other people, and that is a terrifying thought to all of us. News accounts of such crimes, solved and unsolved, grab our attention and haunt our thoughts.
        My experience as a sexual assault counselor and my longtime observations of news tell me, though, that such assaults and murders occur more often between people who know each other than between people who do not. Many times, those involved have formed the kinds of intense, even intimate, relationships that can generate strong, uncontrolled emotions.
        My experience as a human being has taught me that over time nature has equipped us mortals with inner sensors, a sort of early warning system. It kicks in when we encounter other people, and it allows us to feel comfortable in their presence or to be wary around them. We have all had this experience whether in our work place, at school or perhaps in a social setting. Some people we want to spend time with and others we can hardly get away from fast enough.
        During training for sexual assault counselors, we learned to trust our instincts. We learned that if a situation feels off-kilter in any way, it probably is. We learned that if you feel someone is even vaguely menacing or threatening, he or she may well be. We learned that if a situation feels uneasy to you, the best course is to get out of it as soon as possible.
        Over the years, several of the people I counseled told me they felt off balance during the time before they were attacked but most took no action. We have no way to know what the women who are now dead thought, but we may well hear what they said to others at some point.
        My advice to my own children and to all of us, women and men, is to pay attention to and follow our instincts about other people even if we do not fully understand them.
        Life can, indeed, be crazy scary.
  •     The tragedy of the deaths of Holly Wimunc and Megan Touma has left a hole in our community — and it should have. We are a community that prides itself on taking care of our soldiers, and two of them have died painful, needless deaths, and we couldn’t protect them.
        That same story is being played out across the United States. Women of all ages and walks of life are dying senseless, needless deaths, and it’s usually at the hands of someone they know — intimately. That only makes their deaths more horrific.
        Both of these women’s lives were, according to their friends, bright with promise. What they could have accomplished will remain a question mark, one left in rage.{mosimage}
        What their deaths have also brought to this community is a horde of media attention. People are putting our community under a microscope, picking it apart and trying to see where we’ve fallen down. We’ve fallen no further than any other community in our nation. One has only to pick up the newspaper or turn on the news and hear the same tragic story unfold … in communities in California, Illinois, Texas, Pennsylvania. Violence against women knows no boundaries.
        In our community, unfortunately, many people are trying to tie the women’s service in the military with their deaths — that isn’t the case. As one national media outlet questioned, “Is the Army training people to be killers?” In case they missed it, the two soldiers were the ones killed. That same media outlet questioned whether Fayetteville was tired of the violence caused by the military — again, the violence was done to members of the military — as is the case in the majority of crimes in our community.
        It’s bad enough when people who are not a part of our community come here for a couple of days and pass judgments on our community that are not based on fact. It’s worse when it comes from within.
        Recent headlines in the Fayetteville Observer have painted a bleak picture of our community. They have pandered to fear and have sensationalized the deaths of these two women. That’s disappointing. The Observeris a well-respected newspaper, one that should have our community’s interest at its center. But it’s a business as well, and fear sells.
        A recent article talked about the number of military wives living in fear — locking themselves in their homes. The Observerreporter talked to a couple of women, neither of whom wished to be named, who had nothing good to say about our community. I imagine these are women who reside here — they don’t live here.
        There’s a difference.
        People who reside here do it with a degree of snobbery. They make the trek from the mall to their apartments, from their apartments to Fort Bragg, and turn their nose up at our community. They don’t contribute anything while they are here, and as one woman noted, look longingly at the road out of town. It’s their loss.
        There are others who actually live here. They join churches and clubs. They go to community events, volunteer and have an impact on our community. They are the heart and soul of our community.
        They know that our community is more than a series of sensational headlines, they recognize the truth — that violence occurs in every community — and that it cannot define a community. A community has to be defined by the people who live in it — not those who just pass through.
  •     Have you ever seen a miracle? If not, strap on your boots and your helmet and head over to M & M Leather  and Custom Cycle on Saturday morning and take a ride. You’ll not only get to see a miracle, you’ll be part of making it happen.
        The annual Christmas in July Toy Run to Duke Children’s Hospital supports the Children’s Miracle Network, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children by raising funds and awareness for 170 nonprofit hospitals throughout North America, serving more than 17 million children with all types of illnesses. Research funded by the Children’s Miracle Network helps give babies a chance for happier, healthier lives.
        The annual toy run has been a Fayetteville tradition for the past six years. Put together by Joe Cook and William Winford, associates at the Wal-Mart Logistics Distribution Center located in Hope Mills, the event has raised more than $6,000 in cash and toys since its start.
        For just $15 and a toy, you can be a part of the miracle. The registration money goes directly to the Children’s Miracle Network, while the toys go to the children’s hospital to meet the needs of its patients. The gifts are used to fund the hospital’s “treasure chest” for the children. Items needed include: rattles, stackable rings, lullaby tapes/CDs, stack and sort blocks, musical toys, Legos, playing cards, dinosaurs, trains, Barbie dolls, Playdoh, journals, craft kits, disposable cameras, door basketball goals, gift cards for the playroom.{mosimage}
        Pre-registration for the event will be held Friday, July 18 at Legends on Bragg Boulevard from 6-8 p.m. Once you register, stay around for the Kick-Start Party. If you can’t make it over to Legends, you can register Saturday, July 19 at M & M Leather from 7:30-9:50 a.m. While waiting for the ride to start, participants can purchase raffle tickets and take part in an auction.
        At 9:50 a.m., the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department will give riders a safety brief prior to their departure. The ride will officially kick off at 10 a.m., with riders heading out Bragg Boulevard on their way to Durham.
    Riders are expected to arrive at Duke University Children’s Hospital at noon, where they can enjoy a great lunch provided by Texas Roadhouse. At 1 p.m., the money and gifts will be presented to the hospital in a special ceremony that involves the families whose children are being treated at Duke. At 1:30 p.m., riders can head back down the road to Fayetteville.
        This year, as in past years, a cookout will be held at M&M Leather. There will be a 50/50 drawing, as well as drawings for various gifts and prizes. In addition to the great fun and prizes, there will also be some awesome entertainment, featuring Gasoline, Wicked Lizard and DD Productions.
        Corporate partners include: Double D Productions, JEB Designs, Legends, M&M Leather, Up & Coming Weekly, Texas Roadhouse, The Custom Edge, Inc. Wal-Mart Logistics TO 6840 and DC 6040 and Arctic Fox Video Production.
  • Date My Ex wallows in perversity
        Date My Ex: Jo & Slade
    (Monday, 10 p.m., Bravo) has a wafer-thin premise: Jo De La Rosa from The Real Housewives of Orange County is set up on dates by her ex-fiance, Slade Smiley. As in any other dull dating series, guys go out with Jo and get eliminated one by one. But the producers seem to think that the ex-fiance angle adds limitless drama and intrigue. Everyone has been told to play up the “weirdness” of the scenario, despite the fact that it was obviously cooked up by Jo, Slade (now her manager), Bravo executives and all their lawyers in some Hollywood office.
        “I can’t believe I’m on a dating show with my ex-fiance!” Jo chirps unconvincingly. “It’s, like, definitely kind of weird!”
        “It’s a weird thing to think that other guys are thinking about my ex-fiancee that way,” says Slade, as if the idea had just dawned on him.
        You might not mind the contrivance if Jo were fun to hang out with. But she’s a giggling nitwit who affects a babyish voice and pout. Here’s a typical example of her wit and wisdom: “I was, like, whoa.”
        We are, like, ick.{mosimage}

    Family Foreman
    Wednesday, 10 p.m. (TV Land)
        I love George Foreman, the former world-champion boxer and current world-champion character. I’m reluctant to take a swing at his new reality series, but this thing deserves to be knocked cold. It’s another example of a celebrity turning the camera on himself and his family for no good reason.
        The premiere episode meanders from the kitchen table to the garage to a speedway where a Foreman-sponsored team will compete. George’s daughter has been tapped to sing “God Bless America” before the race, and he seems to think we care. But why would we care about someone so petulant, not to mention scatterbrained? “Are we in Indiana?” she asks while sitting in the middle of Chicago.
        No, dear, we’re in hell.

    High School Musical: Get the Picture
    Sunday, 8 p.m. (ABC)
        This reality series seeks stars for the upcoming High School Musical 3. Producers scour the nation for bright young talent, visiting local singing competitions and karaoke bars. A dozen finalists attend High School Musical Camp, where weekly eliminations winnow the field to the new Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens.
    But wait. The winners of High School Musical: Get in the Picture will not technically appear in  . They’ll merely appear in a music video that runs over the closing credits, when viewers have already gone to the bathroom or changed channels.
        So basically, ABC is asking us to spend several weeks on a virtually meaningless casting exercise. I suggest changing the series’ title to High School Musical: Afterthought.

    Generation Kill
    Sunday, 9 p.m. (HBO)
        This miniseries is based on Evan Wright’s book, which chronicles the first 40 days of the Iraq War. We follow a group of Marines who spearhead the invasion, all familiar types from modern war movies: raunchy, cynical, flawed. At the beginning of this week’s episode, they’re smug about the United States’ military might. “Yes, we are the conquering heroes!” one of them crows as tanks roll through the desert. Hmmm, do you think disillusionment and death might be just around the corner?
        Viewers will tune in not for the script, but for the production values. Generation Killwas filmed entirely in Africa, and it puts you right in the middle of a realistic war zone. The screen fills with explosions, gunfire, smoke, rubble, fire and very convincing corpses.
  • Hancock (Rated PG-13) 4 stars

        Director Peter Berg clearly knows a good thing when he sees it, and Will Smith attached to a big budget summer movie is a good thing. The concept of Hancock (92 minutes) is filled with potential. Unfortunately, screenwriters Vincent Ngo and Vince Gilligan can’t handle the material. The film’s first half is a clear winner, making excellent use of Smith’s acting, but the story defaults on its early promise by descending into an unnecessarily complicated back story about halfway through. Perhaps this would have been forgivable, but the writers are unable to maintain any internal consistency to their superhero mythos, letting the important details fall aside unexplained in the name of plot convenience.
        John Hancock (Will Smith) is a reluctant superhero, drinking heavily and dressed like a bum. He lives in Los Angeles, but the city is tired of footing the bill for his super destructive rescues. One of the people he rescues is Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman), a public relations guy who promises to change Hancock’s image. Mary Embrey (Charlize Theron) is concerned about Hancock from the start, and she tries to keep him at a distance. Their son Aaron (Jae Head), on the other hand, is a big fan of the hero, thus fulfilling the cute kid quotient of the film. As part of rehabilitating his image, Ray convinces Hancock to spend some time in prison, but eventually he is released in order to help the police during a bank robbery. During his rescue of the hostages in the bank, Hancock faces off against Red (Eddie Marsan), who reappears during the climax of the movie.  {mosimage}
        Yes, there is a twist about halfway through the movie. No, it is not the greatest surprise in the world considering how the director manages to telegraph the twist within minutes of getting all his main actors together in one scene. Sadly for the movie, the twist is handled badly and borders on nonsensical, not only lacking internal consistency, but also endowed with plot holes big enough to drive the Batmobile through. While the acting was skilled, the story was poorly realized. Even more irritating, director Peter Berg apparently specializes in the extreme close up, forcing the audience to practically look up the noses of the characters. And the villain! Dennis Hopper was the reigning champion of scenery chewing (evil villain in such underappreciated gems as Waterworld and Speed), until Marsan came along with his bad impression of Rutger Hauer’s famous Blade Runner monologue.
        So, with all these complaints and caveats, how did Hancock manage to score an impressive four star rating?
    The sheer likeability of leads Smith, Theron and Bateman managed to outweigh the utter irritability of child actor Head and laughable nemesis Marsan. While it is undeniable that the dialogue is ripe and moldy, the effects are nice, and the film perfectly cast. While watching the movie, the charisma of those involved makes it easy to ignore all the flaws, which is probably why the film is being critically reviled but still generating impressive box office receipts. See this one soon before your friends spoil the twist, and stick around after the credits start to see an extra scene.


  •     {mosimage}For those of you who are too hip or too cool to admit that you’ve seen a season —  or even one episode of  American Idol — let me introduce you to Bo Bice.
        Bice was a standout in season four of the show. He was such a standout that on the grand finale show, Bice was in a sing-off with country megastar Carrie Underwood. While many Americans sat in their living rooms cheering him on, he was silently praying not to win. That fact, in itself, defines who Bo Bice is.
        Bice, an unapologetic southern rocker raised in Alabama, didn’t quite fit the mold of the pop-centric Idol. While other singers came out singing Top 40, Bice broke out rock songs —  real rock. He was, in fact, the first proclaimed “rocker” on the show. Week after week he rocked the audience — and while they (the audience got it), the producers didn’t. So, it was their bad when they went to produce Bice’s first album, The Real Thing, and they tried to put Bice into a mold — a packaged, moussed-hair mold. But he broke that mold, leaving RCA, establishing his own record company and making his own record. See the Light is the fruit of that effort.
        See the Light, available via download and at Wal-Mart stores exclusively, is a solid, bluesy, southern rock album that speaks of whiskey, women and sin. It also speaks of love, salvation and fun. The album is a compilation of some of Bice’s older songs — songs he says he wrote a decade ago, and songs he wrote while recovering from several surgeries which sidelined him in the months following his Idol triumph. The album is one part Hank, two parts Skynyrd and the rest is all Bo.
        The album’s first release, “Witness,” has had considerable air play and has hit the VH1 number one video spot, but it’s not my favorite song on the album. I think my problem with “Witness” is that it is in your face, southern rock and the first time I heard it was at 4 a.m. — my brain wasn’t prepared for the overload. But I’m not saying it’s a bad song. It’s just not a 4 a.m. song. It’s more of a 11 p.m., Friday night at the bar song.
        “Take the Country Outta Me” is Bice’s tribute to the southern rockers he grew up listening to. It is also his response to folks who thought he should have taken the fast road to pop success, instead of the winding country road to his own success. In the song he pays homage to Skynyrd, Hank and the Marshall Tucker band — all folks he has recently had the chance to work with.
        “I’m Gone” is one of my favorite tracks on the album because you actually get to hear Bice’s voice without its growl. It’s a slower song — but not that slow. I wouldn’t call it a ballad, but it’s not a rocker either.
    “Sinner in a Sin” is one of Bice’s favorite songs and is somewhat biographical in nature. He noted that it gives him cause for reflection — and it does the same to his listeners. We’ve all been there, done that and wished we hadn’t — even when we’re doing it again.
        See The Lightdoes what all of the PR people and studio flunkies at RCA could never do for Bice. It defines him as a musician. What the record execs failed to see is that Bice doesn’t have the angst of Nirvana, or the bite of Metallica. What he is, is straight up country rock — and it’s great that he can finally let his light shine.
  •     Bo Bice might have seemed right at home in front of the cameras during his tenure on American Idol, but that’s Bo the performer. Bo, the husband/dad/musician, is much more comfortable on his farm outside of Nashville, Tenn. On a recent Tuesday morning, Up & Coming Weekly caught up with the southern rocker as he was gearing up for a mini-tour in support of his new album See the Light.
        Bice, who was the runner-up in the fourth season of Idol, had just returned home from a late morning breakfast with his wife and son. He was thinking about looking at new merchandise for the upcoming tour, but the beauty of his farm had him putting it off for a little bit. That left him plenty of time to commune with nature and take our questions. Bice is as genuine in conversation as he seemed on stage, sharing bits and pieces of his life, and even inquiring about mine. He was affable in that good ‘ol boy way, but it was honest, and that’s something that Bice wants his fans to know about him.
        See the Lightis a true southern rock album. It’s a big change from his first album, Real Thing. Bice explained that the first album had a lot of hands in it. There were several songwriters and producers who all had a say in the sound and feel of the album. See the Light is really different — it speaks to the heart of who Bice is.
        “I always say this album was a labor of love. Real Thingwas such a fun album, but all I had to do was sing and watch,” he said, referencing all of the music industry professionals involved in the creation and production of the first album. “With this album I got to get back to what I love — producing and writing.”{mosimage}
        Bice took it a step further, building his own recording studio at his home, where he recorded the whole album. “We did about 90 percent of the album here. That was really cool. It was very laid back, and I got to work with the people I wanted to work with. I enjoyed the whole process,” he said. “It never felt like a day of work.”
        Bice, who was the first “rocker” on Idol, said the new album seems to surprise some members of the media, but he’s not sure why. “I’ve had quite a few interviewers ask me about my going country,” he said. “I’ve never not been country, it’s just more the rocking side of it — you know like Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Allman Brothers.”
        The love of southern rock has spawned Bice’s next project, a project led by the late George McCorkle of The Marshall Tucker Band. Brothers of the Southlandwill feature a number of southern rock legends, and Bice is honored to be included in the project. He contributed to two tracks on the CD, and you can hear him singing lead vocals on a remake of The Marshall Tucker Band’s “Can’t You See.”
        The past year has seen Bice popping up all over the place. That’s quite a change, since he all but disappeared from the music scene for about a year, following his time on Idoland the release of his new album. Bice had suffered from a gastrointestinal illness for some time, and it sidelined him for almost a year at the time he should have been his busiest. “At the time, it was a curse,” said Bice, of his illness, “but it ended up being a blessing. I was really sick — sicker than I ever knew for over a decade. There I was laid up in bed thinking everything was over … but there was a lot of good. I got married and we had a son. God got me through all of it. In fact, He gets me through everything. It’s true that  He never gives you too much to handle.”
        Bice said at the time he went through a bout of depression, but he spent some time with friends and started writing new music. “It was very therapeutic,” he said. “I also had the chance to be a dad. I was on tour for the whole pregnancy deal — so it was very important that I had this time. Being a dad has humbled me. I’ll never take that for granted. We just kind of looked at everything and decided to press on and started from ground level again.”
        Part of starting over was working without a record deal. He separated from RCA and created his own record label. “I loved working with RCA, and without RCA and Clive Davis I wouldn’t have had the success I’ve had. The Real Thing wasn’t the album I would have put out, but they did a great job — and it was a fun experience. But it was the total opposite of See the Light. This album gave me a lot of freedom. On the next CD, I’ll probably do a bit of the same, staying true to the music the fans want to hear. I assume that they would want me to be me — to be genuine.”
        If See the Lightis the kind of music that is true to Bice’s soul, we had to ask which of the songs on the album was his favorite. “Each song is different. ‘See the Light’ and ‘Witness’ are a decade old, but they are close to my heart. ‘Can’t Take the Country Out of Me’  – I wrote that song in five minutes at 5 a.m. in the morning. All of the songs together as a collection mean a lot to me,” he said. “But my favorite, favorite song is ‘Sinner in a Sin.’ That song means a whole lot to me. It’s an older song and when I perform it, I remember the place I was in my life when I wrote it. I’ve lived through a few mistakes and moved forward and I get a sense of real peace when I hear that song. You don’t want to forget the past because you might have to relive it.”
        Bice has had the opportunity to work with some really big names in recent months, so we asked him if there was anyone he dreamed of performing with. It was surprising when he said his biggest thrill came on the finale night of Idol. “I don’t want to sound arrogant in anyway, but you have to understand that when I was standing on stage with Lynyrd Skynyrd singining ‘Sweet Home Alabama,’ there was nowhere to go from there. What do you do when the biggest dream you’ve ever dreamed happens first?”
        That being the case, Bice still doesn’t hesitate to get out and work with other performers. In recent months he has worked with mega-stars like Carlos Santana, Richie Sambora and Willie Nelson. “Every day is like a dream for me,” he said, adding, “Brothers of the Southland opened me up to more collaboration. I recently finished a project with Joe Diffie which was a really incredible experience.”
        He says he would love to work with Shooter Jennings. “I have a lot of respect for him and would love to work with him,” said Bice.
        He also says spending time with Kid Rock wouldn’t be too much of a hardship either. “I met Bobby (Kid Rock) at a show with Hank Jr., Lynyrd Skynyrd and Three Doors Down. We had a blast. He seemed like a really cool guy, and I would love to do something with him. I’m not closing the door to working with anyone — I’m keeping all the doors open.”
        There has been one group that Bice was adamant that he got to work with — and that is the men and women in the U.S. armed forces. Last fall he spent some time in Kuwait and Afghanistan, and plans to head back across the ocean later this year. “It’s a lot of fun to greet and see the troops,” he said. “It was especially important for me to put my hand in theirs and say thanks for putting your life on the line for us. I can’t wait to go back.”
        But in the interim, he will stay busy, as his wife is expecting to deliver baby number two in August, and after that miracle, he will hit the road again after Christmas. “We love touring,” he said. “It’s the greatest time. We enjoy making music in the studio, but the payoff is being with the fans.”

  •     Dear EarthTalk: What is “cogeneration” as a means of providing heat and power?
                                         —Jerry Schleup, Andover, Mass.


        {mosimage}Cogeneration — also known as combined heat and power, distributed generation, or recycled energy — is the simultaneous production of two or more forms of energy from a single fuel source. Cogeneration power plants often operate at 50 to 70 percent higher efficiency rates than single-generation facilities.
        In practical terms, what cogeneration usually entails is the use of what would otherwise be wasted heat (such as a manufacturing plant’s exhaust) to produce additional energy benefit, such as to provide heat or electricity for the building in which it is operating. Cogeneration is great for the bottom line and also for the environment, as recycling the waste heat saves other pollutant-spewing fossil fuels from being burned.
        Most of the thousands of cogeneration plants operating across the United States and Canada are small facilities operated by non-utility companies and by institutions like universities and the military. For small cogeneration plants — those that generate anywhere from one to 20 megawatts of power — biomass or even methane from garbage dumps can be used as a front-end fuel source, but natural gas is far more common as the primary input.
        For instance, Sunnyvale, California-based Network Appliance Inc., a computer networking company, relies on a one megawatt natural gas-powered cogeneration system to power the building’s extensive air conditioning needs, and for back-up power for use during peak demand times. The company estimates it saves around $300,000 a year in energy costs thanks to the cogeneration system.
        In another example, Illinois-based Epcor USA Ventures operates three mid-sized (25 megawatts and up) cogeneration power plants in San Diego to power U.S. Marine Corps and Navy bases there. All three plants work in the same way: Natural gas turbines drive electrical generators that in turn exhaust hot gases. These are then captured to drive a steam generator hooked into the bases centralized heating and cooling systems. Since the systems generate power to spare, Epcor is talking with area companies about kicking in for a share of the steam to keep their energy bills and carbon footprints in check.
        Cogeneration is not limited to stationary power plants. Honda is exploring the use of a specialized automotive cogeneration generator designed to improve the overall efficiency of hybrid vehicles by recapturing waste exhaust heat from the internal combustion engine and converting it to electricity to recharge the battery pack. The idea is still in the research and development phase, it could make its way into new cars within a few years, further improving on the already impressive efficiency of hybrid cars.

        CONTACTS: Network Appliance Inc., www.netapp.com; Epcor USA Ventures, www.primaryenergy.com; Honda Motor Company, http://world.honda.com.

        GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EarthTalk, c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; submit it at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/thisweek/, or e-mail: earthtalk@emagazine.com. Read past columns at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/archives.php.
  •     Even in the homestretch of a legislative session, it isn’t typical to have two back-to-back rallies at the General Assembly attracting hundreds of people to send diametrically opposed messages to lawmakers. But that’s what happened recently when some 200 members of the State Employees Association of North Carolina (SEANC) rallied  for bigger pay raises and then a larger crowd of more than 1,000 taxpayers and activists rallied Wednesday against burgeoning state budgets and government overreach.
        But, wait a moment. Are those two messages really at odds?
        SEANC has a beef with the General Assembly for years of poor treatment when compared to the state’s public-school teachers. The latter group has consistently gotten higher annual increases and more attention to working conditions. The former insists that the work of prison guards, mental-health professionals, and other state workers shouldn’t receive a lower value when budget time comes around.{mosimage}
        There’s a case for their position. It’s difficult to find good evidence supporting the differential treatment. Recent teacher-pay hikes don’t appear to have moved the needle much when it comes to teacher quality or student outcomes. And while education is a priority, I would certain argue that public safety is an even higher priority, the core function of government. The labor market exists for district attorneys, parole officers, and corrections officials just as much as it does for educators.
        But is arguing for better treatment of state employees inconsistent with the fiscally conservative message sounded so largely by speakers and participants at the recent Take Back Our State rally?
        Not necessarily. To some extent, the interests of current state employees and future state employees are in tension. As state and local government has continued to grow, adding new programs and agencies, tax revenues that could have been dedicated to attracting and retaining good employees to carry out preexisting state responsibilities have instead financed the addition of new state responsibilities. In future years, with a larger state workforce, the fiscal impact is higher when lawmakers approve across-the-board pay hikes. Often, that means they propose smaller ones.
    Add to that the fact that one of the biggest cost drivers in the state budget in the past decade has been Medicaid, a program that primarily directs state funds to private and nonprofit health providers, and you can start to see some common interest between aggrieved state workers and outraged state taxpayers.
        Fiscal conservatives won’t always see eye-to-eye with SEANC, certainly. Thanks to its alliance with the Service Employees International Union, SEANC is adopting a labor-union mindset in its push for collective bargaining — a cause that is both doomed and deleterious. But when it comes to setting priorities for state funds, it does make sense to stop the unjustified preference for teacher pay and the legislature’s tendency to create new subsidy programs rather than ensure that existing government programs are staffed by committed, talented, enthusiastic state workers capable of carrying out their assigned tasks.
        Workers and Taxpayers of the World, Unite!
  •     What are you reading this summer? Each year about this time I give a few suggestions of new and interesting books that have North Carolina connections.
        {mosimage}I also have a personal agenda. If you don’t know what it is, I will tell you at the end of the column. Until then, here are nine books for you to consider.
        1. Frances Mayes, bestselling author of Under the Tuscan Sun, moved to North Carolina recently. Her latest book, A Year in the World: Travels of a Passionate Traveler, is a personal, reflective, and perceptive day-by-day report of her year-long tour of Europe and the Mediterranean. (July 11, 13)
        2. Jesse Helms’ death reminds us of the question, “How is it that the same state could elect both a rock-ribbed conservative like Helms to the Senate five times and a progressive like Jim Hunt as governor four times?” Rob Christensen’s new book, The Paradox of Tar Heel Politics deals with this question and many more from North Carolina’s 20th Century political history. (July 18, 20)
        3. Robert Morgan, author of Boone: A Biography, brings his story-telling skills and his poet’s care with words to this non-fictional saga of one of America’s legendary figures. His account of Daniel Boone is one of my all-time favorite books. (July 25, 27)
        4. Imagine, if you can, that you are a young African-American girl growing up in the sleepy, segregated Raleigh of the 1920s. Then you are sent away to live in Harlem. How do you adapt to an entirely different world? In Celeste’s Harlem Renaissance, author Eleanora Tate sets her readers right down in that little girl’s shoes. (Aug. 1, 3)
        5. Wake Forest professor Eric Wilson thinks that our worship of happiness is misguided. In Against Happiness: In Praise of Melancholy, he explains why times of sadness might be important seasonings for a genuinely satisfying life. If you are looking for some serious and thought provoking reading, consider Against Happiness. (Aug 8, 10)
        6. Wayne Caldwell’s first novel Cataloochee, is, like Charles Frazier’s Cold Mountain, about a Confederate veteran who returns to the mountains to make a life. But, unlike Frazier’s Inman, Caldwell’s Confederate veteran goes on to live a long life — a hard mountain life of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  (Aug 15, 17)
        7. Most of us know that North Carolina Native Americans were rounded up and sent west on the Trail of Tears in the 1830s. But a lot of what we think we know is not all true. The Cherokee Nation and the Trail of Tears by Theda Perdue and Michael D. Green is a short, manageable history that describes the political background and complicated maneuverings from the sides of both the Cherokees and the American government.  (Aug 22, 24)
        8. Bernie Harberts sailed a boat alone around the world. When he got back to North Carolina, he says that he decided that equine travel actually made more sense. So he traded his boat in for a mule and pony and rode them across America. He tells about these travels in Too Proud to Ride a Cow: By Mule Across America. (Aug 29, 31)
        9. Raleigh native Jean Anderson is the bestselling and award-winning author of more than 20 cookbooks. Her latest, A Love Affair with Southern Cooking: Recipes and Recollections, is a cookbook, a memoir, a cultural history of our region, and a celebration of southern food.  (Sept 5, 7)
        What is my secret agenda for sharing these book ideas with you? All these books will be featured on UNC-TV’s North Carolina Bookwatch during the coming weeks (on the dates noted at the end of each paragraph above). So while I want you to consider reading the books, I really hope you will tune in on the dates indicated and hear the authors talk about their books and how they came to write them.
  •     I recently introduced The Alternative Energy Advancement Act (H.R. 6383), which seeks to use proceeds from domestic oil and gas production to increase the development of new alternative energy technologies by diverting all federal proceeds from future oil and gas leases, on and off shore, into a newly created Alternative Energy Trust Fund. Let me explain the legislation:
        {mosimage}Our working families are watching in amazement as the price of gas goes up daily. In the short run, I believe we need to use more of the oil and gas that is available here in our country. Over the long run, I believe we need to develop and implement new alternative energy sources. This legislation seeks to accomplish both of these goals by using the proceeds from oil and gas leases to fund alternative energy research.
        There is a lot of talk going on in Washington about energy, but not much seems to be getting done. There are some who argue that we just need to use more of the oil available here in our country, while others say we need to focus all our effort on developing alternative energy sources.
        I hope this legislation can bridge the divide between Republicans and Democrats on the energy issue. This legislation creates an alternative energy trust fund so when we use more of the oil and natural gas reserves that are available in our country, the proceeds from those leases will fund the research and development of new energy sources for the future.
        Achieving energy independence is probably one of the greatest goals we can achieve as a nation. To get there, we need a mix of conservation, alternative energy production, and greater use of the vast energy resources that are available in our country. My frustration is that there is a wrongheaded philosophy on energy policy in Washington that says we can’t fully utilize the oil, coal and natural gas resources in this country, but says its OK for American families to seek direct help from Hugo Chavez — the Dictator from Venezuela.{mosimage}
        In order to lower energy costs, we must decrease our nation’s dependency on foreign sources of oil and gas. This bill would help the United States become more energy independent, which is critical to our nation’s economic security and national security. I will continue working with other common sense members in the House and Senate on a bipartisan basis to strive to make these reforms a reality, ultimately providing more relief for the consumer at the pump.
        The Alternative Energy Trust Fund will be available to the Secretary of Energy for research and development of alternative energy to help decrease our reliance on foreign energy and ultimately decrease energy for consumers.
  •     He led a peaceful march through the city of Salisbury during a tumultuous time in the 1960s and had crosses burned outside his dorm in college. He marched in protest of Winn-Dixie supermarket’s discriminatory hiring practices in downtown Asheville. His biography reads like one of his role models, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and the presence he has had in state human relations would make even the most historic civil rights activists proud. The Rev. Ron McElrath has taken a stance for civil rights and improving human relations all his life and now his tireless efforts have been rewarded by his appointment from Gov. Mike Easley as the chair of the North Carolina State Human Relations Commission. Rest assured that McElrath, Fayetteville-Cumberland Human Relations director, will continue his pursuit of human relations harmony in this state commission leadership position. {mosimage}
        McElrath was publicized in the New York Times in the 1970s when, as the director of the Asheville-Buncombe Community Relations Council, his office handled a fair housing discrimination case that led to a jury awarding thousands of dollars to a minority family. McElrath was the executive director of the Florida Commission on Human Relations from 1991 to 2000, under the late Gov. Lawton Childs and Gov. Jeb Bush. McElrath’s work to build, maintain and strengthen human relations continues to be exemplary in the Fayetteville-Cumberland community.   
        “Ron has done a terrific job as the Fayetteville-Cumberland Human Relations director, gaining national and state recognition, so he is a perfect pick for state human relations commission chair,” Assistant City Manager Stanley Victrum said. “Through the nationally renowned Study Circles program that he has developed here in Fayetteville, and in light of his work in Asheville and Florida, Ron has proven himself to be a topnotch human relations professional, who well represents the city of Fayetteville and Cumberland County and will adeptly represent our state in human relations matters.”  
        McElrath succeeds Jan Coley, who works for the Fayetteville Police Department.
        For more information on the North Carolina State Human Relations Commission, visit www.doa.state.nc.us/hrc/. McElrath can be reached at 433-1605.

    Yard Sale Permits A Part of Summer
     
        Sunny weather brings citizens out in droves for yard sales and with that, the City Inspections Department would like to remind citizens to obtain yard sale permits, which are required in the city limits. Yard sales are plentiful during warmer months — the Inspections Department issues approximately 150 yard sale permits, at $10 apiece, each month during the summertime. Three yard sales are allowed per address per year, maintaining residential aspects of neighborhoods.
        “We limit traffic and reduce the number of retail sales in residential areas by limiting the amount of yard sales per house,” said Jim Alexander, interim inspections director.
        Yard sale permits must also be acquired for sales at commercial properties and private properties and organizations, like schools and businesses. If someone wants to use commercial property for a yard sale, they must have a written letter from a manager or owner of the property.
        If a church is having a sale at the church, the fee is waived. The permit is good for one day or two consecutive days.
        Citizens may have three signs up to four square feet each on the property of the sale and five directional signs, not exceeding two square feet, on private property with the owner’s permission. Posting signs on utility poles and traffic signs is not permitted.
        For more information about yard sale permits, you may call the Inspections Department at 433-1168.
  •     Fayetteville State University’s Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Science for Graduate Studies and Choral Director Marvin Curtis was a young man, there were two things he wanted to do. 
    “My goal when I got out of high school was to return to my high school and be a choir director. That was it,” said Curtis. “I thought that was the experience of a life time until I became one and thought. … ‘This is not it, there’s got to be more to life.’”
        His other goal was to be a world class concert pianist. “Then I decided that I wasn’t going to work that hard. I’m not that kind of competitor,” said Curtis. “Although I loved it, it just wasn’t quite what I needed.”
        Like most of us, his life took some unexpected twists and turns. Curtis made history when his musical composition, The City on the Hill, was performed by the Philander Smith Collegiate Chorale and United States Marine Band at the 1993 inauguration of President Bill Clinton. He was the first African-American composer commissioned to write a choral work for a presidential inauguration.
        {mosimage}He arrived in Fayetteville in 1996 as FSU’s choral director, and was recently named the dean of the Raclin School of the Arts at Indiana University-South Bend, Ind.
        As Curtis prepares to leave Fayetteville and FSU, his fondest and proudest memories are the experiences he has shared with his students and the difference he has made in their lives.
        “I will always cherish the fact that I took these kids to Europe. This choir had never been outside of the country, so in 1998 we embarked on our first trip, a one week trip to France and I got to live my dream out — which was to conduct in the Cathedral of Notre Dame,” Curtis recalled. “That’s one of my fondest memories. I think that is one of the most enduring things we did. We took the students out of the confines of being locked to North Carolina. A lot of these students had never been out of the state, let alone out of the country, and here I had 60 college students for a week singing in Paris and Belgium.”
        There were other trips too. “You can’t take all of them to Europe, but you find opportunities,” said Curtis, recalling excursions to Vancouver, Canada, Georgia, Washington and Florida.
        And then there is the Opera Series. “I was told ‘You can’t do opera in Fayetteville.  No one is going to come.’ Well, we had 4,000 people show up and we’ve done high-class opera,” said Curtis. “If I had just listened to everybody we still would have just had a normal choir; we went outside our comfort zone, sometimes by the seat of our pants.”
    And even though it was hard work, it was worth it. “We had a good time. We brought art to the forefront. It was my chance also to be the artist I always wanted to be. We created some new adventures. We brought artists to the campus. We turned Fayetteville State into an art oasis,” said Curtis.
        Now, the challenge is going to be different. Being a dean is a lot different from being a department chair. “For the first time in 20 years I won’t be going to the classroom; I will be going to the office,” said Curtis. “I am going to have to use my creative juices with the faculty and staff. I want to take what I have learned here to Indiana, take my show on the road and see what happens.”
        Even as that yearning for something new and different pulls Curtis in a new direction, he says what he will miss most about Fayetteville is the people. “People here have been very kind to me. They’ve been very generous to me and I guess what I am going to miss that the most.”
        Fayetteville residents have one last chance to wish Curtis well by attending the performances of The Marriage of Figaro, which will be on stage at FSU’s Seabrook Auditorium July 18 and 19 at 7:30 p.m. There will be a children’s matinee on July 19 at 1 p.m., sponsored by The Youth Growth Stock Fund. The matinee is a one-hour presentation for youth and families and tickets are free. Visit the Web site to reserve seats.
        Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children and $8 for senior citizens and military.  Interested persons and groups can go to the Web site: www.uncfsu.edu for information on tickets for this event, or call 672-1276.
  •     Although the Cape Fear Regional Theatre’s season is officially over, theatre lovers have a chance to catch one more show as the theatre reprises its performance of Lunch at the Picadilly for a limited engagement, July 25-27.
        The play, based on the novel by the same name by North Carolina writer Clyde Edgerton, delighted audiences in the 2006-2007 season. Featuring, the CFRT’s Artistic Director Bo Thorp, the comedy is expected to draw a full house. The cast is preparing to take the show on the road to Parkway Playhouse in Burnsville, for a two-week engagement, and is using the brief run as a way to prepare for the event. {mosimage}
    Lunch at the Picadilly, like many of Edgerton’s other works, is set in the small town of Listre. The residents of Listre are, as a whole, a rather comical bunch. But don’t be surprised, when you meet the residents of the town, if they remind you of your favorite elderly aunt, or perhaps the cranky neighbor who lives down the road or maybe even the bossy elderly lady at your church who always has an opinion on everything and is happy to share it with anyone willing to  listen.
        In this book, you get the opportunity to meet the residents of the Rosevahen Convalescence Center. Leading the gang is Lil Olive, who is at the home recovering from a recent fall. Olive uses a walker and sits on the front porch, chitchatting with and rocking right alongside the regulars. There’s Beatrice Satterwhite; Clara Cochran, who cusses as frequently as she takes a breath; and L. Ray Flowers, the freelance preacher who reveals his dream of forming a national movement to unite churches and nursing homes (“Nurches of America”). Chaos ensues when Flowers gets the residents fired up. It’s going to be a sight you don’t want to miss.
        The music and lyrics to the show are by former Red Clay Rambler, Mike Craver.
        Shows are at 8:15 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are available at the CFT Box Office, which opens July 21. Tickets are $20 for Friday and Saturday’s performance and $15 for Sunday’s matinee. Box Office Hours:  July 21, 1-6 p.m.; Tuesday through Sunday, 2-6 p.m.
        For additional information: www.cfrt.org and for reservations call the CFRT box office at (910) 323-4233.
  •     What do Cumberland County Sheriff Earl Butler and local psychologist Dr. Robin Jenkins have in common?
        {mosimage}They both agree that the county has a serious gang problem — especially youths involved in gangs — and both are working with local agencies and officials to clean up the mess before it steals the future of more children and creates more victims of gang-related crime.
        But taking up the fight hasn’t always been a priority.
        Butler said the old party line was that Cumberland County didn’t have any gang problems. He changed his mind following a summit on gangs 10 years ago that featured officials and officers from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, as well as law enforcement representatives from such gang-infested cities as New York and Chicago.
        After the summit, Butler said he felt a need to take a closer look at the problem.
        Then came the murders.
        In 1998, as part of a gang initiation for the local branch of the nationally known Crips, Francisco Tirado and Eric Queen abducted and murdered Tracy Lambert and Susan Moore. They also abducted Debra Cheeseborugh, who was shot and left for dead on Fort Bragg Reservation, though she survived and was able to identify her would-be killers.
        The bullets were painted in the Crip’s signature blue.
        “I’ve been in office going on 14 years and that was my first real experience with a gang as creating a real problem, particularly a murder,” said Butler.
        While Butler classifies most youthful gang members as “wannabes,” living the gangster lifestyle they see portrayed by the mass media, law enforcement agencies have documented the presence of 11 verified gangs in the county, including such infamous groups as the aforementioned Crips, Bloods, Folk Nation, Gangster Disciples and MS-13.
        Butler said the sheriff’s department is utilizing several methods to identify and crack down on gangs, including enlisting the aid of the community to identify potential and actual gang members through the Cumberland Gang Hotline (433-1524) — which allows the caller to remain anonymous.
        The sheriff’s department has released Gang Awareness: A Guide For Parents & Community Members, free to the community to provide warning signs of gang involvement.
        As another answer to the growth of gangs, Butler tapped two officers to make gang investigation their primary focus. Butler said he would like to hire an entire unit to confront the problem, but economic realities make that impossible. So, standing on the thin line between gangs and the county’s residents is a pair of officers specializing in gangs: Sgt. David Dowless and Detective Nicole Poverone.
        Dowless, a member of the sheriff’s department since 1996, has steadily watched as gang influence has grown in the schools, attracting members as young as 9-10-years-old.
        “In the Spring Lake area I was called to one of the elementary schools by one of the teachers who said she never thought she’d see the day she’d be calling us out to look at one (gang member),” said Dowless. “The mother had requested that a gang officer talk to her son.”
        Dowless and Poverone said that cracking down via law enforcement helps neutralize gangs and the problems they create in the schools and communities; however, Dowless said this is only a “Band-Aid” approach — that the problem is social and must be confronted at its roots.
        That’s where Dr. Jenkins comes into the picture. As executive director of CommuniCare — a nonprofit agency under the auspices of the United Way of Cumberland County — Jenkins accepts referrals from school resource officers and legal and judicial authorities when children at risk of joining gangs or already involved in gangs are identified. CommuniCare then works with the child and the child’s family to formulate a plan to alter the destructive behavior.
        However, the trick is getting the parents to come along for the ride.
        “If they’re not court-compelled to participate, we can’t force them to do that, only recommend that they do so,” said Jenkins. “Our biggest challenges are to try and educate parents that this is not a passing fad because it can grow into something serious. We are faced with a lot of parents who are doing the best they can, working a couple of jobs, maybe with two or three kids at home — they need help supervising and structuring their children’s lives because they are relying on the older children to watch their child.{mosimage}
        “Even if they come and say ‘I agree. I want my child to have all these services,’ getting them to those services is problematic,” added Jenkins, noting that working parents often don’t have the time or can’t afford to take the time off to make the appointments.
        If the parents and suspected gang member do agree to visit CommuniCare’s office, Jenkins said behavior modification is used to try and set the child straight. The child is taught life skills and how to make ethical choices and form positive relationships. He’s also given the hard truth: Gang life ends in prison.
        But Jenkins said you have to be diplomatic when you talk to suspected gang members. “It’s not useful to try and argue a kid out of a gang,” said Jenkins. “It’s the same as if in a normally developing child who wants to grow his hair long or wants to wear the same dirty shirt for three days straight. The more you hammer away at somebody, the more oppositional they become.”
        While Jenkins said the county’s school system records “hundreds” of suspected gang activities annually, CommuniCare had just 40 youth walk through the door in about a year’s time. And even though he said the group has had some success, the final outcome is not known. What he does know is that it takes a whole community to solve the youth gang issue.
        “Parents really need to be involved,” said Jenkins. “Law enforcement and CommuniCare can’t solve this. What makes a community safe from youth crime is a very positive system of parental engagement, strong social supports, church and faith-based organizations — a real community effort. We can’t do this by ourselves.”



     











  •     You would think it would be a cold day in Miami before a 40-something former jock who hadn’t skated in more than 10 years would suit up and hit the ice for the Fayetteville FireAntz.
        Or maybe you believe you’d see snow in south Florida before you’d see that same “old man” come out of retirement after a 20-year layoff to play left field for the Fayetteville Swampdogs?
        OK then, wash off the Coppertone and put on the snow parka because Miami Subs’ owner Jimmy Diamantopoulos, 41, has done both, playing with the FireAntz for four years and spending two seasons suiting up for the Swampdogs.{mosimage}
        Diamantopoulos said his involvement with the local sports teams — playing against and with young men sometimes half his age — started out as a “joke.”
        “I played hockey in Canada for a lot of years and baseball in college,” said Diamantopoulos, who sports a Greek name and heritage, but was raised in Canada. “For a promotional thing the owners said they were going to bring me out of retirement and do this and do that... Come on out and skate for us for fun. It was a promotional night.”
        While Diamantopoulos goes out on the ice and diamond to put on a show for the home fans, he’s also serious about his part-time play. As a member of the FireAntz, he scored a goal in a shootout; as a member of the Swampdogs, he’s had five-at bats, recording a sacrifice, getting on base twice via a pair of errors, and smacking one ball to the warning track.
        “We all thought it was leaving the park,” said Diamantopoulos, smiling broadly as he sat in one of the booths at the Skibo Road restaurant he has owned for four years.
        And he brings in a crowd, too. Last year, the FireAntz sold 5,000 tickets after promoting Diamantopoulos’ appearance on the ice, though a last-minute glitch kept him from skating that night.
    And you better believe Kevin MacNaught, owner and general manager of the FireAntz, knows a good promotion when he sees one.
        “A lot of the local Greek community comes here to see Jimmy play,” said MacNaught. “He’s a local businessman who has shown a great interest in hockey, both playing and coming to the games.”
        MacNaught said he had to jump through a few hoops to get the OK for him to play hockey in the Southern Professional Hockey League, but he’s glad to have him and plans on having more promotional nights featuring Diamantopoulos.
        “We raised a lot of money for the local Greek church,” said MacNaught.
    And how do his teammates react to playing with a man who in the sports vernacular is considered a senior citizen?
        “The players love it,” said Diamantopoulos. “They see this older guy coming and playing with them. Obviously, they put in their jokes — they put canes in my locker and put a wheelchair one time. It’s all fun... I like it.”
        FireAntz goalie Chad Collins also likes it.
        “He does OK for an old man,” said Collins. “It’s really fun to have him out there. And he can play.”
    In addition to his age, Diamantopoulos plays with a physical handicap: He lost 15 percent of one of his leg muscles in a car accident while living in Pittsburgh about 15 years ago. And then there are the common aches and pains he suffers through in the days after a match. However, he limits the big hurt by practicing twice a week at Fort Bragg’s Cleland Multipurpose Sports Complex with current and former FireAntz players, as well as the Army club team, the Fayetteville Dragons.
        His competitiveness on the field and ice is indicative of his drive in the kitchen. When he came to Fayetteville four years ago, Miami Subs — a southern-based franchise — had the worst sales in North Carolina. Now, it leads the state in sales; he attributes some of his success to his involvement in baseball and hockey.
        “It adds to my business but it adds to their business, too,” said Diamantopoulos. “Customers bring pictures and I’ve signed thousands of them. I keep stuff here for them. A lot of people come here with the families to see me.”
        He hasn’t played with the local indoor football franchise, the Fayetteville Guard, but he also hasn’t completely slammed the door on the idea.{mosimage}
        “Everybody’s wishing for that but I’ve never played football,” joked Diamantopoulos. “I could probably do a little kick or could get the ball and kneel down before the big guys hit me.”
    So, the million-dollar question remains: Does he intend to keep playing hockey and baseball?
        “Everybody asks me if I’m going to keep doing it and I say as long as I can still do it, let me do it,” said Diamantopoulos.
  •     One has only to scan the headlines of the newspaper, turn on the TV or scan the headlines of news Web sites to know that we are deep in the midst of the political season. The American political process is one of the most vibrant and intriguing in the world. People love it or hate it. Some local residents who are on the “love it” end of the spectrum hope to share their love of the process and their passion for the system with the community on Friday, July 18, at the Obama Jam at Festival Park.                                                                 The event, organized by the Cumberland County Obama Grass Roots Committee, is designed to keep folks involved in the process and to keep their interest up, particularly in the dog days of summer before the political conventions. And while politics is usually a more serious subject, the organizers of the Obama Jam want to make it fun, so they’ve brought together some of the area’s top musicians to perform a free concert for the community.
    “The grass roots focus is really aimed at keeping people involved, encouraging voter registration, reaching out to volunteers and asking people to pledge to vote in November,” said Grainger Barrett, a member of the grassroots committee.
        Barrett definitely falls on the love it end of the spectrum when it comes to the political process. He has been and will continue to watch the unfolding presidential election with a great deal of interest. He sees the race between Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain as a turning point in the political process, noting that both candidates are working toward a move civil discourse. “They want to disagree without being disagreeable,” he said. “I think that’s marvelous. It’s what citizens are asking for from our leaders.”
        He said that choice by the candidates is making a difference in citizen participation in the process. “Participation and interest (in the political process) is higher than ever before, and I think it is attributable to that attitude that both candidates offer us,” he said.
        It is in that same vein that the committee put together the Obama Jam. It is not designed to be the political rally of the past. Candidates won’t be stumping, and there won’t be a lot of speeches. What there will be is information. Voter registration booths will be set up on the grounds of Festival Park. Organizers say they will gladly register anyone — no matter what party they choose. Democratic and nonpartisan candidates for office will have the opportunity to set up booths to hand out information. There will also be booths designed to highlight volunteer opportunities in the upcoming election. And, since it is an Obama Jam, there will be information about the candidate available, as well as vendors selling Obama gear. But again, it’s not a political rally. There will be food, and there will be music.
        “The goal of the event is to get people involved, informed and excited,” said Sharon Barrett.
        Both Barretts pointed out that there is no prerequisite to come to the jam. You don’t have to be a Democrat or even an Obama supporter. “Just come out and have fun,” said Grainger. “Get involved in the process and get a little information.”
        In Cumberland County, the need for involvement in the process is crucial. During the primaries, voter participation was high; but sadly, it still didn’t reach 50 percent of the registered voters. Peaking that interest takes more than speeches, it takes an informed electorate.
        Barrett chronicled his own interest in politics from the time he was a child watching the Nixon/Kennedy debates and later the campaign of Robert Kennedy. “There was a level of investment then that a lot of folks don’t have today, but it’s getting better and that’s great,” he said. “We’re not all supposed to be all the same or have the same ideas,” he said. “But if we can get folks talking, that talking is what makes our country greater. And we want to do our part in our community.”{mosimage}

    The Particulars

        The Obama Jam will start at 6 p.m. in Festival Park, as Rahmeka Cox, Miss North Carolina Junior Teen, sings the National Anthem. Nothing gets a political function going faster than the National Anthem, and from there, the music just keeps flowing.
        One of the bands signed on to play the event has been a Fayetteville favorite for a number of years. The Parsons, who categorize their music as “uptown hillbilly swing,” will be sure to get the party rolling. Their music is, in their own words, “just as comfortable in overalls as it is dressed up for a night on the town.” It’s a mix of ragtime, blues, bluegrass, swing and folk music. The band maintains it puts a spring in the step of its audience by offering two- and three-part harmonies, complemented by guitar, bass, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, dobro, lap steel, ukulele, spoons and the harmonica.
        {mosimage}The band is comprised of Caroline Parsons, who has been involved in a number of organizations in the city ranging from the animal protection society to the symphony; Jon Parsons, the director of Sustainable Sandhills; David Burke and Jerome Hawkes. They say they have gained their seasoning through “decades of festivals, concerts, club and radio performances, not to mention years of contented picking on the porches, tailgates and barn floors of America.”
    Their listeners couldn’t agree more. “Quality performances. True and sincere. Toe tapping and knee slapping. This is what characterizes the art of Jon and Caroline Parsons. They delightfully blend education and entertain to the joy of all audiences,” noted Leisa Brown, director, Museum of the Cape Fear.
        Dan Speller and His Bluespell will also be sure to get the audience rocking. Speller, a retired Army noncommissioned officers, plays all around the region and the local area. In June he headlined at the Pate Room at the Headquarter Library during Fourth Friday. He played to a packed house.
        Speller, a native of Flushing, N.Y., has been playing music all of his life; he maintains it all started with the “beat of his mother’s heart.” He developed an interest in music while listening to his older brothers’ records and attempting to sing and play along with them in the ‘60s and ‘70s. He moved to the mountains of North Carolina at the age of 13, where he developed his musical craft, learning to play guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and the harp.
        In 1975, he joined the Army, and spent some time seeing the world. That time was put to good use, acquiring musical inspiration from different countries and cultures. Upon retirement from the military in 1996, he committed all his time and energy to his music. His musical taste is as varied as his background — he likes blues, rock, jazz, country, beach, reggae, funk and classical. He is currently recording, composing and producing his own CD on his Bluespell record label. You’re definitely not going to want to miss his set at the jam.
        Jeff Patterson and Company, a gospel group, is also appearing at the jam. Patterson has been performing gospel music his whole life, and has traveled extensively throughout the South and on the east coast. He has performed on the Bobby Jones Gospel hour on BET and has performed in the theatre.
        Organizers believe there is a little bit of something to please everyone. So bring a blanket or a chair. Don’t worry about dinner, vendors will be on hand to feed you, and children’s games and a children’s area will be set up to keep your little ones happy.
        In case we forgot to mention it, the event is free. So bring an open mind and prepare to become informed, involved and excited!!

  •     Aaaah... the days of parachute pants, big hair and spandex.{mosimage}
        I’m talking about the 1980s, when MTV still played music and such bands as Culture Club, the Cars and A Flock of Seagulls ruled the roost of FM radio.
        You’ll get a chance to revisit the music of that decade on Thursday, July 17, when ‘80s cover band Suicide Blonde plays Festival Park as part of Fayetteville After Five.
        Suicide Blonde, a Raleigh-based band, has a long and diverse set list of music from the ‘80s, ranging from AC/DC’s “Back In Black” to Rick Springfield’s “Jesse’s Girl.”
        But don’t think this is just a nostalgia act for burned out Yuppies who spend their night’s watching reruns of Magnum P.I. while sipping Bartles & Jaymes — bassist Warren Sumner said the band attracts a broad range of listeners from across the age spectrum.
        “I’ll look into the crowd and see teenagers singing along with the songs,” said Sumner. “They know all these songs. There’s been a resurgence in the popularity of music from the ‘80s.”
        Sumner said the band formed a little more than four years ago and that he joined up about three years ago when his old band, Sugar Daddy, broke up. As fate would have it, Suicide Blonde’s drummer, Lane Moss, had been a member of Sugar Daddy during Moss’s tenure; almost to the day that Sugar Daddy broke up, it lost its bass player and Moss called Sumner to fill the void.
        “I’ve played a lot of different music,” said Sumner. “All varieties, really, and this is my favorite music to play. And we don’t play just the best-known songs from back then; we do some more obscure songs such as ‘China Girl’ by David Bowie and ‘Tempted’ by Squeeze. I mean, everyone knows Bon Jovi’s ‘Living On A Prayer,’ but we also want to play the songs that have a little more edge to them.”
        When asked where the inspiration came for an ‘80s cover band, Sumner had a simple answer: The girls.
        “We get so many girls at our shows who love this music,” said Sumner with a chuckle. “We decided we could either play alternative rocks for guys in black T-shirts or we could perform in front of a bunch of cute girls.
        “Actually, it’s just the type of music we love to play,” added Sumner. “There’s so much good music from that era.”
        The band’s lead singer, Dave Adams, saw some big success of his own in the decade of big hair, earning a Top 40 hit called “On a Carousel” with the band Glassmoon. He also visited England to record an album with producer David Lord, who worked with such musical legends as Peter Gabriel and Tears for Fears.
    “Dave’s just a great singer who really belts it out,” said Sumner.
        Sumner also has praise for his other band mates, saying guitarist Dustin Askew is one of the “best” he’s ever played with.
        “There are other musicians who are individually better than each of us,” said Sumner. “But as a group I don’t think anyone’s better.”
        And Sumner said the band gives the fans their money’s worth, playing for two to three hours, taking “very small breaks.”
        Sumner says he loves all the songs Suicide Blonde performs, but he has a special place in his heart for the band’s cover of the aforementioned Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer.”
        “That song really gets the crowd moving,” said Sumner.
        You can hear a demo of “Sledgehammer,” as well as other covers by Suicide Blonde on the band’s Web page, www.suicideblonde.com.
        Though mostly hired to play corporate gigs, Sumner said the band loves playing in clubs and at frat parties.
        “You’d be surprised at the reception we get at frat houses at places such as the University of Virginia,” said Sumner. “They love this music. And nothing beats the intimacy of playing a club.”
        However, Sumner is equally inspired about the prospect of playing in the great outdoors of Festival Park and for the Fayetteville After Five crowd.
        “I played Fayetteville a number of times with previous bands,” said Sumner, “but this is the first time Suicide Blonde has played as a group in Fayetteville; we’re really excited and looking forward to it.”
    If you’re a fan of bands such as INXS — which had a big hit with the band’s moniker, “Suicide Blonde,”  though that song isn’t on the eponymous band’s set list — make sure you show up at Festival Park on July 17 to check out the band.
        Fayetteville After Five serves as a fund-raiser for the Fayetteville Museum of Art and features food vendors and purveyor’s of adult beverages, as well as other artists on site.
        The event runs from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Bring a chair or blanket to relax on the lawn as Suicide Blonde takes you back 20 years on a roller coaster ride of ageless pop and rock.
  •     “It is through this communication whether visual or conversational that we grow as a person. This is what the museum seeks to do for the citizens of Fayetteville,” explained Tom Grubb, executive director of the Fayetteville Museum of Art. He was referencing the premiere parties celebrating each changing exhibit that the museum hosts free of charge to any art lover who wishes to join them.
        The Fayetteville Museum of Art’s latest exhibit, Forsaken: Edifice & Landscape brings together three different artists who communicate a singular theme in stunning ways. The exhibit features artists’ Joyce Fillip, Rachel Herrick and Rudy Rudisill as they explore themes of abandonment through rich textures from architecture and nature.
    Joyce Fillip studies waterspouts, earthquakes, tornadoes, tidal waves and waterfalls, all of which suggest the awesome majestic power and force of nature. They communicate energy, uncertainty, threat, tension and fear. As Fillip translates these forces of nature to paper and into art, the images become “read as metaphors for psychological states of mind.” The large scale of her drawing and their dramatic contrasts of dark and light reinforce the galvanic impact of nature that inspired the work.
        Rachel Herrick’s mixed-media work focuses on cultural landscapes and communication or lack contained therein. Her antiquated look at towns forgotten strikes any person who laments the convenience of the modern life, and finds that the convenience somehow has stripped society of its simplicity. Her muted tones of forlorn townscapes remind in an eerie way what modern society has forsaken and abandoned. This sense of seclusion but idealized past might be an indication of where the artist calls home — the isolated winters and picturesque summers of Maine.
        {mosimage}The only sculpturist featured in the exhibit, Rudy Rudisill also communicates forgotten townscapes, but addresses each forgotten shed, barn and house with his detailed galvanized steel and copper. He brushes each with acid for a corrosive effect that is quite effectual. Born in Gastonia, N.C., Rudisill conjures a building lost and abandoned, excavating it from memory. The work is simultaneously contemporary and traditional, industrial and pastoral as Rudisill explores the relationship of physical elements to their symbolic implications. By bringing together various textures and architectonic forms, personal, cultural and historical elements bind together in and homage to the changing landscape. In the artist’s own words, he feels his pieces are homage to the “vague overtures to the psychosexual ramifications of good bourbon and long drives in the country.” In addition, his pieces offer a unique sense of science fiction to the viewer by “freezing time, each image - specific to itself - a fragment of the continuum of production. Light scatters, gathers, darkness comes and goes. Eyesight, hindsight, blind sight, upside down banana.”
        The premiere party is on July 18, from 6-8 p.m., and will feature the live band Suncoup from Chapel Hill. The duo’s atmospheric fuse of Shoegaze and Indie Rock is a perfect addition to the subject matter at hand — the lonely and turbulent and altogether beautiful world of abandonment. Get a sneak preview of their delicate rock at www.Myspace.com/Suncoup. Should you miss the chance to expand your horizons on  the 18th, the exhibit will be showcased until September 7, free of charge. For more information call the Museum of Art at 910-485-5121 or visit the Web site at www.FayettevilleMuseumArt.org.
  •     I recently had a delightful conversation with my father’s first cousin who lives in the western part of the state. A retired doctor with an interest in genealogy, George wanted to talk about a family cemetery in Sampson County, now barely accessible even though he knows the way and has a key to the gate.
        We agreed to visit later this summer once I can round up my three children to go with us.                                                A few days later George sent me a copy of an old newspaper article about an elderly fellow in Wade who had been named for my grandfather, whom I never knew. The man recounted what his parents had told him about his arrival on this Earth. My grandfather, a doctor in then small-town Fayetteville, had delivered the baby. His parents, it seems, had simply run out of resources to pay the hospital bill and asked my grandfather if he had any ideas. The family’s legend has it that he said, “Well, I can’t put him back, so name him for me.” {mosimage}
        So they did.
        All families have their stories, and I am looking forward to our time with George, one of the remaining members of the same generation as my father, who would have been 90 this month. I also relish time with my own children sharing our stories of their pasts and building new ones.
    That may be why a recent article in Newsweek caught me by surprise, flying in the face of what I have always thought of as conventional wisdom that having children is one of life’s greatest rewards.
    Writer Lorraine Ali, however, reports both data and anecdotal evidence that childless couples are “happier” than those of us who are parents.
        Well!
        Like you, I hear young parents moan about sleepless nights and no time to themselves, and I confess to having said the same things myself during the ‘80s and ‘90s. Being a parent is stressful at all stages, from wailing infancy to high stakes school testing to surly teen years to the struggles of young adults making their way in the real world. It is also expensive. Newsweek quotes these figures just for starters: $414.42 a year for school supplies and lunches in public school, $16,440 for private day school, $35,087 for private boarding school, $13,589 for public college and $32,307 for a private college.
    Those eye-popping numbers do not include ordinary living expenses like clothes and transportation during the years at home or away at school.
        So, what is the evidence regarding happiness or a lack thereof?
        Harvard psychologist Daniel Gilbert whose book Stumbling Toward Happiness made him a bestselling author cites several studies which indicate that marital satisfaction goes down significantly with the birth of the first child and creeps up again when the last babe leaves the nest and that parents prefer chores like going to the grocery store to being with their children. Robin Simon, a sociologist at Florida State University, is even more blunt. She has analyzed data from 13,000 Americans and has this to say: “In fact, no group of parents — married, single, step or even empty nest — reported significantly greater emotional well-being than people who have never had children. It’s such a counterintuitive finding because we have these cultural beliefs that children are the key to happiness and a healthy life and they’re not.”
        Have parents always felt this way?
        Who knows, but I suspect not. In prior generations, having children was less of a choice than it is today, and children were needed and expected to contribute to the family by working in whatever ways they could. Today, becoming a parent is often an emotional choice, and who among us is going to ‘fess up that such choice may have compromised our own lives in some way?
        Perhaps we expect too much from becoming a parent as well.
        I know of no human relationship that is without strain. Even the most beautiful and perfect bundle of joy can shriek and drive you to distraction. Even the smartest and most accomplished and promising student can mouth off to his parents, or, more painful still, do something that is deliberately disappointing. Even the seemingly happiest family life can pale compared to the perceived glamour of a successful career with a handsome paycheck. While we may romanticize and fantasize cherubic babies and smart, beautiful children, the daily reality of parenting is daunting, gritty and life-long.
        {mosimage}As the mother of three young adults, I have no idea what my life would have been like without them nor have I ever thought about it since, as my grandfather reportedly said, I cannot put them back. I do know, though, that the three of them have provided my life’s most exhilarating, most terrifying, most frustrating, most boring, most challenging, most surprising, most elated and saddest moments. I know of no emotion I have not experienced through them and for them.
        And, yes, for me, the primary emotion has been happiness.
  •     Actors and comedians know it. Accomplished cooks know it. Athletes certainly know it. Timing is everything. Responsible political leaders know it, too, which is why the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners chose not to place a bond referendum for parks and recreation capital projects on the ballot this November.
        To have done so would have doomed the initiative. Local residents are weary of taxes and they know with a certainty that passage of the bond referendum would involve a property tax hike.
    Furthermore, aspects of the proposed joint bond issue concerned commissioners. It had been agreed at a joint city council/county commission meeting on April 8 that both governing bodies needed to know the staffing requirements and operational costs for each project and the plan for marketing the bond issue, as well as an agreed upon time for a bond issue.
        {mosimage}None of this information was presented to the board of commissioners. Nor was there any discussion about which jurisdiction would have responsibility for issuing bonds.
        Also, there was disparity between the projects as outlined in the Five Year Action Plan approved by the county commission in June 2006 and the projects outlined in the 2008 Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission recommendations. Cost estimates were significantly higher and the 2008 recommendations included projects that were not in the master plan.
        It is necessary now to take the time to address the important operating costs for each separate project, to resolve the disparities between the current recommendations and the master plan, to come to consensus on the marketing plan for a bond issue, and to determine the jurisdiction to have responsibility for issuing the bonds.
        Another alternative is for the City of Fayetteville to put the matter on the November ballot. That option is open until Aug. 6. All but one of the projects is within the city limits, and it would be entirely their prerogative to move forward with a bond issue, should the city council choose to do so.
        Cumberland County commissioners want an enhanced Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation. We are aware of the disappointment felt by certain constituencies with the decision not to proceed with a bond referendum in November. However, when the due diligence has been completed, and the timing is right for success — that’s when the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners will act on this matter. To have acted precipitously on this important community initiative would have been irresponsible and would have doomed the issue to failure.
  •     Editor’s Note: Bob Cogswell has been an important member of our city’s landscape for quite some time, and a great friend of UCW. With his first efforts at commentary for UCW, we inadvertently gave him the nom de plum Bill Cogswell. Our apologies Bob.

        Ticketgate (Jones v. Knight) has spurred considerable public comment and debate in recent months relating to ethics of elected, appointed and employed public officials. This event occurred last fall, and yet it still generates significant media and back-office political attention each time something occurs as it methodically proceeds through the legal system, the latest being pleadings filed in the lawsuit between the two drivers involved. Unless it is settled, the lawsuit will eventually reach a decision on who is to be believed — Ms. Knight or Mr. Jones. By the way, try to find 12 jurors in Cumberland County who can say they have not heard or read about the incident.
        Little comment has been made regarding existing city policies, and the fact that initially they were followed, in that the mayor contacted the manager, who in turn contacted the police chief. Chavonne/Iman/Bergamine have all made public statements about the night in question and it is what it is — nothing is going to change what happened, and what each one did.  {mosimage}
        The proposed new Ethics Panel and guidelines being developed will once again generate debate and certainly bring out the ghosts of Ticketgate past.  What good will that do? Let’s confine the debate to the future, and not beat the drum of “shoulda’, coulda’, woulda,” regarding the conduct of Chavonne/Iman/Bergamine past tense as applied to any new ethics code. There is already one in the city code, and if it was violated back in the fall, it was for the folks in charge then to deal with.
        Legislators can debate, draft, enact and pledge to follow an ethics code.  However, ethics is not a piece of paper, but an indwelling attitude that we acquire early on in life. Our sense of right vs. wrong is learned from our parents, teachers and life experiences, but first and foremost, it is matter of the heart.  A former council member, Curtis Worthy, said it best: “You cannot legislate ethics.” Ask yourself, when confronted with an ethical choice, do you consult the rules or go with your conscience first?
        Such events and the ongoing attention they receive are not unusual or unique to any community, but there comes a time when it is best to lay the coffin to rest. Unless the waters part and some divine message from above makes everyone all of a sudden an ethical role model, what good does it do to keep harping on the issue?
        As a whole, our community has been blessed for years with right-thinking and honest leaders that did not need a set of rules to do the right thing. Rules are important and have a place, but the place is in the heart. If we need rules, try these, which are on tablets in the old Cumberland County Courthouse:
        “Thy shalt not lie, cheat, steal, or covet what is not yours.”

  •     Few people know that I have a secret desire to be on reality TV. I don’t want to be a contestant. I want to have my own reality show called What Were You Thinking? Recent headlines relating to the brouhaha between Cumberland County Schools Superintendent Bill Harrison and Fayetteville City Councilman Charles Evans have given me a slew of candidates for my show – the obvious Evans and Harrison – the less obvious the parents of the students at the school, T.C. Berrien, that started the discussion between the two.{mosimage}
        So, let’s avoid the elephant in the middle of the room for a few minutes and start with the less obvious problem. Evans maintains that the parents and faculty at the school were afraid to speak up about the roach problem at their school. Really? People are really afraid to talk about a roach problem? What has the school system been doing – executing staff at dawn and expelling children to the far reaches of Siberia? I think not. If, in fact, there was a raging cockroach problem at the school and no one said anything, and needed Mr. Evans to take a stand for them, then the entire staff needs to be fired and the parents all need to go to parenting classes.
    No one speaks louder or better for the rights of children than their parents and the teachers and administrators who are in the school every day. I cannot believe that everyone sat silent for fear of retribution and didn’t tell anyone in the principal’s office, the maintenance office or the superintendent’s office that bugs were more numerous than teacher work days. Had anyone stepped up to the plate, we wouldn’t be where we are now. Shame on them.
    Now to the elephant.
        I have to say up front, I like both these guys. Dr. Harrison is responsible for bringing the Cumberland County Schools system out of the dark ages. He has, and continues to work diligently and passionately, for the children of our community. He is a capable educator with a proven track record. Councilman Evans, during his tenure on the council, has tackled some tough issues and taken some unpopular stands — and that’s commendable. So, it makes this a particularly tough column to write; however …..
        Without a doubt, Dr. Harrison, who is usually a man of great tact, spoke out of school. When I read the article, where Dr. Harrison compared Mr. Evans to D.C. Mayor Marion Barry, I turned to my friend Jerry and asked, “What was he thinking?”
        I can’t imagine what was going through Harrison’s mind or thoughts when he made the comment. It was, and remains totally out of character for this respected educator. But, it has to be said, he was out-of-line.
    I was not surprised to read that Harrison apologized for his comments. That is in line with the gentleman I know. Harrison will suffer from his mistake — he’s doing it now — in the newspapers and in the court of public opinion. It’s my hope that he can weather this storm and continue to do what he does best — build a better school system for our children.
        Now the ball is in Mr. Evans’ court. Without a doubt, he was done wrong here, and Harrison has admitted it. But Mr. Evans now has to step up to the plate and do the right thing. Headlines aside and newsprint be darned, Evans needs to look at the bigger picture and see that in the end, taking this issue to the mat will benefit no one. Had the issue of bugs been discussed through proper channels instead of on the front page of the newspaper, this would, again, have been a non-issue. Mr. Evans has fallen into the trap of many people new to the political arena — he’s quick to play to the media before working the issue quietly. But that’s something he’ll learn over time.
        Back to the issue at hand. There are not many people who, once involved with drugs, make the kind of turnaround that Mr. Evans has made. And I, along with every other Fayetteville citizen, should commend him. But, he has to understand that the bad thing about having a past is that it will sometimes rise up and bite you. This is not the first time Charles’ past has been raised. It was, in fact, raised during a city council meeting by employees of a homeless shelter when that issue was front and center. That reference did not make headlines. It didn’t sell papers.
        Evans must face the unfortunate truth that many in public life have had to face — you can’t escape your past.
        When I read Evans’ comments in reference to Harrison’s apology, I again had to ask, “What was he thinking?”
        Instead of manning up, taking the high road and accepting Harrison’s apology, Mr. Evans took the low road, turning the issue into one of race. It was never, and has never been one of race, and there was no need to go there. Playing the race card benefits no one — not Evans, not the school system and its staff or the children they serve.
        From where I stand, there have been a plethora of mistakes made. That’s the past. Where we go and what we do from here is what counts. It is my hope that Evans will show our city that he is the type of man who can show grace; that Dr. Harrison will think before he speaks; and that the parents and the staff of our school system will use their voices when they need to be heard.
  • It's that time again... the annual Best of Fayetteville Issue. Tell us which is your favorite restaurant, sports pub, etc., and we will tally the votes and announce the winners in September. Please print out the ballots below, follow the instructions included on the ballots and mail to the attached address. And don't forget... Rock The Vote!

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  • The Joy Of Ex
        My boyfriend stays in touch with many exes, including one he was wild about who calls as his “friend” to tell him why I’m wrong for him. How do I know? He tells me. Can I ask him to put his past in the past? He tells me not to worry, but how can I not when she’s a woman with whom he had an intense sexual thing?                                          

    —Disturbed

        As far as one’s current partner is concerned, there are three kinds of sex one’s had with one’s exes: Bad sex, boring sex and really bad, really boring sex. And then there’s your current partner, hanging up the phone and announcing: “Hey, just talked to my ex, the one I had all that mind-blowing sex with, who keeps insisting I can do better than you. And how was your day, Honey?” Sorry, but why is he telling you this? He’s immature? Insecure? Passive-aggressive? Or just a blithering idiot? You don’t tell a guy who he can talk to, but you can tell him what you do and don’t need to hear. Do that, and see whether he comes around — and with more than a “Why Your Girlfriend’s Not Good Enough” pie chart from his ex.

    SOME LIKE IT DOT COM
       My boyfriend stays in touch with many exes, incluAfter my boyfriend moved in with me, he basically started “playing dead” when I made advances. I discovered he’s engaging in online sex chats. I’m thinking this is why he never had anything left for me. I asked him to leave, and he did. Now, he’s apologizing and begging me to take him back. Do you think he was just being greedy and feeling trapped by commitment? Or, do you think this is a serious addiction?
                                                                                     —Reconsidering

        {mosimage}As far as one’s current partner is concerned, there are three kinds of sex one’s had with one’s exes: Bad sex, boring sex and really bad, really boring sex. And then there’s your current partner, hanging up the phone and announcing: “Hey, just talked to my ex, the one I had all that mind-blowing sex with, who keeps insisting I can do better than you. And how was your day, Honey?” Sorry, but why is he telling you this? He’s immature? Insecure? Passive-aggressive? Or just a blithering idiot? You don’t tell a guy who he can talk to, but you can tell him what you do and don’t need to hear. Do that, and see whether he comes around — and with more than a “Why Your Girlfriend’s Not Good Enough” pie chart from his ex.

    Got a problem? Write Amy Alkon, 171 Pier Ave, #280, Santa Monica, CA  90405, or e-mail AdviceAmy@aol.com (www.advicegoddess.com)

  •     Most people like gadgets. Admit it, even though when you jump on your bike you’re thinking about the open road, your mind might still wander to some cool gadget or accessory that you saw that just might make your ride a little more enjoyable. And there’s no shame in that.
    Here’s a list of a few gadgets that just might catch your eye. They aren’t necessities, but they just might make your ride a little more fun. 
        {mosimage}The Throttle Rocker. The throttle rocker allows you to rest your wrist, keeping the throttle at a constant speed for long distance highway rides.. Once you put a throttle rocker on the throttle, you can forget that it is there, and use it as a cradle for your right wrist. So cheap and so useful!
        There are other cruise control “systems” that can you let you cruise long distances without using your right hand to keep the throttle rolled at a constant speed.
        Battery Charger. Nothing is more irritating or dampens the joy of the open road more than a dead battery. So a small, inexpensive, battery charger is almost a necessity, after all, you don’t want to get stuck on the side of the road, you want to own it. There are various type of battery chargers, you just need to make sure that it is a low voltage charger.
        Hydration system. Another very useful of the many motorcycle gadgets, particularly for long trips, is some sort of hydration system. A long tube connected to a bag of fluid, that you can use when you need some water.
        A hydration system has a dual function during really hot weather. You can fill the reservoir with ice cubes and water, for an “air conditioning” system and a source of refreshing cold water. You’re still going to need to stop for bathroom breaks, but you are going to be cooler on the road. Many in the military are well acquainted with the Camel Back system — not only does it come in handy in the sanbox, it’s also great when you get a chance to play.
        Another”must have” motorcycle gadget relates to tires — you should really carry a pressure gauge, as well as a tire repair kit.
        Finally, taking a first-aid kit on the road is just common sense. You never know what you are going to encounter on the open road, and you don’t know where you are going to be when you might need that band-aid or dab of antiseptic.
  • Dear EarthTalk: How is it that hydrogen can replace oil to run our cars? There seems to be a lot of controversy over whether hydrogen can really be generated and stored in such a way to be practical?                                
           — Stephane Kuziora, Thunder Bay, Ontario


        The jury is still out on whether hydrogen will ultimately be our environmental savior, replacing the fossil fuels responsible for global warming and various nagging forms of pollution. Two main hurdles stand in the way of mass production and widespread consumer adoption of hydrogen “fuel cell” vehicles: the still high cost of producing fuel cells, and the lack of a hydrogen refueling network.
    Reining in manufacturing costs of fuel cell vehicles is the first major issue the automakers are addressing. While several have fuel cell prototype vehicles on the road — Toyota and Honda are even leasing them to the public in Japan and California — they are spending upwards of $1 million to produce each one due to the advanced technology involved and low production runs. Toyota hopes to reduce its costs per fuel cell vehicle to around $50,000 by 2015, which would make such cars economically viable in the marketplace. On this side of the Pacific, General Motors plans to sell hydrogen-powered vehicles in the U.S. by 2010.
        {mosimage}Another problem is the lack of hydrogen refueling stations. Major oil companies have been loathe to set up hydrogen tanks at existing gas stations for many reasons ranging from safety to cost to lack of demand. But obviously the oil companies are also trying to keep customers interested in their highly profitable bread-and-butter, gasoline. A more likely scenario is what is emerging in California, where some 38 independent hydrogen fuel stations are located around the state as part of a network created by the nonprofit California Fuel Cell Partnership, a consortium of automakers, state and federal agencies and other parties interested in furthering hydrogen fuel cell technologies.
        The benefits of ditching fossil fuels for hydrogen are many, or course. Burning fossil fuels like coal, natural gas and oil to heat and cool our buildings and run our vehicles takes a heavy toll on the environment, contributing significantly to both local problems like elevated particulate levels and global ones like a warming climate. The only by-product of running a hydrogen-powered fuel cell is oxygen and a trickle of water, neither of which will cause any harm to human health or the environment.
        But right now 95 percent of the hydrogen available in the U.S. is either extracted from fossil fuels or made using electrolytic processes powered by fossil fuels, thus negating any real emissions savings or reduction in fossil fuel usage. Only if renewable energy sources — solar, wind and others — can be harnessed to provide the energy to process hydrogen fuel can the dream of a truly clean hydrogen fuel be realized.
        Stanford University researchers in 2005 assessed the environmental effects of three different hydrogen sources: coal, natural gas, and water electrolysis powered by wind. They concluded that we’d lower greenhouse gas emissions more by driving gasoline/electric hybrid cars than by driving fuel cell cars run on hydrogen from coal.
        Hydrogen made using natural gas would fare a little bit better in terms of pollution output, while making it from wind power would a slam-dunk for the environment.
    CONTACT: California Fuel Cell Partnership, www.fuelcellpartnership.org.
    GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EarthTalk, c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; submit it at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/thisweek/, or e-mail: earthtalk@emagazine.com. Read past columns at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/archives.php.
  •     The Women’s Center of Fayetteville usually operates behind the scenes. So much so, that a lot of people don’t even know about the facility.
        “We like the people that we serve to be the heroes,” said Stephanie Kennedy, the Women’s Center marketing director.
        That’s all well and good, but now this organization that, by its own calculations, has brought close to $100 million in federal money to this town in the past eight years, is feeling the pinch themselves. Long story short — a computer glitch (on someone else’s computer) is costing them $50,000. That’s half their budget and money that would have been put to use helping to better Fayetteville.
        The Women’s Center is a resource center for the entire community, not just women. It has been in town for over a decade, and in 2006-2007 alone it  worked one-on-one with 354 (business) clients; offered 83 workshops which had 473 participants; assisted 70 clients in applying for financing; assisted 16 clients in opening new businesses; and assisted 25 clients in expanding their businesses.
        Their largest program and the one that Kennedy believes makes the biggest impact on our community is the Women’s Business Center; and again, don’t let the name fool you — it says Women’s Business Center, but it serves everyone. Kennedy points out that there are a lot of places a person can go in Fayetteville for help starting a business.
        “Where I think we’re different is that one-on-one relationship factor that a lot of places don’t give you,” she said. “We don’t teach you how to write a business plan and send you on your way. When you come in to us we educate you through classes, we walk you through a business plan, financial plan, we make sure and go over it with a fine tooth comb so that if you need funding, if you  need loans before that business plan goes before the loan officer we know it’s going to pass.”
        The center has a number of programs designed to help those interested in starting a business, with programs ranging from loans to credit counseling and marketing. To offer the wide array of programs, the center obviously needs financing.
        {mosimage}And to help earn money to support these programs, the Women’s Center has opened a business of their own. The store front formerly known as Unruly, is now Downtown Décor. “The store is just part of what we are doing,” said Kennedy. “Downtown Décor is one avenue that we are trying to make ourselves self sufficient.” 
        The idea sprang up out of a “You know what this town needs...” conversation between the Women’s Center Executive Director Sylvia Gray and C.J. Malson.  “She (C.J.) had mentioned what Fayetteville was lacking was a very upscale resale consignment and home décor store — and not just furniture — not just lamps; we’re not talking knick knacks or anything like that,” said Kennedy
        “But a place where people who want nice furniture can go to and buy it and it looks very nice and looks new but not have to pay an arm and a leg for it.” 
        It’s been open since the end of May, and Malson is the manager and decorator for the store.     “You can go to any store and purchase furniture or home décor items and that money is going in their pockets,” said Kennedy.
        “If you come to Downtown Décor, the money that you’ve given to the store goes right back into the Women’s Center.” 
        The store operates as a non-pofit, so any donations to the facility are tax deductible. 

     
  •     As the heat of an eastern North Carolina summer has settled in, my thoughts are often relaxed and wandering. Here are some of them.
        Just a few weeks ago, Americans were digesting the riveting news that a group of teenaged girls in Massachusetts may have made a pact to become pregnant and raise their babies together. I and other opinionated writers worried in print about what lies ahead for those too-young mothers and unsuspecting infants.
        Now comes word about babies whose lives are going to be much different from those of the New England bundles of joy.
        As I write this column, celebrity extraordinaire Angelina Jolie is ensconced in a French hospital suite overlooking the Mediterranean Sea awaiting the birth of her twins, fathered by her partner actor Brad Pitt. Television trucks camped outside the hospital to beam images around the world of Pitt and the couple’s other children as they come and go from visits with Jolie. Public relations experts report frenzied bidding for the first photographs of the Jolie-Pitt twins, bandying about numbers as staggeringly high as $20 million.
        Clearly, these children will not need to worry about college expenses.
        These yet unborn babes may be the objects of the highest dollar media attention ever, but they are hardly the only ones to receive it. Remember baby Suri, the child of actors Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise? Somehow, she managed to be publicly unphotograhped for her first several months of life, and media speculation abounded that something must be wrong with the child for her parents to keep her under wraps.
        Blessedly, the child is fine, and I see plenty of her on tabloid covers as I stand in the grocery checkout line. Likewise, I have also learned about the potty training progress of other celebrity tots and which ones are given to temper tantrums.
        The question which comes to mind now is why in the midst of a presidential campaign year and a war on foreign soil are we interested in infants and toddlers we will never know.

    That
        A recent interview with author Barbara Ehrenreich on National Public Radio caught my attention. Ehrenreich gained national attention with her book Nickel and Dimed in America in which she attempted and ultimately failed to make ends meet with low-wage service jobs all across our country. She, of course, was able to return to the world of a successful writer but was clearly torn to leave her former co-workers behind in the world of minimum wage.
        Ehrenreich has published a new book of essays, This Land is Their Land: Reports from a Divided Nation, in which she tackles the growing gap between the haves and the have nots and other topics. Among them is the fiscal acumen of America’s young people, which is not stellar. My own observation is that too many of them view balancing a bank account as sticking their debit card into the ATM machine to get their current balance and that few can pass up an attractive purchase in favor of a savings account.
        That being said, Ehrenreich offered some thoughts for young Americans college bound for the first time.
        To paraphrase, she says that over the next few years they will become more in debt than they ever imagined, that they will drink more alcohol than they ever imagined and will regularly regret it on the morning after, and that, if they happen to bring their virginity to college with them, they will have lost it by the time they leave.
        I have no idea whether those notions apply to all college students, but they almost surely fit some.

    The Other Thing
        {mosimage}And, finally, this, reprinted in my latest Kiwanis Club bulletin in memory of George Carlin, a truly original and funny fellow. Carlin died last month, but he left us many wonderful and intriguing thoughts.
        “Don’t sweat the petty things and don’t pet the sweaty.
        One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.
        The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live.
        Isn’t it a little unnerving that doctors call what they do practice?
        If a parsley farmer is sued, can they garnish his wages?
        Why do they lock gas station bathrooms?  Are they afraid someone will clean them?
        Why don’t sheep shrink when it rains?
        What was the best thing before sliced bread?
        Where are we going? And what’s in this hand basket?
        If the “black box” flight recorder is never damaged during the plane crash, why isn’t the whole d*** plane made out of that stuff?”
        Happy musings of your own, and stay cool.
  •     {mosimage}When I was younger (and a lot less wise), I had what some would call “quite a mouth” on me. My speech was liberally laced with profanity. It became a habit — one that I dropped upon hearing that I was pregnant. I realized the words coming out of my mouth were not words that I ever wanted to hear come out of my child’s mouth.
        Having dropped the habit (although like everyone else, I occasionally slip up), it disturbs me to hear people let loose with profanity without any regard to those around them. This past week, I was reminded just how much it disturbed me. I had an appointment with a friend, and, having arrived a little early, I took the time to sit outside in the sunshine in front of the shopping area where we were to meet.
    Sitting there, watching the people walk by, I was shocked to see what was written on one guy’s T-shirt. Right there for anyone and everyone to read were the words “overworked and under (insert the F-word here).” That’s right. That’s what was on the guy’s shirt.
        For a mother of a child who having learned to read now reads everything — signs, T-shirts, billboards — all I could think of was sitting there hearing my little boy read that T-shirt out loud to me. That was enough to make my blood boil.
        It was only compounded by the guy’s next action. He got on his cell phone and called one of his friends. Standing on a public walk way, with families with small children walking by, he started a conversation with his buddy. If you thought his T-shirt was shocking, his phone call was over the top.         Every other word was the “f-bomb.”
        It seemed to be his adjective of choice. Actually although it usually doesn’t work this way, it was also his verb, adverb and noun of choice. And he wasn’t talking quietly. He was loud and his conversation was long. I wanted to go over, rip the phone from his hand and do what mothers of old have always threatened — wash his mouth out with soap.
        I know, I know. First Amendment Freedom of Speech. But there has to be a line drawn somewhere. What’s appropriate in our homes, is not always appropriate in public. Sometimes, it’s never appropriate in public. And when that happens, then the merchants who are seeking business have to take a stand.
    If dance clubs can enforce a dress code on the people who they allow to enter their facilities, then eateries and shopping venues can do the same. The management of the facility I was at should not have allowed that “gentleman,” and I use that term very facetiously, entry into their place of business. Not only was his shirt inappropriate, but every person entering the place of business during that 15 minutes was met with his blue streak of profanity. It was unacceptable.
        I’m sure if the man in question spent more time with Mr. Webster and his friend Mr. Thesaurus, he could wear a shirt that would express the same sentiment without offending everyone he met. Not to mention the fact that his telephone conversation would probably have made a lot more sense.
      Publisher Bill Bowman had a similar experience recently, and he pointed out the problem to the manager of the establishment, who quietly asked the patron to leave. If people cannot act in an acceptable manner in public, then they can always eat at home, where they are free to express themselves anyway they want.
  •     You might not think about Christmas in July, but some local motorcycle enthusiasts have made the Christmas in July Toy Run a part of the Fayetteville landscape for the past six years.
        The event, which raises funds for the Children’s Miracle Network and the Duke Children’s Hospital, is the brainchild of two local men — Joe Cook and William Winford, both associates at the Wal-Mart Logistics Distribution Center located in Hope Mills. Their goal is to make the event the largest charity motorcycle event in the state.
        Wal-Mart has long been a corporate sponsor of the Children’s Network, signing on in 1988. Since that time,        Wal-Mart/SAM’sClub associates and customers have raised and contributed more than $300 million to the Children’s Network. Locally, the event has raised more than $46,000 in cash and toys for the hospital.
        The Children’s Miracle Network is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children by raising funds and awareness for 170 nonprofit hospitals throughout North America, serving more than 17 million children with all types of illnesses. Research funded by the Children’s Miracle Network helps give babies a chance for happier, healthier lives.
    Held each July, the event raises cash and collects toys for use in the hospital. Each rider who participates in the event pays a $15 entry fee and brings one toy. Each additional rider must pay a $10 fee. Last year, the event brought in more than $9,000 in cash, and more than $4,000 in toys and gifts.
        The gifts are used to fund the hospital’s “treasure chest” for the children. Items needed include: rattles, stackable rings, lullaby tapes/CDs, stack and sort blocks, musical toys, Legos, playing cards, dinosaurs, trains, Barbie dolls, Playdoh, journals, craft kits, disposable cameras, magazines, door basketball goals, gift cards to restaurants, and other items for the playroom, which includes DVDs, Nintendo game cube games, bubbles, crayons, construction paper and CDs.
        {mosimage}This year’s event is slated for Saturday, July 19, with the rally point at M&M Leather and Custom Cycle, one of the many corporate sponsors of the event. Registration is from 7:30-9:50 a.m. While waiting for the ride to start, participants can purchase raffle tickets and take part in an auction. At 9:50 a.m., the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department will give riders a safety brief prior to their departure.
        The brief is important, as riders will travel through four counties and nine cities on the run up to the Duke University Children’s Hospital. The ride will officially kick off at 10 a.m., with riders heading out Bragg Boulevard on their way to Durham. With an expected 300 riders and almost a mile in length, it is important that riders obey the safety rules and are aware of the route the ride is taking.
        Riders are expected to arrive at Duke University Children’s Hospital at noon, where they can enjoy a great lunch provided by Texas Roadhouse. At 1 p.m., the money and gifts will be presented to the hospital in a special ceremony that involves the families whose children are being treated at Duke. At 1:30 p.m., riders can head back down the road to Fayetteville to prepare for the closing ceremonies.
        This year, as in past years, a cookout will be held at M&M Leather. There will be a 50/50 drawing, as well as drawings for various gifts and prizes. In addition to the great fun and prizes, there will also be some awesome entertainment, featuring Gasoline, Wicked Lizard and DD Productions.
            On Friday night, a pre-event Kick-Start Party will be held at Legends Pub from 6-8 p.m. Participants can pre-register for the ride at that time.
    Corporate partners include: Double D Productions, JEB Designs, Legends, M&M Leather, Up & Coming Weekly, Texas Roadhouse, The Custom Edge, Inc. Wal-Mart Logistics TO 6840 and DC 6040 and Arctic Fox Video Production

     

  •      If you’re under the age of 6, you probably don’t need to be introduced to the Backyardigans, but since our reader’s survey tells us our readers are a little older than that, you might want to take your kids over to the Crown Theatre, July 11-12, to meet some of their favorite cartoon friends. The Backyardigans will come to life for you and your preschoolers in their brand-new live show, The Backyardigans Live! Tale of the Mighty Knights!
        The Backyardigans have been a staple in children’s television since 2004. Since its debut on Nickelodeon's preschool weekday lineup, the show has become the number two rated show for preschoolers on television. The program, which features five preschool friends — Pablo, Tyrone, Uniqua, Tasha and Austin — combines music and dancing to build your child’s imagination, just as the friends build their daily backyard adventures. Each episode features a different genre of music (big band, reggae, polka, Motown and disco), with at least four new songs appearing in each episode.
    In their latest adventure, the friends go on one of the greatest adventures of all.
    Uniqua and Tyrone are knights on a quest to protect King Pablo’s egg. Along the way they meet some interesting characters — Grabbing Goblin Austin and Flight Fairy Tasha — who join in on the fun. They all wind up chasing the unpredictable egg, which hatches feet and dashes all the way up to Dragon Mountain.
        {mosimage}Of course, as strong as the knights are, they are going to need some help. And that help come from the audience. The audience is asked o join in the singing and dancing to give the knights the courage they need to face the dragon who rules Dragon Mountain. Of course, don’t forget, they are going to need a little imagination.
        The show runs a little over 75 minutes, with two 30-minute acts with a 15-minute intermission.
        All five Backyardigans appear in the live show. Similar to Dora and Diego Live, the characters are portrayed by actors in costumes, with their faces revealed. The creators of the live show chose to use this approach so that the audience see and hear the expressions of the characters and really relate to them. Kids easily suspend their disbelief and experience the magic of the live theatre while playing along with their backyard friends.
        "We’re excited about our latest live theatrical endeavor for families,” said Stuart Rosenstein, senior vice president, Resorts and Theatricals, Nickelodeon Recreation.  “The Backyardigans has proven to be a huge hit with Nickelodeon families, and based on the enormous success of the Dora and Diego Live shows, we’re confident The Backyardigans Live!will have the same fantastic response from kids and parents across the country.”
        Show times are Friday, July 11 at 7 p.m., and Saturday, July 12 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tickets are $18 to $38. Tickets may be purchased at the Crown Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster.com or by calling (910) 223-2900. The Crown Center’s main box office is located at the Crown Coliseum and is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

     

  •     The Fayetteville State University Summer Opera Series is staging a performance of Mozart’s opera,The Marriage of Figaro, on July 18 and 19 at 7:30 p.m., at Seabrook Auditorium on the campus of Fayetteville State University.
        There will be a children’s matinee on July 19 at 1 p.m., sponsored by The Youth Growth Stock Fund. The matinee is a one-hour presentation for youth and families and tickets are free. Visit the Web site to reserve these free seats.       
        “We wanted to bring a new kind of cultural aspect to Fayetteville,” said Dr. Marvin Curtis, producer and musical director of the production, assistant dean of the graduate school and choir director of Fayetteville State University. “We have been fortunate to receive two grants in the last three years from the National Endowment for the Arts.”
        Curtis added that this year they received $64,000 in grants.   
        This performance will be a memorable one for Curtis because he is leaving FSU to take a position as dean at another university. The artistic director of the production is Phoebe Hall, director of theater at Fayetteville State University.      

        The Marriage of Figarois a cornerstone of the operatic repertoire. It is based on a stage comedy in which the plot recounts a single day in the palace of Count Almaviva in Spain.{mosimage}
        “It is a story of love, potential infidelity, masquerade and finding one’s true love,” said Curtis. “I call it all that with music.”
    Rosina is now the Countess; her husband, the Count, is seeking the favors of Susanna, who is to wed her love, Figaro, the Count’s valet. When the Count detects the interest of the young page, Cherubino, in the Countess, he tries to get rid of Cherubino by giving him an officer’s commission in his own regiment. Figaro, Susanna and the Countess conspire to embarrass the Count and expose his infidelity. They find themselves on the palace grounds where a comic series of cases of mistaken identity result in the Count’s humiliation and then forgiveness by the Countess.    
        Four international singers have been chosen for the lead roles: Ivan Griffin, Louise Toppin, Dr. Frank Ward Jr. and Gregory Gardner. The cast members include Kristen Campbell, Johanna Young, Ashley Kotz, Gail Morefesis, Bruce Cook, Clayton Riddle and Michael Jones. 
        The production will be accompanied by local musicians from the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, students and other area musicians.
        “We are using a 28-piece orchestra,” said Curtis. “There is also a chorus of nine singers.”         
        The production has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts Challenge America Program, Cumberland County Tourism Development Authority and The Arts Council of Fayetteville Cumberland County.            
        “People told me that we could not do opera here in Fayetteville,” said Curtis. “The first year we had 2,000 people during a three-day period and this year I expect a full house.”
        Ticket cost is $10 for adults, $5 for children and $8 for senior citizens and military. Interested persons and groups can go to the Web site, www.uncfsu.edu/fah, for information on tickets for this event, or call 672-1276.

  •     The Friends of the Library do a lot to enhance the Cumberland County Public Library system. Perhaps one of the greatest contributions they bring to the table is bringing noted authors to our community to share their works. Over the course of the year, the organization brings a nsumber of authors to the community, and on Tuesday, July 15, it will host noted North Carolina author Lonnie Busch.
        Busch, who resides in western North Carolina, has gained acclaim for both his writing and his illustrations, but during his visit to the Headquarters Library, he will focus on his latest work,
    Turnback Creek, the winner of the 2006 Clay Reynolds Novella Prize. The book focuses on the life of Cole Emerson, a retired heavy equipment operator in a small town.
        By day, Emerson cooks, cleans and tries to make the last days of his dying sister comfortable. But the night belongs to him. Unlike others in his situation, he doesn’t seek out bright lights and large crowds to remind him that he is still alive. Instead, he seeks the solitude of Hardman Lake, where he fishes for bass and puts his own thoughts on mortality and life in order. His routine is suddenly and irrevocably shattered one night on
    Turnback Creek when he meets a mysterious girl who reminds him that while he might spend his day surrounded by death, that he is, in fact, still alive, and still has dreams and desires.
        {mosimage}The book has received rave reviews, having been called “a bittersweet tale of a confrontation of one old man with mortality, his own and that of those who love him.”
        Author Jubal Tiner noted that the book is “Part ghost story, part love story, all with the bite of loss, grief and redemption.
    Turnback Creek has it all, and Busch’s deft prose brings it palpably to life. It is not to be missed.”
        This offering is departure for Busch, who up to this point has focused on short tories. His works have appeared in several publications, having been a finalist in the World’s Best Short Story Competition in 2004 and earning The Tobias Wolff Award for Fiction in 2005.
        More in the realm of popular culture, his illustrations have found their way into Americana, having been chosen for U.S. postage stamps honoring the Olympics in 2004 and a series of Wonders of America stamps in 2006. His most recent, and probably most talked about illustration, was for the cover of Jimmy Buffet’s novel,
    A Salty Piece of Land.
        Busch will be reading from his works, as well as talking about them during his appearance at the library. The event begins at 7 p.m. at the Headquarters Library and is free and open to the public.

  •     Something wicked this way comes... and it ROCKS!
        Wicked Lizzard is a Fayetteville-based band that doesn't want to take the same road as many local groups, seeking that big record contract and MTV video in heavy rotation — it's a group of four musicians who simply want to play a wide range of rock 'n' roll cover songs that appeals to an eclectic range of ages and genres.
        Most importantly, they're all about bringing the fun back to the local music scene — for themselves and their fans.
        "We’re a high-energy, hard-driving rock band," said Jay Lambert, Lizzard's lead singer. "We're not really original — some bands are more original, some bands are just slamming metal and you can’t understand them. We’ve got a nice mix. We get a good age mix. You look over here and you got a 23-year-old and you look over here and you’ve got a a guy who’s 45.
        "We also play a wide variety of songs," said Jay. "If you don’t like the song we’re playing, wait until the next one because odds are we’re going to play something you like. We’re learning new stuff too, so we’re not just stuck in one genre."
        When Lambert says Wicked Lizzard plays a wide variety of tunes, he ain't just whistlin' "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down;" the Lizzard has more than 50 songs on its set list, ranging from old school rock such as Kiss, AC/DC and Traffic, to new blood like Radiohead, Alice in Chains and 3 Doors Down.{mosimage}
        All the musicians have more than 20 years experience playing in bands, including bassist Jamie Gardner, who started out playing in a jazz band in high school, and then played with a country rock outfit for 12 years. However, like each of his band mates, he feels he's truly struck gold with Wicked Lizzard.
        "This is by far the best band I've ever played in," said Gardner. "There are no egos or issues here — everyone has an equal say in what we do and what we play."
        Wicked Lizzard plays out about three times a month and is looking to expand on that number. The band's favorite local spots to play include FuBar, Louie's Sports Pub and The Dog House.
    Having a little age on the band members has caused some surprise to club owners and fans when the Lizzard hits the stage and begins rocking like guys half their age.
        "The guy at FuBar’s had never seen us, but we got in there and just exploded and he really wants us back," said Lambert. "That’s not bragging, we’re just psyched about that. They thought we were just going to get up there and start doing Johnny Rivers tunes; we bring it a little harder than that. We want to give the people their money’s worth.
        Guitarist Roger Biggerstaff — Sgt. First Class Biggerstaff of the United States Army, that is — is the one most responsible for making sure the songs are just right before the band hits the stage.
        "We try to come as close to the sound of the song as we can," said Lambert. "Roger is the leader of that. He’ll say we’re not going to do that song until we practice, practice, practice and get it right. We screw some songs up on stage sometimes like every band, but we’re shooting for perfection."
        And keeping it all nailed down and sounding good is drummer David Morris, who is also responsible for shaping the band's sound.
        "He breaks his neck getting the PA set up," said Lambert. "He makes it all sound pretty; we just show up and go."
        Expect an old-fashioned show complete with smoke and mirrors when you go see Wicked Lizzard. What some bands call "kitsch," the Lizzard sees as putting on a show. A lifelong member of the Kiss Army, Lambert believes every show needs some of that old "I Want To Rock and Roll All Night" sizzle.
        "I won’t compare us to them (Kiss), but the way they do a show, we do it on a local scale what they do on a big scale — smoke, lights," said Lambert. "A lot of bands don’t like to do that but we like to blow it up. Image is fun. We don’t do it because we’re saying we’re gods or anything, we just love doing it. Put the smoke machine on top of me — I eat it for breakfast."
        And if you get a chance to see this group of vintage rockers at a club near you, they guarantee you'll eat it up, too.
        "I was a hired hand for a few years, playing with whoever wanted me," said Gardner. "This is what I prefer — you walk into a bar and drop a quarter in a jukebox and hear what you want to — that’s what I want to play... and we've found that's what the people want to hear."
        You can catch Wicked Lizzard live on the following dates: July 20 at the Dog House; July 26 at Big Harry's Tavern; Aug, 14 at the Dog House; Sept. 5 at FuBar; Oct. 4 at FuBar.

    Tim Wilkins, Associate Editor
    COMMENTS? 484-6200 ext. 105 or
    tim@upandcomingweekly.com

  •     When I was a child, comic books were my escape — my escape from being a 5-foot-nothing munchkin of a boy who tipped the scales at a whopping 80 pounds and was a favorite target of that most horrible breed of real-life monster: the bully.
    Retreating to my room after school with a black eye and bruised psyche, I would grab one of my stack of seemingly several thousand comic books and be transported to a land where bullies and bank robbers and bad guys from outer space were vanquished by cartoon pen and ink drawings of extraordinary men and women who could fly, see through walls and lift skyscrapers as is they were empty toilet paper boxes.
        Of all these imaginary heroes, my very favorite was the Incredible Hulk, who had been turned from mild mannered scientist Bruce Banner following an experiment with gamma rays gone awry into a great green monster, who became the Hulk when riled — like when a bully placed a wad of Double Bubble in his hair. I always imagined myself on the playground, being pushed once too often, transforming into the Hulk and throwing my tormentors to, say, Kansas.
        So, I was very interested in the second film adaptation of my favorite comic book,
    The Incredible Hulk, directed by Louis Letterier and starring Edward Norton as the title character. I was hoping for a much better showing than the 2003 version, directed by Ang Lee and starring Eric Bana. For one thing, Ang's version ofThe Hulk had terrible CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) — when looking at the Hulk in that cinematic incarnation, you never believed he was more than a couple of million pixellated dots created by some fat CGI tech who munched cases of Doritos and drank gallons of Jolt Cola while sequestered behind his computer monitor.
        And there was no soul in
    The Hulk. Ang Lee is obviously not a comic book fan, and Bana was about as wooden as a Hulk plywood cutout.
        Fortunately,
    The Incredible Hulk has great green globs of both soul and amazing CGI.{mosimage}
        Norton, one of our truly excellent, underrated actors, is perfect as Banner, not too wimpy and not too condescending concerning his genius — he's a brainiac for every man.
        We see the Hulk immediately, as the experiment unfolds wordlessly to open the film, showing Norton transferred into his leviathan Mr. Hyde, breaking out of the lab and unintentionally harming fellow scientist and the love of his live, Betsy Ross (Liv Tyler), and her father, General Thunderbolt Ross (William Hurt).
        A vindictive Hurt spends the rest of the film attempting to capture Banner/The Hulk, so he can dissect him and finalize his plans to create a "super soldier" to dominate the battlefield. Banner, meanwhile, spends his time on the lam, searching for an antidote to his condition, finally ending up in Brazil where he works by day on a soda assembly line and by night communicates via encrypted e-mail with a mysterious Mr. Blue who thinks he can cure Banner of his "Hulkness."
    In a plot detail too complicated to explain in this limited space, General Ross finds out where Banner is hiding and sends an elite military unit, including a nasty little gnome of a guy named Emil Blonsky (the always intense and incredible Tim Roth) to bring back Banner alive. The mission fails miserably when Banner turns into the Hulk during the pursuit and opens up a great big green can of whup ass on the elite soldiers. This defeat ticks off Blonsky, who decides he wants to have the same power as the Hulk.
        Banner escapes, walking all the way back to the States and reuniting with girlfriend Betsy. (Liv Tyler, by the way now belongs to the long litany of women far too glamorous to be taken seriously as a scientist, joining the ranks of Nicole Kidman in
    Days of Thunder — nuclear physician; Denise Richards,The World is Not Enough — nuclear weapons expert; and Jessica Alba, The Fantastic Four — generic scientist babe in God only knows what field.)
    After an impressive showdown on a Virginia university campus, Banner and Miss Ross escape to New York where they find         Mr. Blue, a nerdy scientist who uses all kinds of gizmos and apparently "cures" Banner of his green curse. Unfortunately, Roth discovers the good scientists and forces him to use the same technology to give him the powers of the Hulk, turning Blonsky into a 10-foot tall abomination called... The Abomination, which begins doing more damage to life, limb and New York City than the giant praying mantis/thingamajiggy from
    Cloverfield.
        Of course, Banner finds a way to turn back into the Hulk and whips some Abomination booty, saving the day and setting up the obligatory sequel, which will apparently star Iron Man (Tony Stark as played by Robert Downey, who shows up at the end of the film and says he's getting a group together to battle the Hulk — pan out with Downey's mysterious Mona Lisa smile and raised eyebrow).
        Like I said, I really like this flick. It had human touches that soothes the savage, computer-rendered beast, such as when he wipes away a tear from Tyler's face with a green finger the size of a Louisville Slugger.
        Kudos to the director for planting references to the stars of
    The Incredible Hulk television series which ran from 1978-1982 and starred the late Bill Bixby as Bruce Banner and body builder Lou Ferrigno as the Hulk. Bixby is seen in a television clip fromas Norton surfs the tube, and Ferrigno has a cameo as a security guard.
        Again, human touches that kept this film from being just another lame comic book adaptation.

    Tim Wilkins, Associate Editor
    COMMENTS? 484-6200 ext. 105 or tim@upandcomingweekly.com



  •     To its credit, the city council is considering banning the curbside sale of goods by temporary vendors. To be politically correct, they are called itinerant merchants. Let’s be honest and call it like it is — a blight on every corner, especially on weekends. 
        {mosimage}Why do they seek out street corners in the mall area or heavily traveled roadways? Is it the visibility, and in many cases ease of access? The marketing people would dub this curb appeal, but again, it is simply another form of blight and denigrates our community image.
        {mosimage}Many of the passersby see it for what it is — i.e., a flashing “buyer beware” sign — and keep on driving. However, there must be enough folks who stop because they have been a part of the weekend landscape and blight for years. Their presence continues to foster the “want to buy a watch” customer mentality for which this community has been branded and which keeps the higher-end retailers away. We can get the big-box folks, but just try and persuade a Nordstrum or Joseph A. Bank site selector who visits here on a weekend to pick an out-parcel near the mall area.
        These itinerant merchants are in many instances from another county or state, so citing them for a violation may prove to be a futile effort, unless the monetary penalty is significant. If the citation is the common civil form, collectible as a debt, the city will have to spend more time and money because they will have to go to district court rather than the less expensive small claims court.
        Any proposed ordinance will need to eliminate an exception in the ordinance that allows property owners to grant permission for the itinerant merchants — otherwise, nothing is gained. How can it be a nuisance if the property owner consents? Why not cite the property owner who knowingly permits the vendor to set up, as well?
        When the debate becomes more public, the city council needs to consider the image of the city as a whole on this issue, and not their individual districts. They certainly should not be persuaded by an out-of-town, non-property owning caller in opposition to the proposed ordinance. Has anyone asked these vendors for a copy of their N.C. privilege license, which if they have one, means they have to collect and report sales tax? 
        As a community, we need to stop and smell the roses on this issue. What can the sale of a velvet Elvis possibly do to improve our image?


  •     Summertime and the living ain’t easy. Jobless rates are jumping and the gas price is high. The oil companies are rich and Angelina Jolie is good looking. So hush jobless Americans. Don’t you cry. One of these mornings you’re going to rise up foreclosed. Then you’ll pack your SUV and you’ll drive to the dump. But until that morning, nothing but reality can harm you. With big oil and Angelina standing by.
        With due apologies to George Gershwin, welcome to America’s Summer of Discontent. You already know the parade of fun: recession, stock market tanking, house prices falling, layoffs as far as the eye can see. America needs a friend or at least a more reliable pusher of oil. And who is America’s best friend/pusher in the world? Why none other than King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia who is going to kick up oil production a bit to ease our withdrawal symptoms. With friends like King Abdullah, who needs herpes? What a pal we have in King Abdullah.
        The King has been spending time reading the collected works of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Scalia told
    60 Minutes that people who were still stressed over the theft of the 2000 presidential election by the Supreme Court should just "get over it." The King was quoted recently regarding the high price of oil telling consumers just to "get used to it." Quote the King, "Consumer countries have to adapt to the prices and mechanisms of the market. We have nothing to do with the current sharp increase in crude prices." He’s like the little character inFamily Circus called "Not Me." Whenever Jeffy would break a lamp or a cookie jar he denied it and blamed Not Me as the culprit. King Abdullah’s Not Me reasoning makes me feel much better about paying more than four bucks a gallon for gas.{mosimage}
        Welcome to the wonderful world of Faith-Based Economics. No one is responsible for anything. To quote the great Donald Rumsfeld, "Stuff happens." Big oil producing countries have nothing to do with the price of oil. Big oil companies have nothing to do with the price of oil. Not Me raised the oil prices. But being proud, red-blooded Americans, we need to blame someone for the current mess. We ain’t buying King Abdullah’s Not Me. We are not going to go gentle into that good night of little bitty sissy fuel efficient cars and mass transportation. No Sirree! If the logical beneficiaries of the record breaking oil profits are not responsible for high prices we need to blame someone else. Don’t blame it on the bossa nova — blame it on mutant dark matter.
        A 2008 study from the International Astrological Society ruled out the previous theory that duct tape was the force that kept the universe intact. The new study reports regular dark matter has been holding the universe together since the Big Bang. Unfortunately, dark matter has an evil twin called mutant dark matter which causes more trouble than seven years of the Bush administration. Earth recently passed through a giant cloud of mutant dark matter which was on parole from a federal prison in Pennsylvania. Mutant dark matter has caused the recent financial upheavals we are all enjoying.
        Mutant dark matter has had multiple pernicious effects on our fair planet. The delicate balance of stuff which orders our planet has been turned into Bizarro World. Bizarro World, discovered in Superman comics, is a place where everything is the opposite of the Earth. Bizarro Superman is dumb, whereas real Superman is smart. Up is down, hello means goodbye. You get the picture. Earth is now Bizarro Earth due to its exposure to the mutant dark matter. Examples of Bizarro Earth are everywhere: drowning polar bears at the North Pole; colossal green algae blooms messing up aquatic events at the Chinese Olympics; former Evil Axian North Koreans getting food from the U.S.A., while South Koreans riot about our mad cows; Wall Street accounting firms who can’t count; 600 Starbucks closing; and the automotive industry sales racing to the bottom of the oil barrel.
        What are we as Americans to do about mutant dark matter exposure? Take the advice of the Homeland Security Administration — buy duct tape and sheets of plastic. Make a safe room in your house while you still own it. Watch
    Entertainment Tonight. Eat Cheetos. The best is yet to come.

  •     A half million images!
        Can you imagine sorting though that many photos? It is a happy challenge for the North Carolina Collection at UNC-Chapel Hill’s libraries. It comes from the family of the late Hugh Morton, which gave the collection all Morton’s photos, truckloads of them, more than 60 years of his camera work all over North Carolina.
        Morton always shared his photos, most recently in two collections of his work published by UNC Press,
    Hugh Morton’s North Carolina andHugh Morton: North Carolina Photographer. The several hundred photos in those collections showed how widely Morton covered North Carolina events and people.
        Now, the task of the collection is to examine the extraordinary depth of the pool of Morton’s work and make it as accessible as possible. In the past, the sorting and recording of photography collections has been a slow and tedious process for libraries and museums. Once sorted and filed, the images were available only to those who could take time to review written descriptions of the photos and then personally examine them.
        Handling the Morton photos in this fashion would have taken lifetimes.
        Modern processes now make it possible for the staff of the collection, over time, to make digital copies of all of Morton’s work. But it is not that simple. Take for instance Morton’s photographic slides — approximately 200,000 of them. Using simple, hand operated equipment to digitize these slides would take years and years. The collection considered contracting this work to an outside company that could get the job done in less than a year. But the cost would be “in the six figures.” Way too much for a library budget, even for such an important project.
        {mosimage}The collection decided instead to purchase automatic equipment like that used by the outside contractor. But there was a problem. Because most photographers are now using digital cameras, rather than film and sides, there is no longer a strong demand for that conversion equipment. So, the manufacturer stopped making it.
    Finally the collection found a source for used equipment. After a series of repairs and adjustments their “new” machine can digitize about 600 slides a day, which means all 200,000 Morton slides could be processed within a year.
        But it is only a beginning.
        Morton had several hundred thousand other kinds of images that must be processed.
        One of collection’s staff members, Karen Hull, recently looked out over her crowded work area full of boxes, cans, and stacks of Morton’s work. Facing the enormity of the task, she wrote about “what it is like to process a collection as large, varied and disorderly as the Morton photos…. How do you impose order on chaos, while respecting what few pockets of order do exist? How do you decide what to digitize, and when? How do you balance the needs and interests of the many people who will use this collection with the preservation needs of the material itself?”
        One answer might involve you, if you are willing to help. Many, probably most, of Morton’s images do not have any identification of their subjects. That kind of information is critical for anybody who wants to find pictures of particular people, places and events.
        Now that Morton’s work is being digitized, the collection is posting many of them on a “Web blog” that anyone can visit. People are checking the posted photos. When they recognize a person or scene, they add comments that give the image an enhanced identity.
        And, they are having fun viewing some fantastic Morton photos of North Carolina scenes and people. If you join in, maybe you could identify two North Carolina “Dutch Girls” in a 1940s photo. Or the beautiful woman holding an X-Ray with WBT radio personality Grady Cole.
        Visit this Web address: www.lib.unc.edu/blogs/morton/
        You can help document history and get an early look at some of the half million Morton pictures that will someday be available for everyone to see.

  •     If participants in North Carolina political debate truly wish to serve the public, they will say what they mean and mean what they say.
        For example, politicians and activists on the Left, and more than a few on the Right, say that people need health insurance because without it, they can’t afford routine medical services. This is an incoherent statement. If North Carolinians can’t afford routine health care, creating an insurance program won’t help them.
        All insurance is financial insurance. It is a means of managing the financial risk of a sudden, unwelcome and disastrous event. If everyone reasonably expected to make more annual monetary claims on their insurance than they pay in annual premiums, the insurance would never be offered because the insurance pool would be unsustainable. There would never be enough money available to pay all the claims.
        To use medical insurance as a mechanism to finance annual physicals and occasional doctor visits for minor injuries or infections makes no more sense than using auto insurance to finance oil and tire changes or homeowners insurance to finance house painting or air-conditioner service.
        {mosimage}It’s not that these aren’t worthwhile, even necessary, expenditures. You ought to change your oil and tires. You ought to keep your home and its major systems in good repair. But because these are routine expenses, creating an insurance pool and having everyone send money in and make claims out would be a silly way to pay the bills. You might achieve some bulk-buying advantages, but they’d be offset by the administrative and billing costs.
        If made “universal” by government mandate, such an insurance system would penalize car and home owners with relatively new property requiring less attention, sufficient savings to cover their needs or the requisite skills to fix their own cars and homes. They would have to pay money in knowing that they will be net losers. If the system isn’t mandatory, many of these folks would see no rational reason to participate and would forgo the insurance, leaving the system with more claims than revenue and necessitating higher premiums, which would chase still more customers away. A vicious cycle would ensue.
        Sound familiar?
        When political activists say they want to “insure” everyone, what they really mean is that they want to socialize the payment of doctors, hospitals and other medical providers. That is, they want to use government’s taxing and regulatory powers to force healthier and wealthier people to pay the cost of treating sicker and poorer people. They want to redistribute income, in other words.
        Sure, they often argue that expanding insurance coverage of preventive services in the short run will save taxpayers money in the long run, but the argument is invalid. While some forms of preventive care reduce overall health-care costs by heading off diseases or complications, most preventive care doesn’t.
    Governing magazine recently observed that the “growing consensus in the medical research community is that preventive care usually does not save money.”
    So don’t be distracted by those who claim that “insuring” more people will save money by increasing the use of preventive care. The game here is income redistribution.
        Needless to say, I’m not a fan of socialism. It is grotesque and impractical. Human beings do have a moral responsibility to help those less fortunate, starting with their own family and neighbors and then extending beyond that to the human race as a whole. But this is a moral responsibility free individuals must
    choose
    to shoulder, not a justification for state-assisted theft (hey, Lefties, what happened to the idea that the government shouldn’t legislate morality?)
        However, at least if advocates of government health care said what they really meant, rather than hiding behind insurance terminology that doesn’t fit, we could have an honest discussion about freedom, socialism and the proper use of force in addressing social problems. Because North Carolinians and other Americans still don’t cotton to straightforward calls for socialism or even European-style social democracy, its pallid cousin, you shouldn’t count on these advocates to say what they mean.

  •     Fayetteville's Jim Gollins has the answer to all of America's energy needs, as well as the wallet-busting prices at the gas pumps — an  answer that flows not from an oil well, but from perhaps the most unlikely of places: a faucet.
    Gollins says that he, and many other like-minded folks in America and across the globe, have learned a secret that the U.S. government and Big Oil doesn't want you to know: You can make cheap, plentiful, nonpolluting energy from water.
    Actually it's what Gollins says is distilled from the water that provides the fuel: hydrogen.
        "I believe hydrogen is the fuel of the future," said Gollins. "You will eventually run your car on it; you will power your house with it; you will power your lawnmower with it. Each quart of water contains enough hydrogen gas to fill the Pittsburgh Steelers' football stadium two times."
        {mosimage}And Gollins says he can show anyone, even those not gifted in mechanics, how to build and install a hydrogen fuel converter in their vehicles that this, along with other measures, can increase gas mileage by more than 50 percent. He says he knows because he's already installed one in his own vehicles. He claims that since he installed one of the homemade devices on his Ford Ranger pickup, his gas mileage has improved from 14 miles per gallon to 26 mpg. And on July 12, he's going to hold a free seminar at the Ruritan Club on Campground Road to show how it's done.
        He says the apparatus, in addition to running on that most basic of elements, H2O, requires a small electrical current (such as provided by a car battery) and one other ingredient — a substance found in just about every family's cupboard.
        "Believe it or not, it's common baking soda," said Gollins. "The way to extract it (the hydrogen) is to disturb the molecules. You take distilled water and add baking soda — an eighth of a teaspoon per quart of water — and it allows the water molecules to be disrupted much more easily.
        "By putting a negative and positive charge in the water, you disrupt the molecules and the resulting action from that is HHO (hydrogen oxygen). That gas, siphoned off and injected into the intake of any modern vehicle, will burn and mix in with your fossil fuels."
        He demonstrated the process by igniting hydrogen gas produced by his small, homemade fuel cell — it went off with a loud "pop — and opening the hood of his smoothly running Ranger, which indeed sported a strange looking contraption connected to his engine that contained a jar full of agitated water.
        {mosimage}Gollins says a simple fuel cell can be built for about $10, while a system for your car will be a little more, but nowhere near the $1,600 or so online merchants are asking for such devices. He also says the device will not harm your vehicle and that the emission from the exhaust system is 100 percent water vapor. He even says that after about 30 days of using HHO, your car engine will be "scrubbed clean" by the nonpolluting water vapor, which runs so hot it destroys all other emissions.
        According to Gollins, a few of your engine's parts, such as the oxygen sensor, need to be modified to make the project work, though he says it's something even the most mechanically disinclined can do with proper training. However, he says using the hydrogen cell alone will not give you all you need to get maximum gas mileage; Gollins adds that in addition to the hydrogen cell, you must do common sense maintenance on your car, such as checking the tire pressure, changing the air filter and driving correctly — no "stop and go" driving.
        Gollins says the truth about the ease with which water can be converted to hydrogen has been suppressed by the government for economic reasons.
    "The government believes that if this nation converted to hydrogen fuel, all the industries related to petroleum products would go bankrupt and destroy the economy," said Gollins. "And if you think about it would destroy oil companies and put the people out of work at these refineries and at gas stations... anyone who gets his livelihood from oil-based products, which is a lot of people."
        Converting water into hydrogen is not a new idea. The process is called electrolysis and has been known to scientists for 200 years. However, the practice of converting hydrogen on a large enough scale to power this nation's automobiles is discredited by many — particularly oil companies and government.
        Jerry Ittenbach, a physical science instructor at Fayetteville Technical Community College says "theoretically," Gollins' ideas about mixing hydrogen with petroleum as a fuel additive is possible.
        "However, I'm not an expert on engines, so I don't know how everything would react inside the engine," said Ittenbach. "What most people mean when they talk about using hydrogen as fuel is to build these huge, expensive cells that create electricity from hydrogen. Honda recently advertised such a vehicle, but it's very expensive."
        Gollins adds that hydrogen-powered vehicles, such as Honda's FCX Clarity, are very expensive to operate and there is a lack of hydrogen fuel stations to power them — none in North Carolina and just 38 in the entire nation.
        "Also, remember, hydrogen is very volatile, it's what powered the Hindenburg," said Gollins. "If you have an accident at a hydrogen filling station, you're not going to have a fire, you're going to have a crater. That's why I don't recommend anyone attempting to modify their vehicle without getting the proper instruction."
        Gollins will provide some of that know-how on July 12, at the Ruritan Club from 8 a.m. to noon. He'll give a demonstration and answer questions.
        And the water will be free.

  •     Who hasn’t been unprepared a time or two? It happens to the best of us every now and again. Being caught at the grocery store with no wallet, going to a meeting with no pen, forgotten homework, that one ingredient for the great recipe that never made it into the grocery cart, these things happen. Although it is frustrating, it is not really that big of a deal most of the time. There are times though, when being prepared really does matter — a lot like during a hurricane for instance. {mosimage}
        With hurricane season upon us, now is the time to check your emergency kit, and if you don’t have one, make one. There is no better time to put one together than before it is needed. Even with so much information available through places like the Red Cross, only about 1/3 of the population actually has an emergency kit put together according to Jack Nales, executive director of the American Red Cross, Highlands Chapter.
        “Even following a year where there are landfalls of hurricanes or a large disaster you would think everyone would say ‘Oh this does really happen. I do need to be prepared,’” said Nales. “I’m sure some people think they are not vulnerable and they can ride things out, but I am sure a lot of it is just other things competing for their attention.”
        He said making and maintaining an emergency kit needs to be a priority in order for it to work in a time of need.
        Putting an emergency kit together is pretty straightforward. “It is basically stuff that is normally in the home anyway — we are talking food, clothing, first-aid kit, important documents — its just getting everything organized” said Nales.         And by planning ahead, building an emergency kit doesn’t need to break the bank. It is a matter of picking up a few extra things at the store over a period of time.
        “When you are buying your food, you need to have some things in your pantry that are easy to eat … easy to open. You need to have either a manual can opener or some of those cans with pop tops on them so you can access the food,” said Nales. “Nothing worse than looking at ‘OK, I can live off beanie weenies’ and then realizing ‘Oh no, my electric can opener doesn’t work and I don’t have a manual can opener, and these aren’t the ones with the pop tops on them.’ So it’s just looking at things like that and stocking up on things that you normally have,” he added.
        If the thought of starting a kit from scratch is too overwhelming or time consuming to think about, the American Red Cross has thought of that too. There is an online presenentation at www.redcross.org/beredcrossready on the things to do to make a plan, and the things to do to make an emergency kit. The third section has some CPR information on it too. “So in about 40 minutes or so you can watch all this stuff,” said Nales, “and for a lot of people it is a lot easier to watch it than to read it or research it.” The Web site also has printed materials on what you need to do to be prepared.
        Just in case you don’t make it to the Web site, here is a list of some things from www.ncready.org to consider, in keeping you and your family ready for a disaster.
         Essentials:
    •Water — 1 gallon per person per day (a week’s supply of water is preferable); {mosimage}
    •Water purification kit or bleach;
    •First-aid kit and first-aid book;
    •Pre-cooked, non-perishable foods, such as canned meats, granola bars, instant soup & cereals, etc.;
    •Baby supplies: formula, bottle, pacifier, soap, baby powder, clothing, blankets, baby wipes, disposable diapers, canned food and juices;
    •Non-electric can opener;
    •Anti-bacterial hand wipes or gel;
    •Blanket or sleeping bag per person;
    •Portable radio or portable TV and extra batteries;
    •Flashlight and extra batteries;
    •Essential medications;
    •Extra pair of eyeglasses;
    •Extra house and car keys;
    •Fire extinguisher — ABC-type;
    •Food, water, leash and carrier for pets;
    •Cash and change;
    •Seasonal change of clothing, including sturdy shoes;
    •Sanitation supplies;
    •Large plastic trash bags for waste, tarps and rain ponchos;
    •Large trash cans;
    •Bar soap and liquid detergent;
    •Shampoo;
    •Toothpaste and toothbrushes;
    •Feminine hygiene supplies;
    •Toilet paper;
    •Household bleach;
    •Rubber gloves.
        “If you have a plan of what you would do in case of a disaster and have a kit and your supplies ready (whether you have to stay at home or leave and go to a shelter) can make an experience during a disaster the difference between an inconvenient camping trip and feeling like you are an unsuccessful candidate on survivor,” noted Nales.
  •     The new jewelry exhibit at Cape Fear Studios gets high marks for invention, creativity and its well crafted and originality. Creative Metalsmiths: the Works of Erica Stankwytch Bailey and Students is an exhibit that proves how we all have an artist within us. As evident in the exhibit, people from all different types of professions have proven a quality body of work can be created and exhibited. All that is needed is a certain amount of skill and creativity, having the right encouragement, working with a knowledgeable and effective teacher and working very hard to meet deadlines.
    Bailey and 10 of her students are also demonstrating how jewelry design has a secure position in the discipline of fine arts. No matter what their profession, each artist has combined aesthetics and experiences with the rigors of learning how to manipulate, fabricate, form, solder and design wearable art in metal.{mosimage} 
        A well-known metalsmith in the area, Bailey exhibits locally and nationally. Her work is known for being sculptural in essence, mixing perforated and solid surfaces. Approaching jewelry as a sculptor; her forms are often large in scale, asymmetric in design and always have a minimalist flare for suggesting something beyond the object itself.
    A consummate metalsmith, Bailey earned a degree in metals from East Carolina University. Upon returning to Fayetteville she began teaching courses at Fayetteville Technical Community College. That experience has turned into seven years of teaching, which has resulted in a group of committed students who have studied with her for up to seven years. It is this core group of students that are exhibiting in Creative Metalsmiths: the Works of Erica Stankwytch Bailey and Students.
        A well-known artist, Bailey is also a dedicated teacher. I am aware of her enthusiasm and passion for teaching. She commented, “For me, having the opportunity to share my passion with others is priceless. I feel like I am creating a local niche for myself with a group of people that enjoy discussions about annealing, forging and all things metal. As an artist it is great to have a group of peers who discuss technical and aesthetic concerns. As an educator it is truly fantastic when you see the light go on when they finally get it! I am so proud of the work these students have completed to share with the community.”
        Nancy Tiska mounts stones in her silver fabricated bracelets and necklaces. What is particularly interesting is that the stones in Tiska’s work are actually parts of ceramic tiles. While visiting the island of Ponza, off the mainland of Rome and Naples, she collected the ceramic chards on the beaches. The tiles edges were smooth from the wear of the water. A registered nurse by profession, Tiska remarked, “taking jewelry with Bailey started out as a hobby and is just fun. I have plans to make special pieces for my family and friends.”
        Although Dale Parker has taught art in the public schools, metal work was a new experience for her. Her work in particular is organic in design. Parker has worked with Bailey for two years and stated, “I have become intrigued by the transformation of solid, rigid metal into forms that express fluidity and movement.”
        Pandy Autry has always been fascinated by “pattern and texture in nature, textiles, and in ordinary everyday objects.” A decorative painter, Autry has only worked with Bailey for a little over a year. For the exhibit she has fabricated shades for night lights. Autry’s mini lamp shades are exquisite in the way fabricated mesh has been soldered onto a metal frame to create unique and functional forms.                                                                                         Connie Bennett is a “computer technician by day and a jewelry junkie by night.” Her bracelets are carefully swirled round silver wire to create a rhythmic pattern of repetition and movement. Bennett has worked with Bailey for three years and enjoys using mixed media by combing resins and enamels to add color to her metalsmithing techniques.
    One of the more technically elaborate bracelets was made by Terry Milliken, a doll maker. A mixed-media cuff bracelet, sterling silver is combined with copper, the surface of the bracelet passed through a rolling mill to create a lace texture. Sterling silver vines, leaves and flowers were added to create a raised relief on the bracelet surface.
    The anthropologist of the group is Jennifer Grocer. Her knowledge of the ancients is evident in her work. Solid surfaces are covered with detailed, intricate arabesque patterns — evoking the jewelry style of several ancient civilizations. Mass in Grocer’s work is balanced with the delicate pattern.
        Wendy Marsh has been studying metalsmithing with Bailey for two years. As a massage therapist, Marsh’s earrings and necklace are graceful organic shapes, a vein of silver flows though the center of the form, ending with a delicate spiral. Like most of the Bailey’s students, Marsh has the joy, at this point, of exploring jewelry for the delight of designing and making works of art for family and friends.
        Fabricating horse hair bracelets has been a creative outlet for pharmacist Kim Howell. Owning a business called Twisted Tails; Howell makes braided horsehair bracelets for customers who send her hair from their horses. After working with Bailey on and off for six years, Howell has found unique ways to mix fabricated metal techniques with her unique horse hair jewelry.
        Lee McMillan always enjoyed “digging through her mother’s jewelry boxes and items of the 1950s.” In retro style, McMillan presents her bracelet on a white glove; beads dangle from her silver forms creating a delicate twinkle of the traditionally feminine. What began as trying to learn a few soldering techniques, has become two years of study with Bailey.
        Due to a canceled watercolor class, Kathy Moore decided to take a jewelry class. Three years later she is still working with Bailey and enjoys experimentation with jewelry making. Moore’s work in particular focuses on ways to integrate color with metal. Like several of the other student’s, Moore is inspired by nature.
        While viewing the exhibit, visitors to the gallery will immediately notice how Bailey’s tutoring does not end at the jeweler’s workbench. There was an extensive amount of preparation and planning on how to present the work. From the way each student’s shadow boxes were lit, to the building of the shadow boxes and the choices each artist made to present their work, Bailey lead the way in creating and promoting an exhibit, meeting deadlines, pricing and many other experiences which would be outside the realm of a regular class syllabus.
        {mosimage}Each student had only compliments and words of praise for their teacher guru. Parker remarked, “I appreciate that she allows input from her students as to what they want to learn. She encouraged me to go for it and didn’t expect us to emulate her style of work; instead we are encouraged to find our own style.”
        Creative Metalsmiths: the Works of Erica Stankwytch Bailey and Students will remain at the Cape Fear Studios through July 23, 2008. The studio is located on Maxwell Street, two blocks behind the Arts Council in historic downtown Fayetteville.




     









                                     




  • Bragg Mutual Federal Credit Union Contributes $3,000 to kids voting of cumberland county
        Bragg Mutual Federal Credit Union recently presented a check in the sum of $3,000 to Kids Voting Cumberland County.
        Kids Voting Cumberland County is a unique program that provides a state-approved comprehensive K-12 civics curriculum with dynamic classroom activities that are easy for teachers to adapt to best fit their needs. The curriculum makes learning about civics relevant to students. Through a “real-life” voting experience that replicates the adult ballot, with a full slate of candidates and issues, students gain the knowledge, skills and confidence necessary to be active participants in our representative democracy. Students, who learn these skills during their early school years, will reach adulthood with a greater appreciation of their responsibilities as citizens, with the abilities to identify the issues, gather information to reach solutions, think critically about the consequences of various actions and work together with others to do what is best for all.{mosimage}
        The $3,000 was raised by $1,500 in sales of candy bars at Bragg Mutual’s main office and three branches and matching funds provided from Armed Forces Financial Network matching grant program.

    Cape Fear Valley Appoints New Chief Finance Officer
        Sandra S. Williams, MHA, CPA, has been appointed Chief Financial Officer for Cape Fear Valley Health System.
        Williams, a native of St. Petersburg, Fla., has more than 28 years of professional finance experience. She was previously Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Christus Spohn Health System in Corpus Christi, Texas, where she was responsible for financial management of a 1,300-bed, six-hospital regional health system. Prior to that, Williams was Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer for University Community Hospital in Tampa, Fla.
        She has also served as an Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer for Presbyterian Healthcare/Novant Health in Charlotte, and as a Director with PricewaterhouseCoopers in their Healthcare Practice in the Middle East.
        Williams is a Certified Public Accountant and received a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and a Master of Arts in Healthcare Administration from the University of South Florida.
        At Cape Fear Valley, Williams will oversee finance for the 10th largest healthcare system in the state, which averages 875,000 patient visits a year.

    Arts Council seeks vendors for International Festival
        The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County is seeking vendors for the 30th Annual International Folk Festival, Sunday, Sept. 28 from noon until 6 p.m. at Festival Park in downtown. Spaces are available for arts and crafts vendors, food vendors and vendors selling merchandise with cultural or ethnic themes.         Applications are online at  www.artscounciloffayetteville.pmailus.com/pmailweb/ct?d=FZIlLwA8AAEAAAHgAAH92A or www.theartscouncil.com/International_Folk_Festival.html. For more information, call (910) 323-1776.

  •     You could take one day to celebrate our nation’s freedom, but why take just one? The owners of The Dog House have a better idea — take the whole weekend to celebrate the Fourth of July, with great music, great bikes and fantastic fireworks. All of these things come together at the First Annual Freedom Bike Fest, July 4-6.
        {mosimage}The Dog House has long been a destination for great music and a favorite for modern day cowboys who love to ride with the wind in their face and the feel of throbbing metal between their legs as they race down the highway and their horses of steel. (For those of a less poetic bent, that would be bikers.) Organizers are capitalizing on the love of music and bikes to bring together one of the biggest Fourth of July celebrations in the state.
        The event, which is a little bit country and a little bit rock ‘n roll, will be held in Parkton, on the site of the Southern Comfort Air Ranch. The ranch used to be the site of some great sky diving. These days the skies aren’t as busy as they used to be, but that will change over the course of the weekend. The ranch is 300-plus acres, some of which will be used as campsites for attendees at the rally. Camping is a major part of the Freedom Bike fest experience. All campgrounds are clean and well maintained with 24-hour security provided by the local law enforcement Freedom Bike Fest security staff. Freedom Bike Fest also provides trash and recycling, collected daily, and portable restrooms which are cleaned daily. The campground will not open until noon on Thursday, July 3. Only one motorized vehicle is allowed per campsite. You must be at least 18-years-old to camp at the event. Organizers note that the event is not designed for small children, and no pets are allowed either.
        The remaining land will be eaten up by the main stage; a vendor city and activities all designed to put you in a party state of mind.
        The event isn’t just about music, although there will be plenty of that. It’s also about charity. Each day, charity bike rides will begin and end at the ranch. They will spread throughout the area, with all monies raised going to local charities.
        There will also be some fun events. Events like the Biker Olympics, the FMX Stunt Riders, extreme sky divers and celebrity bike builders. Oh, we forgot to mention the world-famous tattoo artist who will be on hand. Ami James is an Israeli-born American tattoo artist. He is the co-owner of the Miami, Fla., tattoo parlor known as LoveHate, and is the subject of the TLC reality television program Miami Ink. If you ever thought you wanted a great tattoo, this would definitely be the man to talk to.{mosimage}                                                And while all those events will complement the music, it is the music that will rule at Freedom Bike Fest. Organizers of the event are bringing together some great national acts, as well as local groups, for three rocking days of fun. Local bands slated to perform include: D.L. Token and The Fifth. They be joined by regional acts such as: Rebel Son, The D.B. Bryant Band and Dixie Highway.
        Big name draws to the show Molly Hatchett, Blackfoot and Sammy Kershaw. Molly Hatchett and Blackfoot are both southern rockers who have definitely made their mark on southern rock. The two bands are known for good times and great music — they are good ‘ol boys whose guitars get pretty loud. Kershaw adds a bit of country to the mix. Known for such hits as “Queen of My Doublewide Trailer” and “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful,” will end the three day-event with his performance on Sunday night. On Saturday night, following the Blackfoot performance, a fantastic fireworks show will light up the Parkton skies.
        One-day admission to the show is $25, while a three-day pass if $50. In order to camp on site, you must purchase a three-day pass. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster outlets. Southern Comfort Air Ranch is located off U.S. 301 on Little Marsh Road, between Fayetteville and Lumberton.

  •     {mosimage}When you think about the Fourth of July, you think parades, picnics, patriotic music, flags and fireworks. And while you might find some of those elements at other community Fourth of July events, nobody does it better than Fort Bragg.
        If Fort Bragg is the place the phone rings when the nation dials 911, then it’s only right that it be the center of the celebration of our national freedom — especially this year as Fort Bragg sponsors Operation Celebrate Freedom VI: A Welcome Home Ceremony.
        “We always celebrate the Fourth of July every year here on Fort Bragg, but this year, we are blessed to have most of our soldiers home, although there are a number still deployed,” said Heather Staffel, special events coordinator. “That’s going to make it a little more special.”
        With that in mind, the installation is pulling out all of the stops to make this year’s event one not to be easily forgotten. The event will kick off at 3 p.m. at the Main Post Parade Field. While the field normally plays host to much more austere ceremonies, on the Fourth of July it becomes one of the biggest backyard barbecues in the nation, with everything from games and rides to food and music.
        The mini-carnival will feature children’s rides only. A $5 bracelet covers the cost of all the rides. Of course,  you may want to ride the rides before you settle down to eat, but when you do decide to check out the food vendors, be prepared. Vendors will offer everything from barbecue to brats to pizza and ice cream. There will be 16 food vendors. If none of that tempts your tummy, you’re always welcome to bring along your own picnic basket.
        Fort Bragg’s festivities have long been associated with great music, and this year is no exception. At 3:30 p.m., Dakota Rain, one of Fayetteville’s favorite country music bands, will start the party. The band, which has been together for more than seven years, is something of a staple at the Fort Bragg festivities, having opened for national acts for a number of years. Dakota Rain highlights its performances with a mix of cover country tunes, southern rock and its own original music. Woman Behind the Man, a tribute to military wives, received considerable air play locally and in other areas throughout North and South Carolina.
        The band will be followed by Rockie Lynne, a former Fort Bragg soldier turned musician. Lynne, a North Carolina native, signed his first record deal in 2005, and has since charted four times on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. His first hit came with the song “Lipstick,” which peaked at number 29. He currently has two singles out — “I Can’t Believe It’s Me” and “Holding Back the Ocean.”
        It wouldn’t be the Fourth of July on Fort Bragg unless someone jumped out of a plane, and at 5:45 p.m., you can catch the world-famous Golden Knights free fall parachute demonstration. The Knights are among the most elite skydivers in the world, competing around the world annually. The aerial acrobatics and precision landings are a great way to warm the crowd up for another elite performer — the incomparable Wynonna.
        There are only a select few celebrities who have the panache to be known only by their first name — Wynonna definitely makes the cut. The auburn-haired beauty has a powerhouse voice that was made for country music. She gained fame in the ‘80s as a member of one of country’s most popular duos — the Judds. Their story is well known. Wynonna, along with her mother, Naomi, had a meteoric rise to the top, recording more than 10 studio albums and charting 14 number one songs. The duo appeared unstoppable until 1991 when Naomi was forced into retirement due to health issues. {mosimage}
        Many speculated how well Wynonna would do on her own, but she didn’t let her fans down. Launching her solo career, she has sold more than 10 million records, won the Top Female Vocalist award from the Academy of Country Music, and recorded 13 top 10 hits. She has been called innovative, inspired and imaginative, and has proven to be something of a rebel. The tabloids have followed the songstress closely, taking note of her successes, and thrilling when she falls down. But the singer, who has likened herself to a female Elvis, takes it all in stride, and continues to produce great country music. She is currently touring in support of her new release What The World Needs Now Is Love. Wynonna has a special place for the military in her heart, having performed a number of times for the military and their families, including shows at the Pentagon and most recently at Alaska’s Operation Gratitude, a concert for the U.S. military. That show was simulcast to troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, who were able to interact with her via video conferencing. Once you’ve had your taste of country, prepare for a big bite of mom, apple pie and country, as the event turns to the patriotic side. The Flag Ceremony, long a Fort Bragg tradition, pays tribute to the men and women who serve by honoring the flags of every state. If you’ve never seen this ceremony, be prepared for goose bumps.
        At 8:30 p.m., the 82nd Airborne Division’s All American Band will perform the “1812 Overture,” which will flow into the Concert in the Sky fireworks show at 9:30 p.m. This is one show you are not going to want to miss.
        Admission to the event is free and open to the entire community. If you do not have a Fort Bragg sticker on your vehicle, you will need to enter through one of the authorized gates for non-registered vehicles. Expect a delay of at least 30 minutes to access post, so plan your trip accordingly, but leave your pets, grills and glass bottles at home.
  •     The town of Hope Mills is planning a bang-up celebration this year, with plenty of events, performances and fun and games that are sure to create fond memories for the entire family.
    Hope Mills’ Parks and Recreation Program Supervisor, Kenny Bullock, has been working to ensure that this year’s celebration is a success. Even with all the hard work, Bullock enjoys watching the impact his efforts have on the public.
        “I enjoy the parade and seeing the kids have fun --— and the games” said Bullock. And everyone’s favorite … the fireworks. “The fireworks are always the top of the show. Everybody loves to see the fireworks,” he added. 
    Last year, Bullock estimates that 6,000 or so people turned out for the Fourth of July celebration, adding that,“This year we hope to have more.”
         The day starts at 10 a.m. with a parade. It will start at Hope Mills Middle School and will end at Hope Mills Municipal Park. From noon until the fireworks everything will take place at the park. “We try to make it a fun family atmosphere,” said Bullock.  
         {mosimage}Bullock strives to keep things interesting by bringing in new and different entertainment for each annual Fourth of July celebration.
        “We’ve got some different venues coming in,” he noted. “We’ve got Shadows of the Fire and the Kindred Spirits Student Group that will be performing, and we have a magic show for the kids at 5:30.”
         Every age group has their favorites, and the Fourth of July celebration strives to meet everyone’s expectations. “The children love the inflatables (and) the adults love the entertainment,” said Bullock. “This year we have Dakota Rain. They’ll start performing at 7. The crowd will start filling up probably around 3 with everyone wanting to get involved.”
         There will also be a horse shoe tournament, train rides, a karaoke contest, and other fun games. And don’t forget the fireworks. They start at 9:30 p.m.
  •     {mosimage}Dr. James Anderson, the new chancellor at Fayetteville State University is the right man at the right time to lead FSU into the 21st century.
        Coming off a tumultuous year at FSU that included the much publicized nursing school brouhaha, Anderson, 59, wants to restore order, raise admission standards, and, most importantly, make FSU more competitive and attractive to students.
        “We have to not only emphasize recruitment, but on top of that, retention and graduation. It hurts an institution when it lowers its standards,” Anderson said. “Now, I didn’t get into why that happened. What I have tried to say since I’ve been here is when you lower your standards you begin to lose your competitive edge. It’s very hard to argue that you’re a great institution when you’re lowering your admissions standards.
    “So we’ve bumped those up some and they will continue to gradually move up,” Anderson said. “But we are not an institution of choice, meaning when students think about their first choice, many of them don’t think about Fayetteville State University. For many of them, we are their default institution. We want to change that; we want to be able to go after some of the best and brightest in North Carolina, who either leave the state or go to other schools here. We want to be able to offer the competitive scholarships that attract them.”
        In order to attract “the best and the brightest,” Anderson says the school needs to recruit star students, just as athletes are recruited. He also says the business of recruiting should not be left solely to the admissions office, but should also include the faculty.
        “We want to have faculty involved in student recruitment, to have faculty to begin to contact students in their junior year in high school or get them to come here for various kinds of summer initiatives, etc.,” Anderson said. “When they begin to see you early on, they begin to develop more of an affinity for you, they begin to see how serious we are about wanting them here.”
        As part of his recruitment strategy, Anderson wants to add more diversity to the student body, recruiting more Hispanic and international students. And he says he especially wants to attract more black males to FSU — a commodity that is sorely lacking not only at FSU, but across the nation as a whole.
        Anderson has a hard won advantage over most university presidents or chancellors in the recruitment of black males — he can relate to black males because he’s “real.”
        Anderson was born out of wedlock in a Washington, D.C., hospital. His mother’s family forced her to leave the infant at the hospital and he didn’t see her again until six years ago.
    He lived the wild life, surviving and hustling on the hard streets of D.C., getting in and out of trouble. But he was saved by the discipline of a Catholic classroom and the stern, no-nonsense guidance of the schools’ angels in black and white.
        “I got in lots of trouble, and yet I always did well in school,” Anderson said. “The nuns saw something in me and just always pressed me to do well. In high school I was a big high school basketball player, but I always put academics first.”
        After leaving high school, Anderson attended Villanova University — where he remains a member of the board of trustees — and then to Cornell, where he earned his Ph.D. in psychology under his first true mentor, Wade Boykin — the first African-American faculty member at Cornell in the psychology department. Anderson was the first African-American to earn a Ph.D. in Boykin’s program.
        After having spent most of his academic life at all-white or predominantly white schools, Anderson decided that for his next gig, he wanted to experience a traditionally African-American college, so he chose to teach at Xavier University in New Orleans.
        Anderson left Xavier for Indiana University in Pennsylvania, where another mentor, Hilda Richards, suggested he get into administration.
        “She said, ‘James I know you love teaching, you’re rated as one of our best instructors on campus... our students love you... but I think you would make a great administrator,” Anderson said. “She said a line I will never forget: ‘You can change a few lives of students in a classroom, but you can change the whole university if you run it.’”
        And thus began his quest to lead a university as a president or chancellor. His journey to that destination took him to the University of Richmond in Virginia; N.C. State, where the school created a brand new position for him — the dean of undergraduate studies; Texas A&M, where he served under then-President Robert Gates, who is now President Bush’s secretary of defense; and finally, he went to work at Albany State University.
        Shortly after starting his job at Albany State he learned about the opening for a chancellor at FSU.
    “I finally made the decision that I wanted to be a chancellor,” Anderson said. “I only applied to two places and this one came through.
        “A couple of things pulled me to FSU,” he added. “First and foremost, my respect and admiration for the University of North Carolina system, which I consider the best in the country. When I came down for my visit I really felt a couple of things: one, that there was very good student leadership here, and that if people were given the chance to be creative, to be innovative, they would. I knew there was a little troubled time here preceding that search, so we had to recast the image of the university in a more positive light. The board seemed very inspired in that they really wanted to find someone that was a good match. A lot of the stars aligned at the same time.”
        After a long search, Anderson, who has a wife and three daughters, says FSU is his last job... that he will be here until he retires.
        Anderson says implementing the changes he’s seeking won’t be easy. He says that some of the “old guard” may resent the recruitment of different races at a traditionally African-American school — though he says that at one time, FSU’s student body was 33 percent white  — he says that some alumni may balk at the fund-raising he says is necessary to implement some of the technological initiatives needed to make sure FSU students remain competitive when they venture into the work place.{mosimage}
        “The fund-raising effort at Fayetteville State may appear to have been sufficient in some ways, but for the things we want to do, the creative initiatives, the things we want, we have nowhere near the resource support,” Anderson said. “So we’ll have to do fund-raising, which entails having alumni increase their gift giving rate, which is very low. I don’t understand why 25 percent of the alumni can’t give $50 each year. See, people always think you’re asking for $100,000 or $50,000, etc. If $50 is all you can give, that’s fine. But I would like to be able to say one day that 25 percent of our alumni give, which is pretty good considering the national average is around 19 percent.”
        Anderson insists that when it comes to recruiting students, fund-raising and pushing his initiatives, he will never take a back seat.
        “I will lead the push for more money. I will lead this school in the pursuit of new technology. I will recruit  prize students, even if it means hopping on a plane at my own expense and flying across the country.”
        The right man. The right time. The right job.

  •     When I learned, 28 years ago this month, that I was expecting our first child the reaction throughout our family was a resounding, high-fiving, back-slapping “YES!,” in anticipation of the first grandchild, niece-nephew on either side. At the time, I was a 30-year-old married woman working in my family business with a stable, income-producing spouse.
        It was still hard. 
        Having and raising that child and the two others who followed him remains the great challenge of my life. I suspect most parents would say the same.                                                                                                                                          That is why recent news from Gloucester, Mass., is so troubling. Who could ever have imagined a pact among adolescent girls 16 and younger to become pregnant, give birth and raise their children together. I immediately conjured images of a lovely Victorian house with a rose-covered picket fence where fresh-faced young women and their perfect, healthy and beautiful babies live happily ever after.{mosimage}
    The thought of it almost takes my breath away.
        Grown-ups — that would be the people in charge at school and other folks in authority, began to take notice when more girls than usual appeared at the high school health clinic seeking repeated pregnancy tests, when, as we used to say in the olden days, “the rabbit died.” Girls one might expect to burst into tears upon hearing such news were actually delighted to find themselves in the family way, with no dads in sight. 
    Since Time magazine first reported the story, there has been considerable backpedaling and general confusion. The mayor of Gloucester held a press conference to say that the high school principal might have misunderstood a few things, and the teen moms themselves are nowhere to be seen.
        Time has stood by its reporter and its story. Nonetheless, it is certainly true that a “pact” — real or imagined, forged among teenage girls in high school bathrooms, in cars or on school buses, during slumber parties or wherever is quite a bit more slippery than the public signing of a NATO treaty by various heads of state.
        The former has lots of wiggle room, shades of gray, and deniability, while the latter does not.
     Gloucester is a hard scrabble American town, one which has fallen upon hard times with the demise of the New England fishing industry, just as many North Carolina communities continue to reel from the loss of manufacturing jobs in the textile, tobacco and furniture sectors. It is understandable that people in those communities seek refuge and relief whereever they can.
        Teenaged motherhood, though, seems a serious, significant, and lifelong overreaction. I think of how much our culture has changed on the issue of out of wedlock births since my own teenaged years. Then, I knew girls who suddenly and inexplicably went to spend a summer with a mysterious Aunt Thelma in Nebraska, a relative whom no one had ever heard of before and have not since.
        Times are different and much less judgmental today. We have baby showers for moms in middle school, and we all rightly embrace our precious babies, whatever their parental status when they arrive.
    But I know, and I know you know, that having a child and being a parent is hard. I have no idea what went on with those teenaged girls in Gloucester, and, I suspect, neither do they. The fact, however, that this year’s teen pregnancy rate in that community is quadruple the expected number says that something is afoot. Other than the dads who do not seem to be publicly stepping up, what is it?
        {mosimage}Social scientists tell us that cause and effect are notoriously difficult, if not impossible to prove. I cannot help but suspect, however, that in addition to the economic distress of Gloucester, our popular culture, including the likes of Angelina Jolie and Jamie Lynn Spears, play a role. It glamorizes high fashion pocketbooks, empire waistlines and stiletto heels and, in the same breath, describes “baby bumps” as if they were just another modern fashion accessory.
        Everyone wants one.
        A designer bag, a fabulous dress, a pair of killer shoes, though, can wind up in a pile at the back of the closet. The baby, subsequent to the bump, is forever. Untold millions of women throughout time have borne and raised children alone, mostly inadvertently. It appears, though, that at least some of the young mothers in Gloucester set out to have babies on their own, pact or no pact, which tells me that there is a real gap between the romance of motherhood and its reality.
        Very early motherhood can turn out well for all parties, but I do not know anyone who would not say it is almost always more difficult than for a mother who is more emotionally, educationally, and financially prepared and who has a contributing partner.
         My heart is with these young mothers and their babies as they embark upon the road they have apparently chosen for themselves — and for their precious and unknowing little ones.
  •     The Fayetteville Observer recently provided an update on the status of the site for the new Fayetteville Museum of Art and its overdone design. It is sometimes useful to take a look back at a situation so that the next steps forward might not be yet another jangle of more missteps. 
        The FMA began serious discussion about a new building at a new location in 2005. At that time I was a new member of the museum board of trustees. Much of the board’s activities were then focused on how to raise a lot of money for the proposed project. An idea proposed by board member John Malzone was accepted as an excellent start. A $1,000 per couple gala dinner with a lottery for a new car would be the promotional draw. This event was conducted twice with moderate success. Unfortunately, the money raised was not applied as intended, i.e. to a new building war chest. Rather it was used for day-to-day operations.
        Earlier in 2005, an effort to place the new museum at the south end of Festival Park was mounted. This was opposed by the Downtown Alliance and Marshall Isner in particular. Dr. Menno Pennink made cogent argument for the south end location but then City Manager Roger Stancil prevailed and made an alternative offer, the park’s north end. Certain board members saw this as a preferable location, including Malzone who made statements to that effect during a board meeting. Malzone owns retail businesses on Rowan Street near the new north-end location. Accepting this location was the first mistake.
        An executive committee was formed to manage all aspects of the new museum project. Virginia Oliver, Dr. Shirish Devasthali and Tom Grubb plus non-trustee Terri Union comprised the decision making group. Despite concerns voiced by at least one board member, a consulting firm was hired to develop a capital fund-raising plan which would include identifying which persons, families and businesses in our community could be expected to contribute major donations to the project. The cost of the consulting services has run into hundreds of thousands and little or no useful information was provided in exchange. So the hiring of consultants to tell the board what it already knew, or should have known, was the second mistake.
        A request for proposals was issued by the executive committee. A short list of respondents was developed by this committee with obvious participation by a select one or two members not on the committee. One member pointed out to the board that a minimal amount of funds should be in place for preliminary architectural fees before short-list firms were asked to submit proposals but this was not done. On Dec. 15, 2005, the museum board met in the Headquarters Library Pate Room to see and hear presentations by the four firms selected for the short list. Of the four presentations, the very least remarkable was the totally unprepared Ten Architectos firm from Mexico City and New York. The other three had developed impressive renderings which indicated both imaginative design and a thorough understanding of the particular requirements of an art museum. The Ten Architectos presenter, Enrique Norton, offered nothing but a portfolio of work done for other clients.{mosimage}
        Nonetheless, when the presenters left the room at 4:30 that afternoon, Oliver called for a decision at once, allowing each member no more than three minutes to offer comments if they so chose. Malzone stood and made a speech extolling the wonders and benefits of the Ten Architectos firm. Then, Devestali stood and did the same. Then Oliver called for a vote. A plurality of the members present voted for the firm Malzone and Devestali clearly were pushing. A decision that should have taken weeks of careful and deliberate analysis was completed in less than five minutes. That was the board’s third mistake.
    As the process continued, a very nice reception was held at the home of then board member Jesse Byrd. Individuals in the community with a strong interest in the arts or a reputation for supporting cultural endeavors within the community were invited. Senator Tony Rand was made honorary chairman of the capital drive for reasons obvious to all.
        Early in the spring of 2006 I brought to the board’s attention the need for analyzing expected sustaining costs as they might apply to a much larger building. This led to no small amount of dissension and I subsequently resigned due to a loss of confidence in the board’s leadership. That was definitely not a mistake on my part.
        While the community expected a two-story building in the $5-$10 million range, the “design” submitted by the Ten Architectos for the FMA is a smaller version in many respects to a building done by the firm for the Guggenheim Foundation. The cost estimates are $15 million. The board, according to The Fayetteville Observer account, has raised $1 million. Well, that is a start.
        A very strange city council meeting was conducted last July at the FMA to resolve the location issue. No elected person seemed to be running this city council meeting. With a minimum of discussion the Festival Park site was set. The manner in which that meeting was conducted and the decision regarding location was the fourth mistake.
        The last and most obvious mistake will be if the FMA board persists in its efforts to build a new museum on Festival Park grounds. It is now obvious that the park cannot accommodate both the proposed building and park activities. Public sentiment will wane as will funding. The FMA board needs to take a serious step back and consider its mistakes and options before they press forward else they may look back and see no one following.
  •     As I sat in my hotel room in Orlando, Fla. last week channel surfing the television between CNN and Fox News, I saw and heard familiar sights and sounds about my hometown. Fayetteville made the national news. However, this was not the type of notoriety we could take pride in. A young female soldier from Fort Bragg, seven months pregnant, and just back from her last duty station in Germany was found needlessly slain at a local hotel. How tragic.
        It is horrific tragedies like this that make national stories and sensational headlines. So, the expected influx of national news media has arrived on our doorstep, bringing with it lots and lots of negative publicity for our community in the months, perhaps year, ahead. This is not good, but at least, it is understandable. {mosimage}
    What is less understandable is why our community is treated so unfairly by Time Warner’s News 14 Carolina. They claim to be our “local” television station but use the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community as their personal “whipping boy” for negative “if it bleeds, it leads” news coverage while showcasing other areas like Cary, Raleigh, Durham and the Research Triangle as the epitome of tranquil neighborhoods, innovative businesses and extreme quality of life. Ridiculous, you say? Tune in and watch it for yourself.
        Last Tuesday News 14 Carolina aired four back-to-back news stories all reflecting negatively on Fayetteville and Cumberland County. These were immediately followed by positive, personal interest stories about people and events in Durham, Cary, Raleigh and the RTP. I may be a little oversensitive about this, but hey, give me a break here! We appreciate Time Warner’s presence in our community but Time Warner should show more respect to us as a community. I’m not saying they should not report the news. I am saying that they should be fair, balanced and sensitive to all the communities they serve. After all, unlike all the other markets they cover, Fayetteville does not have a local TV station or local radio stations with real news departments. In other words, Time Warner has no competition and we have no way to defend ourselves.
        Fayetteville is a great community with no more, or no less, of the trials and tribulations found in any other North Carolina municipality. We take great pride in our community and ask only that the media be fair in its coverage. Especially, since we are paying for the privilege. Cable television is not “free.” As a customer this is not too much to ask from a company whose job is to report the news and inform the public.
        Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly. We value your opinions and hope you will share them with us. I can be reached at bill@upandcomingweekly.com.
  •     I received my BMW Owners Association (BMWOA) 2008 booklet the other day. In this book are the phone numbers of other BMW owners who have volunteered to help their fellow Bimmers out if they need assistance. These are folks who volunteer everything from picking you up in the event of a breakdown, to someone you can call for advice, and if need be, a place to stay. The membership also gets you the BMW ON magazine each month.{mosimage}
        As I looked through the new book I thought to myself what I would do in the event of a breakdown while on a ride. I have towing insurance but don’t think that is sufficient in the event my bike breaks down someplace like Kitty Hawk and the closest dealership is in Raleigh.
        These days there are many towing services available through a variety of companies. I know that I can get roadside assistance from my cell phone carrier for an additional monthly fee but I have a hard enough time getting someone from America to answer directory assistance so I don’t want to try to deal with translations while I’m upset about the bike. I have towing on my car insurance but that will not cover my motorcycle. I checked AAA and KOA. I found that AAA will tow a motorcycle but only to the nearest motorcycle shop. However, the language in the KOA Web site reads a little differently and I found that KOA actually will pay to have your bike towed to the closest “capable” repair facility and provide minor repairs. As I navigated the site I was directed to Allstate Motorclub who is the provider for KOA.
        This is great news if you have a Harley and do not want a hack working on it. The KOA membership does not cover a particular bike so this is great if you own more than one bike.This is a great benefit if you own more than one bike. It also includes vehicles, RV, trailers and ATVs. I was also allowed to sign up an additional member for the basic cost. The membership also gives you Lock-Out benefit, arrest bond certificate, trip interruption benefit, legal defense benefit, KOA Kampground discounts, personalized Trip-Plan services and hotel, motel and car rental discounts.
         Although I hope I will never need roadside assistance, I thought the price of the KOA membership was worth the peace of mind knowing I have someone to take care of me and my bike.
         If there is a topic that you would like to discuss, please send your comments and suggestions to motorcycle4fun@aol.com. RIDE SAFE!
  •     All that is required for a comedy like Get Smart (110 minutes) to succeed is a willingness to laugh. Written by Tom J. Astle and Matt Ember, based on characters created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry for the original television series, the movie reads as a better than average satire of a 1960s spy movie. In other words, a kid-friendly version of Austin Powers, meaning Get Smartis a spy satire without the constant sexual innuendo. This really does make the casting of Steven Carell a bit of inspired genius, since he specializes in playing the sweet, goofy, well intentioned idiot types. Peter Segal, who first won my love with 50 First Dates back in 2004 seems fairly well suited to this lighthearted fare, and he makes no real missteps. If only one could say the same about Astle and Ember! The dialogue is fine, but the pacing could use some work, and the latter half of the movie seems to go on and on.
        Just as in the television series, Maxwell Smart (Carell) is a prize agent at Control. However, the U.S. spy agency is suffering from loss of funding and lack of government support due to the end of the Cold War and the supposed dissolution of KAOS, the evil spies Control was meant to, um, control. This updated version of Smart has failed the agents’ exam a number of times, but keeps a positive attitude. When KAOS somehow compromises Control, the Chief (Alan Arkin) promotes Smart to agent 86 and partners him with Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway). In the background works Agent 23 (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson), who expresses his frustration at being stuck in the office in a number of ways (stapler to the head!). While Smart and Agent 99 attempt to unravel the intricate schemes of KAOS, the head of KAOS, Siegfried (Terence Stamp) plots with an unknown accomplice within Control to undermine democracy and assassinate the President of the United States (James Caan).
        {mosimage}The Good: Masi Oka plays Bruce the tech guy! He was in Heroes! The Bad: Masi Oka! He deserves a much bigger part! The Funniest: Completely random shot of an overflowing vomit bag. The Slightly Embarrassing: Steve Carell’s attempt to work the classic Maxwell Smart delivery made famous by Don Adams. He does it correctly sometimes, but he mostly just sounds like Michael Scott. 
        It was a given that Get Smartwould be funnier than the stale, clichéd, wreck that is Mike Myers’ new movie, and the box office certainly favors the former. However, I was still looking at my watch before the first hour was up. Anne Hathaway is a cutie, Steve Carell is very good at what he does, but something here isn’t working. Even so, just because this isn’t in the same league as The 40 Year Old Virgin and The Office doesn’t mean it’s a joyless exercise in futility either. Everyone laughed, and the number of cameos and guest stars made for an entertaining series of Hey! It’s That Guy! moments. Fans of The Naked Gun will find Maxwell Smart similar to LT. Frank Drebin, and this is a fairly nice redo for fans of the original             television series.  
  •    Secret Diary of a Call Girlblends the two in a novel way

        Secret Diary of a Call Girl(Monday, 10:30 p.m., Showtime) is based on the blog of a high-priced London prostitute. Billie Piper plays Hannah, a legal secretary by day and call girl by night. It sounds like a familiar scenario, but a team of female writers bring a fresh perspective to the material. They get inside Hannah’s head and create a credible portrait of a smart, strong woman in a strange situation.{mosimage}
        Secret Diary of a Call Girlis billed as a comedy, but it’s melancholy rather than madcap. In this week’s episode, Hannah has sex with her accountant in exchange for his services, granting his wish to become an S&M slave. Even when the accountant strips down to a leather dog collar, though, the filmmakers avoid cheap laughs in favor of thoughtfully exploring the bond between these two professionals. The episode ends with each sincerely apologizing to the other.
        I order you to watch this series, slave.

    Shear Genius
    Wednesday, 10 p.m. (Bravo)
        A dozen hairstylists come to L.A. to compete for $100,000. It sounds like another high-stakes reality series for talented artists, à la Top Chef and Project Runway. But it’s hard to take this one seriously.
    For one thing, it looks like an exotic animal crawled onto each contestant’s head, then died a horrible death. How can you take them seriously as stylists when their own styles are so absurd? For another thing, snipping just isn’t too intriguing as an art form. “It really fails for me on all levels,” an Allure editor says of a styling job. But really, how many levels does a haircut have?
        In an attempt to generate excitement, the series dreams up bizarre challenges. The stylists have to re-create the hairdos of cartoon characters like Marge Simpson and Wilma Flintstone; they also have to cut hair blindfolded.
        It turns out that the blindfolded cuts don’t look much different from the eyes-wide-open cuts. Doesn’t that tell you something?

    The Singing Office
    Sunday, 9 p.m. (TLC)
        Colleagues from 16 companies take time off work to attend a song-and-dance boot camp, then face off against each other in a vocal competition.
        Instead of working, apparently, American employees are wailing “Proud Mary” at the top of their lungs. Now we know why the Gross National Product is heading south.

    Celebrity Family Feud
    Tuesday, 8 p.m. (NBC)
        Don’t get too excited by the word “celebrity.” This series features has-beens and wannabes like Mr. T and Kim Kardashian. Their families compete in a quiz format to win $50,000 for charity.
        How about donating the money to a charity for third-tier celebrities so that financial need won’t drive them to participate in demeaning TV series?

    America’s Got Talent
    Tuesday, 9 p.m. (NBC)
        NBC has the nerve to make the title a declarative sentence. Anybody who’s been watching the series will mentally place a question mark after the word “Talent.”

  •     DL Token likes it loud and soft.
        The Fayetteville band plays both acoustic music and hard-driving rock, and is currently recording an acoustic album to be released concurrently with a completed, yet unreleased rock CD.
    Jeremy Strothers, lead vocalist and guitarist, says the new album — which he expects to release in two to four months — is a biographical tale of wanting to stop the world long enough to step off and take a deep breath. {mosimage}
        “I think I’m leaning towards calling the project An American Songwriter,” Strothers said. “And its theme is a biography of sorts about a young man at the turn of the millennium and his experiences and the kind of process everybody’s having to deal with making it through a world that’s so fast-paced and numbing, and somehow still stay in touch with your humanity.”
        The album is being recorded at Daxwood Productions — located in Fayetteville and owned by Doyle Wood — and its unreleased sister record was recorded three years ago by a previous incarnation of DL Token.
        “The second rock album was recorded three years ago — the original ensemble had broken up, everybody was just burned out — we had toured over 900 shows together.
        “At the very end of the first band’s run, we were recording our second release and we had mixed and mastered it and started sending it to radio stations,” Strothers said. “In fact, the first CD still gets played every now and again. Right at that time, the band disbanded and the tracks never got completely finished out. That album sort of sat on the back shelf. We just now got all the legal stuff down so we can release it and it’s going to be released in conjunction with the acoustic album. We will be self-promoting both albums as well as looking for a record company.”
        Strothers is accompanied by bassist Mike Daniels and percussionist Mitar Maraj. The band is serious about the “percussionist” label, as Maraj does not play a full drum kit, but rather a doumbek — a goblet-shaped hand drum used mostly in Arabic, Jewish, Assyrian, Persian, Balkan, Greek, Armenian, Azeri and Turkish music. Its thin, responsive drumhead and resonance help it produce a distinctively crisp sound.
    “I’m blown away by how he can make such a simple, small drum sound like a full drum kit,” Strothers said. “It’s a great supporting instrument for an acoustic guitar. Years went by and I heard he wasn’t doing anything and it just so happens my guitar player at the time left and everything just fell into place.”
        Bassist Daniels is a well-known musical figure in Fayetteville, having played with numerous bands.
    “We’re all full-time working musicians which is rare for this area,” Strothers said. “I look around and none of my peers make music full-time. And this is the best acoustic ensemble I’ve had in years.”
        All three say they love playing in Fayetteville, with Paddy’s being a particular favorite. However, Strothers says his very favorite place to play is an intimate bar down in Myrtle Beach called The Reef.
        “It’s just so laid back,” Strothers said. “It’s right on the beach and I can go and play in my swimsuit while bikini babes walk by. And it’s an acoustic venue, which I love. I’ve always played acoustic to supplement income. Working in an acoustic capacity opens up a whole new group of venues you can play to bring in income.”
        Strothers says the band gigs all the time, working five nights a week. The band is getting ready to play a huge, annual event — the Freedom Bike Fest in Parkton on July 4-6. DL Token will kick of the show July 4 at noon, followed by Rebel Son and Molly Hatchet; On July 5, the bands will be On Tapp, Crush N’ Run, Aftershock, Peacepipe, the DB Bryant Band, The Fifth and Blackfoot; finishing up the show on July 6 will Country Day, Dixie Highway, the Barry Brown Band, Daryle Singletary and Sammy Kershaw.
        “We’re looking forward to it,” Strothers said. “because of the number of people that will be there, it will be exciting.”
        Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com and are $25 for one day and $50 for the full three days.
  •     The beach will meet the vineyard when the Embers take to the stage at J. Wesley Vineyards on Saturday, July 5 from 7-10 pm. 
        “We have played at several vineyards throughout the state,” said Bobby Tomlinson, leader and drummer of the Embers. “They usually draw a big crowd.” Tomlinson added that the band has a strong connection with the Fayetteville area and started performing in the area in the early 60s.   {mosimage}
        Bring your lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy the sweet mix of rhythm and blues of the Embers as they play on the vineyard’s lawn. Formed in 1958, the Embers have released17 albums and had numerous hits, and have manged to survive nearly 50 years of musical transition while continuing to take the stage as one of the most entertaining bands to ever perform. The group, from Raleigh, averages 300 dates per year ranging from Toronto to Florida and westward to California and Hawaii. The group has opened for the Rolling Stones, done commercials for Budweiser, played for the Olympics and President Clinton’s inauguration and created the soundtrack for endless summers. They were inducted into the South Carolina Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame and named North Carolina’s Official Musical Ambassadors of Good Will.  The members consist of Bobby Tomlinson, Jerry Tellier, Wayne Free, Stephen Pachuta, Debby Mac, David Dixon and John Ray.   
        Their brand new CD, The Show Must Go On, was produced by Charles Wallert and entails songs such as “You’re The Reason,” “Makin’ Love To You” and “This Heart.” The album exudes a strong message of love of life combined with vocal harmony and melody.     
         J. Wesley Vineyards has brought the spirit of winemaking back to Cumberland County. The family is growing three different varieties of muscadines. The summer concert series is designed to host good company and provide good food and fine wine.          
         Food, wine, beer and drinks will be available for purchase. J. Wesley Vineyards is located at 9340 Chickapee Drive in north Fayetteville. Ticket cost is $20 in advance and $25 at the door. There is a VIP section for $75. 
        For more information call 321-9463. 
  •     Who was the greatest North Carolina general in the Civil War?
        Wait a minute, you say, we don’t play those games anymore. You think it’s time we put aside our glorifying the horrible Civil War that tore our country into two factions that waged war on each other for four terrible years. You want us to stop pretending that there was anything good about our region’s effort to protect a special social system based on slavery. We should, you continue, put it aside forever, and celebrate instead the historic efforts to overcome the legacy of racial inequality that war symbolizes to so many.
        Maybe we should. The only good thing about the Civil War, a friend told me the other day, is that our country learned a hard lesson, one that has kept us from ever again trying to settle our political differences with violence and warfare.
        Nevertheless, we just cannot give up these memories. We are fascinated with that violent confrontation, with the battle tactics, the personal sacrifices and suffering of people in all walks of life, and the amazing bravery and talents that extraordinary people sometimes demonstrated in those awful times.
    So, again, who was the greatest North Carolina general?
        Lincolnton attorney and historian Dan Barefoot has an answer.
        Major General Robert F. Hoke.
        North Carolinians of today remember Hoke, if at all, as the man who gave North Carolina’s 100th county its name. Hoke County, formed in 1911 from parts of Cumberland and Robeson County, took its name from the former general, then still alive and much admired for his wartime achievements.
        {mosimage}Today, he is mostly forgotten even by ardent Civil War buffs.
        It is for that reason, Barefoot says, that he wrote General Robert F. Hoke: Lee’s Modest Warrior.
    Arguably, the honor of naming a county for Hoke came about in large part because he was one of the very few general officers of the “Lost Cause” still alive in 1911. Or, it might have been because of his postwar achievements as a successful and public-spirited businessman who put the war behind him and concentrated on building a new South rather than looking backward to the war.
        But, as Barefoot points out, there was also a strong belief during that time that General Robert E. Lee, late in the war, had designated Hoke to replace him, should something happen to Lee. Barefoot concedes that this “disputed honor” has “never been authenticated to the satisfaction of many historians and scholars.” Nevertheless, a hundred years ago many North Carolinians accepted it as fact. When Hoke died in 1912, national newspapers spread the idea. For instance, the New York Tribune in its obituary stated that Hoke was “said to have been the personal choice of General Lee to succeed him in case he was killed in battle.”
    Whatever the actual truth of this report, its widespread acceptance had to be based on some extraordinary achievements.
        Hoke was, after all, a very young and very junior major general. In fact, he was the youngest major general ever to serve in the Confederate Army, being promoted when he was a month shy of his 27th birthday. He did not celebrate his 28th birthday until after the war ended.
        What accomplishments could support a belief that such a young general could ever be considered as a possible replacement for Lee?
        Here are a two, of a larger number, described by Barefoot:
        In April 1864 Hoke led the Confederate forces in the battle of Plymouth , which was the “first substantial defeat” for Union forces in North Carolina.
        In June of that year Hoke’s troops played such a substantial role in the Confederate victory at Cold Harbor, that years later U.S. Grant said that Hoke gave him “the worst drubbing I ever got.”
        Who was North Carolina’s greatest Confederate general?
        Don’t give any answer other than Robert F. Hoke until you have read Barefoot’s book.
  •     Even in the homestretch of a legislative session, it isn’t typical to have two back-to-back rallies at the General Assembly attracting hundreds of people to send diametrically opposed messages to lawmakers. But that’s what happened when some 200 members of the State Employees Association of North Carolina (SEANC) rallied for bigger pay raises and then a larger crowd of more than 1,000 taxpayers and activists rallied Wednesday against burgeoning state budgets and government overreach.
        But, wait a moment. Are those two messages really at odds?{mosimage}
        SEANC has a beef with the General Assembly for years of poor treatment when compared to the state’s public-school teachers. The latter group has consistently gotten higher annual increases and more attention to working conditions. The former insists that the work of prison guards, mental-health professionals and other state workers shouldn’t receive a lower value when budget time comes around.
        There’s a case for their position. It’s difficult to find good evidence supporting the differential treatment. Recent teacher-pay hikes don’t appear to have moved the needle much when it comes to teacher quality or student outcomes. And while education is a priority, I would certain argue that public safety is an even higher priority, the core function of government. The labor market exists for district attorneys, parole officers, and corrections officials just as much as it does for educators.
        But is arguing for better treatment of state employees inconsistent with the fiscally conservative message sounded so largely by speakers and participants at the Take Back Our State rally?
        Not necessarily. To some extent, the interests of current state employees and future state employees are in tension. As state and local government has continued to grow, adding new programs and agencies, tax revenues that could have been dedicated to attracting and retaining good employees to carry out preexisting state responsibilities have instead financed the addition of new state responsibilities. In future years, with a larger state workforce, the fiscal impact is higher when lawmakers approve across-the-board pay hikes. Often, that means they propose smaller ones.
    Add to that the fact that one of the biggest cost drivers in the state budget in the past decade has been Medicaid, a program that primarily directs state funds to private and nonprofit health providers, and you can start to see some common interest between aggrieved state workers and outraged state taxpayers.
        Fiscal conservatives won’t always see eye-to-eye with SEANC, certainly. Thanks to its alliance with the Service Employees International Union, SEANC is adopting a labor-union mindset in its push for collective bargaining — a cause that is both doomed and deleterious. But when it comes to setting priorities for state funds, it does make sense to stop the unjustified preference for teacher pay and the legislature’s tendency to create new subsidy programs rather than ensure that existing government programs are staffed by committed, talented, enthusiastic state workers capable of carrying out their assigned tasks.
        Workers and taxpayers of the world, unite!
  •     Dear EarthTalk: In renovating a vacation cabin, I discovered carpenter ants working their way through the walls. Is there any way to responsibly get rid of the pests without using noxious chemicals that could potentially harm my family?        
    — Curran Clark, Lummi Island, Wash.

        Carpenter ants may seem small and look harmless, but they can do serious damage to anything wooden in your home, including not only furniture but also the very framing and walls that hold up the house. If you are seeing a lot of ants or small piles of sawdust-like material in random spots in or around your home, you are most likely suffering from a carpenter ant infestation.{mosimage}
        Ants are very social beings and form large colonies before spreading out to find additional nest sites. They thrive by hollowing out wood, especially in moist or rotten spots, to build their nests and then use their new home in your walls and chairs as a base camp from which to forage for food and water in their nearby surroundings. Indeed, their very presence is a good indication of moisture or rot problems in the wood, so homeowners may have more work on their hands than simply exterminating carpenter ants.
        In the northern latitudes of the continental U.S. and in much of Canada, carpenter ants are the most common insect wood destroyer, surpassing even the mighty termite. But while many commercially available chemical pesticides will rid a structure of carpenter ants, homeowners are increasingly steering away from such toxins proven to impact the human nervous, respiratory and reproductive systems.
        Perhaps the most economical and effective way to get rid of carpenter ants is by applying boric acid (also known as borax) to their nest sites and surroundings. This natural nontoxic element, mined from below the Mojave Desert in southern California, has a long history of use in exterminating brazen populations of cockroaches, palmetto bugs, waterbugs, silverfish, termites, and, you guessed it, carpenter ants.
        Al Abruzzese, owner of the Web site Al’s Home Improvement Center, swears by boric acid to get rid of wood-boring pests. “This simple inexpensive, household chemical is deadly to all insects,” he says. “It has been shown to attack their nervous systems, as well as being a drying agent to their bodies.”
        Beyond just being effective as an all-natural insecticide, boric acid is nontoxic to humans. Abruzzese says it is safe enough to use around children — it has been used in ointments and salves for diaper rash on babies in the past — and can be an important part of eyewash solutions as well, albeit in very diluted form (don’t try it at home). One common brand name to look for is Nisus Bora-Care, but any pesticide with boric acid or borax listed as an active ingredient will do just fine.
        For those not into do-it-yourself pest control, calling in an exterminator that uses all natural products is a good option. Oregon’s All Natural Pest Elimination, for instance, services the entire four state region of the Pacific Northwest with products from Natureline — crafted from safe botanical extracts and essential oils, not synthetic chemicals — on all of its extermination jobs. Look in the yellow pages for exterminators in your area, and call each one you are considering to make sure they stay away from noxious chemicals.
        CONTACTS: Al’s Home Improvement Center, www.alsnetbiz.com/homeimprovement; Nisus Bora-Care, www.nisuscorp.com; All Natural Pest Elimination, www.nobuggy.com.
        GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EarthTalk, c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; submit it at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/thisweek/, or e-mail: earthtalk@emagazine.com. Read past columns at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/archives.php.

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