Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein is apologizing for decades of sexual misconduct with multiple women, some of them household names, and is even accused of rape by some of the women. News reports have him atoning by checking into a European sex addiction clinic. So widespread were rumors of Weinstein’s behavior that it has been joked about on national television.

So what else is new?

Men in powerful positions have been treating women in such ways since time began and getting away with it for two reasons. The women involved are often too fearful of losing their jobs, whether movie star or housekeeper, to speak up, and others who are aware of the abuse turn blind eyes. Shameful as such conduct is, no one should be surprised by the accusations against such a powerful figure.

Maybe the surprise here is Weinstein’s acknowledgment of “mistakes” and his plea for a “second chance.” Perhaps he meant an umpteenth chance.

Sexual misconduct occurs in all sorts of circumstances.

My mother introduced several of my girlfriends and me to the concept when we were in middle school. She took us aside one day and suggested that we not get close to a then-powerful educator in Fayetteville with whom we had contact in school. Why was that, we asked. She explained that, while the man was a fine educator, he had “HF.” I thought she meant he had the flu or some other contagious illness, but when we asked, she explained that HF meant Hand Fever. He had the odd and unwelcome predilection of massaging girl students and women teachers up and down their backs. We got the point and gave the man wide berth in school hallways until we moved on to high school.

My mother did not know it, but she was participating in what is now known as a “whisper network,” which The New Yorker defined earlier this month as “the unofficial information channel that women use to warn each other about men whose sexual behavior falls on the spectrum from creepy to criminal.”

If you are a woman, you know exactly what I am talking about because you have likely advised other women or been advised yourself with something along the lines of, “Make sure someone else is in the room if you meet with John Smith.”

If you are a man, you have very likely been discussed on the network, either as safe and delightful company or as a jerk to be avoided if possible, and, if you cannot avoid him, take a friend with you.

Technology has turned whisper networks into more concrete entities, for better or for worse;  yet they still serve the same function – to save women from experiences that can range from unpleasant to actual trauma. After the Weinstein story broke, a spreadsheet entitled “S****y Media Men” began circulating on the internet among women in media, with the disclaimer that it was a collection of “allegations and rumors.” It will not be the last of such modern whispering.

Virtually every woman alive has some experience with sexual misconduct, and it is difficult in all circumstances whether she keeps it to herself or speaks about it, setting up a “he said, she said” exchange.

Such misconduct is tricky to prove because it almost always occurs in a private setting, which is why so many women keep quiet about it, either enduring it or simply moving on.

World-famous actresses Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie have said that Weinstein made unwanted advances toward them, but it took them years and the accusations of other women to make this statement publicly.

Allegations of Weinstein’s misconduct continue rolling in. He is the latest in a string of powerful men accused of taking advantage of less powerful women in their workplaces. Think Bill Cosby, Roger Ailes, Bill O’Reilly and Donald Trump, all variations on the same sick theme. Right now, with headlines still screaming, it feels like we may be reaching critical mass on this issue – the point at which society will say “enough.”

Cynics, however, argue that shining the spotlight on the issue may create another workplace issue for women – exclusion from power and responsibility. The risk, they say, is that women will be excluded from the halls of power because men fear finding themselves accused of sexual misconduct. Cynics predict a return to golf course decision-making and power exercised in places women are less likely to be.

The cynics have a point, but I believe that making bad behavior public and the massive humiliation that follows will give pause to other men who think they are entitled to do anything they please.

To think anything else is simply too scary and thoroughly revolting.

Fayetteville State University presents its Homecoming Week 2017 “No. 1 Homecoming on Earth” as students, faculty, staff, alumni and the community celebrate 150 years of excellence Sunday, Oct. 15, through Saturday, Oct. 21.

“Homecoming is really geared toward the alumni and to our current students,” said  Dr. James Anderson, chancellor of Fayetteville State University. “So when you look at the schedule of events, you will see most of (the activities) pertain to them.”

Anderson added that there are a couple of events that celebrate historic kinds of groups such as the alumni queens. They still celebrate the queens that have existed over the years. Some of the former queens come back and are involved in the coronation of the new queen. For the first time this year, the younger queens will be present. 

The heart of homecoming is of course the football game, which takes place Saturday, Oct. 21, at 2 p.m. “The football game is against our rival, Saint Augustine,” Anderson said. “We should expect for it to be a tenacious game.”

Anderson added that Saint Augustine knows it is the FSU homecoming, and both bands are expected to go all-out on the field during halftime. This is the best-attended game during the football season.   

The homecoming parade takes place Saturday at 10 a.m. on Murchison Road, and it is an opportunity for different groups to show they are part of the homecoming festivities and to showcase themselves as part of the Fayetteville community. These include civic groups, student organizations and high school bands. This year there will be four grand marshals of the parade – two alumni and two women in law enforcement.

“Each year, as part of our engagement with the city, we have a homecoming parade,” said Anderson. “Different groups from the city petition us to be part of the parade, and sometimes we have a minimum of 80 to 90 cars and floats and a maximum of 120.” 

Some of the other events include the step show, fashion show, volleyball game, an art exhibition, a concert, FSU’s history with Chesnutt Library, basketball frenzy and the Philadanco Dance Company.

“This is the best way in the school year that the entire Fayetteville community  can come together and really show out,” said Anderson. “There is a little bit of everything for everyone.”  

The chancellor said his favorite part of the homecoming festivities is the parade. He enjoys the ride in a convertible as he sits and waves to the crowd.

“Homecoming shouldn’t just be about the university or just about the football game,” said Anderson. “It should really be about the embracing of the university by the community and the embracing of the community by the university.” 

For a list of all homecoming events, visit  www.uncfsu.edu/ia/marketing/homecoming.

All tickets are available at the FSU ticket office located in the Seabrook Auditorium. Call (910) 672-1724 for more information.

There’s a problem with landmark victories that football teams record during the regular season. You don’t get long to celebrate them.

That was the message Jack Britt coach Brian Randolph shared with his team after the Buccaneers defeated Sandhills Athletic Conference rival Richmond Senior 41-20.

It was only the second time in 14 meetings a Britt team beat Richmond and was the first win for the Buccaneers over the Raiders on Britt’s home field, unofficially named the Boneyard.

“I told them to enjoy the victory throughout the weekend but to come back Monday ready to go,’’ Randolph said.

The reason was simple. Britt still has too many league games left with tough opponents to celebrate anything.

But there are some things to be happy about at Britt. One of the biggest is an improvement in offensive consistency and the ability to finish scoring drives.

Randolph said that’s something the Buccaneers have focused on since a couple of tough early outings with South View and Terry Sanford.

“Kids are accepting the responsibility for their job,’’ Randolph said. “They’re doing their jobs consistently, not just for one play or two plays, but for seven plays or 14 plays.’’

He pointed to Britt’s first scoring drive against Richmond, which covered 14 plays. The Buccaneers also had a 99-yard drive against the Raiders.

“That was almost like a coming out party as far as us being able to finish a drive,’’ he said. “I think our guys have to really take pride in that.’’

But while the win over Richmond was a milestone for the program and a big one for Randolph in his first year as coach, Randolph doesn’t want his team to put too much stock in the victory.

“This is no disrespect to the (Richmond) team and the coaching staff they have now, but none of those players has been to a state championship or won a conference championship,’’ he said. “We’re not intimidated by the things they did in the past. They’re a football team like we are. We came out, performed and competed as a football team and did well.’’

One of the players who was at his best was junior quarterback Brennan Shortridge. Shortridge has bought into Randolph’s offense and responded Friday
by completing eight of 13 passes for 191 yards and three touchdowns.

“It was a momentum shifter, not just for the game but for the season,’’ Shortridge said of the Richmond win.

“The fact we were able to roll in there and not only hold our own but put up some good numbers was a big confidence boost for us.’’

Randolph was pleased with the way Shortridge played within himself, and praised his touch on the ball.

“There were two fourth-down conversions we made because he was able to sit back and use the thing God blessed him with, and that was the ability to throw a football,’’ Randolph said. “Several times he made great clutch throws because he did what he was coached up to do.’’

Shortridge said Britt’s focus on improved execution since the losses to South View and Terry Sanford shows.

“We lacked discipline and couldn’t get in the end zone,’’ Shortridge said. “I lacked confidence like everyone else, then after that first game I realized these are my boys and we can do it just like anybody else can do it.’’

The win over Richmond puts Britt in a position to control its own destiny as far as winning a state 4-A playoff berth is concerned, but Randolph said that’s easier said than done in the Sandhills Conference.

“We can make that all go away by dropping a game,’’ he said. “We need to take care of every single game. Our No. 1 mission is to make the playoffs.’’

PHOTO: Junior quarterback, Brennan Shortridge

Colton Danks, Cape Fear

• Cross country

• Sophomore

Danks has a 4.0 grade point average. His activities outside of cross country include indoor track and field, golf, the Science Olympiad and Beta Club.

Kaylee Barriage, Gray’s Creek

• Volleyball

• Junior

Barriage has a 3.6875 unweighted grade point average. In addition to volleyball, she’s involved with the Student Government Association and is a volunteer at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.

Todd Edge knew on paper his Cape Fear girls’ golf team had a chance to be good this season, but now that the regular season is over, even he’s shocked at how good it was.

“I thought we had the capacity of shooting around 260 (for a weekly round),’’ Edge said. The Colts eclipsed that number in four of seven regular-season matches, featuring a low round of 249 at Cypress Lakes.

They ended the regular season with a 1,802 stroke total, well ahead of second-place and perennial Cumberland County golf power Terry Sanford.

Toni Blackwell, Mary Catherine Hales and Hallie Ross led the charge for Cape Fear, taking three of the top four individual spots in the final standings. Blackwell was named the league’s Player of the Year, the only golfer to break 80 for the season with a 78.6 stroke average.

Edge, league Coach of the Year in his eighth season as Cape Fear girls’ golf coach, said this year’s team is the result of the work he’s done to practically build a program from scratch.

That’s not the easiest thing to do, he noted. “Not many people want to go on a five- or six-mile walk on Monday carrying a golf bag,’’ he said. “Most of the girls I come in contact (with) have picked up a club or played with their fathers. There have been a few I recruited who have never touched a club.’’

Blackwell, a sophomore, has played in a number of tournaments outside the high school arena, Edge said. “She’s starting to come into her own. She’s striking the ball and making good decisions.’’

Blackwell isn’t surprised at how well she and her teammates played this season. “I thought we would just keep breaking records like we’ve been doing,’’ Blackwell said. “I think our mental game has gotten a lot better.’’

She added that in addition to her mental game, her chipping and putting have improved. “I’m trying to get more one-putts,’’ she said, “more birdies to drop, getting on the greens.’’

Hales is one of those players who had never played before when she came out for golf. Edge said she’s cut 10 strokes off her average. “She’s conscientious about practice and doing it right every time,’’ he said.

Hales said she’s tried to focus on improving distance and accuracy, along with putting. “We’re all working more as a team than as individuals,’’ she said. “We’re trying to help each other more.’’

Ross is the veteran of the group, a senior who has been with the Cape Fear program all four years. Edge said Ross got little playing time as a freshman but has dropped her scoring average about eight strokes and this year became a factor in scoring.

Both Ross and Edge agree that having Baywood Golf Club in the Cape Fear community has been a big help to the program.

“We practice every day, and it’s only five minutes from the school,’’ she said. “I live here, and it’s really helpful. People at the course work with us very well.’’

By the time this story appears in Up & Coming Weekly, Cape Fear will have already played in the 3-A East Regional at Reedy Creek Golf Course in Johnston County.

Edge would love to see his team follow in the footsteps of his 2013 squad and qualify for the state tournament, but he knows that won’t be easy.

“They only take three teams and 24 kids from the regional,’’ he said. “It’s not playing other teams, it’s playing the course to the best of our ability.’’

If Cape Fear does make the state 3-A tournament, it will be held at Foxfire Golf and Resort Oct. 23-24.

PHOTO: (L-R) Hallie Ross, Toni Blackwell, Mary Catherine Hales

If anyone was an automatic to be picked for this year’s Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas, you’d think Michael Edwards of South View was near the top of the list.

“You’d think that on the outside looking in,’’ said Rodney Brewington, South View head coach. But Brewington apparently breathed a sigh of relief when Edwards’ name was one of the first ones called during the annual Shrine Bowl announcement recently.

Brewington was with Edwards at the final invitation-only combine held for this year’s North Carolina Shrine Bowl prospects.

“You saw the linemen down there and we were a little worried,’’ Brewington said. “There were some linemen down there I felt were deserving. We were so fortunate Mike got an opportunity to play.’’

Edwards, who has already committed to Wake Forest, stands 6-foot-7-inches and weighs 255 pounds.

He’s served in a variety of roles for the Tigers this season, playing offensive guard and primarily left tackle, and also seeing action in the defensive line.

“I’m sure he’s going to be in the offensive line (at the Shrine Bowl), but I told them he’s having a great year on the defensive side of the ball for us,’’ Brewington said.

Edwards’ biggest asset is his mobility. “It’s rare to see a kid that size who is that agile,’’ Brewington said.

The Shrine Bowl is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 16, at Wofford College’s Gibbs Stadium in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Kickoff is at 2 p.m.

Brewington said he expects Edwards will have no trouble staying in top shape for the game.

“He’s in weightlifting class, and we get a lot of strength and conditioning every day,’’ Brewington said. “We run every day and lift every day. He’s on a very good regimen.’’

Edwards said he chose Wake Forest mainly for the opportunity to get a good education. He plans to major in engineering and technology.

He called playing in the Shrine Bowl “a big honor” and said he’s got just one major goal in he game.

“Dominate the person in front of me,’’ he said. “That’s about it.’’

PHOTO: Michael Edwards

The Fayetteville Technical Community College Spring Lake campus offers a variety of corporate and continuing education classes to expand opportunities for career advancement, employment and lifelong learning.

Phlebotomy

The Phlebotomy program offers students an opportunity to learn a technical skill while maintaining a normal life schedule. This corporate and continuing education program requires a high school diploma or GED and a current CPR certification. The primary role of the phlebotomist is to obtain blood specimens and transport specimens for diagnostic testing. A student who completes the training and receives certification as a phlebotomist will be a key representative of any laboratory. 

Basic Law Enforcement Training

Students of the Basic Law Enforcement Training curriculum receive essential skills required for employment as a law enforcement officer with state, county or municipal governments, or with private enterprise. FTCC offers a BLET informational/application workshop once a month. FTCC staff will email the date, location and time for the workshop to anyone who inquires with interest. Contact  blet@faytechcc.edu. 

Emergency Medical Services

The EMS program offers various levels of EMT, paramedic, critical care and community paramedic courses. Upon graduation, students are prepared to take the National Registry and/or North Carolina Certification exam, which then allows them to seek job opportunities in the EMS field.

EMS is not limited to working in an ambulance. Doctor’s offices, hospitals, sporting events, factories and schools employ EMS personnel. Students will often utilize training in the field of EMS to propel them further into the medical field with the goal of becoming physician assistants, physical therapists, respiratory therapists and medical doctors.

In January 2016, FTCC’s program received national accreditation through COAEMPS and CAAHEP, the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. FTCC offers a variety of courses including day, night, weekend and online classes. If you believe that emergency medicine is for you, we invite you to try one of our courses. Emergency Medical Services is a very rewarding profession. 

Pre-registration is required; visit Room 8 of the Neill Currie Building at the Fayetteville campus, call (910) 678-8251, or email EMSCONED@faytechcc.edu.

Registered Medical Assistant

FTCC’s Registered Medical Assistant Program is a two-part course designed to prepare students to become a vital part of the ambulatory care setting as well as polish and perfect interpersonal skills. Students also learn administrative and clinical skills in this exciting, comprehensive medical assisting course. FTCC’s program allows students to grow both professionally and personally and become a respected, marketable registered medical assistant.

The program offers flexible course choices including, day, night and hybrid options on two campuses and an instructor and administrative support system that is second to none. More than 150,000 medical assistant jobs are projected for the year 2020. Preregistration is required for this course. Visit Room 8 of the Neill Currie Building at the Fayetteville campus. For more information, call (910) 486-3923 or email healthprograms@faytechcc.edu.

Visit the Spring Lake campus to learn more about these and other programs available at FTCC.

The ZZ Top concert has been postponed due to an illness in the band. All previously purchased tickets for this concert will be honored for the new date when announced. For those patrons who seek a refund, please contact your point of purchase before Friday, October 20. Refunds will only be permitted before October 20 and only at your point of purchase.

ZZ Top is set to open the Community Concerts 82nd season Saturday, Oct. 20, at the Crown Complex. ZZ Top released its first album in 1971. It was aptly named “ZZ Top’s First Album.” Based in Houston, the band is still composed of its original members: bassist and lead vocalist Dusty Hill, guitarist Billy Gibbons – who is also the band’s leader, main lyricist, lead vocalist and musical arranger – and drummer Frank Beard.

“With six No. 1 singles and 10 platinum-plus selling albums, ZZ Top is one of the few groups to still have all its original members,” said Michael Fleishman, attractions director for community concerts. “ZZ Top will be one of our biggest shows ever, and it promises a night of down-home, Southern rock!”

Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, ZZ Top has deep roots in blues music, claiming Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and Jimmy Reed as sources of inspiration.

“Then again, most stack the deck with none other than Keith Richards, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, and of course, Peter Green,” Gibbons said. “Them all is Mount Rushmore-worthy.” In fact, as songs outside their catalog go, when it comes to the band’s favorite song, “I’d have to go with Muddy Waters’ ‘Standing Around Crying’ because you just can’t beat a song that starts ‘OH, BABY...!’ Gibbons added.

For this group, close to five decades of performing together has produced an intuitive bond that results in onstage chemistry that keeps fans mesmerized.

“We have this kind of telepathy between us,” Gibbons said. “We don’t have to necessarily speak, glance or nod to each other, but we seem to instinctively know what the other guys are about to do. Yes, we rehearse, but this is something beyond being well-prepared. It’s beyond preternatural – it’s supernatural and a case of the sum being greater than the parts.”

For the fans, it feels like magic, but for the band, it is “just us having a good time,” Gibbons said. “We get a kick out of getting out there and playing for the audience, and they, in turn, return that excitement, so things just kind of ramp up. It’s a natural, organic process that fuels itself – and us.”

Gibbons promised to keep the set list interesting for the Oct. 20 show, saying the band will be delivering “ZZ songs you know, ZZ songs you think you know but don’t really know, and some you don’t know but will get to know. It’ll be loud. And fun.”

Although they stay busy touring, the band has been spending time in the studio as their tour schedule allows.

“We’ve got a few sides down and anticipate doing some in a sequence of releases,” Gibbons said. “There’s definitely a continuum of that bluesy thing going on.”

With five concerts scheduled for this season, Community Concerts has set the bar high coming out of the gate with ZZ Top. The next four concerts of the season promise to continue the excitement.

Nov. 11, Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story on Stage brings heart-pounding music, passionate romance and sensationally sexy dancing to the Crown. The show includes “Hungry Eyes,” “Hey Baby,” “Do You Love Me?” and the anthemic “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.” The musical spectacular tells the story of Baby and Johnny as their summer together unfolds.

Jan. 30 brings Riverdance – the 20th Anniversary Show. The much-loved show returns with new costumes, new lighting, new projections and the addition of a brand-new number, “Anna Livia,” featuring the female members of the Irish dance troupe in an a cappella hard-shoe number.

This tour takes the show to more than 60 U.S. cities. On the show’s website, www. riverdance.com, producer Moya Doherty said, “The success of Riverdance across the whole world has gone beyond our wildest dreams. The fact that the show continues to draw and excite audiences is a tribute to every dancer, singer, musician, staff and crew member who have dedicated themselves to the show.

“This 20th Anniversary Tour is a thank you to our audiences and a celebration of what has been an incredible journey across two decades.”

The Commodores with special guest Landau Eugene Murphy take the stage Saturday, April 14. Walter “Clyde” Orange, William King and J.D. Nicholas make up this group of more than three decades. This musical powerhouse is known for hits like “Brick House,” “Night Shift,” “Three Times a Lady” and “Sail On.” The group formed in 1968 at Tuskegee University. From there, they went on the sell more than 60 million records.

Closing out the season, The Illusionists Live from Broadway showcases the talents of five incredible illusionists. The show is billed as being “packed with thrilling and sophisticated magic of unprecedented proportions.” The performance includes stunning acts of grand illusion, levitation, mindreading, disappearance and, for the first time in history, a full view water torture escape. It’s classic magic that reaches back to the likes of Harry Houdini but with a contemporary feel.

Community Concerts is on a mission to bring the finest in top-notch entertainment to Fayetteville and the Fort Bragg/ Cumberland County community. The driving force behind this organization is its passion for the community. Bringing amazing performers to the area could be enough – but Community Concerts does not stop there. In 2008, Community Concerts founded the Fayetteville Music Hall of Fame “to honor those who have brought musical distinction to the community,” inducting new members each year.

Local high school students benefit from college music scholarships from Community Concerts – a tradition for the organization since 2004. The program has generously awarded more than 28 scholarships.

While bringing great music to Fayetteville is an important part of its mission, Community Concerts supports local musicians as well through its local artist showcase program. In recent years, Voices of the Heart appeared as an opener for Gladys Knight while children from the Linda Kinlaw School of Dance performed with Martina McBride. Local, emerging country music star Trae Edwards performed the Ricky Skaggs show as well.

Community Concerts provides free concert opportunities to groups ranging from children to deserving seniors. In recent seasons, recipients have included people at the Vision Resource Center, Urban Ministry, The Sunshine Center, members of local fire and police departments, high school theater art classes, members of our military, and many more.

To purchase tickets, or to find out more about Community Concerts, visit  www.community-concerts.com.

Oct. 20-22 the Arts Council of Scotland County presents a roster of award-winning storytellers and soulful musicians. The 12th annual Storytelling Festival of Carolina has a variety of local tales, timeless stories and fantastic music. “It is a small festival, but it draws people who perform all over the world,” said Erin Rembert, storytelling and arts center representative.

The storytellers for this year’s festival are Bil Lepp, Michael Reno Harrel and Priscilla Best.

Lepp is a five-time winner of the West Virginia Liars Contest, an award-winning author, and has received many other national and international accolades.

Harrell has performed at the National Storytelling Festival and was the Teller-inResidence at the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough, Tennessee. He is also a talented musician and often incorporates music into his storytelling.

Best tells contemporary stories, folktales and chants from her African-American heritage and other cultures. Rembert described her as a “local girl with stories that make you feel good.”

Rembert said the storytellers are talented professionals who “engage the audience, feel the story and know where they are going, all (while) remaining flexible.” She added, “They are performers, and they tell it like they lived it.”

Due to the success of last year’s festival, the council will once again welcome musicians. Momma Molasses blends alt-country, blues and other musical styles into the sweet, slow-moving style of music that earned her name. Further performances will come from Clay Brown and The Legends Band as well as 2015 Native American Music Awards nominee Lakota John.

For the first time, the festival will take place in downtown Laurinburg. This means there will be a greater variety of food and entertainment options for attendees. Proceeds from ticket sales will be channeled back into the Arts Council and help fund next year’s festivals as well as other projects. The council’s goal is to bring in more opportunities and programs that Laurinburg wouldn’t have otherwise.

The festival begins Friday, Oct. 20, with a student’s day from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and a sample of events to come at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday morning the venue opens to the public at 9:30 a.m. and runs until 5 p.m. with a variety of performances, workshops and autograph sessions. Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m. there will be gala where attendees can meet the storytellers and enjoy a sweet and savory dessert buffet. The final day of the festival is Sunday, Oct. 22, and features performances from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

Call (910) 277-3599 or visit www.storyartscenter.org for tickets and more information.

PHOTO: Bil Lepp

A new festival is coming to Fayetteville – and it’s giving off serious “Outlander” vibes. “Outlander” as in the television series on Starz that features kilt-wearing, time-traveling adventurers. The Carolina Caledonian Festival takes place at Campbellton Landing Oct. 28-29. Kilt-wearing and time-traveling is optional but not entirely unexpected.

“Caledonian” refers to any person of Scottish descent. It originates from the old Roman name for Scotland. So naturally, the festival’s purpose is to celebrate Scotland, its traditions (particularly of Highlanders) and descendants.

The festival was borne out of event organizer Allen McDavid’s connection to his own lineage. His ancestors are originally of the Argyll Colony, which has more than a million descendants in the Fayetteville and surrounding area today, according to McDavid.

McDavid detailed how the Caledonian Festival will have a “Renaissance fair-like” feel but with a more historically accurate representation of Scottish culture. There will be a traditional market with merchants selling foods and wares. Re-enactors will be dressed and speaking like famous 18th century Scots. Demonstrations of Highland swordfighting and Scottish dancing will also take place.

“(The festival) will be like living history,” McDavid said.

Several musical performances will also be held at the festival, including the Celtic band Tuatha Dea, the Irish band Lift, the Cross Creek Pipes and Drums (home-grown in Fayetteville), and the Tan & Sober Gentleman and Carolina Ceili groups.

With the Caledonian Festival revving up on the weekend before Halloween, a few spooky treats are in store. Young ones will be able to trick or treat throughout the market or see the pumpkin-carving stations – a practice that originated in Scotland.

But the festival doesn’t intend to leave out Samhain. This refers to an ancient Gaelic festival celebrated in Scotland that represented the seasonal end of the harvest on Oct. 31. It was also seen by pagan ancestors as a time when fairies could easily cross over to our world. Think Mexico’s Dia de los Muertos. On Saturday night of the Caledonian Festival, there will be a bonfire and a telling of Samhain lore to attendees.

The imprints left behind by the Scottish Highlanders who settled in this region more than 200 years ago can be felt in almost every corner of Fayetteville. Seventy-First High School, for example, is named after the 71st Highland Regiment that fought in the French and Indian War. The Loch Lomond neighborhood bears the name of the largest lake in Scotland and the British Isles.

So, a festival dedicated to celebrating Highland culture is not only necessary to the area but also great fun for the season.

“I hope that attendees learn what seems to have been forgotten in these parts – that Fayetteville’s name may be French, but its DNA is Scottish,” said McDavid.

The Caledonian Festival has also partnered with the Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeast North Carolina. Two dollars will be taken off admission for those who bring a non-perishable item or can of food to the main gate. Adult tickets are $10 per day, and admission is free for children under 12. The festival runs Saturday, Oct. 28, 8 a.m.-11 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 29, noon - 6 p.m.  Learn more at www.caledonianfest.com.

Construction of a pair of multimilliondollar railroad overpasses in downtown Fayetteville has been ongoing since November 2016. The project includes construction of a larger than usual 1,200-foot culvert to carry water beneath the roadway.

Cross Creek flows adjacent to Bragg Boulevard and has historically resulted in major flooding during hurricanes and heavy storms. The new structure will replace the aging Rowan Street bridge that was built 60 years ago. It will have six lanes of traffic, three in each direction, and a center concrete median. There will be sidewalks and retaining walls on each side.

The project is running about 15 percent ahead of schedule, said North Carolina DOT spokesman Andrew Barksdale. “We have not adjusted the original completion date of May 2020 because there is still a lot of intricate work to be done, and we may encounter weather delays in the future.”

The Rowan Street bridge carries N.C. 24-210 over CSX railroad tracks, and separately the Norfolk Southern Railroad along with Hillsboro Street. The project is about a half mile in length. The new bridges will be opened to traffic in late 2019 with other minor work to occur afterward. The project will culminate in May of 2020, Barksdale added. Motorists are already seeing improvements to streets that will radiate from the Bragg Boulevard side of the bridges.

Rowan Street, Murchison Road and Bragg Boulevard will be realigned to meet at a single intersection. Except for the temporary rerouting of Hillsboro Street, there has been little disruption of traffic in the area.

Payments to the contractor are running 1 percent over what had been projected to have been paid at this point, according to Barksdale. The minor increase is because of some additional items of work that were identified after the contract was approved last year. “Spending may even out or be below the project bid of $24.3 million,” Barksdale added.

The massive construction project is expected to be completed about the time season one of Fayetteville’s Houston Astros minor league baseball team concludes. The adjoining stadium is to be completed well before the spring of 2019.  What about the old bridge? It will be torn down.

Political analysts will tell you it’s difficult to forecast local general election outcomes following primaries in off-year elections. One reason is the historically low voter turnout. This month’s turnout for the Fayetteville City Council election was dismal, but not unprecedented.

Standalone local elections rarely if ever generate voter interest the way statewide and presidential year elections do. Fewer than 13,000 people, or 10 percent of registered voters, cast ballots Oct. 10, of the nearly 130,000 registered voters in the city. It would not be unusual for twice that number of residents to vote in the general election Nov. 7. Pundits say the city council outcome will be decided by how well the finalists get their supporters to the polls. That’s another one of those indeterminate factors.

City council, day to day, has a more direct impact on local daily life than the state legislature or Congress, making decisions on important issues such as crime control, public transportation, affordable housing, parks and community centers and future growth of the city. There are 10 members on city council. The mayor is elected citywide. Nine council members are elected from individual districts. Not all the district councilmen were involved in primaries, which are held if one more than twice the number of candidates are seeking the available seats.

Districts 4, 8 and 9 have only one candidate each running against the incumbents. 

District 3 council member Mitch Colvin won the day Oct. 10 in the citywide mayor’s race. Colvin has been serving as the council-elected mayor pro-tem since early 2016. He got 45 percent of the vote.

Incumbent Mayor Nat Robertson was second with 31.6 percent. “We will be fine, but we’ll have to fight for it,” Robertson said as the primary outcome became clear. That sentiment was echoed by District 1 council member Kathy Jensen who failed to finish No. 1 in her primary. Of 1,024 ballots cast in the district, 20 votes made the difference for Curtis Brown Sr., who placed first. “Mr. Brown ran a good campaign … time for me to get to work,” Jensen said.

The District 2 race was even closer. The two finalists in a field of 10 were separated by only three votes. The winners were Dan Culliton who got 430 votes and Tyrone Williams who got 427. Both District 2 and 3 elections were hotly contested because the incumbents, Colvin and Kirk deViere, gave up their seats to run for mayor.

In District 3, newcomers Tisha Waddell and Jeremy Wright won the right to face off Nov. 7. In District 5, incumbent Bobby Hurst chose not to seek re-election. That means at least three new council members will be elected next month. Six candidates filed to succeed Hurst. Johnny Dawkins and Henry Tyson were successful and will vie for the seat next month.

Longtime councilman Bill Crisp and newcomer Toni Stewart will face each other in the general election. Crisp took an impressive 53 percent of his district’s votes, making him the top per capita voter getter of the day.

Trevone McNeill will meet incumbent Larry Wright in the District 7 general election.

Well, with one municipal election candidate forum over, it remains difficult to assess the public’s overall interest or participation in Fayetteville’s upcoming municipal election. This is not surprising. Candidate forums are valuable – especially if you have a good turnout of residents. However, once you separate out the participating candidates, their family, friends, campaign staff members and the personnel of the sponsoring hosts, it makes you wonder who in the audience is really a registered, taxpaying resident there to be informed and enlightened.

Reaching and communicating with the local masses has always been difficult. This year’s candidate forum hosts, the Greater Fayetteville Chamber and The Fayetteville Observer, are advertising and promoting that they will broadcast the event live on Facebook.

Really? Well, obviously the Observer doesn’t want to miss this excellent opportunity to solicit “likes” on its Facebook page. But effective communication? I think not. Social media is good for sharing information; however, it is not an effective medium for building an audience of loyal, informed and caring constituents. Not only does it lack reach, but it also lacks sincerity and credibility.

If Facebook and social media were, in fact, effective and credible media sources, the Oct. 10 primary election would not have had such a dismal and disappointing turnout. Again, in all fairness, social media can be a good means of communication once a relationship has been established. That is, of course, if fact-checking is not your thing. People who rely on the internet and social media for their news and information are by far the most uninformed and misinformed people.

What the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community needs more than anything else is a local TV station that practices journalism’s basic Fourth Estate standards. A daily newspaper with management and staff entrenched in local matters and committed to these standards would also be a valued asset. For the most part, we live in a community that is uninformed about what is going on around us. Why? Because we lack access to responsible local news and information on a consistent basis. This breeds skepticism and apathy toward our Fayetteville and Cumberland County leadership. This situation curtails citizen participation and community involvement.

Even in the most ideal of circumstances, it takes a focused and dedicated effort to be an informed voter. In Fayetteville, it takes a lot more effort due to limited access to local news and information. It is a sad situation that leaves the resident on his or her own to figure out what the issues are and what the truth is. This task is very difficult, and many people just stop trying. The result? Apathy. Many new families moving into our community don’t even start! The perception becomes reality. We just make it too hard to get to the truth. This year’s candidate forums are a good example. No offense intended, but it looks like we are going backward when it comes to exploring relevant issues and gaining insights into the qualifications and motives of local candidates.

Last year, the Greater Fayetteville Chamber was on the right track. It took control and created a candidate’s forum that was a multimedia event promoted and marketed throughout the community and involved journalists from WRAL TV, Up & Coming Weekly and The Fayetteville Observer.

This forum was a widespread community and media event supported and hosted by several local businesses and organizations. It was also promoted and televised on FayTV. The results were impressive and complimentary to all involved. This year, it seems we have lost that momentum at a time when Fayetteville is on the cusp of economic growth and becoming a more respected major metropolitan city. Can it happen? Will it happen? We’ll see in the next few weeks.

I have tracked Fayetteville’s progress, accomplishments and development for over 21 years. I have built a successful publishing business by accentuating the good and unique features of our local quality of life. No one is in a better position to recognize and applaud the good works of the people, businesses, organizations and opportunities that have come before us during the last two decades.

However, collectively, these good works and accomplishments pale in light of the hundreds – maybe thousands – of missed opportunities our county and city have endured because divisive sectors in our community refuse to give up their silos and cooperate and communicate for the betterment of all.

Only honest, trustworthy leadership along with a huge dose of integrity will enable our community to seize the right opportunites and continue our forward momentum. And it will all be on the ballot come Election Day in November.

So, do your part. Read the newspaper. Listen to the radio. Attend the forums. Ask hard questions. Seek out the truth. Be informed, and vote.

Once the last ballot is counted, I cannot promise you will get what you want, but this community will certainly get what it deserves. It always does.

Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly. Go to www.upandcomingweekly.com and subscribe to our Free Early Bird online edition and like our Facebook page. You’ll be one step closer to being better informed.

I don’t know about you, but I am getting along with my fellow Americans. No matter the angle — race, culture, religious belief or anything else — that the mainstream media tries to use to divide us, I am getting along with my fellow Americans.

The reason is quite simple. It’s respect. It’s treating others the way you want to be treated. The majority of people want to go through their day with little fuss and little drama. Most people smile back when you smile at them.

There are racists, misogynists and cruel people in every culture. It doesn’t matter the skin color, the gender or religious or political background.

I was once the only Caucasian in my line of work and was constantly harassed and abused. For example, I was chased off the road and almost driven off the overpass by my coworker. When I reported her, HR asked her for her reasoning and she pointed at my skin. Yet she was not fired — only reprimanded. I moved into a neighborhood in Fayetteville in 2001, and someone wrote a vulgar message on my mailbox in reference to my race. They threatened my life and the lives of my family members.

But I chose to not let those experiences create a belief that everyone from the same race is bad because of what a few of them chose to do. How we respond to such behavior can either provoke more hatred or stop it.

What we see online and on TV and what we hear on the radio could lead us to believe there is no unity in America, that we hold each other in contempt and that we choose to fight hate with hate. That has not been my experience — in fact, quite the opposite.

Walk into Sammio’s or Food Lion, and people of all backgrounds will greet you. Drive down Main Street and watch as cars allow others out of the parking lot to Rose’s or Lowe’s. Each car has someone in it who is different than you.

It happens every day. Strangers — people of different genders, races, religions, lifestyles — treat each other with kindness and respect. It’s wonderful when you think about it. All these people have a story to tell. Some may be sad. Some may be tragic. Some may be exhilarating. Yet each one is a small part of something that leads to a greater community.

For the most part, Americans want peaceful lives. They want to be able to go to work and provide for themselves and their families. They want to be able worship how they choose. They want to be able to express their opinions, rightfully so, without being harassed or threatened.

Don’t let the news on TV or radio lead you into believing that everyone is against you because of who you are.

Please note, I am in no way, shape or form, diminishing the evil actions of people like the Vegas shooter or the Orlando shooter. I am not in denial. I’m not looking through rose-colored glasses. I see the evils of this world. I do believe in being aware of the world around you.

But I also believe in living each day to the fullest and not letting the hatred that the media is trying to spread overshadow what is truly going on in my community. And when you stop and look at how the majority of the people within this community treat each other, the reality sets in. So please don’t feed into the hype.

 • Oct. 2 - Nov. 18 Registration for Youth Basketball at Hope Mills Parks and Recreation Center, 5766 Rockfish Rd. The center is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Saturdays  9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There is instructional basketball for ages 5-6 and regular basketball for ages 7-17. The cost is $30 per child. Address and birth certificate must be presented when registering. Call (910) 426-4105 for details.

•  Oct. 13 Kiwanis BBQ Fundraiser in the grassy area between the Hope Mills Main Street WalMart and Food Lion across from the gas station, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monies raised will go toward ALMS House, Shop-with-a-Cop, Bicycle Presentation for Terrific Kids, Boys and Girls Club of Cumberland County, Boys and Girls Homes of Lake Waccamaw and many other community services. Call (910) 426-7256 for details.

• Oct. 14. Community Clean Up from 9 a.m. to noon at Hope Mills Parks and Recreation Center, 5766 Rockfish Rd. Gloves, safety vests, trash bags, water and lunch will be provided to volunteers. Call (910) 426-4109 for details.

•  Oct. 19 Hope Meals Food Truck Rodeo at 5770 Rockfish Rd. from 5:30-8:30 p.m.

• Oct. 19-21 Ole Mill Days Festival  Celebrate the Mills Way! Details: (910) 429-4109.

• Oct. 31 Trunk ’R Treat at Hope Mills Municipal fields 1 and 2, 6-8 p.m. Ages 1-12. Call (910) 4264109 for details.

• Nov. 4-12 Heroes Homecoming V at the Hope Mills Public Library, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 4 is the first day of a nine-day ceremonious event to honor veterans. On this day, the focus will be on Vietnam Veterans. Visit www.heroeshomecoming.com for more information. The event is free and open to the public.

• Nov. 5 Vietnam Veterans Memorial Ceremony and Flag Display hosted by The Hope Mills Veterans Advisory Commission at the Hope Mills Veterans Memorial from 3-4:30 p.m. Special guest speaker will be retired Lt. Col. Walt Brinker. Free and open to the public.

• Nov. 6 Bench Dedication at Hope Mills Lake by the Hope Mills VFW Post 10630. The dedication starts at 5 p.m. and is free and open to the public.  Visit www.heroeshomecoming.com  for details.

• Nov. 8 Veteran Movie Extravaganza  Millstone 14 on Camden Road in Hope Mills will honor veterans by presenting an evening of military-themed movies. The event is free for veterans and their families. The event begins at 4 p.m., and space is limited. Call (910) 354-2124 or visit www.heroeshomecoming.com for details.

The Hope Mills Citizens Academy aids the residents of Hope Mills in learning about the inner workings of town government while also making the town government more accessible.  On Thursday, Sept. 28, the 2017 class learned some of what it takes to monetarily run the Town of Hope Mills. 

Finance Director Drew Holland and Senior Accountant Ricky Ramey explained the vital part of maintaining the budget and of knowing how to prioritize spending.

Holland noted that the Finance Department is doing well and that everything is thoroughly examined before it goes to Town Council for adoption. The annual budget dates are from July 1 through June 30 of the following year. 

Holland described how each date on the budget calendar is vital to a successful year and what roles other departments play. It is important to note, he added, that the public has a say in how the budget is used on behalf of the town. There is a required public hearing every year in the spring. Only after the proposed budget is approved, adopted and signed by the council does it then become accessible to the public. 

The Citizens Academy class on Sept. 28 participated in a mock budget exercise in which the budget was overdrawn and five situations needed to be balanced. Class members also actively asked questions concerning the maneuvers of the Finance Department and how long the documents had to be kept. Holland gave examples of projects, like the refilling of Hope Mills Lake, to explain the regulations. After each project is finished, he said, the documents must be kept three years from that date. They are kept electronically. There are many regulations and guidelines that must be followed closely. 

The Finance Department remains in good standing. For further information about the budget for the Town of Hope Mills, visit  www.townofhopemills.com.

PHOTO: Hope Mills Finance Director Drew Holland

It’s that time of year again. Time to celebrate and remember the reason why Ole Mills Days are important to Hope Mills. 

A Little Piece of History

The Town of Hope Mills was founded upon the mill industry, beginning with the first saw mill on Little Rockfish Creek in the 1700s. Later, Bluff Mills was established in 1841 close to what is now the intersection of Camden Road and Hope Mills Road. These mills flourished, and the town and economy boomed.

But when the Civil War began, turmoil followed. Bluff Mill survived, but eight cotton mills along with the mill houses that provided room and board for the mill workers were ruthlessly burned to the ground during Gen. William T. Sherman’s infamous March to the Sea.

Though the mills were destroyed, Hope Mills would not be what it is today without the hard work of the lumber and mill workers and the ingenuity of the cotton, saw and grist mills. 

Let’s Have Fun

Thursday, Oct. 19, jump-starts the fun of Ole Mills Days with the Hope MEALS Food Truck Rodeo at 5770 Rockfish Rd. from 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Bring your dancing shoes and enjoy the party Friday, Oct. 20, with the Ole Mills Days Street Dance on Trade Street from 6-9 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 21, is the annual celebration of Ole Mills Days in Municipal Parks 1 and 2 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. The Hope Mills Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Chili Cook-Off for the duration of the event. There will be cash prizes for both hot and mild categories as well as a People’s Choice award. It costs $5 to sample all the chili and vote for the People’s Choice winner. Call (910) 423-4313 for more information about the Chili Cook-Off.

The Mill Worker Reunion will be held from 2-4 p.m. Throughout the day there will also be tractor pulls, food, craft vendors and a kids’ corner. The celebration will end with a movie night.

Debbie Holland, interim town clerk, said the Town of Hope Mills looks forward to having residents of Cumberland County come and enjoy the family-friendly festivities.

“This is a great time for everyone from Hope Mills and the surrounding areas to learn about our history while having fun,” she said. “We will have many vendors and activities for everyone to enjoy.”

For more information about Ole Mills Days 2017, call (910) 429-4109 or visit  www.townofhopemills.com.

The distinguished Gaither Vocal Band will be perform at the Crown Complex Theatre Saturday, Oct. 14, at 6 p.m.

Singing quartet-based gospel music since the ’50s, Grammy Awardwinning Bill Gaither and his family have long been a powerful force in the music industry. Their successes have earned them the opportunity to hold yearly tours around the world and to perform at esteemed venues like Carnegie Hall. The band has also created hits that topped the Billboard charts. While performing at the Crown, the band will be on its “Better Together Tour.”

The group will release an all-new studio recording, “We Have This Moment,” Oct. 13. It will be released on the band’s website, www.gaither.com, as well as aired on numerous television stations.

The band includes the group’s founder Bill Gaither, Adam Crabb, Reggie Smith, Wes Hampton and Todd Suttles. The tour will feature guests including gospel singers Kevin Williams, Charlotte Ritchie and Gene McDonald.

Gaither is the group’s primary songwriter and producer, along with his wife, Gloria Gaither. He has written over 700 songs, including “Let’s Just Praise the Lord,” “Something Beautiful,” “It Is Finished” and “The King Is Coming.” Gaither and his wife have won eight Grammy Awards. Gaither believes gospel music is much more than music; it gives him the ability to spread the message of Jesus Christ to others around the world.

Band member Adam Crabb is no stranger to music. Whether in the studio or performing live, he has been learning and perfecting his craft for most of his life. He is a member of the Crabb Family, which is a Grammy-nominated and Dove-nominated southern gospel group. He is now a lead singer for the Gaither Vocal Band, which was one of his life-long dreams. He believes gospel music is his calling in life.

Reggie Smith is another singer and producer for the band. He has performed all over the world in places like Carnegie Hall and at the Super Bowl. He has also, along with his wife, recorded music for “The Lion King” soundtrack. He and his wife started their careers singing as backup singers in Tennessee but have been singing as a duet with the Gaithers for 18 years.

After completing college, Wes Hampton was asked by Gaither to be a part of the Vocal Band in 2005. He sings tenor in the group. Hampton was already experienced in the music world, and Gaither noticed that he brought his heart and passion to the group. These qualities Hampton brought to the table helped the Vocal Band win a Grammy with its song “Lovin’ Life.”

Todd Suttles sings baritone with the Gaither Vocal Band. Suttles left the group he was originally in, Settles Connection, and joined the Vocal Band in 2014. Not only is he skilled in vocals, but he has an educational background from Vanderbilt University.

For more information, visit www.gaither.com. For tickets, visit www.crowncomplexnc.com.

PHOTO: The Gaither Vocal Band is set to perform at the Crown Oct. 14.

The weather is cooler. The air is crisp, and mischief is afoot. Fall is here, and that means harvest festivals, haunted houses, hayrides and more. This year, there is an extra-special event downtown to celebrate the season. Bud Light presents the Fayetteville Dogwood Fall Festival Thursday, Oct. 19, from 7– 9 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 20 from 5–10 p.m.; and Saturday, Oct. 21 from 3– 11 p.m. at Festival Park.

“We are doing a new haunted house this year called Dogwood’s Dark Dream that will run Thursday, Friday and Saturday,” said Sarah Suggs, marketing and events coordinator for the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival Organization, Inc. “Some of our more classic elements that have been with us since the beginning of our fall festival are Historic Hauntings and hayrides.”

Suggs added that Historic Hauntings is a guided walking tour through the cemetery, and it is not intended to be super scary but is more of an interesting, informative tour.   

There are several other elements of the event, one of the popular ones being Bands ’N Brew. “Friday, we will have 20 Ride as our headlining act at 8:30 p.m., and that is a Zac Brown tribute band,” Suggs said. “And we have local country band Avner Clark before that. Then Saturday we have the local band Cool Heat at 3:30 p.m., Rivermist beginning at 6 p.m., and we end the night with our headlining act SkyDog at 8:30 p.m.” Rivermist won Best Local Musician/Band for this year’s Best of Fayetteville awards.  

Forty food trucks will be on-site along with the craft beer festival featuring 10 craft beers and favorite domestics starting Saturday at 3 p.m. Some of the food trucks will be local, and the others are from surrounding areas.

This year’s festival also features a new children’s area called KidZone. “Kids will have access to the entire area that will have two inflatables, a climbing wall, a barrel train and mini golf,” Suggs said. “The kids’ area will be in Linear Park across the street.”

The Fayetteville Dogwood Fall Festival is a community fundraiser in which the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival Organization partners with other nonprofit agencies. The agencies loan their volunteer force to the festival to create a fun-filled event for the community. The festival, in turn, gives back some of the proceeds to these nonprofit agencies.

The cost for the Dogwood’s Dark Dream haunted house is $10, hayrides are $5, Historic Hauntings is $10 and KidZone is $10. For more information, call (910) 323-1934.

As the Cumberland Oratorio Singers look to open the 2017-18 season, there is a new director at the helm. Jason Britt accepted the position after devoting his youth to music and spending 23 years teaching and performing choral music.

Growing up in Fayetteville, Britt played the cello at Eastover Elementary School. He was a member of the Cumberland County Youth Orchestra in seventh and eighth grades; he also played first chair cello. In high school, he continued singing and playing in school music programs. Britt graduated from Methodist College in 1993 with a degree in music and a concentration in music education. In 2013, he received his Masters of Music Education degree from East Carolina University. He’s taught in the Cumberland County Schools system and served as the director of music at First Baptist Church.

On Friday, Oct. 20, the Cumberland Oratorio Singers’ season opens with “We Sing to Relate” at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.

“One of the things candidates were asked to do as part of the interview process is to plan a season,” Britt said. “The current season is what I submitted as part of my interview.”

The first concert showcases the works of American composers. At this concert, Britt hopes to bring the community together in a spirit of unity. “We have just been through an election cycle, and we are pretty divided as a nation,” he said. “But we cannot deny that we are all Americans. We will perform works many people will recognize … pieces by Copeland, Whitaker and Randall Thompson.”

The second concert is Saturday, Dec. 16, at First Baptist Church. It is titled “We Sing to Remember.”

“We sing to remember and for nostalgia,” Britt said. “One of the things about Christmas is we think about times gone by. The performance is dedicated to that. This is also when we do Handel’s ‘Messiah Sing.’ That has been a mainstay for 25 years. Even I remember singing in COS production when I was fresh out of college.”

The third concerts takes place Friday, April 27, at Haymount United Methodist Church at 7:30 p.m. It is titled “We Sing to Experience.” Britt said, “This concert is dedicated to choir works every choral group should be doing — things like Mozart and Mendelssohn, things like that, which are very familiar.”

While he does hope to continue reaching out to the community, Britt said he plans to “continue the excellent work the COS did for the last 25 years. Last year they were inducted into Fayetteville Music Hall of Fame. This is an established group here in the community. It is my job to continue their efforts. That is the goal right now — to continue that standard of excellence.”

To find out more about the Cumberland Oratorio Singers, or to purchase tickets to a concert, visit www.singwithcos.org.

PHOTO: Jason Britt is the new director of the Cumberland Oratorio Singers.

On Oct. 14, the 2017 Authenticity Professional Women’s Retreat is set to take place at Ramada Plaze. Daphne B. Latimore, event hostess and founder of DB Latimore, chatted with Up & Coming Weekly about the event.

UCW: What takes place at Authenticity Professional Women’s Retreats?

DBL: The Authenticity Professional Women’s Retreat is a full day starting with a continental breakfast. We kick off the retreat with Jazzercise to help us to get energized and to discover techniques that allow us to incorporate exercise into our daily activities.

We will have seven sessions. Our moderator, Kim Gray, will lead us through the day where we will explore the dimensions of wellness. We will have four main sessions coupled with fun-filled breakout sessions all designed to enlighten, engage and energize. We will have a networking buffet luncheon with a keynote presentation. We conclude the day with a networking reception to allow participants to network with our presenters.

UCW: Why are events like this important?

DBL: As women, we embody a number of roles, personally, professionally and publicly. The Authenticity Retreat is designed as a space for women to explore leading an integrated lifestyle. As such, it is important for us to take time out to reconnect with ourselves, reintegrate the personal with the professional and enjoy the company of like-minded women. For this reason, we were inspired to create the Authenticity Professional Women’s retreat.

UCW: Are there special speakers/ presenters?

DBL: All our speakers are dynamic. We are excited to feature three local speakers from Fayetteville — Coach Billie Crutcher, Dr. Tracey Jackson and best-selling author Suzetta Perkins.

It is very important that we include local presenters in our retreats so that our attendees might continue the experience after the retreat with professionals that will assist them on their professional journey of Authenticity. We are excited that Christina Eanes, a mother of a soldier stationed at Fort Bragg and a renowned author and coach, takes us on the journey to achieve more in life.

UCW: What can attendees expect at this event?

DBL: Individuals can expect open and honest dialogue coupled with tools that can be immediately incorporated into our day-to-day lives.

UCW: What led you to found DB Latimore?

DBL: DB Latimore Professional Services Group was founded to allow individuals and organizations to maximize workforce productivity. We do this through individual, group and team coaching, management consulting and retreats such as the Authenticity Professional Women’s Retreat.

Our hummingbird logo represents the potential agility of any workforce. We support the belief that minor adjustments to the way work is defined and delivered will improve the productivity. The hummingbird possesses the innate ability to adjust quickly to any situation by shifting its wings in motion either forward, backward, by hovering and, when necessary, upside down. Our methodology allows you to embed this ability within your life and experience significant gains in productivity and performance.

UCW: What is something you wish every woman understood about herself and her life path?

DBL: That each of us is different. Our life plan is a journey, and how we manage that journey will enable us to live a fulfilling life. It is important that we as women know that our lives are integrated and that we must tend to each dimension: physical, spiritual, occupational, social, intellectual and environmental.

UCW: Who/what inspires you in your career and your life?

DBL: I am most inspired by my mother who raised seven children, worked full time, supported her marriage and maintained social relationships. My husband/co-owner has been very inspirational, supportive and encouraging of my life’s journey.

Find out more at www.dblatimore.com.

PHOTO: Daphne B. Latimore

The John Blue Cotton Festival is not new. In fact, the 34th festival is set for Oct. 14 and 15 in Laurinburg. Jim Blue has been the chairman of this festival for 31 years. He’s a descendant of John Blue, whose home is a big part of the event. After being rained out by Hurricane Matthew last year, Blue is excited for the festival’s return. “We have hayrides, clogging exhibitors (and) many different kinds of demonstrations, including a woodwright who builds amazing things without using modern tools,” Blue said. “We will also have a chainsaw carver there.”

It is a weekend of good old-fashioned fun that includes things like craft vendors, demonstrators, antique engines, a mule pull, a cotton gin, antique cars and more. Blue said, “We have contests and all kinds of homemade crafts and foods, too.” He added that families can look forward to pony rides and a mini train that runs on a half-mile track.

The activities provide plenty of reason to attend, but Blue said the John Blue house is the icing on the cake. The home will be open for tours and is furnished in period (circa 1890).

“If you stand and look at it from the right angle, you can see the house is designed after a steamboat,” Blue said. According to Jim, John Blue had family in Mississippi. “When he visited his family he fell in love with steamboats, and that inspired this home’s design. You can see where the water wheels would be, and you can see that it looks very similar to a steamboat.”

Over the years other buildings have been added to the festival, including a restored sawmill that dates back to 1920.

Reaching back to simpler times, children can look forward to games like marbles, walking on stilts and balance beams, playing hopscotch and checkers, blowing bubbles, face-painting and more.

All the standard fair food will be on hand, including funnel cake, fried apples, pulled-pork barbecue and Hawaiian ice. One of the vendors Blue is most excited about, though, is one that sells collard sandwiches. “It involves two pieces of flat cornbread topped with fatback and collards and dressed with your choice of vinegar, pepper relish or whatever you fancy,” Blue said. “If you’ve never had one, I think you should try them.”

The festival sits on about 10 acres, which allows plenty of room for attendees to explore the grounds and take in the stage, which hosts a variety of performers throughout the weekend. There will also be musicians roaming the grounds playing different instruments like banjos and guitars “and maybe stopping under a tree to sing a tune or coming to a crowd to take a request,” Blue said.

He added that Sunday morning, although the festivities don’t start until 10 a.m., those interested in attending can come to an outdoor church service. “It lasts about 30 or 40 minutes,” he said. “There are a choir and a sermon under the pecan trees, and it starts at 9 a.m. This is something we originally started for the volunteers and vendors. Then people from the community started joining us. Everyone is welcome.”

Pulling everything off usually involves about 220 volunteers, and on a good weekend, Blue noted, the festival draws 9,000 to 10,000 attendees. The gates open at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Find out more at www.johnbluefestival.com.

PHOTO: The John Blue House