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  • 08Stadium aerial overviewFayetteville city and Cumberland county policymakers have resolved their funding differences on a pair of downtown development issues. Cumberland County commissioners voted unanimously to reaffirm their support of the Hay Street minor league baseball stadium. And they agreed to continue funding their share of the Franklin Street parking garage through 2030.

    Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin said at a recent meeting of the Fayetteville-Cumberland Liaison Committee that he and County Commission Chairman Larry Lancaster had discussed the agreements.

    “I applaud Chairman Lancaster and the commission for partnering with us in this transformative project,” Colvin said. “This is a new day in our community, and I am excited about our future.” City council confirmed minor revisions county government agreed to.

    Commissioner Jimmy Keefe said the county had intended to help pay for the garage until the debt was paid off. He made the motion to adopt the interlocal agreements that had previously been agreed to by city council. “We are getting to where we need to be with the city of Fayetteville,” he said. Keefe served for several years on city council before being elected to the county board.

    County Attorney Rick Morefield told commissioners his review of the agreement from the city was in keeping with county expectations.

    The city is building a $33 million baseball stadium on Hay Street that will be home to a Houston Astros’ advance single-A farm team. City and county officials agreed a year and a half ago to jointly support the project, but the city’s baseball committee became concerned when county government sought to modify its funding of the parking deck. The city, county and Fayetteville Public Works Commission shared in the construction cost of the four-story garage. Any change in that arrangement would have negatively impacted the business plan adopted for the ballpark.

    County commissioners this month agreed to rebate 100 percent of county property taxes earned from new development associated with the stadium for five years and 75 percent for the following 15 years. City council made an identical pledge of financial support.

    PCH Holdings, a Durham-based private developer, is renovating the former Price Charles Hotel adjacent to the stadium. It will be transformed into an apartment building, with the eighth-floor ballroom becoming a posh, high-level apartment.

    The firm also plans to build a four-story hotel atop a new four-story parking garage immediately adjacent to the Fayetteville train station. PCH Holdings also plans on developing the commercial property it has acquired in the available acreage surrounding the ballpark footprint. The numerous projects, including the stadium, are expected to represent $100 million in economic development.

  • 05LoveGood Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, this column will appear in print on Valentine’s Day. As a gesture to this most festive and dangerous time of year, I shall explain all you need to know about love but were afraid to ask. You may thank me or throw rocks at the end of the column. One of our contemporary love goddesses, Tina Turner, once asked the musical question: “What’s love got to do with it?/ What’s love but a secondhand emotion?”

    Good question, Tina. Let us go right to the source, Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love.

    I got to thinking about Aphrodite after seeing the play “Venus in Fur” at the Gilbert Theater. It was an excellent production that left me dazed and confused.

    Aphrodite is in charge of love. Aphrodite came from a nontraditional family situation. Her father was Uranus, the sky god who became involved in a domestic violence episode with her brother Cronos. Cronos chopped off Uranus’ male naughty bits with a scythe and threw said bits into the ocean. This did nothing to preserve family harmony.

    However, as Uranus’ blood spread out into the ocean, it eventually formed Aphrodite, who arose from the sea foam as a beautiful, fully grown woman. If you hang out long enough in museums, you will see paintings of Aphrodite standing on a seashell. Now you know why.

    Aphrodite spent most of her time nekkid as a jaybird, according to Greek mythology and Renaissance painters. She was a big ol’ friendly gal and not too choosy about the concept of marital fidelity. Like most Greek mythology, there are a lot of different versions about her carryings on, so I will just pick a version that seems likely

    She was married to a god named Hephaestus. After a while, she took up with Ares, the god of war, during the Trojan War. Ares wooed her by reciting a poem later made famous by Andy Griffith. Ares got down on his knees and told her, “Sure as the vine twines round the stump, you are my darling, Sugar Lump.” No gal could resist a line like this, so she hopped into bed with Ares. Unfortunately for Aphrodite, the Sun god, Helios, saw her and Ares at the Motel Sixtus. Helios, being a noted gossip, immediately blabbed to Hephaestus about Aphrodite catting around.

    Hephaestus was not amused. He made a net out of solid gold to catch the lovers. The next time Aphrodite and Ares had a rendezvous, Hephaestus threw his net over them while they were in flagrante delicto, which is fancy talk for caught in the act. Hephaestus invited a bunch of his god and goddess friends in to point and laugh at the netted Aphrodite and Ares and yell “Nanny, nanny, boo, boo!” at them. Needless to say, this was an embarrassing event for Aphrodite. Almost as embarrassing as when Scarlet O’Hara got caught hugging up on Ashley Wilkes in “Gone with the Wind,” and Rhett made her go to the spring formal wearing a red dress so she would stand out as a painted woman.

    Fortunately for Aphrodite, not all Greek gods were mean like a chili bean. Poseidon, the god of the sea, felt sorry for her. He paid Hephaestus to let her go. Aphrodite was as resilient as Scarlet O’Hara and soon went back to being her old cheerful self. She gave birth to a son, Eros, who was the god of lust. The identity of Eros’ dad remains in question as paternity tests did not exist back in those days, although he looked a lot like Ares. She had another son, Priapus, whose dad was probably Dionysis, the god of wine and religious ecstasy.

    Aphrodite’s mother-in-law, Hera, was jealous when Aphrodite got pregnant with Priapus. Hera smeared Aphrodite’s pregnant belly with an evil potion that caused Priapus to be born with certain deformities, which will not be described in a family newspaper such as Up & Coming Weekly. Let us just leave it that Priapus was able to be a good farmer due to his deformity. Aphrodite went on to have many more amorous adventures, which shall remain unspoken in this column.

    The Romans were so taken with Aphrodite’s story that they stole it. As in the old TV show “Dragnet,” the Romans changed the names of the gods to protect the innocent. In Roman mythology, Aphrodite became Venus, Ares became Mars, her husband Hephaestus became Vulcan. Confusing, ain’t it?

    So, what can we say we have learned about love? That it seldom runs smooth? That love is all you need? Turns out the only thing for sure about love is that it is complicated.

    Happy Valentine’s Day. Full refunds or chunks of granite available from the front desk if you feel this column wasted your time.

    Photo: Tina Turner

  • 12TraxxasThe Crown Complex will host the Traxxas Monster Truck Tour Feb. 16 and 17 at 7:30 p.m. The event will feature monster trucks competing in races, wheelie contests and freestyle stunts. The show promises to be adrenaline-filled and action-packed.

    The event will feature the monster truck crowd favorites Skully, Craniac, X-Maxx, Bad to the Bone and The Champ. Also, in attendance will be Transaurus, a three-story tall, firebreathing mechanical dragon.

    A pit party and autograph session with the drivers will be held for fans before the show. During the pit party, and the show’s intermission, audience members have the chance to ride in a monster truck.

    The Anatomy of a Monster Truck, a behind-the-scenes tour, will be held at 5 p.m. before the show. During the tour, a driver will explain the mechanics of their monster truck, answer audience questions and be available for autographs and pictures.

    Advance discount tickets are available online at Capefeartix.com, by phone at 1-888- 257-6208, or the Crown Complex Box Office. Advance adult tickets starting at $15. Friday, tickets for children 2-11 start at $5. Groups rates are available. Tickets are subject to a service charge. Fees may be applied - Children under 3 are free. Ticket prices go up the day of the show.

    For more information, visit http:// www.crowncomplexnc.com/events/ detail/traxxas-monster-truck

  • Meetings

    Feb. 14 – Historic Preservation Commission at 5 p.m., Parks and Recreation Center

    Feb. 19 – Mayor’s Youth Leadership Committee at 6:30 p.m., Town Hall

    Feb. 19 – Board of commissioners at 7 p.m., Town Hall • Feb. 20 – Lake Advisory Committee at 6 p.m., Parks and Recreation Center

    Feb. 22 – Veterans Committee at 7 p.m., Parks and Recreation Center

    Feb. 26 – Parks and Recreation Committee at 6:30 p.m., Parks and Recreation Center

    Feb. 26 – Appearance Committee at 7 p.m., Parks and Recreation Center

    Activities at Hope Mills Parks and Recreation: 5770 Rockfish Rd.

    Hope Mills Youth baseball and indoor soccer registration is open through Feb. 28 and ends at 4:30 p.m. daily. Baseball ages 5-14, instructional soccer ages 5-8, indoor soccer ages 7-12. Eligibility cut-off date for baseball and indoor soccer is May 1. Proof of address and birth certificate are required to register. Call 910-426-4105 for more information.

    Promote yourself

    To have your business, organization or event included in this section, email us: hopemills@upandcomingweekly.com.

  • 17JimI enjoy riding when it is in the 60s or 70s, but when the temperature drops, our body and mind begin to compensate in strange ways. You do not have to be in the snow to be cold when riding a motorcycle.

    Unlike water, which freezes at 32 degrees, humans can die in mild weather conditions. One’s body reacts to cold weather depending on age, body mass, body fat, overall health and the length of exposure time to cold temperatures.

    Medically, our body’s temperature averages 98.6 degrees. With hypothermia, core temperature drops below 95 degrees. With severe hypothermia, core body temperature can drop to 82 degrees or lower. As our body’s core temperature decreases, the body also tries its best to compensate. When this happens, it becomes dangerous to ride.

    As our body cools, we develop a variety of symptoms: shivering, slow and shallow breathing, confusion, memory loss, drowsiness, exhaustion, slurred or mumbled speech, loss of coordination, fumbling hands, stumbling steps and a slow or weak pulse.

    Ninety percent of our heat escapes through our skin. Heat is lost through radiation and speeds up when the skin gets wet or is exposed to wind. We can compensate for this by wearing layered and electric clothing and waterproofing everything.

    The neck is sensitive to cold on a motorcycle. Here, there is little protection around the carotid arteries where the heart is pumping blood to the brain. I always carry a balaclava and a neckwarmer.

    The body cools 25 percent faster when exposed to moisture. GORTEX is a popular fabric known for wicking moisture away from the body, but GORTEX is a thin fabric. GORTEX alone will not keep you warm enough. Depending on the situation, my rain gear adds a wonderful and useful layer and holds in heat and protects against the outside elements.

    The hands are a sensitive extremity. Waterproof gloves are part of the everyday gear in my pack. For cool days, I have GORTEX gloves. For colder days, I have a pair of electric gloves that attach to my electric jacket. I also have heated grips. Those heated grips are handy on those 60- and 70-degree days. Heated grips are just enough to keep my hands comfortable and the ride pleasant.

    Eye protection should always be a priority. During the research for this article, I was unable to find out if we lose heat through the eye sockets. When I was in the Army, we often trained in cold weather. After a while, I made it a point to always keep sunglasses on during the day, and at night, even while sleeping, I kept my clear pair of safety glasses on. Although I could not find a study about this (which means I couldn’t find one in the first 30 hits on Google), the eye does contain a good amount of fluid. We have tear ducts around our eyes as well. Even with my face shield down, I wear a pair of glasses, and somehow, I feel warmer.

    Once you have done all you can to stay warm, here are few tips to keep you safe. Learn your body and how to dress for the various temperatures. Plan on bad weather and be prepared. Take plenty of breaks. Get off your bike, walk a few minutes and get your blood circulating again, and let your body warm up.

    If there is a topic that you would like to discuss, you can contact me at motorcycle4fun@aol.com. RIDE SAFE!

  • 02PubThis week, Up & Coming Weekly Publisher Bill Bowman lends his regular space to columnist Jason Brady. Brady shares his thoughts about and possible solutions for an issue that has recently affected many Cumberland County residents – an issue that will present itself again and again in the coming years.

    Every time I see the horse lazily grazing at the corner of Stoney Point and Dundle roads, it makes me think we need to change the makeup of the Fayetteville City Council.

    Soon that horse will be gone, and some commercial monstrosity will replace one of the last bucolic scenes in that neighborhood.

    To be fair, I must mention that across the road is the Four Way, a mom and pop grocery store and gas station built in 1948. It dispenses gas, drinks, lottery tickets and food. But it fits in.

    Miller’s Too restaurant is attached to the vinyl-covered cinderblock building. It’s a country-style eatery that serves breakfast and lunch, the type that may not be healthy but tastes darn good. On Thursday nights, there are blue plate specials, and the regulars who’ve eaten there for years fill up the seven booths and three tables and patiently wait for their fried pork chops, beef tips over rice or country-fried chicken steak with white gravy.

    The landowners across the street, who I’m sure aren’t making money out of a corner lot with a horse grazing on it, sought commercial rezoning. They were smart, very smart. They hired a politically savvy lawyer who made the right argument. Plus they had the planning board and city bureaucrats on their side. They figured since the new I-295 bypass was going to dump more traffic onto the area, why not dump some more.

    The newly elected council in mid- January voted to rezone the 8.6 acres on the corner from residential to commercial conditional. It was a controversial issue that came up this past summer, but council members hoped the landowners and opponents could come up with a compromise. If not, they would revisit the issue – after the election.

    The 200-plus people who signed a petition wanting to keep the area residential – or, in downtown vernacular, “in keeping with the fabric of the community” – didn’t have a chance.

    I recently ran into a council member who asked me how things were going in western Fayetteville. I suggested things would be better if council hadn’t commercialized my neighborhood. He then brought up the property rights argument. People have a right to use their property for its best use. What if it were my property, he asked. My thoughts are that I wouldn’t screw over my neighbors.

    He did have a point. People should have control over their property and thus their financial destiny.

    But the property rights argument confuses me. Why do people have property rights that can negatively affect their neighbors but don’t have property rights when it comes to cutting down trees in their own yards, or annexation or utility easements?

    I’m wondering where my neighbors’ property rights are when it comes to the highway department. My friend Art lost half his front yard, Kenny is losing about 4 1/2 acres of his business, and another friend lost her home. But that’s government pointing to other units of government. To me, government is government.

    Here’s why I think city residents are under- represented. Right now, nine council members, each elected in their separate districts, don’t have to be accountable to all voters. Only the mayor is elected by the entire city. So, voters in any specific district can only hold their council member, and possibly the mayor, accountable for any unpopular council action. The remaining eight can dump on any district without worry of voter backlash.

    Here’s an idea. Let’s go back a few years and reorganize city council like it used to be: six districts with three at-large members. It seems to work for the county commissioners.

    Do the math. That means a council member from a district and three at-large members may be more responsive to voters in a given geographical area of the city. Throw in the mayor’s vote, and people not wanting to have their neighborhood commercialized could have a fighting chance.

    I’m guessing we’d have to get out from under the federal government’s 1963 Voters Rights Act, which was created to ensure minority representation in local elections, to include Fayetteville.

    Right now, the ham-fisted Department of Justice tells us how we can organize the city’s voting districts. But this is 2018, and depending on which report you read, African-Americans are no longer a minority in Fayetteville. Besides, six of the 10 members of city council are African- Americans. I’m thinking African-Americans will no longer have problems getting elected in Fayetteville.

    Maybe it’s time we start making council a tad more responsive to all voters.

  • 16Marcis Cakes 2When people pass by Marci’s Cakes and Bakes on Trade Street in Hope Mills, owner Marci Mang fears many of them jump to an incorrect conclusion.

    “A bakery experience is something everyone should be able to enjoy and not be afraid that this is going to be too expensive to take my kid there,’’ she said. “We have items that start at just $1.’’

    From the most ornate wedding and special occasion cakes to cupcakes, cake pops and even healthy snacks, Mang offers the full gourmet pastry experience and even a place just to come and sip blended drinks, chat with friends or read.

    Mang, a military spouse who has lived in the Hope Mills area for 20 years, took an interest in baking when she enrolled in classes through Morale Welfare Recreation to learn about making birthday cakes for her children.

    That turned into work at a bakery, then making cakes on her own and, finally, opening the business at Marci’s some three years ago.

    “I love making special occasion cakes for my clients,’’ she said. “I love being part of their memories and their events. We are helping to create the memories.’’

    But Marci’s Cakes and Bakes isn’t just about people coming in for special orders and walking out the door. She also welcomes customers who come to the store to spend some time there.

    “We have coffee, tea and frappes,’’ Mang said. “We do cold cappuccinos and blended drinks.’’

    There is seating inside the business, and Wi-Fi is available. “We have a Bible study that meets here a couple of days a week,’’ she said. “We have a few realtors and photographers that meet here with clients. We encourage them to come in, sit down, bring your book and hang out.’’

    All the visitors to the shop will find a variety of confectionary delights to tempt them.

    “We bake every day and try to change our menu every week,’’ Mang said. “We always try to have a few gourmet cupcakes and unique brownies. I always try to have at least one pound cake and a cheesecake – cakes that everyone knows and loves – as well as cookies and bar desserts.’’

    People who are health-conscious aren’t left out. Mang includes an offering of what she calls power balls that feature ingredients like chia seed, flax seed, raw honey, natural peanut butter and unsweetened coconut.

    “We try to do something for everyone,’’ she said. “We have specials every day of the week.’’ Mang said she’s even willing to attempt recipes that faithful customers email to her at marcimang@gmail.com.

    We’re constantly trying new recipes and definitely respecting our customers’ requests,’’ she said.

    As for special orders like wedding and other cakes and large orders of cupcakes, Mang shoots for a 72-hour turnaround time. Prices begin at $24 for an 8-inch round cake and $28 for a sheet cake.

    How much more expensive the cake can be depends on the specific requests of the customer, but Mang stressed prices are flexible. “If somebody comes to me and wants a quote on a cake, I’ll say let’s talk about things on it that are most important to you,’’ she said. “Then we can come up with some other ideas to cut down on what else I have.’’

    For further information on the shop and what it has to offer, visit the Facebook page at Marci’s Cakes and Bakes. In addition to email, you can call Mang at the shop at 910-425-6377.

  • 07NewsDigestEight senior officers of the Fayetteville Police Department comprise Police Chief Gina Hawkins’ new Executive Command Staff. Four of them have been promoted to the rank of major: Laura Downing, James Nolette, Robert Ramirez and Darry Whitaker. Four lieutenants were promoted to captain. They are Kemberie Braden, Brian Gainey, Todd Joyce and Samuel Oates. They will answer to Assistant Chiefs Anthony Kelly and Michael Petti.

    The promotions took effect Feb. 5 and represent the first significant change in the FPD’s command structure in more than 30 years.

    Public safety recruiting enhanced

    Over 140 participants representing 45 jurisdictions in three states attended Fayetteville’s first public safety diversity forum at Fayetteville State University. The daylong series of workshops was entitled “Inclusive & Diverse Talent Acquisition for 21st Century Public Safety.” Experts in diversity recruitment gave Fayetteville fire and police executives an opportunity to network with their counterparts from other agencies.

    “It provided us with an opportunity to understand what has worked well in other communities and what may work well for us,” said Fayetteville Fire Chief Ben Major. The Fayetteville Fire Department has historically had difficulty recruiting minority men and women. Fewer than a dozen of FFD’s 300 firefighters are African-American.

    Fayetteville City Council sets goals

    City council spent two days earlier this month coming up with what they called targets for action in the new year. Consultant Marsha Johnson ran the sessions. Council members were frustrated from time to time with the strict format of the meetings. Even Johnson was surprised.

    “I did not expect to see this level of misunderstanding,” she said late in the final session.

    Council members tried to reduce 13 issues they had collectively come up with to five. Council members Jim Arp and Larry Wright verbally bickered with one another, causing Bill Crisp to step in.

    “We need to respect each other and not get upset,” he said.

    Ultimately, the body selected improved coordination of street lighting among the three utilities that serve annexed areas of west Fayetteville as a priority. Other prioritized items included improved mentoring of city interns, engagement of young adults in city government and continued study of alternative options for solid waste management in the city.

    A step forward for military spouses

    Frequent moves and spouses who are away from home for months at a time can be disruptive of family life. Military families are more likely to be struggling on single incomes than other American families. Forty-three percent of military spouses are not in the labor force, compared to 25.5 percent of civilian families, according to a 2016 survey by the nonprofit Blue Star Families.

    In proposing new legislation, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said the ripple effect is impacting military readiness, leaving service members burdened with deployments, financial concerns and frustrated spouses.

    “If we can make their path a little easier, it’s a good thing for military readiness and family happiness,” he said. The Military Spouse Employment Act of 2018 seeks to give military spouses a leg up in federal hiring and to push the Defense Department to offer more opportunities for spouses: enable them to run private businesses on post, expand educational opportunities and training and give them more access to affordable childcare.

    Kaine said he wants to attach his bill to the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act with bipartisan support.

    Here a hole, there a hole, everywhere a pothole

    Winter weather brings more potholes as water freezes in cracks in the pavement. The North Carolina Department of Transportation says you can help by visiting DOT’s website to let them know where the potholes are. Your report will go directly to the county maintenance office that will handle the request, expediting the process.

    As its name suggests, a pothole is a bowl-shaped hole in a road. Water expands when it freezes, and the cracks become wider and deeper. Over time, the larger cracks, combined with the weight of traffic, cause the road’s pavement to break up. While potholes are more prevalent in early spring, they can occur year-round.

    Repairing potholes is important because they not only lead to more expensive road repairs but cause wear and tear on vehicles, make for bumpy rides and pose safety risks.

  • 01SpeakeasycoverTwenty-one years ago, Better Health debuted a fun and elegant fundraiser called “Evening at the Theater.” Over time, it has evolved from featuring film to live theater to cabaret to casino fun. “The committee felt that ‘Evening of’ with a new theme each year would better suit the fluidity of the event to make each year new, exciting and different,” said Amy Navejas, executive director of Better Health. “This year, we went for an ‘Evening of Prohibition’ theme.” It takes place Feb. 22.

    The fun starts at 6 p.m. No speakeasy experience would be complete without cocktails and gambling, and Navejas promised this and more. “There will be plenty for everyone to do,” she said. “Our friends at Xscape Factor are bringing three fun experiences to our event. One will include a prohibition-themed tent for a mini escape room experience.” Teams can enter in groups of three to help solve the mystery and escape before time runs out. The fastest teams to escape will be eligible for prizes at the end of the evening.

    Festivities also include a DJ to provide energetic music throughout the night, and of course, plenty of refreshments and casino games.

    “The casino is sponsored by Horne Brothers Construction this year,” Navejas said. “The casino games are a lot of fun and always a huge hit. We have blackjack, roulette, craps and poker.”

    Each attendee will be given a casino chip, which they can cash out with the pit boss for smaller chips. “They can then visit our numerous playing tables to their heart’s content,” Navejas said. “At the end of the evening, the casino player who has earned the most chips will take home a premier liquor basket.”

    Additional chips will be available for sale.

    Top of the Hill Organic Spirits will provide cocktails and beer, and the Wine Café and Coffee Cup will provide wine cocktails and coffee cocktails.

    “We are really excited for some delicious cocktails and liquor tastings,” Navejas said.

    Elite Catering will provide the food. “They have such an amazing menu,” Navejas said. “It was really difficult for the committee to choose. But, there will be a variety of tasty foods, including veggies, seafood, steak, chicken and desserts.”

    In addition to the silent auction, guests can also win prizes throughout the night. There will be prizes for the top Xscape Room teams, casino winner, and a chance to win a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, cruise or one-week vacation.

    “Those who attend can purchase a ‘Harley Roll,’” Navejas said. “Just roll the dice, which have the letters to spell Harley. If you get all six, you win the Harley. Get five right and win a cruise, get four and win a one-week getaway. Last year, we had several winners.”

    While officially, Navejas tells guests the recommended dress is cocktail attire, people often choose to dress according to the theme and some choose to dress more formally. In the end, she just wants people to come and have a good time.

    “We want everyone to be comfortable and have a wonderful time for a great cause,” she said.

    Better Health was founded in 1958. Its mission is to address the unmet healthcare needs in Cumberland County through education, referral and assistance.

    On a daily basis, that means bridging gaps in healthcare services in Cumberland County. Relying heavily on donations and volunteers, Better Health offers a variety of services to the community, including prescription assistance, dental extraction, travel assistance, vision assistance through Lenscrafters, diabetes clinics and classes, exercise classes, medical supplies and medical equipment.

    Each year, Better Health serves approximately 500 people with diabetes; approximately 1,200 children in its healthy lifestyle courses; about 1,700 people who obtain emergency medication and pain relief via emergency dental care; about 500 people who obtain medical supplies; and almost 480 families who receive loaned medical equipment.

    While most weekdays the Better Health calendar includes classes and events, there are a few significant events throughout the year as well, like the Diabetes … Dodge It! Dodgeball tournament, the Red Apple Run 5K and 10K, and of course the ‘Evening of’ event.

    The organization also hosts a free annual Diabetes Symposium, a day-long event with lectures and breakout sessions designed to educate the community about the many aspects of living with diabetes. Call 910-483-7534 to learn more or to register for this year’s symposium.

    Last November as a part of Diabetes Awareness Month, Better Health also participated in Project Blue, a diabetes awareness initiative.

    These fundraisers make it possible to better serve the community.

    Navejas relayed the story of a recent client. “Just a few weeks ago, we had a client come in seeking dental assistance for an abscessed tooth. He had no insurance and had not received routine medical or dental care. We approved him right away for assistance and sent him to our generous partner dentist, Oliver Hodge. Better Health hosts the only same-day emergency dental service in the county. Dr. Hodge extracted his tooth, but also noticed something of concern. He referred the patient for follow-up medical care. Turns out, he had thyroid cancer.

    “UNC performed surgery, and the grateful client is now doing well and recovering nicely. He is so appreciative of the assistance. Without that dental care, his cancer may not have been caught in time. This event (Evening of Prohibition) helps us assist clients just like him. I can’t stress that enough. We cannot serve our clients without the support of our generous community.”

    This is Better Health’s 60th year serving Cumberland County. “That just amazes me,” Navejas said. “Each year, we serve thousands of clients in need on a tight budget, but with a very dedicated staff. Events like this (Evening of Prohibition) make all of it possible. Come celebrate Better Health’s service to the community with us and help us raise funds to continue going strong for another 60 years.”

    Visit www.betterhealthcc.org or call 910-483-7534 for tickets and information.

  • 18Que Tucker NCHSAAThey don’t make the headlines, their names are not in the box scores, and they don’t make the allstar teams. But perhaps the most important individuals in high school sports are the contest officials.

    In fact, there would be no organized competitive sports at the high school level without the men and women who officiate these games every day across the country. Subtract the dedicated people who officiate high school sports, and competitive sports would no longer be organized; they would be chaotic.

    In some areas, high school officials are retiring faster than new licenses are being issued. And junior varsity, freshmen and middle school games are being postponed – or even cancelled – because there are not enough men and women to officiate them.

    Anyone looking for a unique way to contribute to the local community should consider becoming a licensed high school official. For individuals who played sports in high school, officiating is a great way to stay close to the sport after their playing days have ended. Officiating also helps people stay in shape, expands their social and professional network and offers part-time work that is flexible, yet pays. In fact, officiating is a form of community service but with compensation.

    Another benefit of officiating is that individuals become role models so that teenagers in the community can learn the life lessons that high school sports teach. Students learn to respect their opponents and the rules of the game and the importance of practicing good sportsmanship thanks, in part, to those men and women who officiate. And the objectivity and integrity that high school officials display is an example that every young person needs to observe firsthand.

    In short, communities around the country are stronger because of the life lessons that high school officials help teach the next generation.

    We need dedicated men and women to become involved so high school sports can continue to prosper for years to come.

    Individuals interested in learning more about becoming a high school official, and those who are ready to begin the application process, can do so at www.HighSchoolOfficials.com.

    Photo: Que Tucker

  • 21Amelia Cureton Douglas Byrd

     

     

    Amelia Cureton

    Douglas Byrd • Soccer •

    Junior Cureton has a 4.0 grade point average. She is a member of the Academy of Finance, National Honor Society and ROTC color guard and drill. She also serves as a mentor in the Student-to-Student program.

     

      

    22Patrick Baker Hoyt Grays Creek

     

    Patrick Baker Hoyt

    Gray’s Creek • Swimming/ soccer/tennis •

    Senior Hoyt has an unweighted grade point average of 3.54. He plans to attend a four-year university with a scholarship to play soccer. He went on a mission trip with his church to Tennessee last summer, volunteering his time to help build homes for the less fortunate.

  • Jack Britt checkJack Britt High School recently presented a check for $1,000 to the Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation’s Friends of the Cancer Center. Funds were raised through the sale of Pink Out shirts, and all fall sports teams hosted a Pink Out game.

    Pictured from left to right are Sheila Molina of the school’s booster club; Jack Britt athletic director Michael Lindsay; Britt volleyball coach Leigh Ann Weaver; and Sherry Jackson of Friends of the Cancer Center.

  • 06Fort Bragg“This, in fact, is our new American moment. There has never been a better time to start living the American dream. So to every citizen watching at home tonight, no matter where you’ve been, or where you’ve come from, this is your time. If you work hard, if you believe in yourself, if you believe in America, then you can dream anything, you can be anything, and together, we can achieve absolutely anything.”

    These powerful words were part of President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. These 73 words were a defining part of his speech. We are building a safe, strong and proud America where everyone can achieve the American dream.

    Look no further than our rebounding economy, the millions of new jobs being created and the increased take-home pay that is happening in part because of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. In fact, starting this month, 90 percent of American workers will see more money in their paychecks. We also saw results after reining in Washington’s bureaucracy, including repealing 15 regulations that were imposed by the Obama administration’s executive overreach. While the economy is getting back on track, we still have work left to do.

    In addition, we have made great strides to improve care for veterans. The president signed the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act (S. 1094) on June 23, 2017. This was a good first step. However, we must continue to work to reform the Department of Veterans Affairs. I will continue to work to enact meaningful reforms that will protect the systems of care already in place at the VA while giving veterans the flexibility to seek the care they need from outside providers.

    As Fort Bragg’s congressman, I share the president’s goal to end the dangerous defense sequester and fully fund our great military with a longterm spending bill. Our military cannot function without proper funding, and every time we pass a temporary spending measure, the harder it is for our commanders to plan missions, order new equipment or properly train troops. Since 2010, the federal government has been funded under a continuing resolution for 36 months, compared to just nine months for the entire eight years prior. Our men and women in uniform are operating under enormous strain, and that has deadly consequences.

    Over the last year, we have lost four times as many troops in training as we have in combat. That’s unacceptable. Our troops at Fort Bragg represent the tip of the spear, and I have seen firsthand the stress on both them and their families from operating in multiple theaters and simultaneously preparing for future threats. These patriots are the first to respond to a crisis and they must be given the resources they need to fight and win. We need a long-term spending bill so the Pentagon can adequately plan for the future.

    Last year, the House of Representatives passed all 12 appropriations bills that fully funded our military, reined in government spending and curtailed bloated bureaucracy, but Chuck Schumer has blocked these bills from even being considered in the Senate. These political games have dire consequences for those who we depend on most – our troops.

    The president laid out a bold agenda at the State of the Union address. It was filled with ideas and pragmatic solutions. I look forward to working with him to bring more jobs home, give our troops and veterans equipment and care they need, and rein in our government’s reckless spending.

  • 19Bruce McClelland Terry Sanford20Duran McLaurin Seventy First

    The 2017 football season ended earlier this month with the playing of Super Bowl LII. But for high school coaches in North Carolina, the 2018 season will be getting underway soon thanks to changes last spring in N.C. High School Athletic Association rules.

    At its meeting last May, the NCHSAA Board of Directors removed the last obstacles to offseason football practice, allowing coaches to work with their full squads during the months football isn’t in season.

    There are a few limits for safety reasons. If the coaches decide to practice with players wearing helmets and shoulder pads, they must have an athletic trainer or first responder present. No body-to-body contact is allowed in offseason workouts.

    Coaches have different ideas on how to schedule their offseason practice sessions.

    Cape Fear coach Jake Thomas said his team won’t begin offseason workouts until after the spring sports dead period, which is the first two weeks official practice begins for spring sports teams: Feb. 14-March 7.

    “We’re going to go into more of a conditioning phase and do workouts after school with the guys who are not playing a spring sport,’’ he said. “I want most of my guys to be playing a sport in the spring.’’

    Once spring break draws closer, Thomas said, the Colts will be doing work with specific offensive and defensive units.

    One of the benefits of the offseason sessions, since it won’t be possible to have the whole team out because of spring sports, is the chance for individual work. “You can start working on fundamentals and putting the foundation in,’’ Thomas said.

    E.E. Smith coach Deron Donald also plans to wait until the dead period is over before starting workouts. “We’ll go two or three days a week,’’ he said. “No helmet. None of that. Real light, working on technical things.’’


    Donald liked the idea of using the expanded workout sessions to focus on teaching the basics of the Smith system.

    “Learning is very important,’’ he said. “We’ll be doing a lot of teaching. Once we start in May, then we’ll come up with helmets and shoulder pads.’’

    Terry Sanford coach Bruce McClelland said his early workouts will focus on individual work since so many of his players will be involved with spring sports.

    “The ones that don’t play baseball (and track) we’ll go slowly with,’’ he said. “Toward the end of May, we will do our team or spring training thing.’’

    McClelland also sees the offseason workouts as a chance to give players new or inexperienced with the Terry Sanford system a jump start.

    “Some of the kids that haven’t ever played football we’ll try to get acclimated to what we do,’’ he said. “We want to keep them in shape for the summer grind like we did last year.’’

    Seventy-First coach Duran McLaurin is taking a different approach from some of his fellow coaches. The Falcons are already doing some limited work outside, in addition to traditional offseason weightlifting.

    “This is going to be a pilot year,’’ McLaurin said, referring to how coaches will learn how best to use the new offseason workout rules for their football program. “The more work you get in, the better you can be.’’

    McLaurin agreed with the other coaches that he wants his football players to be either playing for a spring sports team at Seventy-First or on the field with him and his coaches for offseason workouts.

    “None of our guys will be sitting around this spring,’’ he said.

    Photos: Bruce McClelland and Duran McLaurin

  • 15Pat HallNow that Hope Mills Lake has finally returned, an equally long journey may be coming to a fruitful conclusion: the struggle to open a museum dedicated to sharing the story of the old mill village that today’s town of Hope Mills grew from.

    Pat Hall and the Hope Mills Historical Preservation Commission have been working with various pieces to make the museum a reality, and with the lake finally restored, she’s hoping things will begin to move quickly so the museum can open its doors to visitors within a year or more.

    “Our goal is to preserve the history of the mill village and educate people about a lot of things that happened here that people are completely unaware of,’’ Hall said.

    Prior to the Civil War, Hope Mills was home to the largest textile mill in the state, which stood in what is now a wooded area near the entrance to the Clifton Forge subdivision that sits by the restored lake.

    The mill was destroyed by General William T. Sherman’s army when it came through the area in March of 1865.

    The long-range plan is to turn some seven acres of land where the mill once stood into Heritage Park, which would stretch from the Clifton Forge entrance all the way back to Main Street and the old Episcopal Church and parish house.

    The town acquired that area some years ago with the intent to use it for cultural purposes, possibly a museum. But a variety of delays forced Hall and her committee to seek an alternative, and it fell into their lap not long along when a house in the historic district near the intersection of Trade and Main Streets with a view of the lake went on the market.

    “We called the realtor, took it to the town and said please look at this and consider it for a museum,’’ Hall said. “They did and bought it.’’

    Now with a place to actually put memorabilia on display, the committee still has a good bit of work left to tackle, Hall said. The house will require some renovation, mostly to get it up to accessibility standards required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

    They also need to compile and catalog the many items they’ve acquired over the years that may be on display in the museum, which will be designed with the goal of telling the story of the mill village.

    The town provided a collection of written records, she said. Much of the memorabilia came from Eddie Brower and the late Hope Mills mayor, Eddie Dees, Hall said. Hall added that after becoming mayor, Dees uncovered a heritage plan the town had commissioned some years ago that had gotten lost. Much of the information in that document has been guiding the current committee on how it will preserve the history of the mill village.

    Another Dees innovation that has helped the gathering of living history was his idea to hold a reunion of mill workers during the town’s annual Ole Mill Days celebration.

    “We held the first reunion in 2008,’’ Hall said. “That has been a popular part of Ole Mill Days in October. The attendees have items like trophies, rings, jewelry and awards they received when they worked at the mill. They have been bringing some of that to the reunions and donating it to us.’’

    The next big challenge for the committee after sorting out all the things that have been donated will be the actual construction of display cases and finding the best way to present the town’s story in museum form.

    “We’ve had volunteers offer to build displays,’’ she said. “One of those volunteers is the person that works at the Museum of the Cape Fear (in Fayetteville),’’ she said. “We’ll reach out to other local museums for any advice they have.’’

    The greater long-range project will be the construction of Heritage Park. Hall said there are much larger items they hope to put on display there, including the gates from the old dam and other larger pieces of equipment associated with the mills that were a central part of life in old Hope Mills.

    When the whole project is done, Hall said Heritage park will likely include trails along the creek bank, canoe slips, fishing piers and picnic tables. There will be a hanging bridge over the creek where people can walk to the property where the old Episcopal Church and parish house stand.

    Hall thinks it’s fitting that much of the completed project will be just a short distance from the Eddie Dees Building, which stands with his name on it at the corner of Main and Trade Streets.

    The former mayor made the return of the lake a major part of his years in office. “It’s like he’s still guiding us,’’ Hall said. “A lot of years of effort, perseverance and tenacity are behind that little mill house that hopefully will be our museum.’’

    If anyone has items they would like to donate for possible display in the museum, contact Hall at 910-308-8663.

    Photo: Pat Hall

  • 03ChildrenA young mother of my acquaintance listened offhandedly as her elementary school age daughter played with a friend in the next room. She heard them talking to some toys until the guest announced she was ready for a snack and suggested they go to the kitchen for chips and sodas. Without missing a beat, the young host replied, “I’m sorry. We don’t have that. My mother is a health food nut,” as if it were a career choice like teaching school or accounting for a living. The girls eventually settled on some other snack, but the guest did not return for several weeks.

    I remembered that story recently when I read that the number one vegetable eaten by American toddlers is – guess what? – the French fry. I have even seen babies drinking soda from baby bottles and once heard of a 6-month-old child given a fast food kid’s meal as her first solid food.

    We have all seen the desperate television pleas for money to feed starving children in developing nations around the world. But the cold, hard truth is that while most American children are not starving, far too many are indeed malnourished. Malnutrition includes obesity, which means too many calories are consumed at the expense of critical nutrition. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics in a groundbreaking policy statement last month, this is not just unfortunate in a nation of such plenty. It is, in fact, damaging children in ways from which they cannot and will not recover.

    If you do not remember anything else about the details, remember this. Our nation’s pediatricians say the first 1,000 days, just over the first two years of a baby’s life, are critical to brain development and can lay the foundation for good health or a lifetime of chronic health problems. Adequate nutrition leads to positive outcomes, and poor nutrition leads to lesser outcomes. The pediatricians say no amount of catch-up later in life can reverse what has not been done during the earliest days of life. Says Lucy Sullivan, head of the nonprofit program 1,000 Days, “The first 1,000 days matter for all that follow.” Roger Thurow, who wrote a book on the importance of the first 1,000 days, goes even further. He says the challenge is not just to help parents understand that good nutrition is important but that poor nutrition can – and does – do quantifiable damage to developing minds and bodies.

    If that is not enough to get parents’ attention, I don’t know what will.

    No one says infant and toddler nutrition is easy, and many of us have experienced the pureed green beans and carrots that ooze out of the sides of baby mouths. Beyond baby behavior, issues of poverty and food insecurity, parents working long hours, food deserts, busy family schedules, and more, roadmaps exist about what we should be feeding the littlest and most vulnerable among us.

    Pediatricians acknowledge the challenges of quality nutrition for babies in our fastpaced and highly packaged culture. Breastfeeding, they say, can be a powerful protector of young children, supplying both nutrition designed by nature just for babies and moms’ antibodies as protection from disease. They recommend nursing for at least six months before starting solid foods and liquids, even though nursing is a cultural and logistical challenge for many mothers. And, the docs say, it is helpful if mom does not gain too much weight during pregnancy, as that ups the ante for conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure in the future.

    The mother whose daughter labeled her a health food nut tried hard to put healthy, unprocessed foods on the family table, and sometimes that worked. Sometimes the family had take-out pizza, and chips and sodas were known to sneak into the house on occasion. They even ate the occasional MRE, meals designed for young, physically active military members, not children in elementary school.

    She did not like to think about what her family consumed when she was not in charge. She jokes that her tombstone will read, “She did the best she could.”

    That said, all we – parents, grandparents and anyone caring for young children – can do is educate ourselves to provide the freshest, most nutritious fare available to us for them.

  • 10HBCUAs an elementary school principal, I stress to my students every day during the morning announcements the importance of attending college and my expectation that they at least obtain a bachelor’s degree. It is imperative they have the mindset that education is the key to their success and that they understand the importance of becoming lifelong learners. John Wesley United Methodist Men and the Fayetteville Cumberland Parks and Recreation Department present the 2nd annual Historically Black Colleges and Universities College Fair Saturday, March 3, from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. at Smith Recreation Center.

    “We are having an HBCU college fair where we are having over 60 HBCU college representatives come to our city from all across the country,” said Mark Yarboro, team lead of the HBCU College Fair. “The idea is to have our college representatives come and talk to our kids about the opportunities of attending an HBCU.”

    Yarboro added the unique thing about the college fair is that service organizations will attend, and they will share scholarship opportunities information with students and their parents. Students do not have to attend an HBCU in order to apply for the scholarships.

    “We have service organizations such as the Divine 9, fraternities, sororities and PWC that will be present at the fair,” said Yarboro. “Each fraternity and sorority has a scholarship, and most of the scholarships are very similar... the young person has to complete an application (and) provide references, an essay and their grade point average.”

    Several seminars will be presented at the college fair. “One gentleman will discuss what’s next and what to look for once you go off to college and the types of things to be aware of,” said Yarboro. “There will be a seminar on financial aid referencing the different programs, available forms and when to begin the application process.” Yarboro added the NAACP will be there to discuss the importance of voting.

    Entertainment will be provided during the lunch hour. “Rocky Barnett from E. E. Smith will have her creative dance group perform,” said Yarboro. “Lunch will be provided for the young people that register.”

    “We are hopeful that we can inform and inspire our young people to apply for the scholarship money,” said Yarboro. “Our ultimate goal is to reach as many youth as we can to let them know that there are wonderful opportunities in attending an HBCU.”

    Email Yarboro.mark@yahoo.com for more information.

  • 11Go Red for WomenWomen often speak in terms of their heart – having a full heart, a broken heart, big-hearted friends, or so-and-so is a sweetheart. People and things that matter most to us are close to our heart, and there’s the Southern classic, “Bless your heart.” Heart disease is the number one killer of women. More women die from heart disease than all forms of cancer combined. While the entire month of February is dedicated to heart health, the Sandhills American Heart Association is bringing the topic to the community in a powerful and practical way at the Sandhills Go Red for Women Luncheon. The event is set for Friday, Feb. 23, from 11 a.m.–2 p.m., at the Metropolitan Room in downtown Fayetteville.

    “The purpose of the luncheon is to raise awareness and take a moment for the women and family members of women in the room to educate themselves and empower them with knowledge of the signs, symptoms and risk factors of heart disease and stroke,” said Liz Mileshko, director of development for the American Heart Association. “In women, a heart attack may present itself as jaw pain, nausea, headache, lower back pain, dizziness – or you may not have any signs at all.”

    Mileshko added it is important to know your blood pressure, cholesterol levels and whether heart disease runs in the family.

    While heart disease is scary, there are preventive measures women can take. “We encourage women to visit their cardiologist and get a physical once a year to make sure there are no blockages or signs pointing toward a higher risk for heart disease,” said Mileshko. “We encourage 30 minutes of cardio a day, eating healthy and in moderation, having several elements of color on your plate and learning how to season and cook your food properly so you are not using a whole lot of sodium.”

    The goal of the event is to raise $40,000. Every dollar the American Heart Association raises goes toward funding research. The event will feature speakers, a silent auction, a survivor fashion show, a heart-healthy lunch and entertainment.

    “During the luncheon portion, we will have a medical expert speaker, Dr. Tabitha Bedini. She will speak about the cold, hard facts of heart disease and stroke and your risk factors,” said Mileshko. “Then our keynote speaker, Kelsy Timas, will speak about overall emotional heart health and how financial, emotional and relationship stress can affect our heart health.”

    Mileshko added there will be a survivor speaker in her early 30s with heart disease who will share her powerful story.

    “We would like to thank our sponsors, First Health of the Carolinas and Carolina Heart & Life Center,” said Mileshko. “We look forward to seeing everyone at this informative event.”

    Tickets cost $60 and are available at GoRedSandhillsNC.heart.org. For more information about table sponsorship opportunities, contact Mileshko at 678-907-9841 or Liz.Mileshko@heart.org.

  • 09panhandlingFayetteville City Council’s hopes for recommended changes to the local panhandling ordinance have been delayed again. City Attorney Karen MacDonald asked that the item be removed from council’s February work session agenda. She said she would try to have her long-awaited report ready in March. Last fall, City Manager Doug Hewett said the administration would research the local ordinance and report back with some ideas. That was in October.

    McDonald has been meeting with Police Chief Gina Hawkins since then but twice has asked council for delays as to her findings.

    “For one thing, work session agendas have been full recently,” she said.

    The existing ordinance makes it illegal for panhandlers to beg anywhere in the city after dark. It prohibits panhandling altogether in the downtown area, along busy roadways and within 50 feet of ATMs and outdoor dining areas. Council members are especially concerned about routine begging on highway medians and at street corners.

    One problem is that the law is rarely enforced and hardly ever prosecuted in the courts.

    “Panhandlers are having a chilling effect on commerce,” said Councilman Jim Arp. “We need more aggressive enforcement.”

    He noted that panhandling is prohibited in the downtown area, and a police officer who walks a foot post attempts to shoo them off.

    But, “it’s getting worse,” said Councilman Larry Wright.

    Police officials have said they are kept busy on patrol and that detaining panhandlers takes them off their beats for hours at a time.

    “Most researchers and practitioners seem to agree that the enforcement of laws prohibiting panhandling plays only a part in controlling the problem,” said The Center for Problem-Oriented Policing. “Public education to discourage people from giving money to panhandlers and adequate social services for panhandlers are essential components of an effective and comprehensive response,” it concluded.

    Before the November election, two members of city council suggested that people who give money to panhandlers should be charged.

    “Problem-oriented policing places a high value on new responses that are preventive, that are not dependent on the use of the criminal justice system and that engage other public agencies, said Herman Goldstein, professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School. He was the architect of the concept.

    “As courts strike down laws that authorize police to regulate public disorder, and as police are less inclined to enforce such laws, panhandling flourishes,” noted the Center for Problem Oriented Policing’s Michael Scott.

    MacDonald said she is studying the ways other North Carolina cities are dealing with panhandling and street people in general. Officials elsewhere have found that the more specific panhandling ordinances are, the more likely they can withstand court tests.

    But, enforcement of local laws alone will not solve the problem. If MacDonald stays on schedule, she will make her recommendations to city council March 5.

     

  • 13QuizBowlThe 15th Annual Black History 4ever Quiz Bowl is Saturday, Feb. 24, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m at the Ramada Plaza. The event has grown steadily, receiving local accolades, recognition from the North Carolina governor in 2008, and coverage on the Rachel Maddow Show in 2012.

    “This is the 15th annual Black History 4ever Quiz Bowl, and it is for ages 10-18,” said Joe Mc- Gee, director of BlackHistory4ever.com. “Each individual stands alone; there is no group. This year we are moving to the Ramada Plaza because we have opened it up so students in North Carolina and South Carolina can participate in the quiz bowl.”

    There will be a Health and Business Fair and an African-American Veteran Recognition Ceremony.

    “There are health issues that relate to the black community such as prostate cancer and diabetes, so there will be experts there to address those issues,” said McGee. “We will also have people there representing teen suicide and bullying (prevention).” McGee added that there will be representation for anything that gives an opportunity for someone to be enlightened on health issues for children to seniors.

    The African-American Veteran Recognition Ceremony originated years ago when different veteran groups would come out to support the quiz bowl.

    “What we discovered from their conversation is that we have Veterans Day every year, but the recognition for African-American veterans is very small,” said McGee. “So, at the end of the quiz bowl, we will recognize African-American veterans exclusively in the month of February.”

    There are three age groups in the quiz bowl: 10-12, 13-15 and 16-18-year-olds. There is a top prize of $1,000 cash for each winner per category. Every student who participates will receive a prize.

    “What is unique about this year is that Feb. 1, we started the Black History 4ever challenge,” said McGee. “This is a 25-question (online) challenge that you are given 3 minutes to take, and the goal is to get all 25 questions correct within 3 minutes.” McGee added that if you don’t get all the answers correct, you can try the challenge again.

    “We are asking everyone, including educators and principals, to take the challenge and see how well you rank and test your knowledge,” said McGee. “Post it on your Facebook page and other media sites, and challenge someone to take the challenge too.”

    Visit www.blackhistory4ever.com to take the challenge. The questions cover black history, politics, business, economics, civics and general information.

    The Black History 4ever Quiz Bowl on Feb. 24 is free and open to the public. The Ramada Plaza is formerly known as the Holiday Inn Bordeaux and is located at 1707-A Owen Dr.

    For more information, call 910-978-2829. To register for the event, visit www.blackhistory4ever.com.

  • 14NC eatingThis week my editors are letting me take a break from politics and books to write about my favorite topic, roadside eateries.

    Here are three gems along U.S. 421 between Sanford and Greensboro.

    Rufus’ Restaurant, Goldston

    1977 N. Main St.

    919-898-4841

    Open breakfast and lunch Tuesday– Saturday.

    “There is nothing as good as a Rufus Burger,” one of the southern Chatham County locals told me recently. “You can get one at Rufus’ Restaurant right up the road in Goldston.” Goldston (population 300) is a trip back in time. And chowing down on the burger at Rufus’ Restaurant is a world-class treat.

    The Rufus Burger is the creation of Rufus Owens, who operated the restaurant with his wife, Jane, for almost 30 years until he died in 2003. These days, Jane oversees the smooth operation of the restaurant from her favorite booth.

    She insists that there is a lot more good food at the restaurant besides the Rufus Burger. “And if I don’t eat it,” she said, “I don’t serve it.”

    One Saturday at lunchtime, I found a group of late breakfast eaters. A former teacher, a dental assistant and several retirees sat me down to hear their praises for the Rufus Burger and Jane. One told me, “She runs the town. When people get in trouble, they don’t dial 911, they call Jane.”

    Just before I left, Jane told me, “I know everybody thinks Claxton’s burger at Johnson’s up in Siler City is the best, but we think the Rufus Burger has it beat.”

    Bestfood Cafeteria, Siler City

    220 E. Eleventh St.

    919-742-2475

    Open for lunch and supper Monday– Saturday and lunch on Sunday.

    Bestfood is a place you want to be when you are real hungry for fresh country cooking. When I visited for supper, the tables were full and the cafeteria and salad bar lines were moving at a fast pace.

    Co-owner Mike Terry told me his salad bar is popular not just from a wide variety of greens, dressings and sides. It also includes amazingly delicious fried chicken, which makes the salad bar a complete meal.

    Still, many customers skip the salad bar to take advantage of the variety of meats and local vegetables in the cafeteria line, where there is a lot of good food for a very modest price.

    Mike met his partner, Art White, while they were cooking for events at church. During their 13-plus years at Bestfood, they have added an upscale steakhouse and a gift shop. When I asked about the secret of their success, Mike said simply, “We’ve been blessed.”

    Y’all Come Back Café, Liberty

    119 S. Fayetteville St.

    336-622-2984

    Open breakfast and lunch Monday-Friday and breakfast Saturday–Sunday.

    My neighbor and local dentist, Joel Wagoner, grew up in Liberty. He talks wistfully about the joys of being a happy child in small-town America. One of his favorite memories is the little restaurant with the special, welcoming name, “Y’all Come Back.”

    Breakfast is a gathering time with two eggs, bacon and grits for about $5. At lunch, there is always a special plate of meat, two vegetables and a drink for about $6.50.

    But the special offering at Y’all Come Back Café is a chance to experience a taste of the village life that Dr. Wagoner remembers so fondly. When I stopped by about 8:30 a.m. recently, every table was full, mostly with family groups enthusiastically chatting.

    Joshua “Scooter” Saley, whose mother once owned the restaurant, introduced me to Peggy Christenbury and her table and to former Liberty mayor Jim Parker. He persuaded me to come back for the town’s big Fourth of July weekend parade. But I am not sure I can wait that long to experience the fellowship and good food at Y’all Come Back.

     

  • North Carolina has become a national leader in implementing supply- side economics – but that doesn’t mean what you think it means.

    For some supporters and many critics, the term “supply-side economics” is all about the Laffer Curve. Popularized by the economist Art Laffer, it’s really an ancient insight about public finance. If a government’s tax rate is zero, it will collect no revenue. But if its tax rate is 100 percent, it will also fail to collect any revenue because people won’t work for nothing or they will hide their incomes from a rapacious government.

    Somewhere between those two poles lies a point at which government will maximize revenue collection. In the early 1960s, when the top federal income tax rate was 91 percent, President John F. Kennedy and many economists argued Washington was far above that point. They were clearly correct.

    In the 1970s, when Laffer was drawing his revenue-maximization curve on a napkin and the top income tax rate was 70 percent, he and other economists thought Washington was still on the downwardsloping side of the curve. They were probably correct.

    President Ronald Reagan and bipartisan majorities in Congress responded by reforming the tax code and, ultimately, pulling the top rate down to 28 percent. It went up a bit during subsequent administrations but will likely never reach the stratospheric levels that predated Reagan, because the supply-siders clearly won the revenue-maximization argument.

    But for most supply-siders, that wasn’t their key argument. Their goal wasn’t to maximize government revenue. It was to maximize employment, incomes and economic growth. Like many political labels, the term “supply-side economics” was concocted by a critic, not an advocate.

    During the mid-20th century, “demand-side” economics was in the ascendancy. Following the teachings of John Maynard Keynes – and those who translated his rambling texts into comprehensible sentences and manageable equations – demandside economists argued that one of government’s most important jobs was to “manage” the economy by smoothing out its peaks and valleys.

    During the mid-20th century, “demand-side” economics was in the ascendancy. Following the teachings of John Maynard Keynes – and those who translated his rambling texts into comprehensible sentences and manageable equations – demandside economists argued that one of government’s most important jobs was to “manage” the economy by smoothing out its peaks and valleys.

    This was a cockamamie idea, if you think about it – and that’s precisely what free-market economists did in the 1960s and 1970s. They pointed out that investment is how the economy becomes more productive. That, in turn, is how workers gain incomes and average living standards rise.

    Supply-side economics is a broad policy of promoting work, savings and investment through tax and regulatory reforms – which boost private investment – and through budget and policy reforms that raise the payoff from public-investment activities such as infrastructure and education.

    The best symbolic representation of supply-side thinking is the Armey Curve, named after economist and former Congressman Dick Armey. It grants that the absence of government would be economically disastrous. But it also observes that after a certain point, taxing people to pay for more services makes them worse off.

    The Armey Curve has lots of empirical support. Most modern studies of growth differentials among American states, for example, show that high taxes (and regulations) are negatively associated with economic performance, while high government spending isn’t positively associated with economic growth. That suggests most states and localities are larger than they ought to be. They are on the wrong side of the Armey Curve.

    Since 2010, state and local spending as a share of North Carolina’s economy has dropped by 10 percent. The goal of North Carolina conservatives is not to reduce it to zero. The goal is to keep government from encroaching too much on the private investment that is the primary driver of economic progress.

  • 04CarltonTo all retired military and their families who live in the Cumberland County area and are registered voters:

    I retired at Fort Bragg after serving for 27 years (all active). My name is Victor Hyatt and some of you probably know me. I was first stationed at Fort Bragg in 1964 and was in and out of Fort Bragg until I retired in 1989.

    When I first arrived, Sheriff Clark was the sheriff, and GI’s didn’t stand much of a chance for fairness and equal treatment in the Cumberland County Court System, nor from the police and sheriff’s deputies. Over the years, with the help of commanding generals of both the (18th Airborne) Corps and (82nd Airborne) Division and some good politicians, things have gotten a lot better. However, I have seen Sheriff Jones (did not help the previous situation much), Sheriff Bedsole and Sheriff Butler assumed or was elected to office and serve their terms. (sic)

    Our current sheriff was not elected. Sheriff Butler did not die in office as was the case with Sheriff Jones, Sheriff Bedsole was appointed by the county commissioners, (of which he was the chairman of the county commissioners at the time) (sic) and that is what the county commissioners have done this time at the bequest of retiring Sheriff Butler.

    Sheriff Wright is probably a fine man who has served his time, and in my opinion, should retire. But he has not proved himself to be the kind of sheriff this county needs and deserves. I believe if you check his qualifications, you will see that he is not as qualified as others seeking the office of sheriff.

    The reason for this message is to inform you of one very well and best qualified individual (sic) who is seeking your help in becoming the next sheriff of Cumberland County. I have known Carlton Sallie for many years, and he is the best qualified individual running for sheriff of our county.

    He is prior military with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as serving as a sheriff’s deputy for several years in different counties, has attended and qualified in several different courses of training in the many different fields of law enforcement, an instructor in law enforcement and served on a security detail for high level personnel in Iraq. (sic) His integrity is beyond approach, (sic) he is a family man who cares deeply for his family, he is a God loving man who believes in the word of God, he loves his country and believes in the Constitution of our beloved country.

    With your support, Carlton Sallie will be the next sheriff of Cumberland County. I know he would be honored and humbled to have your vote.

    #SALLIE4SHERIFF T

    hank you for your support. 

    Photo: Carlton Sallie

  • 01 UAC0020718001Last year, Deanne Gerdes, executive director of Rape Crisis of Cumberland County, spearheaded an effort to change North Carolina’s law regarding untested sexual assault kits. She was supported by Lt. John Somerindyke, Fayetteville Police Department’s Special Victims Unit commander, and state Rep. Billy Richardson, D-Cumberland. July 1, 2017, the North Carolina General Assembly passed Gerdes’ House Bill 731. Thursday, Feb. 22, the Fayetteville chapter of the National Organization for Women will honor Gerdes and Somerindyke at its 18th Susan B. Anthony Birthday Celebration. The honorees will speak about why they worked so hard for the passage of this bill. The event takes place at VFW Post 6018 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

    When asked about his role in getting House Bill 731 passed, Somerindyke said all the credit goes to Gerdes and Richardson. “I was really just along for the ride,” he said.

    “He was not along for the ride; he was the bus driver,” Gerdes said.

    In the spring of 2015, Somerindyke called Gerdes with a question: Was there any funding available for shelved sexual assault kits? “I have to be honest; I didn’t know there was an issue with shelved kits,” Gerdes said. She learned that thousands of sexual assault kits were sitting on shelves at law enforcement agencies untested. She also learned that Vice President Joe Biden had just released $72 million to test backlogged kits.

    “Part of my job is to go with victims to the hospital when they have a rape kit done,” Gerdes said. “That experience can be humiliating and very, very difficult. And it’s re-traumatizing. So to have this kit performed to only sit on shelves is wrong. Why are we even asking victims to do it if nothing’s going to be done with these kits?”

    That’s what Somerindyke was wondering when he called Gerdes. He’d recently been transferred to FPD’s investigative bureau and had started reviewing old sexual assault files to see if there were enough to justify forming a cold case unit. He noticed there were several unsolved rape cases for which evidence had been discarded without being tested.

    “Nobody realized how many kits had been disposed of over the years,” he said. “In many cases, they were just being cleared out to make more space in the evidence room.”

    He informed then- FPD Chief Harold Medlock of his findings, and Medlock immediately ordered a complete audit of all the department’s sexual assault kits. The cold case unit was formally instituted under Somerindyke’s leadership a month later.

    When the audit was complete, the FPD discovered more than 300 kits had been disposed of through the years. It was devastating. Rather than covering it up, the department held a press conference informing the public.

    That same month, September 2015, the FPD received a $363,090 grant to conduct DNA testing on the nearly 650 previously un-submitted sexual assault kits still in the FPD’s possession. Somerindyke had written the grant proposal after his phone call with Gerdes that spring. He applied again the following year and received $793,372. That money was shared with RCCC so Gerdes was able to hire two victim advocates to contact and work with the survivors whose kits are finally being tested.

    “It all originated with that grant,” Gerdes said.

    “(Somerindyke) brought this issue to my attention.”

    In February 2017, two years after Somerindyke first called her, Gerdes attended the North Carolina Council for Women’s legislative day in Raleigh. The event is an annual chance for attendees to network with state lawmakers and learn about state government.

    She was armed with information packets and a desire to discuss her findings with someone who could help bring statewide attention to the issue. She found herself talking with Richardson.

    “Honestly, I thought Billy was going to be the last person to have interest in what I was going to say,” she said. “I profiled him because he was a defense attorney. But within 30 seconds of the conversation, he was onboard.

    “After our conversation, Rep. Richardson said to me, ‘OK, now what I need you to do is … I need you to draft the bill.’ I was thinking, I couldn’t even find parking at the legislative building!”

    Luckily, Gerdes’ daughter, Kathryn, had been an FPD cold case intern a few years back and had just graduated with a degree in political science. “She said, ‘I got this, Mom.’”

    Over the next few months, Gerdes worked with her daughter, Richardson, Somerindyke, Fayetteville NOW vice president Roberta Waddle, and legislative draft writers in Raleigh.

    “We got a lot of information from researching how other jurisdictions in other states had gone on their own similar journeys,” Gerdes said. “We read a lot about what the state of New York was doing.”

    That is how Gerdes and her team successfully drafted House Bill 731, which was passed only six months after her conversation with Richardson.

    Waddle said Fayetteville NOW loves to honor people whose impact is unique or achieved in unusual ways. “As far as people who propose laws, it’s usually lawyers or legislators who have an idea of what they want done,” she said. “I think it is quite remarkable that we have two people who are not political – this is not what they do, they don’t lobby the legislature, they don’t work on campaigns. They do their jobs (at RCCC and the FPD), and they saw a need and went to work on it and got this law passed.”

    Gerdes and Somerindyke both said that, though the bill is a win for sexual assault survivors, it’s only a first step. The bill, passed last July, required every law enforcement agency in North Carolina to count how many untested sexual assault kits they had in their possession. The deadline for those numbers to be turned in to the North Carolina Attorney General’s office was Jan. 1 of this year.

    “But lawmakers in this state need to go all the way with this and find the funding to support a law mandating testing of all sexual assault kits,” Somerindyke said. “If we get to a point where we are doing that in this state, cases will be solved and rapists will go to jail. And most importantly, survivors of rape will get the closure and justice they deserve. Then we can talk about a positive impact. Until then, I’ll just say it’s a nice first step.”

    Gerdes encouraged those who see an issue they want changed to start having conversations about it and making an effort with the resources they have.

    “It’s kind of like the #MeToo movement,” she said. “I’ve been fighting in this area and having the same conversations for 10 years, but now, with #MeToo, the whole nation is having conversations. We’re not in this fight alone.”

    Past Fayetteville NOW Susan B. Anthony Birthday Celebration honorees from Cumberland County include Joyce Malone, the first African- American woman to earn Airborne Wings in the U.S. Army Reserves; Jeanette Wallace Hyde, former ambassador to seven Caribbean countries; and Dr. Naveed Aziz, a physician, activist and candidate for the North Carolina Senate in 2016.

    The Feb. 22 event will include a basic reception and meet and greet, heavy hors d’oeuvres and speeches by Gerdes and Somerindyke. VFW Post 6018 is located at 116 Chance St. Paid reservations must be made by Feb. 17 and are available by calling Sharon Johnson, Fayetteville NOW president, at 910-489-0100.

    Visit https://now.org/chapter/fayetteville-now/ to learn more about the organization.

    Photos: Deanne Gerdes (left) and Fayetteville Police Department Lt. John Somerindyke (right) worked together to change North Carolina’s law regarding untested sexual assault kits.

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