The City of Fayetteville has recorded 31 homicides this year. That’s the most ever in one year. The most recent murder victim was Amanda Williams, 37, of Berwick Drive in the Ponderosa neighborhood. She was stabbed to death by the man police shot and killed moments after her sons, ages 9 and 11, jumped out of a window and ran next door to get help. Mark Anthony Hicks, 31, was Williams’ boyfriend, according to police. He was shot when he lunged at officers seconds after they forced entry into the house, said Interim Police Chief Anthony Kelly. Five officers entered the house and found the woman on the kitchen floor in a pool of blood, said Kelly. 

They told Hicks several times to drop the knife he was holding. One of the officers fired his stun gun, but Kelly said it had no effect. As they attempted to handcuff Hicks, he lunged at the policemen “nearly striking one of the officers,” added the chief. That’s when he was shot. “We have not released how many officers fired their weapons,” said police spokesman Lt. Todd Joyce, but three of the five were placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of an SBI investigation. They are Officers Jason Beldon, William Byloff and Justin Waller. Suspensions are standard in officer-involved deaths.

The brothers are now in the custody of their fathers, said the police chief. “We want to do something for the children for Christmas,” he added, noting that the boys witnessed their mother being murdered. He described the scene as graphic. He said at some point, detectives will have to question the children as to precisely what they saw. 

“Ma’am, my mother got stabbed by her boyfriend,” the older brother told the 911 dispatcher. Police released audio of the 911 calls. Hicks also called the police, admitting on the phone that he had killed someone, and apologizing. “I’m so sorry, I’m at their house and I’m so sorry,” he said.

Much of the situation was recorded by the officers’ body cameras. But Kelly told Up & Coming Weekly the videos are not 100 percent conclusive because the field of vision does not include footage of the officers’ side arms being fired. The video, by law, can only be released to the public by order of a Superior Court judge, said Cumberland County District Attorney Billy West. Chief Kelly indicated he would be reluctant to ask for it to be made public because it’s so graphic. He does intend, however, to let the families of those involved screen the video.

All but one of the 31 homicide cases this year have been cleared with arrests, Joyce said. Two of the 29 instances were double murders. The previous record of 30 was set in 1993. That’s the year that Fort Bragg Army Sgt. Kenneth French, Jr. killed four people at Luigi’s Italian Restaurant, including the owners Pete and Ethel Parrous. French was convicted following a lengthy trial in Wilmington, and sentenced to life in prison without parole. 

James Palenick has been in Fayetteville less than a year. He is the City of Fayetteville’s new Economic and Business Development Director. It’s his job to understand where the community is headed. Palenick, 57, brings a lot of top-shelf experience with him. He’s served as a city manager in half a dozen communities over 27 years. He was recruited for the new post that city council created a year or so ago from Dallas, N.C., and has been here since March.

Palenick has been working quietly behind the scenes as he gets acclimated to the Greater Fayetteville area. When it comes to developing the community’s economy, “what’s missing is a common vision,” he said. Most importantly, though, is that “Fayetteville is an unproven market” to outside developers and bankers. He said he understands why the Durham firm that wants to bring the former Prince Charles Hotel building back to life could not attract any of the 10 banks they approached to finance the $15 million renovation project. Instead, Prince Charles Holdings, LLC, is getting a conditional loan from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to cover much of the renovation’s cost. 

There are few things more financially challenging, Palenick says, than the adaptive reuse of a historic building. Financiers would much rather fund new structures than risk money on older buildings. Palenick predicts the Prince Charles project, coupled with the construction of a state-of-the-art $33-million baseball stadium will fuel tens of millions of dollars in local downtown investment. He agrees with other city officials that the multi-purpose minor league stadium has the potential to attract as many as 250 events a year. For starters, there are the 72 baseball home games. In the off season, soccer, football, concerts and the presence of a 360-degree stadium concourse will attract thousands. 

He believes the $24 million realignment of Bragg Boulevard, Murchison Road and West Rowan Street along with the new Rowan Street railroad overpass will spur development in what’s known as Catalyst Site 1 nearby.  That work, which will take three years to complete, is getting underway this month. A catalyst site by definition is the core or nucleus of a commercial development area. Palenick predicts that once these projects are completed, downtown Fayetteville will have become a proven market for high-dollar development.  “Five years down the road, Fayetteville will be perceived much differently,” he said.

Palenik tells Up & Coming Weeklythat the perception from afar is that Greater Fayetteville’s leaders have not found a common vision and are willing to set egos aside. “That’s what Fayetteville is struggling with,” he said. He says he’s been a change agent all his career. “I find great fulfillment in trying to make the community better.” As for his part in all of this, “it’s very early yet. This is not the speed I was accustomed to moving,” he says. But at this point in his career, he’s patient.      

President-Elect Trump apparently isn’t accustomed to having his plane denied landing at a local airport. But that was the case in Fayetteville last week. He mentioned it with some chagrin as he greeted the crowd at his “Thank You Tour” rally at the Crown Coliseum. He told the crowd gathered for the rally the road trip was why he was late arriving. Fayetteville Regional Airport Director Brad Whitted said the instrument landing system (ILS) was not working. He said the FAA was working on the system, but that the inclement weather resulted in minimums below normal for so-called instrument landings. Trump’s 747 was diverted to Raleigh-Durham International Airport. He told the crowd gathered for the rally the road trip was why he was late arriving. “As weather improved…he was able to reposition his aircraft to Fayetteville for his departure,” Whitted said.

Evans Wins County Leadership Post

Rarely does the election of an organization vice-president upstage that of the president, but the selection this month of Cumberland County Commissioner Charles Evans as board V.P. for the coming year surprised many. Commissioner Glenn Adams was elected chairman by acclamation. Adams, elected from District One, has been on the board of commissioners for two years. Evans has been on the board six years. He was elected countywide … twice but was never before nominated for a top post. Evans was nominated by outgoing Chairman Marshall Faircloth. Commissioner Jimmy Keefe was also nominated, by Commissioner Larry Lancaster. But Evans won the day in a 4-3 vote. If decades of tradition are followed next year, Evans will become chairman of the board.

Public Art Brings Color to  Downtown

Those peculiar sculptures you’ve seen downtown are pieces of art. The public display was formally introduced during a ribbon cutting at the Arts Council Dec. 13. Eleven pieces of public art have been placed around downtown and will remain until October.  The artists and artwork are varied. Phil Hathcock’s piece “Windstone” made with aluminum, copper and brass echoes the sounds of clacking bamboo when good breezes blow near the Fayetteville Area Transportation & Local History Museum. Other locations include City Hall, The Arts Council and Festival Park. Support for the project has been provided by private donors with matching funding from the Arts Council. 

Fire Marshall Addresses Safesty Concerns

At least 36 people have been confirmed dead in the conflagration that gutted a converted warehouse during an Oakland, Calif. dance party. After firefighters put out the blaze, the building was deemed too unsafe for emergency responders to immediately enter. Officials say the roof collapsed onto the second floor and then parts of that collapsed onto the first floor. The City of Oakland had opened an investigation before the fire into the use of the building and now the district attorney has launched a criminal investigation.

In Fayetteville, Fire Marshall Michael Martin noted this city has many older buildings that once were warehouses. Some of them have been re-designed and brought up to code for repurposing. But others remain abandoned and vacant. “Modern building and fire codes require certain safety requirements,” said Martin. “A building housing a warehouse would have different code requirements than a large space designed to accommodate hundreds of people,” he added. Martin noted that North Carolina’s fire code was adopted only after the 1991 Hamlet, N.C., chicken processing plant fire. Twenty-five employees died and 55 were injured in the fire. The Fayetteville Fire Department urges property owners and event managers to ensure their buildings are code compliant and properly permitted for specific uses before hosting large parties and concerts. 

Park Smart While Shopping

The Fayetteville Police Department reminds shoppers to “Park Smart” this holiday shopping season. They say most thefts from motor vehicles occur because they’re left unlocked. “It is important to turn off your vehicle, take your keys, lock your vehicle, remove valuables, including firearms and do not leave anything of value in plain sight,” said Officer Shawn Strepay in a news release. He said thieves tend to watch motorists in parking lots to take advantage of those who are careless. Police suggest that if you place recently purchased items in the trunk of your car, it’s a good idea to move the car to another area just in case you’re being watched. Be alert and report suspicious activity by calling 911. If you’re leaving town for the holiday, register with the police for a house check on the FayPD.com website. Officers who patrol your neighborhood will conduct security checks while you’re away. 

DOT Celebrates Widening of Murchison Road

City of Fayetteville, Town of Spring Lake and Fort Bragg officials were joined by those of the of the State Department of Transportation Friday to cut the ribbon on the newly-installed section of Murchison Road between Spring Lake and Fayetteville. The highway was widened to six lanes from the Fayetteville Outer Loop to north of N.C. 24/87/210 in Spring Lake. The stretch from the Outer Loop to Honeycutt Road is already complete, and the section from Honeycutt Road to north of N.C. 24/87/210 is nearing completion. The work on this $32.3 million project began three years ago. Completion is scheduled for the end of this month. The widening of Murchison Road was necessary to support the closure of Bragg Boulevard through Fort Bragg. The boulevard closed to northbound traffic in August and all traffic in September. It was funded jointly through NCDOT and the Department of Defense (Defense Access Road Program). This work coincides with the completion of several key sections of the Fayetteville Outer Loop.

The opening line of the welcome to my website says, “After all my years of living, there are still some things I do not understand.” That is, I cannot make sense of, cannot reason my way to some conclusions reflected in the actions or words of others. The 2016 presidential election and follow-on are presenting me with a multitude of things I do not understand. Allow me to share one of these happenings that confound me.

Donald Trump was elected president of the United States. He won the Electoral College by a substantial margin (306 to 232). He did not win the popular vote. That edge went to Hillary Clinton by over 2 million votes. Secretary Clinton conceded the election to Trump. Her campaign said they had not found reason to suspect any irregularities in the voting process. The White House takes the same position. Then, at the last minute, Dr. Jill Stein, who ran as the Green Party candidate, calls for and gets a recount of votes in Wisconsin. By the time this column is published, she might have done the same in Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Why would Stein call for these recounts? This question is especially relevant since she only received 33,006 votes in Wisconsin. An article by Erick Mack titled “Jill Stein Officially Funds, Files For Wisconsin Recount” reports, as follows, based on accounts in the Wall Street Journal:

‘“After a divisive and painful presidential race, reported hacks into voter and party databases and individual email accounts are causing many American to wonder if our election results are reliable,” Stein wrote in a statement Tuesday. “These concerns need to be investigated before the 2016 presidential election is certified. We deserve elections we can trust.”’ Stein added according to The Journal:” “’We are not attempting to overthrow Donald Trump, and Idon’t expect that that will be the outcome.’”

In the third general election presidential debate, Trump was asked if he would accept the election results. His response was that he would make that decision when the election was concluded. Hillary Clinton and media types were outraged that Trump did not commit to accept the results. They lambasted him for days. Given the overwhelming negative media response to Trump’s refusal to commit to accept election results, I would expect the same media response in this case. Nothing... media is quiet. Now word comes that the Clinton campaign organization will be represented in the Wisconsin and any other Stein-initiated recounts. 

A Newsmax article titled “Clinton Campaign Will Participate in Jill Stein’s State Recounts” attributes the following quotes to Clinton’s campaign lawyer, Mark Elias, from a post on the blogging website Medium.com:

“’We believe we have an obligation to the more than 64 million Americans who cast ballots for Hillary Clinton to participate in ongoing proceedings to ensure that an accurate vote count will be reported,’” Elias said.

“‘We do so fully aware that the number of votes separating Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton in the closest of these states — Michigan — well exceeds the largest margin ever overcome in a recount,’” Elias said. “‘But regardless of the potential to change the outcome in any of the states, we feel it is important, on principle, to ensure our campaign is legally represented in any court proceedings and represented on the ground in order to monitor the recount process itself.’”

“The Democrat’s campaign didn’t plan to initiate recounts on its own because it hasn’t found ‘any actionable evidence of hacking or outside attempts to alter the voting technology,’ Elias wrote.”

Jill Stein estimates the recounts will cost about $7 million. States must be reimbursed for their costs. Stein has made it clear any amount raised above required payments to states will go to Green Party efforts. 

Stein’s call for a recount in Wisconsin, along with Michigan and Pennsylvania, make no sense to me. Beyond making no sense, this episode shows a lack of reasoning and the possibility of a financial scam on the part of Jill Stein. Add to this the hypocrisy of Hillary Clinton and the media. As though all of this is not enough, media bias against Trump, and in favor of Clinton, shows through again in this situation.

This is just one example of what I cannot make sense of regarding the 2016 presidential election and follow-on events. It troubles me, drains me, that there is a long listing of similar “makes no sense” situations. Pick one: (1) Protests, even violent protests, opposing the election of Trump with no clear aim that simply divide America even more than was already the case; (2)Mayors who are defying Donald Trump in his intention to end sanctuary cities, which means they refuse to cooperate with federal authorities regarding immigration matters.  On and on the list goes. 

Not being able to make sense of these kinds of happenings wears heavily on me, but I recently saw a glimmer of hope. Myron Pitts, a columnist for the Fayetteville Observer, makes no secret about not being a Trump supporter. However, in a column titled “Myron B. Pitts: It’s time to focus on what really matters,” Pitts talks about his routine after an election and then about his son crawling into bed with him and his wife early Wednesday morning after Pitts had processed Tuesday’s election. After describing how his son complicates the sleep process, Pitts says he was happy to see his son Wednesday morning and writes:

“I’m about giving a president a chance to show me whether he knows what he’s doing. That extends to President-elect Trump. You would have to be short-sighted to want the leader to fail of the country in which you are living. As I mentioned, I have a family - which includes a little girl, Helen Ann, and a kitty-cat, Gus. I want my children to be safe and have opportunities, and I think that makes me about like 99 percent of parents out there, at least among the ones who are trying.”

In his column, Myron Pitts puts forth the thought process that Jill Stein, Hillary Clinton, Clinton surrogates, media, and all who seem willing to jeopardize the future of America because of their opposition to President-elect Trump should take on. My struggle to understand much of what is happening in our country is draining, but I see hope not only in Pitts’ column but in the course being pursued by Donald Trump. 

God, save and bless America.

I look forward to them every Sunday — wedding announcements published in the New York Timesfull of juicy details about the happy couples rarely found in other publications. The NYTdoes not charge brides and grooms to print their happy news. Instead, it requires a submission form, which asks the usual questions about hometowns, educations, parents and occupations. It also asks squishier questions about how the couple met, fell in love and decided to commit to each other for a lifetime. Rarely does the Times dwell on who wore what, ate what or carried which flowers.

In other words, it prints the dish everyone wants to know, and if you want your wedding announcement published in the Times, you have to give up the real skinny of how you and your darling got to the altar. Some of these accounts are nothing short of wonderful, particularly those of the couples featured each Sunday for a longer exposition of their relationship, complete with quotes and candid photographs.

Here is some of what I have learned about newlyweds in the NYT.

Randi Dennett and Barry Altmark met and were best buddies in pre-school and say they were inseparable. But something totally out of their control occurred when they were six. Randi’s family moved to another town an hour away and even though Barry pined, the families eventually lost touch. But Barry never forgot his friend and confesses to looking her up on Facebook during high school. When he was preparing to go to college at Cornell University, a friend mentioned that her assigned roommate, also at Cornell, was a girl named Randi Dennett. After he recovered from the shock, Barry picked up the phone and called her. They went to dinner, then college together. Says Randi, “I was so happy. I was head over heels from the second I saw him.” Randi remembers thinking, “Good. I’m done. He’s it. It was meant to be.” They married last month in New York.

Anna Comte, who turns out to be a great granddaughter of Anne and Charles Lindburgh, married Ryan Hodgdon the first Saturday of December in Charleston. They met two years ago at an Oysterfest in Atlanta but got off to a rocky start because the future groom had already “celebrated” too enthusiastically and realized he could not actually converse with Anna. They reconnected days later on Facebook, enjoyed an oyster dinner and each other, and the rest is wedding history. The couple is pictured walking down a path shaded by trees hung with Spanish moss.

Ames Brown is handsome enough to have been a contestant on television’s The Bachelorette, although he was not the bachelor chosen. Embarrassed by the entire experience and definitely not looking for love, Ames signed up for a sailing trip in Mexico. So did a reserved young woman named Allison Palm, and the two became friends, traveling companions, and eventually more for five years. Last Christmas, Ames surprised Allison while she was visiting her family by ambushing her in a local drug store where he proposed. They married late last summer.

Food plays a big role in romance, it seems. Here are two love stories centering on yumminess.

Shelby Stevens and Chris Long, both chefs, dated for years and wanted to marry, but restaurant life is demanding and they never quite found the time until last month. Says Long, “We’re like fresh, warm bread and soft sweet butter. We’re really good on our own, but when you add them together, it’s like…that’s amazing!” To celebrate their happiness, Shelby walked down the aisle to “The Winner Is..” from the movie Little Miss Sunshine.

Rebecca Roth owned a popular restaurant in Boston and loved her work. Stephen Quello, a devoted diner, became her most faithful customer, and things developed from there. To propose, Stephen cooked his sweetie a fancy dinner and dimmed the lights. When the bride-to-be arrived, she got the idea of what might be afoot and began crying. Marshaling his romantic skills, Stephen asked, “Do you want to eat? Or do you want to talk business?”

This week’s couple is Jenna Miksis and Jason Canavan who met two years ago when Jason was singing “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” during an Irish bar’s karaoke night. Jenna was more impressed with his looks than his singing, but their relationship grew to the point that Jason, suffering from dengue fever contracted in Belize, dragged himself to her place so as not to disappoint her. He was wearing his pajama bottoms. Jenna and Jason married last Saturday in a self-uniting ceremony in Philadelphia.

It is worth noting that the NYT also runs stories on ongoing relationships and a column on relationships that do not last, called “Unhitched.”

I have no idea why people decide to lay bare unique details of their most intimate relationships for all the world to savor, but they do make compelling and affirming reading. Perhaps they are just so happy they simply want to share. We wish them all much happiness and good times together … or apart.

I cannot think of a time more crucial to the needs of the residents in our community than this Christmas season. With tens of thousands celebrating the holiday season with family and friends, it’s heartbreaking to know that hundreds of our residents are still displaced and without homes because of the ravages of Hurricane Matthew. Christmas will not be so merry for many.

However, if there is a silver lining to this cloud it is the heartwarming outreach of the people, businesses, churches and organizations of this community who have stepped up with time, talent, food, clothing, household supplies and money to assist those devastated by this catastrophe. And, the way Fayetteville, Cumberland County, Fort Bragg, United Way, Red Cross and Salvation Army and many other local organizations all rallied together to bring support and comfort to those victims. It is heartwarming.  

With people still without homes and residing in motels, raising awareness and raising money has taken on a high priority. Organizations like the Salvation Army who need money more now than ever. Thank goodness, this is the season for their annual kettle and bell-ringing efforts. Many volunteers from churches and community civic clubs all pitch in to participate in this extremely essential annual tradition. And, it’s fun ringing the bell, wishing passersby a Merry Christmas, acknowledging them for even the smallest contribution while making it a very, very big deal with an even bigger “thank you.” This is a unique and rewarding experience. 

The Fayetteville Kiwanis Club (Est. 1920) proudly took on that bell-ringing project with the Salvation Army in 1975 when Cross Creek Mall first opened its doors. Supporting the Salvation Army was an important project for the Mall and the Fayetteville Kiwanis Club, and they never missed a Christmas Season ringing the bell in 40 years. Well, that was until this year. Enter the Grinch! Unfortunately, with approximately 72 hours to the big bell-ringing event on Saturday, Dec. 10, the Kiwanis Club was notified that they had lost their regular bell ringing location of 40 years and were asked to move the Salvation Army Kettle to a location at the main entrance to the Macy’s department store.

Well, you would think that Macy’s, with their notable history of holiday traditions, would have been the perfect location to share the Christmas spirit and Salvation Army outreach. Not so much. Enter another Grinch! Matter of fact, to the surprise of the Kiwanis Club, the Salvation Army kettle was not welcome at their store. So, in the spirit of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas,Macy’s and Cross Creek Mall (owned by CBL Associates), together, destroyed a 40-year-old Fayetteville community tradition in spite of the Christmas season, the good works of the Salvation Army and the desperate needs of the community.

Wow! This surely gives a new meaning to “shop local”. It is amazing how hard these national chains and businesses work to disconnect themselves from local communities.  Where do they think their business comes from? Well, thanks to some fast thinking and hard work by Bob McAmis, a very dedicated Kiwanian, and the wonderful folks at the Cumberland County Salvation Army, they were able to secure a new location outside Sam’s Club off Skibo Road. It was there that we celebrated our 41st year of bell ringing for the Salvation Army. 

We appreciate what Sam’s Club did for us, the Salvation Army and the needy folks in this community. It was a great day, a great experience and we raised a lot of money. We also learned who our friends are. We notified Cross Creek Mall and CBL with a letter and copied Macy’s in hopes that at least an apology would be in order. Probably not. Oh well!  

Thank you, Sam Walton, and thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly. Merry Christmas!

Legacies. World leaders and captains of industry frame decisions in terms of how their actions will affect their legacy. Most high school students base their decisions on how their actions will affect their weekend and after school plans. When Ryan Patrick Kishbaugh was in high school he probably wasn’t thinking about his legacy. It’s been 13 years since Ryan died, but his legacy of hope and determination continues to change lives. His family could have chosen to mourn him privately. Instead, they choose to celebrate him publicly. On Dec. 2016 Ryan’s Reindeer Run 2016 starts at the Medical Arts Complex Field in Downtown Fayetteville. It is a celebration of life and hope and all the things Ryan stood for and dreamed of in his short life. 

Like many local residents, it was the Army that brought Ryan’s family to Fayetteville. They stayed and made it home. Ryan prospered here. He played soccer and basketball. He believed in helping his fellow man and even won the 2001 Governor’s Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service. He graduated second in his high school class and was accepted to Princeton University. Then, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Ryan died 15 months later at the age of 18 from complications of a bone marrow transplant. But even during  the fight for his life, Ryan gave everything he had — and wrote a book about it, too. 

Ryan’s book, called Run Because You Can — My Personal Race with Cancer, talks about the challenges he faced dealing with his illness during his senior year of high school. It covers how he faced challenges and tried to keep his life as normal as possible while dealing with his illness. It is an inspiring peek into the heart and mind of a fighter.

Ryan’s Reindeer Run is a 5k walk/run that benefits the Ryan P. Kishbaugh Memorial Foundation as well as other charities that help cancer patients and children in need. Since its inception in 2003, the foundation has given more than $150,000 to local non-profits in Ryan’s memory. 

This is a popular event with between 800-1,000 runners each year, so consider registering early. It is festive and family-friendly – bring your friends.  Bring the kids, strollers, too. Bring the dog (on a leash). One of the things that makes this run so much fun is the costume contest. There are prizes for the top three pet finishers and their owners, top three family finishers, best costumed runners and the top three strollers and runners and best decorated strollers.

“We are excited for another successful year of the run. Based on the early registration, it looks like we’ll have a great crowd again,” said Roberta Humphries, Ryan’s mom and race coordinator. “We are eager to see the creative group costumes again.”

She added that “another thing I’m excited about having to do with Ryan is that Victoria Cameron, the former Headmaster at Fayetteville Academy, has contacted various university libraries and over 40 university and college libraries have accepted Ryan’s book including Princeton Ryan would have gone to school.”

There are prizes for the top three overall male and female finishers and the top three male and female finishers in the following age divisions: under 13, 13-16, 17-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69 and 70 and over. All under 13 participants receive a finisher’s award. Teams are encouraged to compete as well. There is a team trophy presented to the school, club or organization with the largest number of participants. Not based on time but on the number of registrants. Include the name of the organization on the entry form. Minimum of 10 entries to be considered a group. 

It’s become a tradition for Humphries  to search out reindeer-themed trophies to hand out to the winners each year. 

The route has a few hills and is challenging by design. Even though this is a fun event, Humphries wants people to remember that life is challenging, too. The course leaves the Medical Arts Building parking lot and goes up Haymount Hill and through the Haymount neighborhoods. 

Race registration costs between $20 for individuals under the age of 13 running the 5k and $130 for a family of six members running the 5k. Package pickup is Friday, Dec. 16 from 5-8 p.m. at Breezewood Healthcare, which is located at 200 Forsythe Street, Packets are also available Saturday, Dec. 17 at the race site from 7 – 8:30 a.m. The race starts at 8:30 a.m. The awards ceremony is at 9:30 a.m. 

Register at active.com. Find out more about Ryan at http://www.ryansreindeerrun.com.

For years, Brad Fluke worked in construction. The hours were crazy, it involved a lot of travel and he was missing out on watching his kids grow up. So, in 2002 he quit industrial construction and started his own handyman business. “What I found was that there are a lot of people in need of a professional handyman,” he said. “My business grew. Fast. In 2008 I turned my business into a franchise. We invest in business owners and give them a model that works. And it works for the community, too, because no one cares about their customers like the business owner does.” 

Marius Mihai is in the construction business, too. When he came to America from his home in Romania, Marius was looking to put his skills to good use. He wanted something he could invest in, a way to use what he is good at and turn it into a successful business. Some of the laws are different here, though. The particulars of getting licenses and certifications are much different. The Honey Do Service, Inc. seemed like a perfect fit. 

“The first thing we did was help Marius get his certifications. He has a state contractor’s license, he passed the state test and then we helped him get other certifications including a lead certification. Many of us live in homes that were built before 1978, and these usually contain lead. Knowing how to handle that correctly is important,” said Fluke. 

Having a dependable team is key as well. “The men that work with us go through a stringent vetting process,” said Fluke. “It is a three-step process. We get to know their skills and we get to know them as individuals. They must be service-minded. Not every construction worker is a good Honey Do worker. They all must pass a background check and drug test, too.”

While some might think contractors and handymen are for the well-to-do, Fluke noted that Honey Do clients are usually working class families where mom and dad both work and just don’t have the time or tools to take care of things that need to be fixed. “Some of the jobs we do, the tools alone would cost more than just hiring us to do the job,” he said.

From small repairs to remodels to upgrades and restoration, The Honey Do Service, Inc. offers professional home improvement and repair services at fair prices. The skilled craftsmen are certified in their fields be it plumbing, electrical work, landscaping or carpentry. “Our home is the biggest investment we make for most people, and helping someone take care of their biggest asset is an amazing feeling,” said Fluke. “One of the best things about this kind of work is to complete a project in days or even hours. You can see what you have done and see how happy it makes your client. It is satisfying helping homeowners.”

The Honey Do Service Inc. is located at 505 Owen Dr. Call 484-0022 for information or to schedule an appointment.

One of the most beloved aspects of the holiday season every year is the music. People have been singing Christmas Carols for centuries. The festive songs often bring back happy memories of community and pleasant days spent amongst family. After all, that is what the holiday season is about for so many of us: family togetherness. This season, the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra provides the community with the opportunity to enjoy traditional Christmas music in its best expression: performed live. On Dec. 10, the guest director Aram Demirjian leads the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra in the concert Waltzing in a Winter Wonderland.

This concert is part of the guest conductor series. The Fayetteville symphony Orchestra is searching for a new conductor. The boards of directors chose five finalists from all the applicants, and these five have been invited to engage the community through a concert. These concerts include pre-concert talks that begin at 6:45 p.m. with the FSO “Music Nerd.” These talks give in-depth and personal insight into the new conductor as well as the music itself. This month the guest conductor, Aram Demirjian, is the music director of the Knoxville Symphony.

After each concert audience members are invited to fill out a survey on what they thought of the performance. This input will be used to make the final decision about who will be the new leader of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra. To make the most informed decision, community members are encouraged to attend as many concerts and preconcert talks as possible. Attending all five concerts gives audience members the opportunity to really compare the different conductors. The being said, it is not necessary to give a valuable opinion on the performance.  

Waltzing in a Winter Wonderland featurea traditional holiday music that is perfect for the entire family. While traditional Christmas carols are wonderful coming through the radio, there is really no substitute for live performances. Live music and other cultural events are especially important for children, as these experiences can shape their relationship with the arts for life.

The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1956. It is a nonprofit organization that focuses on artistic excellence. It is truly a community organization. It began as a group of instrumentalists who shared a passion for music. They played together in local homes at first, but soon turned their passion into a professional regional orchestra. Even now, their focus remains with the community. They focus on using their instruments and tremendous talent to educate and inspire community members. They also work with a number of community partners like Methodist University, Cape Fear Regional Theatre, Fayetteville State University and local school programs. 

Waltzing in a Winter Wonderland takes place at 7:30 p.m. in the Huff Concert Hall at Methodist University. It is located at 5400 Ramsey St. Cape Fear Eye Associates, P.A. is a presenting sponsor for this concert. Tickets are $25.23. Tickets and more information can be found at : http://www.fayettevillesymphony.org/2016-2017-concerts..

December brings Christmas decorations, shopping and holiday cheer.  In Fayetteville, December also brings a few local traditions like the Rotary Christmas Parade, Holiday Lights in the Garden, Ryan’s Reindeer Run and Christmas plays in our local theaters.  

For the 26th year, Cape Fear Regional Theatre presents The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, a family-friendly show.  BCPE introduces the audience to the Herdman kids – a rowdy, misbehaving bunch feared by children and avoided by adults.  When Grace Bradley is suddenly charged with directing the local church Christmas pageant, she is ready for anything – until the Herdmans show up and collide with the Christmas story head on. 

BCPE is based on a book written by Barbara Robinson in 1971. The book was adapted into the play and made into a television movie in the 1980s. It tells the story of Imogene, Claude, Ralph, Leroy, Ollie and Gladys – the six delinquent Herdmans.  They go to church for the first time after being told that the church offers refreshments. Despite protests from church members, they are given roles in the Sunday school’s Christmas pageant, which results in telling the Christmas story in an unconventional fashion.  

This comedy has become a holiday staple in many communities including Fayetteville, with several actors returning to the stage year after year.  

“It is a wonderful thing that involves the whole community,” said Molly Malone, CFRT Director of Education and Outreach and this year’s director for BCPE.  Malone promises great performances by child and adult actors, a few favorite Christmas carols and a lot of laughs.

“It’s family-friendly, it’s fun and light,” said Malone.  “The wonderful thing about bringing your kids to see this play is they will see kids just like them onstage.”

Malone and CFRT are using three full casts for BCPE this year with 45 to 60 actors in each, for a total of about 170 participants. The red, green and yellow casts rotate shows to allow more families to be involved and to make sure the younger actors are not over-burdened with rehearsals and performances.  Children in the cast range from 6 to 16 years old.

Of the adults in the play, three of them fulfill their roles for all three casts –  Megan E. Ray as Mrs. Bradley, Bo Thorp as Mrs. Armstrong and Greta Marie Zandstra as Ms. Bradley, a new role scripted specifically for Fayetteville audiences.

Zandstra plays the aunt, Ms. Bradley, who comes to help Mrs. Bradley out because dad is deployed “like we see in many families in Fayetteville,” Malone said.

“And this year, we brought back Bo Thorpe playing Mrs. Armstrong on video, like we are Facetime-ing with her.”

For many, being a part of BCPE is “a full family experience” Malone said.  While the kids are performing roles on stage, many parents are volunteering behind the scenes.  “We get to use the parents of the kids as back stage crew – running the light board, sound, corralling baby angels.”

Malone said she is proud of all three casts, sighting that each brings something unique to their interpretation of the story.  “They have been driven, working real hard since October,” she said. “It is fascinating to get to work with these kids … many have worked on the play multiple times.”

Some actors start as baby angels and make their way to angel choir or shepherds. With some even having a chance to play a Herdman, Malone said.

“BCPE kicks off the Christmas season so well.  We get to see the story with angels, baby Jesus and the shepherds,” Malone said.  “Every community has children like the Herdmans … the message is don’t neglect them or turn your back on them, but embrace them.  This story brings all that together.”

BCPE runs through Dec. 18.  The CFRT box office is open Monday – Saturday from 1 – 6 p.m.  Ticket are $10 for children and $15 for adults.  Visit www.cfrt.org or call 910.323.4233 for more information.

Fayetteville City Council’s Parks Bond Committee is anxious for contractors to get shovels in the ground on projects authorized by voters in last spring’s $35 million referendum. It was the first Fayetteville parks bond issue of four others held in the last 50 years to be approved. The first bond issuance of $11 million is planned for next September, but council isn’t waiting until they have the money in hand to begin building. Mayor Nat Robertson would like to see work begin on seven splash pads right away. The projection is that $10 million will be spent during the first three years, said Recreation & Parks Director Michael Gibson. 

A revised schedule has construction on the first five splash pads beginning next year. They’ll be placed at Myers Park Recreation Center, Kiwanis Recreation Center, Massey Hill and Dorothy Gilmore Rec Centers. A fifth site is in West Fayetteville at one of two locations. The last two splash pads will come on line in 2019. One of them will be on the grounds of the minor-league baseball stadium, downtown; the other in West Fayetteville. They’ll cost $7 million altogether. The city will borrow money from itself temporarily until bond proceeds begin to become available next fall. 

Other projects to be funded by the first bond sale include a west side Senior Center at Lake Rim Park, a skateboard park and land acquisition for a tennis center, plus improvements to some existing parks. A master plan for a large multi-purpose sports complex will also be funded. The sports complex and tennis center are budgeted for a combined $15 million. 

The second and final bond issuance will be in January of 2021, for $23.7 million to fund a downtown senior center adjacent to the new Rowan Street Bridge.  The $6 million Cape Fear River Park will be the final project and is slated for construction in 2022-23. The State Local Government Commission requires that all bond projects be planned and built within seven years. 

Mott McDonald Consultants projects that supplemental funding opportunities can be found in several potential grants. The consulting firm is managing the bond program for the city and reports regularly to City Council’s Parks Bond Committee. Additional funding sources include the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the Connect NC statewide bond package, the Recreational Trails Program, Clean Water Management Trust Fund, DOT’s Strategic Transportation Improvement program and National Endowment for the Arts, plus numerous private foundations. 

A Cumberland County State Trooper has been awarded the Highway Patrol’s Meritorious Service Award. Trooper S.D. Reed was honored by Col. Bill Grey, Commander of the State Highway Patrol and Frank L. Perry, Secretary of the Department of Public Safety. Reed was one of several troopers and civilians to receive awards in a ceremony on Nov. 29. 

On May 5, 2016 at 9 a.m., Reed presented “Keys for Life” at Cape Fear High School. The program showed students the consequences of drinking and driving as well as texting while driving. The presentation included a mock collision involving a fatality and an impaired driver being arrested. Reed explained that an impaired driver faces DWI and felony death by motor vehicle charges. He explained that the worst part of his job is having to tell loved ones of the death. The program has been presented to 1,400 juniors and seniors of area schools over the last two years. Reed is assigned to Highway Patrol Troop B, District 1 Headquarters in Fayetteville.

Personal Weapons on Post

In mid-November, the Pentagon issued a regulation giving service members permission to carry personal firearms on military bases. The regulation “provides guidance for permitting the carrying of privately owned firearms on DoD property by DoD personnel for personal protection purposes that are not associated with the performance of official duties,” the order says. The regulation requires soldiers to conform to all federal, state and local laws. It isn’t clear whether commanders of individual installations are given authority to set local rules. “We are awaiting guidance from the Department of the Army on how this will be implemented,” Fort Bragg spokeswoman Christina Douglas told Up & Coming Weekly.

Military Pay Raise Likely

Congressional budget planners say they have provided for a January 2017 pay raise for service members despite a proposed four-month budget extension through April. House Appropriations staffers say that a continuing resolution they’re drafting will provide a pay raise for troops, said The Military Times. Exactly how much that will be is being negotiated. President Barack Obama suggests a 1.6 percent increase. The House of Representatives has proposed a 2.1 percent pay raise. But they’ve got to make cuts elsewhere in the budget to pay for it.  A 1.6 percent pay increase amounts to a $400 yearly pay boost for most junior enlisted troops and up to $1,500 more in annual pay for mid-career officers. Service advocates argue that a 2.1 percent pay raise would send a significant message to soldiers that the government appreciates their family finances.

A small group of Cumberland County Commissioners and members of Fayetteville City Council is working toward establishing a consolidated emergency communications system. The group will meet again in January after wrapping up an organizational session late last month. Two members of each body came together, along with public safety professionals, to get organized. The combined group will be known as the Joint 911 Task Force. As many as seven elected officials comprise the committee. The group of fire, police, EMS and communications professionals will do most of the work to plan a joint emergency 911 center. 

The need for a combined facility was established several years ago, but it’s been a slow process. The city and county agreed to hire Mission Critical Partners of Raleigh to facilitate the process. The two government units have operated separate 911 centers. One is in the basement of the Cumberland County Law Enforcement Center. The city’s center is on the second floor of city hall. They do not meet current survivability standards. Since the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, many jurisdictions have consolidated local 911 facilities to better serve their communities. 

A combined facility would bring unified equipment and personnel under one roof. City and county officials have agreed to a price tag of $30 million. The facility would be located on five to ten acres of land outside the immediate Fayetteville / Fort Bragg urban area, which is considered most vulnerable to attack. It would be a fortress-like hardened building capable of withstanding a category four hurricane. A storage building and 100-foot communications tower would also be located on the site. County Commissioner Jimmy Keefe stressed that it’s important for everyone to understand the need for this facility. 

Greensboro and Guilford County recently opened a combined 911 center, said consultant Philip Penny. At the group’s first two organizational meetings, officials appear to have settled on two properties they believe suitable for what would also serve as a consolidated emergency operations center. The favorite is the county-owned Cedar Creek Business Park on N.C. 210 one-and-a-half miles east of I-95. Mayor Nat Robertson, who serves on the task force, notes the 911 center would spur additional development at the park which has been vacant since its inception more than 10 years ago.   

Consultants are encouraging the group to focus first on securing available state grants. The grant application period begins in March for submission in June. Awards are usually made in September, said Penny. “This project will be attractive to the state,” he added. As the task force comes to terms with the cost and location, it will turn its attention to governance when it meets next in January. Would the two agencies be merged into one, or would they work separately side by side? Consultants hope to position the group to launch whatever they come up with this time next year.

I finally had enough of hypocritical ideologies plaguing my usual social media haunts on Thanksgiving morn.

So, I did the next best thing to quench my morning reading habit. I picked up a book. Not an ebook or an on-line PDF version, but a real hardcover book with ‘smells-like-new’ pages. The title is From the Rough Side of the Mountain; Reflections of a Country Preacher. It’s a gem of a how-to-book on navigating the difficulties in life. And, there will be difficulties in life to be sure.

Local community activist Karl W. Merritt wrote the book back in 2009. It’s about his father, a small-town African-American preacher and entrepreneur. A man who clawed his way through life back when only winners got the trophy.

The book is part history and part biography, and it’s also about commitment to life and the human race. Karl wrote the book after collecting more than 14 years of audio-taped conversations with his father, the late Milton W. Merritt, Sr.

Karl admits that in his early years he did not enjoy a close father-son relationship. The elder Merritt was too busy mending the world around him.

Karl was already in the Navy when he and his father started their conversations on a deeper level. Karl is not sure how that relationship morphed into what it became. It seemed to take a new form when Karl finally out fished his father … during one of their outings on a serene lake in Albany, Ga. “It was the first day in my life where I caught more fish than Daddy. It (relationship) just caught on from there,” Karl said.

The story starts with Milton Merritt’s early life in the late 1930s of Miller County, Ga. It’s a rural county located in the southwest corner of Georgia where the Chattahoochee River forms the border with Alabama to the west. To the south is the Florida Panhandle.

It’s where he finished grade school. But Miller County back then didn’t have a high school for blacks. So, the African-American baptist congregation of Miller County created a school. Merritt enrolled in the First Flint River Missionary Baptist Association’s privately established high school. He refers to it as the ”Pink Shingle.”

He paid his way through high school by cooking in the cafeteria. He also provided the school with sweet potatoes and cured meat from his family’s farm.

It struck me: how many of our kids today would work to pay for their high school education?

Milton Merritt understood the value of education early on. The book chronicles his efforts to achieve an education and the extraordinary lengths he would go to reach his goal. The chapter in which this narrative occurs is aptly entitled, “Determined to Succeed.” That sense of determination resonates throughout book with Merritt’s mantra of “keep on keeping on.”

Merritt went on earn his bachelor’s degree in sociology with a minor in English from Savannah State College. He continued his education at Harvard and the American Baptist Theological Seminary in Nashville. He served in Europe during World War II where he broadened his view of the world. He returned home and became a teacher and, for a time, a general contractor. His lifelong endeavor to pastor in small southwest Georgia towns defines Merritt’s character. It’s where he fought for the rights of his people during the tumultuous civil rights era of the 1960s. It’s a fight that, according to Karl, cost him both financially and socially.

But the book is more than about a black man fighting injustices in the deep South. It’s about perseverance in the face of obstacles that life throws at you. And, more importantly, how to handle them. It’s about a time when no one ever heard of safe spaces or political correctness. You just dealt with your problems.

In the last chapter, entitled “Counting the Cost,” Karl outlines his father’s sacrifices. The first among them is that family members will suffer. The second is that a lot of people will not join an effort that requires even little risk or sacrifice. Karl lists six more truisms that afflict those who want to make things better. They all hit home, especially now.

This book has value. It’s a good read and will leave you with a greater perspective of life. It’s a refreshing departure from the self-serving, post-election whining you find on FaceBook or Twitter. It’s an escape from the hundreds of blogs written by unchecked malaperts on both sides of the issues.

Contact Karl on at KarlMerritt.com and find out how to get your hands on this book. your kids. Its contents contain a valuable lesson.

Better late than never, Fidel Castro finally took the dirt nap and entered into the Seventh Circle of Hell over the Thanksgiving weekend. His passing set off massive celebrations in Miami and helped Carolina fans forget the loss of the football game to N.C. State. Fidel took over Cuba on New Year’s day 1959 just like in The Godfather II.The news was wall-to-wall coverage for days repeating that Fidel was sleeping with the fishes. How many times can you say “Fidel is dead” before it becomes repetitious? It reminded me of the old moon shots when Walter Cronkite would come on TV with hours to fill and nothing to say except that the rocket was on the way to the moon. The defunct National Lampoonmagazine had a running joke for years showing a picture of Spanish Dictator Francisco Franco leaning out a window waving to the crowd saying, “I’m still dead.” Same for Fidel now. All the talk about Fidel in 1959 got me wondering what else was going on then. 

Into the Way Back Machine with Mr. Peabody and his boy Sherman. Let’s cruise down memory lane to review the wonderful world of January 1959. The country of Chad became a French republic. It is unfair that Chad became a country and its singing partner Jeremy never achieved nationhood. But as Chad and Jeremy once sang, “Yesterday’s gone,” so we just move on. Alaska became a state, vindicating Seward’s Folly. Bozo the Clown debuted on TV instilling fear of clowns in generations of children. Bozo’s appearance was the direct precursor of the plague of evil clowns who have been showing up in the woods over the course of 2016. Buddy Holly released his last hit, It Doesn’t Matter. This record came out about a month before the day the music died when Buddy crossed over the Great Divide in a plane crash. Proving that there is a positive side to almost every tragedy, Don McLean later made a boatload of money with his song about Buddy’s demise, “American Pie.” American gangster Meyer Lansky, role model for Hyman Roth in The Godfather II, lammed out of Cuba a week after Castro took over. 

French Egotist Charles DeGaulle was inaugurated as president of France, ultimately leading to the U..S Congress renaming French Fries as Freedom Fries in the Congressional lunch room. Clint Eastwood made his TV debut in the excellent western Rawhideas Rowdy Yates. A Hollywood success story, Clint went from punching cows with Gil Favor to debating an empty chair at the 2008 Republican convention. Walt Disney’s classic “women need to be rescued by their very own Prince Charming” movie, Sleeping Beautywas released teaching little girls everywhere to patiently wait for that someday when their prince will come.

Other fun facts about the rest of 1959 included the appearance of gigantic fins on the backs of enormous American cars. Hawaii also became a state leading to a run on records of Don Ho singing “Tiny Bubbles.” The federal minimum wage was $1 an hour, which wasn’t too bad because you could buy sirloin steaks for 89 cents a pound. A loaf of bread cost 20 cents. Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zonemade its first appearance of 151 episodes, which still appear on cable each week. Other notable TV series premiering in 1959 include Bonanza, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis with the immortal snob Chatsworth Osborne Jr, Dennis the Menace and The Untouchables. 

A number of famous folks managed to be born in 1959. Linda Blair, star and possessee of The Exorcist and the Barbie doll along with Jason Alexander, George, of Seinfeld, was born. George is the patron saint of all politicians for making the statement, “It’s not a lie if you believe it.” 1959 also saw the birth of Weird Al Yankovic. Campbell’s added Tomato Rice soup to its menu of canned delicacies. Tang, the drink of choice for astronauts, first tickled the taste buds of Americans. 

Unfortunately, a number of deaths occurred in 1959. Cecil B. DeMille had a spectacular heart attack. Max Baer, Sr. also checked in through the cardiac hotel. Max Sr. was the father of Max Baer, Jr who starred as Jethro Bodine of the Beverly Hillbillies. Jethro was famous for sitting by the cement pond pondering his multiple career options of being a double naught spy, a fry cook or a brain surgeon. The wheatback penny disappeared from circulation being replaced on the reverse side of Honest Abe with the Lincoln Memorial. 

Other than the appearance of tomato rice soup and fins on cars, there were a lot of things that happened in 1959, and not all of them were good.

No doubt about it! This has been, and continues to be, one crazy year. Whether you were thrilled or devastated by the outcome of the 2016 elections, almost all of us can agree that it was a year — and more — replete with twists and turns and a grand finale that took even pollsters by surprise. And, a la Al Franken’s first U.S. Senate race in Minnesota, some races are still too close to call, leaving everyone from candidates to voters in governmental limbo.

Elections were not the only weird situations this year, though.

Take the concept of global warming. It matters not whether one is fur it or agin it, global warming is a fact. Average temperatures are heading up, ice is melting and oceans are rising. Scientific numbers are indisputable in that regard. What is at issue is why this is happening — whether warming temperatures are caused by human activities or whether they are just part of some natural weather cycle that has not been seen in so many thousands or millions of years that we really do not know about it. It is also possible that both are factors.

We persist, however, in talking about global warming as if it were up for debate. We have turned it into a political issue as if any of our elected officials of any partisan stripe can do a darn thing about it. All we can do about it is react to it, and some of us continue to pretend it is not happening when it clearly is. It reminds me of the Precious Jewel who repeatedly denied eating contraband cookies when he had chocolate crumbs all over this face.

If the difference between men and boys is the price of their toys, then Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel could be thought of as large boys. On Veteran’s Day weekend, a group of bikers, vets themselves, found The Boss alongside a New Jersey roadway, a broken down motorcycle by his side. It was a no go getting the downed bike going again, so The Boss hopped on the back of one of his rescuers’ bikes and rode off to a local watering hole until his ride arrived to take him home. Elsewhere, Springsteen’s friend Billy Joel heard the news and thought, “Oh, dear!” or something along that line. He called The Boss to ask whether the offending bike was the one Joel, also a biker, had built and given to his great chum. Indeed it was, though that particular motorcycle was obviously not born to run.

Thanksgiving weekend found The Boss and Joel performing together at Madison Square Garden, where Joel told the audience “no good deed goes unpunished.”

And, finally, did you hear about the Jacksonville, N.C. holiday parade? 

Like countless such parades across the nation, local businesses fielded floats populated by beauty queens, cute as bugs-in-rugs children and waving Santas. Jacksonville’s parade had an unusual entry from Studio 360 Pole Fitness, Dance and Gym. No adorable tots or jolly Santas on that float, though. Instead there were — you guessed it! — pole dancers. Studio 360 owner, Brianna Jones, says the float did exactly what she wanted it to do — got folks talking about pole fitness.

Owens says she has lost over 100 pounds through pole fitness, and while that may be true, not everyone found the float family friendly. The News and Observer quoted a church youth minister as saying he had to avert his little ones’ eyes lest they spot something they should not. 

Meanwhile, Owens informed N&O columnist Barry Sanders that the float was educational, introducing parade watchers to pole fitness. She is even planning a “mommy and me” pole fitness class, though I am relieved I never had to confront that particular option. She concedes that some of her students are exotic dancers honing their skills and reminds us that that many dancers have other titles, like “wife” and “mom.” Owens told Saunders pole fitness can benefit anyone, including the Pole Dance American 2013 champion, a guy, whom she coached to the top prize.

Saunders, one of my favorite columnists with a wry and clever sense of humor, penned this little ditty after his interview with Owens.

“T’was the night before Christmas and Grampa was feeling quite chipper

“He was in the next room entertaining some strippers

“I crept as quiet as a mouse and peered through the keyhole

“And to my surprise they were all on a pole.

“They were pirouetting and twerking, they were shaking and such

“Too bad I didn’t have any pearls I could clutch.

“I ran down the hall yelling for grandma to come see

“But when I told on Grampa she just laughed at me

“Your grampa may be old, she said, and he’s sowed his last oat

“At least I thought he had until he saw that darned float.”

Remember, there are Marines of all ages in Jacksonville.

Forward Ho!!  No doubt about it, this community has much to look forward to. The groundwork has been laid for a myriad of projects that will make a real difference in the quality of life for local citizens. However, we must be prepared and capable of mobilizing and utilizing our resources, time and talent in the most positive and productive way to bring these to fruition. This means assessing our options and opportunities countywide to achieve a better community and getting into the proper mindset and achieving these objectives in a timely manner. Sure, it will take hard work, a forward-thinking group of leaders and, most of all, cooperation between our city and county elected officials who will need to focus on the opportunities at hand. Both would be well advised to stop playing “old school” politics where important leadership positions are concerned. Currently, many observers are scratching their heads at the county’s recent assignments and appointments, perceiving them as gratuitous “go along to get along” entitlements. Not good. To move Fayetteville and Cumberland County forward, both entities must come to grips with 21st century realities that will directly impact this community’s future. 

There is so much to do and so many needs that should be addressed. And, we need to do it –  NOW! It begs the question: What are they waiting for? They, of course, being our city and county elected officials and staff. Does anyone in local government realize that at the snail’s pace we are operating at to address local issues that a child born in January 2017 will be in high school before the completion of projects already approved or deemed vital for the success and betterment of the community: i.e. splash pads, tennis courts, athletic fields, senior centers, swimming pools, river parks, a baseball stadium, a downtown performing arts center (or new Crown Theatre), the  Civil War History Center, a 911 consolidated call center,  storm water-sewer extensions and, in view of the sheriff’s recent retirement,  consideration and feasibility of countywide policing? Whew! 

Again, what are they waiting for? My final point: We need jobs! We need business and industry. We need to reverse Cumberland County’s declining population trend. We desperately need to attract economic development, and we need to set priorities. Now. Does anyone really think splash pads will attract businesses and economic development to our community? Or, that industry will locate here on the “if we build it, they will come” promise of a performing arts center? The answer is no! 

We need new energy and a strategy from our leadership. We need new ideas. We need people with vision who are focused on doing things and getting things done. And, we need to replace those elected officials whose definition of success is making sure we maintain status quo, meaning everything stays the same. Well, that’s pretty poor foresight and neglective pathetic management. We deserve better and should demand better. Vision 2026 is a movement in the making. Its purpose is to accelerate these essential projects, to recognize and acknowledged true leadership and to hold the rest accountable. Vision 2026: The time is now. Stay tuned. Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly. 

For many families, the Christmas season is not complete without attending a performance of the North Carolina State Ballet’s The Nutcracker. Without fail, for 40 years, Charlotte Blume produced the show — and to exacting standards, making each performance a joy for the audience and a point of well-deserved pride for the performers. Blume died this past spring, but her legacy lives on. The curtain rises at 3 p.m. on Dec. 10 and 11 at the Crown for this year’s production of The Nutcracker.

Dina Lewis, vice president of the North Carolina State Ballet, has watched countless dancers (including her own daughters) rise through the ranks at the Charlotte Blume School of Dance. She watched Blume train the dancers and work them to near exhaustion. She has seen the students push through mental and physical barriers under Blume’s tutelage to achieve more than they ever thought they could onstage and in life. While Blume accepted nothing but perfection, her love for her students and her passion for ballet inspired many. When Blume fell ill, there was never any question about the future of The Nutcracker in Fayetteville.

“Even though our matriarch of our company has passed, it was her last wish that the show must go on,” said Lewis.  “Those were her own words, and we are continuing as she wished. This production is a tribute to Miss Blume and all she gave to this community and to the ballet world. Before she passed, she left a long list of expectations and how she wanted things to go. Now, we are all trying to fulfill her wishes. She was a remarkable woman and her students are determined to honor her memory with a performance that would make her proud.”

While audiences come to enjoy a couple of hours of ballet, the dancers have trained for months. “The tryouts were in August and we started training in September,” said Lewis. “It is the same level of performance as previous years.”  The girls are excited, but being the first performance since Miss Blume passed, it will be a struggle in some ways, too. We will have a private tribute onstage, though. There is always a portrait above the fireplace on stage. We are hanging a portrait of Miss Blume over the mantel. It is one way to remind the girls that even though she is not here, she is still here with them and watching them.” 

For many of her students, Blume was an inspiration. She was the adult who invested in them and held them to a higher standard than anyone else. She was the person they wanted to impress. “Charlotte was awesome. You can tell the girls miss her,” said Lewis. “I think the first performance will be tough. She was rigid and only accepted the best. She was a tough instructor. That is how they learned. And she always performed with them. That will be the other part of the link. We will have hidden things in each set for the girls, so they will know she is there. It is very bittersweet, but we are excited to do it … for her.”

There are two casts for the show. Ella Lewis and Marissa Morris play grown Clara. Sophia Lewis and Kendal Draughon are cast as young Clara. Tiffany Alexander performs as the Sugar Plum for the student show with Alyssa Pilger from the Carolina Ballet performing the part for other showings. Daniel Rivera dances as the Cavalier along with ballet professional Oliver Beres. Sarah Middleton and Emmalee Smith share the role of Snow Queen and Andrea Flores-Morales and Hannah Reeder play the Snow Princess.

The Nutcracker Ballet is based on the story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, which was written in 1816 by E.T.A. Hoffman. In 1892 Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov turned it into a ballet.

The story opens at the Stahlbaum house on Christmas Eve. Marie’s godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer, brings her a beautiful nutcracker. Clara falls asleep thinking about her precious nutcracker. The toys around the Christmas tree come to life and Clara has an amazing adventure filled with toy soldiers who battle an army of mice, a journey to the Land of Snow with dancing snowflakes and an enchanted forest, a visit to the land of sweets where the Sugar Plum Fairy resides. 

For four decades, Blume partnered with the N.C. State Ballet to bring this holiday tradition to Fayetteville. Her standards were high, and her love of ballet and commitment to her students were unwavering. Now, in a tribute to their beloved teacher and mentor, the Charlotte Blume School of Dance and N.C. State Ballet bring this production to the community that has supported them for so long. “She was larger than life,” said Lewis. “I don’t think we realized her impact on her kids … on us until she left us. I still expect to turn the corner and see her.”

Performances are Saturday, Dec. 10 and Sunday, Dec. 11. The curtain rises at 3 p.m. Tickets range from $7-$20 and are available at http://www.crowncomplexnc.com/events/detail/nc-state-ballet-the-nutcracker

The Woman’s Club of Fayetteville N.C., Inc., was founded in 1906. In 1947, the group changed its name to Woman’s Club of Fayetteville, N.C. Just recently, the organization rebranded itself as the Heritage Square Historical Society. From the very beginning, the mission of the group has been “to promote civic, cultural, educational and social welfare of the city; to preserve Heritage Square and to promote the historical preservation of the community.” On Sunday, Dec. 4, the club is set to host its signature fundraiser: A Christmas Tour of Homes. The proceeds raised from this event go to support the preservation and restoration of the three properties at Heritage Square. The Oval Ballroom, the Sandford House and the Baker-Haigh-Nimocks House make up the Heritage Square property, which is located at 225 Dick Street.

The tour features five properties decorated for the holidays, plus a bonus stop. Gwen Bell and Vickie Richardson co-chair this event. “For the Woman’s Club, in the past, this was the only fundraiser,” said Bell. “It is still our main fundraiser. We also have a silent auction, which was moved to the spring this year because of Hurricane Matthew. The tour has five gorgeous Fayetteville homes this year. Two are historical properties. We have two mid-century homes, one from the 50s and one from probably the 70s. And a brand-new home, too, Ralph and Linda Huff’s house. It is a gorgeous new home.”

And that extra stop on the tour? It is the Sandford House, which is part of the Heritage Square property. This gives the tour participants an opportunity to see the structures that benefit from the event and to learn about the property’s place in local history. “Refreshments will be served there and the home will be shown in period-appropriate decorations,” said Bell. “Some of the Fayetteville Garden Clubs each took a room and decorated it. We also decorated the Oval Ballroom. It was built by a prominent businessman for his daughter’s wedding. It has been moved and restored and it is gorgeous. People that enjoy history or interesting things about Fayetteville will love this. It is a great way to get into the mood for Christmas and see how others decorate.”

For some, the tour of homes is as much a part of Christmas as presents under the tree or Christmas dinner. If you’ve never been, Bell says this a great time to start. “I always tell people, grab a girlfriend, go to lunch and hit the trail,” said Bell. “You can buy tickets the day of the event at any of the homes. The Sandford house is a great place to start or finish the tour because there will be refreshments and a lot to see on the property.”

The tour of homes lasts from 1-6 p.m., but Bell noted that it doesn’t necessarily take the entire time to see all the properties. Tickets are available at Bell’s Seed Store, Burney’s Sweets & More, Betty Kelly’s Gift Shop, High Cotton Consignment, Talbot’s, The Pilgrim and Heritage Square. Each ticket contains a map and the addresses of the homes on the tour. A $15 donation is suggested for the tickets. For more information, call 483-6009, or visit wwwheritagesquarefay.org.