Bud Light presents Fayetteville’s Dogwood Fall Festival from Thursday, Oct. 27 – Saturday, Oct. 29. 

 “There are many elements that make up this event and lots of things that fold into it that make it what it is,” said Carrie King, executive director of the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival Incorporated. “Saturday is our big day with the food truck and craft beer festival end of it.” 

King added that this event started many, many years ago with Historic Hauntings, which was a fundraiser for the Dogwood Festival. Patrons were put on a wagon for a hayride and they would be taken to downtown Fayetteville and get off of the wagon to see skits and vignettes that told the history of Fayetteville.  Visitors to this year’s festival can enjoy a variety of activities.  

Historic Hauntings (Thursday – Saturday) 

 There will be a guided walking tour in the dark through Cross Creek Cemetery Section II.  It features ghostly reenactors and storytellers that share the creepy side of Fayetteville’s history. 

“This year, you must go online to purchase the tickets and set up a time,” said King. “Then you go to Festival Park and ride the shuttle to the location where you will be taken on a guided tour through the cemetery in the dark.” Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online. 

Haunted House (Thursday- Saturday)

 The LaFayette Insane Asylum, better known as the haunted house, is guaranteed to deliver the hair-raising chill that thrill seekers desire. It will be located in the back near the Ray Avenue entrance to Festival Park.  Tickets are $10 or $9 with a canned good donation to benefit our local food banks. Seventy-five percent of the proceeds will benefit Fishing to Fight Cancer.  

Hayrides (Thursday-Saturday)  

 There will be 20 – 30 minute narrated hayrides through historic downtown. Hayrides will be offered Thursday from 7 – 9 p.m.; Friday from 6:30 – 10 p.m. and Saturday from 3 – 10 p.m. Wagons depart at the corner of Mason & Ray Avenue every 30 minutes. Ticket cost is $5 at the gate.  

Bands and Brews 

 “We have a national headliner coming and it is country artist Brett Young,” said King. “Chase Bryant will also perform.” Beer and wine will be available for purchase. There will be over 20 craft and domestic beer selections. This is a free concert on Saturday presented by WKML 95.7.  If you would like to sit in the front two rows at the concert the cost is $25 per person.  A wristband will be mailed to the address provided during the purchase. Brett Young will take the stage at 7 p.m. and Chase Bryant will perform at 9 p.m.  There will be entertainment on the stage all day Saturday starting at 3 p.m. featuring local artists.  

Fayetteville’s Food Truck Festival 

 This event takes place on Saturday, October 29 from 3 – 10 p.m. It hosts 28 food trucks from North Carolina featuring gourmet foods and culinary favorites. Purchase a Dine & Dash pass for $5 and get in 30 minutes before the crowd at 2:30 p.m.  Tickets will be on sale in October. 

 “Every event that we do we give a portion of the proceeds to a nonprofit organization that assists us,” said King. “So, 50 percent of the ticket sales for Historic Hauntings go back to unbudgeted funding items for Bruce, who is our city historian and items for display.” King added that over the past nine years, the Dogwood Festival has contributed over $110,000 to other nonprofit agencies that assist them.  

 “We look forward to seeing everyone at the festival,” said King.  For more information call 323-1934. 

Recovery from Hurricane Matthew in Cumberland County will take months, even years for some. The record rainfall of 24 inches over two days was unprecedented and totally unexpected even by the National Weather Service. It resulted in urban flooding directly attributed to the storm as well as utility issues caused by downed power lines and uprooted trees. Hundreds of homes were heavily damaged, some beyond repair. PWC crews worked well into last week restoring electricity across Fayetteville. Even the water treatment plant lost power. The state had to test the water once the plant was up and running. And, as is the case in almost every facet of state operations, it took days for test results to come up negative as to contamination. 

The statistics are record setting: 15 inches of rain in one day. More than 700 people saved during 255 high water rescues by late Sunday of last week. No serious injuries or fatalities were directly attributed to the storm. Property losses are staggering. Some estimates place the total monetary loss of homes and businesses across Cumberland County in 10 figures. And it wasn’t just in Fayetteville. Hope Mills and Spring Lake were also hit hard. Just about everyone agrees, the record-setting storms, which began on Oct. 4 and continued Oct. 8 and 9, were unprecedented in modern memory.

At least three local deaths have been attributed to Hurricane Matthew. 

Isabelle Ralls, 81, of Falcon was found dead in her car Oct. 10. The state Medical Examiner’s office ruled the death accidental by drowning.The body of Tarry Faircloth, 53, was found the afternoon of Oct. 13 on Clinton Road near an I-95 exit ramp. Faircloth had been  missing since the night of Oct. 8. A third storm-related death was  reported by the governor’s office. An unidentified 63-year-old man died,  but state officials provided no details. His death is the 26th in North  Carolina related to Hurricane Matthew. There have been at least 43 nationally.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aftermath of the Storm

An unheralded response to the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew was that of regular people, neighbors and concerned citizens. Local organizations and individuals reached out to help communities from Fayetteville, Hope Mills and Spring Lake to Lumberton and Pembroke. The recovery effort involved prominent faith organizations from Baptist Men to Manna Church and Covenant Love Church/Operation Blessing’s Disaster Relief. Manna Church on Cliffdale Road helped coordinate volunteer efforts related to trash and debris removal. One-on-one assistance included providing water and food, and help filing claims with insurance companies. Covenant Love Church and Operation Blessing Disaster Relief on Dunn Road served hot evening meals daily. Volunteers also helped with debris removal as well as packing and salvaging personal belongings. Green Springs Baptist Church, on the Cumberland-Robeson County line served as a drop-off point for people to bring clothes, blankets and hygiene items for distribution to the numerous shelters in Robeson County serving the victims of the flooding in Lumberton.

A Van Story Hills resident collected items including water, diapers, paper cups and plates, blankets and more, and drove them to Lumberton, which was hard hit by flooding. And the Sandhills Chapter of the Red Cross coordinated the arrival of volunteers from out of state who came to North Carolina to help. The Red Cross mobilized more than 400 workers and 80 response vehicles.

 

Holiday Wreaths

Holy Trinity Church’s Preschool is taking orders for Christmas wreaths and accessories through Nov. 1. They’re fresh from Alleghany County, North Carolina. The 20 - 22 inch Fraser Fir wreaths are $21. Wreath bows are $4 and 20 feet of white pine garlands are $15. Advance orders and payments can be made at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 1601 Raeford Road. The items will be available for pickup on Nov. 19 at the church parking lot. 

 

Public Assistance

Cumberland County residents who receive food and nutrition benefits and have experienced flood damage or power outages may apply for replacements by doing so in person at the Department of Social Services on Ramsey Street. Also, because Cumberland County is included in a presidential disaster declaration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is making its assistance available locally to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts. Federal funding is available to effected individuals to include grants for temporary housing and home repairs as well as low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses. Federal funding is also available to local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations to help defray the costs associated with emergency work. Fayetteville City Council dipped into its reserves to provide $1.5 million dollars for emergency relief. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Museum Enhancements

The 82nd Airborne Division War Memorial Museum on Fort Bragg will undergo a major exhibition gallery upgrade starting next month. The $2.5 million upgrade is expected to continue through August of next year. The new gallery will be open in time to honor the Division’s centennial according to an 82nd Airborne Division spokesman. 

The U.S. Army Center of Military History funded the improvements to better tell the story of the 82nd Airborne Division’s combat service from 2003 to 2015. During the construction, museum exhibits will remain displayed in the Hall of Heroes on the museum grounds on Ardennes Road, Fort Bragg. The museum gift shop will remain open.

I started this column on Sept. 22, while watching reports and commentary on rioting the previous night in Charlotte, North Carolina. Businesses in the downtown area were looted, police officers were attacked and one person was shot. This situation came about in the aftermath of a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer shooting resulting in the death of a black man named Keith Lamont Scott. As with Ferguson and Baltimore, I sat there wondering why this kind of chaos happens. That is: the rioting, looting and absolute destruction of property owned by people who had nothing to do with the shooting of Scott.

I think a part of the answer shows in an event at a pw

“A history teacher in Cumberland County was placed on paid administrative leave Tuesday after coming under fire for stepping on the U.S. flag as part of a lesson on the First Amendment.”

“He was teaching a junior-level American History class with 26 students when the incident happened Monday. He had been teaching about Texas v. Johnson, a case that upheld that flag desecration was protected by the First Amendment and the Bill of Rights.”

The teacher referred to is Lee Francis. The McCleary/Banks article referenced above reports that Francis is surprised and disappointed by the tremendous public opposition to his treatment of the American flag and his teaching technique. His approach to teaching is quoted as follows:

“But this is exactly what I teach: You don’t teach kids how to think or what to think; you teach them to go their own path,” he said. “If they feel so convicted that this is their cause they’re going to stand for, I don’t blame them. It’s an upper-level school for those who aspire to go to college and in that regard, we have rigor and expectations, so I treat them as such.”

What this teacher says is a major part of the answer to my question in regards to why people choose to act as they did in Charlotte on Sept. 21, in Ferguson, Baltimore and so on. I agree we should not tell people what to think, but there must be instruction on how to think. One’s thinking is done within the framework of what is believed to be right, to be acceptable behavior.

The apostle Paul understood and spoke to this critical factor of framework for thinking and its impact on behavior. In Romans 12:2, Paul writes: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.” The apostle is calling on us to adopt a framework for thinking that is controlled by what God wills for us and not by what is acceptable to society, in general, apart from God’s desires for us. Dr. David Jeremiah invites us as we consider taking a particular action, ask if we would be comfortable taking that action in the presence of Jesus.

Although Francis obviously does not realize it, by his flag-stomping action and saying “... you teach them to go their own path,” he is teaching students how to think. His message is, “Say whatever you want and you are protected by the First Amendment.” Without doubt, promoting this position likely contributes to a mindset, a framework for thinking, which leads one to conclude that what happened in Charlotte, Baltimore, Ferguson and elsewhere, is acceptable behavior. 

I remember well when commitment to the common good was taught and encouraged as an essential element in a person’s framework for thinking. An article at www.scu.edu titled “The Common Good” speaks to this matter by saying, in part:

“Commenting on the many economic and social problems that American society confronts, Newsweekcolumnist Robert J. Samuelson once wrote: ‘We face a choice between a society where people accept modest sacrifices for a common good or a more contentious society where groups selfishly protect their own benefits.’ Newsweekis not the only voice calling for a recognition of and commitment to the ’common good.’’’

“What exactly is “the common good,” and why has it come to have such a critical place in current discussions of problems in our society? The common good is a notion that originated over 2,000 years ago in the writings of Plato, Aristotle and Cicero. More recently the contemporary ethicist, John Rawls, defined the common good as ‘certain general conditions that are... equally to everyone’s advantage’.”

These quotes precisely describe America’s present reality and we appear locked-in on the course that is totally contrary to what made us the greatest nation in the world. Commitment to “the common good” is now becoming a relic on the dusty shelf of “what used to be.” In great part, this is the case because thought frameworks of individuals are being dangerously shaped by actions and influences such as the flag-stomping done by Lee Francis. Again, in his words, “…you teach them to go their own path.” The result is that far too many people live life selfishly, while likely identifying with and promoting the interests of some group to the detriment of other individuals or groups. 

In America, the examples of how this plays out in real life seems endless. Consider Charlotte. A man is killed, and even before minimal facts are collected and examined, people are rioting, looting and even shooting in downtown Charlotte. Be reminded, the owners of those businesses or people working in that area to earn a living had absolutely nothing to do with the officer-involved shooting. On a news broadcast, I saw one black speaker calling for a boycott of Charlotte. All of this is a clear picture of disregard for “the common good.” Simply put, this is the willingness of one small group to penalize innocent people in the name of protest. 

I see, in the same light, actions by many who oppose HB2, which is often referred to as North Carolina’s Bathroom Law. Key wording from the law follows:

“Single-Sex Multiple Occupancy Bathroom and Changing Facilities. Public agencies shall require every multiple occupancy bathroom or changing facility to be designated for and only used by persons based on their biological sex. Accommodations Permitted. – Nothing in this section shall prohibit public agencies from providing accommodations such as single occupancy bathroom or changing facilities upon a person’s request due to special circumstances, but in no event shall that accommodation result in the public agency allowing a person to use a multiple occupancy bathroom or changing facility designated under subsection (b) of this section for a sex other than the person’s biological sex.”

Individuals, groups, businesses and organizations opposed to this legislation have brought tremendous financial harm to North Carolina citizens in an attempt to force repeal of HB2. The NBA moved the 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte; the ACC moved 10 neutral-site championships out of North Carolina for the 2016-2017 academic year; NCAA moved seven championships scheduled for this academic year; PayPal cancelled plans to bring 400 jobs to North Carolina. This is only a sampling of what is being done which does not consider common good. An op-ed in The News & Observer by Chris Armstrong titled “Potentially $5 billion in losses from HB2 and still no repeal” says of HB2, “In total, a report from UCLA estimates the law may cost the state up to $5 billion a year.”

All of this is being done so that a small group of men may go into restrooms and changing areas with women and vice-versa. Note that the law only applies to public agencies. Businesses and other non-public entities may do what they want. Further, single occupancy bathroom or changing facilities are allowed and should satisfy the concerns of transgender persons. In spite of this accommodation and the horrendous financial, mental, and emotional strain being placed on millions of innocent hard-working North Carolinians, many opponents of HB2 totally disregard “the common good.” 

The Charlotte events described above and opposition actions regarding HB2 are just two examples that show consideration of “the common good” is becoming an American relic. Indications are that this consideration hardly ever appears as a component in the thought framework of many citizens, or our leaders. This dangerous progression toward relic status is fueled in great part by words and actions like those of Lee Francis before that class of young minds developing a framework for thinking. Does the Constitution allow him to say and do what he did? Yes. Did he consider the common good? No. Does that failure by him and others likely affect the thought frameworks that produce what we saw in Charlotte and in the devastating responses of many opponents of HB2? Yes. We better give attention to helping individuals develop thought frameworks that produce right actions. 

Last week about this time, some of us were still without power and water. We were in that window of hope where our world would soon be made right. And for most of us, it was, but for many, their world was just starting to unravel.

Our kids lost a week of school. Some of us had to find creative ways to get to work. And once there, we had to find creative ways to get our work done. But for others in our state, the pain had just started. As the Cape Fear River began to slowly move back into its banks, rivers across the state began to crest and our neighbors to the south in Robeson County and to the East, in areas like Kinston and Goldsboro, began to flood.

It would have been easy for our community to say we have enough to take care of and leave our neighbors to fend for themselves. But we didn’t. Instead, we rolled up our sleeves and began to look for ways to help not only our neighbors here in Cumberland County but also those we do not know.

On Fort Bragg, commands reached out to the soldiers and civilians who work there to see what kind of damage had occurred, and then they put hands and feet to work helping to salvage what could be salvaged and to find ways to get assistance to those in need.

The civilian community worked the same way. Neighbors offered shelter to those who had lost everything. Clothes drives were launched, volunteers started cooking for those in need and collecting the basics to share.

This reminded me of the question asked in the Bible: Who is my neighbor? Is it the person who lives beside me? Is it the person who looks like me, believes like me and has the same economic condition that I do? I’m proud to say that our community knew the answer to that question. That became readily apparent as groups all across the county scrambled to help our neighbors in Robeson County.

At the church I attend, Green Springs Baptist, an immediate call to action was given and people answered wholeheartedly. Clothes, blankets, pillows, soap, deodorant, tooth brushes and tooth paste … whatever the need, began appearing, and each evening volunteers made a run to the shelters in Robeson County to distribute all the donations. Each day, the donation room was full again. At my office at Fort Bragg, I mentioned the work the church was doing, and I loaded my SUV three days in a row with things brought to me by my coworkers and friends. That’s just my experience. Many of you have similar experiences.

People can say what they want about our community, and I will stand and tell them they are wrong. Fayetteville/Cumberland County is a community of heart. It is a community that cares. I am proud to call Fayetteville home.

Okay, we get it! Everyone is excited and ready to “play ball” in the new $33 million baseball stadium proposed for downtown Fayetteville. Hey, I’m excited and ready! 

Well, now that the Memorandum of Understanding has been completed and sent to the Astros by our city leadership, they must now come up with a way to finance it and, hopefully, without the debt burden falling on local taxpayers. Doable? Sure it is. 

More importantly, I think the bigger challenge will be in keeping the residents of Fayetteville informed, involved and excited about the prospect of having our own stadium and Class A Advanced Minor League team here in Fayetteville.

This will be a challenge, one that can only be accomplished by effective and open communications with the community and keeping it involved in every step of the process. More importantly, an exerted effort must be made to make sure residents understand the city’s vision and the long-term positive economic development impact this successful venture will have on them as well as the quality of life of the community. 

The community must understand that this project is really not just about a baseball stadium. It is about economic development, creating jobs, attracting new businesses and industry and providing for our citizens those amenities now enjoyed by residents of other North Carolina municipalities. We need to build and enhance a vibrant Downtown Fayetteville that not only can we be proud of, but what every major city needs to be successful. Our city, county and community leaders must be diligent in this effort. So far, local residents seem to be open-minded about the stadium project, but they are naturally skeptical about the execution of the deal and rightfully so.

After all, the City of Fayetteville’s track record when it comes to getting directly involved with real estate and economic development hasn’t done much over the years to enhance  the taxpayer’s  confidence. (Festival Park/PWC buildings (both for sale), Prince Charles Hotel (shambles), Doc’s at the Capitol Building (fiasco) and the jury is out on the location of the new transportation hub still under construction on the corner of Robeson and Russell Streets. Skeptics think it is ill placed and being built backwards (like the Festival Park building) on a lot that is too small. Only time will tell. 

Couple these ill-fated projects with Cumberland County’s leadership decisions of putting the J.P. Riddle Baseball Stadium in the boondocks off Legion Road, a brand new county jail downtown where the baseball stadium should have gone, a $247 million dollar (bogus) ethanol plant next to a north side residential community and a more than $55 million Coliseum Complex in a field that no one wants to be associated with. Hmm? 

Altogether, I would say there is a pretty good case for healthy skepticism. This being said, both city and county taxpayers ultimately want what is good, fair and practical for the community in general. Hopefully, both city and county leadership have learned much from these failed and tainted ventures, thus assuring us that they are much better equipped and prepared to move the community forward.

Everyone, surely hopes so. A word of caution about our enthusiasm for the accomplishments of other cities. Example: Sure, Winston-Salem’s Forsyth County and Cumberland County have about the same overall population. However, the city of Winston-Salem has a population of more than 236,000, and unlike Fayetteville, when you drive around Winston-Salem you see the pulsating skyline of a busy and thriving city. There is Downtown commerce, industry, skyscrapers, stadiums, restaurants, parks and factories. You see the homes of 24 major corporate employers, half of which are headquartered in the city of Winston-Salem. BB&T, Pepsi, Hanes, Lowes Foods, R.J. Reynolds, K&W Cafeteria and Krispy Kreme donuts are just a few. Sure, we have Fort Bragg, but, it is not the same when it comes to being a strong economic development driver. 

My point is, we are not Winston-Salem, Durham or Columbia, South Carolina. We are Fayetteville, North Carolina. We need to move forward with this project, but at our own pace and with extreme caution. It needs to be supported, accepted and embraced by the residents of the community so they will feel good about it. And, the only way they will feel good about it is if they feel they are a part of it.  Transparency and good communication will be key. We do not want to build a baseball stadium under a cloud of skepticism or negativism. 

History has shown us that the Crown Coliseum has never really recovered from the hard, hurtful and negative feelings that surrounded that project. Over the years this has taken its toll in support, participation and economic development. No one wants to be associated or affiliated with anything that negative in nature. 

The baseball stadium and the Astros project must happen, and it must be done in a way that it becomes not only a positive catalyst for downtown economic development, but a catalyst for other important and worthy projects like the Performing Arts Center and Civil War History Center. Done right, this is a win-win for the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community. A win that will contribute greatly to the infrastructure of our local economy, our art and cultural awareness and our quality of life, now and for generations to come.

Let’s get it done! Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly. 

LAFAYETTE’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

Fayetteville’s history is as vast and varied as the people who live here. From her earliest days, Fayetteville has embraced and celebrated the strength diversity brings to a community. On the weekend of Sept. 9-11 two of Fayetteville’s most-loved events offer a bevy of activities that are sure to keep attendees entertained, enlightened and well-fed: Lafayette’s Birthday Celebration and the 26th Annual Greek Fest.

Fayetteville, North Carolina, was the first city to take Lafayette’s name and the only one he ever visited in person. The significance of this is not lost on history buffs. Those unfamiliar with the Marquis’ adventure and his role in the founding of our country can get a feel for the contributions our city’s namesake made to a fledgling republic centuries ago. “If you live in Fayetteville you need to understand how far back our history goes,” said Lafayette Society spokesperson Hank Parfitt. “We have a unique connection to a real hero of the Revolutionary War.” And that is just what this celebration is about – connecting the community to its history, while having fun.

The Lafayette Birthday Celebration starts on Friday, Sept. 9 at Methodist University with Arias and Artifacts. View artifacts and new additions to Methodist University’s Lafayette Collection. It starts at 5:30 p.m. and includes a short program. “There are ceramic pictures, snuff boxes, scarves and other items that manufacturers made to celebrate Lafayete’s visit,” said Parfitt. “Much like you would by a T-shirt at a rock concert, it is an early example of merchandising.” The program is followed by a live performance of French music by Gail Morfesis and Friends. The concert is at 7 p.m. at Hensdale Chapel. 

On Saturday, Sept. 10, trace Lafayette’s steps through Fayetteville on the Lafayette Trail Tour.  Commander Bruce Daws of the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry leads the tour and shares relevant facts and information about Lafayette and what it was like for him to serve under George Washington during the Revolutionary War. The tour begins at the Transportation and Local History Museum and includes coffee and croissants. Tickets cost $30. Call 678.8899 for information.

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Museum of the Cape Fear presents Festival of Yesteryear, which features reenactors, music, toys, games and more from the Colonial and Revolutionary War periods. Lafayette, portrayed by reenactor Mark Schneider will be in attendance as well. Youngsters will enjoy Apprentice Alley where they can make crafts and participate in hands-on activities. Find out more at www.ncdcr.gov/ncmcf.

Downtown shops host the Lafayette Birthday Sidewalk Sale from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

From noon to 2 p.m., enjoy birthday cake and ice cream at Cross Creek Park. The 82nd Airborne Band Jazz ensemble will be in attendance and Lafayette is scheduled to make an appearance at 1 p.m. “He is the official Lafayette at Colonial Williamsburg and probably the country’s premier Lafayette reenactor. It is truly a performance to remember.

While you are downtown, visit the Market House exhibit Lafayette in Fayetteville -1825. Lafayette spoke from the Market House balcony on his visit to Fayetteville in 1825. Take a peek inside and learn more on the second floor where the exhibit is housed. 

Mysteries of the 1825 Lafayette Map of Fayetteville is a new event in this celebration. “The Lafayette map was printed in 1825. It is a very detailed map of what was Fayetteville, and compared to modern day survey technology, it is very accurate,” said Parfitt. “At one time it was thought were only 15 copies in the world, including one in the Library of Congress. Then a cache of these maps were found in the home of local descendants of John McRae.” McRae was an early publisher of The Fayetteville Observer. Bruce Daws will speak about the map at City Center Gallery and Books at 6 and 7 p.m., where a copy of the map will also be on display.

From 6-8:30 p.m., the Wine Café, located at 108 Hay Street, will host a French wine tasting. A guest speaker is set to explain the characteristics of wine from different French region. This event is free. No reservations are required, but it does fill up fast. 

For more information about the Lafayette Birthday Celebration, go to http://www.lafayettesociety.org.

GREEK FEST

For more than a quarter century, Fayetteville’s Greek residents have opened their churches and their hearts to the community at the annual Greek Fest. It is an entire weekend of music, culture, food and fun. This is 26th annual Greek Fest. It is a great way to get a taste of the Greek culture without even leaving town. The celebration starts on Friday and runs through Sunday. “We really want to make this a community event, not just a Greek event. We have several organizations from the community that will be there including the Sheriff’s Department, the state patrol, the fire department and even artillery displays from Fort Bragg. The mayor is coming to speak, too.” said Dr. John Poulos event co-chair. “We continue to use proceeds from the festival to support autism research, the Cape Fear Valley Foundation, the American Red Cross and other charities in the community.”

This longstanding tradition has many favorites. The food is always a big hit with vendors offering traditional Greek fare like gyros, souvlaki and more. Follow up your meal with a delightful homemade Greek pastry. Baklava, is a favorite, but just one of the many delicious confectionary options. Wash down the pastries with authentic Greek coffee or a refreshing glass of Greek beer or wine. 

Music is an integral part of the Greek culture. It is lively and upbeat and brings home the flavor of the festival. Throughout the weekend, members of the congregation wear traditional costumes and demonstrate the dances of their homeland. “We will have a lot of dancing throughout the weekend,” said Poulos. “If anyone wants to join in or learn the dances, we will teach them how to do it. We want to share our culture and our religion with the community. There will also be guided church tours throughout the weekend.”

Each year, the festival sells raffle tickets for a trip to Athens, Greece. Tickets are $5 or 5 tickets for $20.

There are some new things to look for this year as well. “We are adding at Zorbathon,” said Kelly Papagikos. “Since exercise is a big part of people’s lives, we wanted to include it in our festivities as well. So we are having a zumbathon on Saturday morning to benefit Victory Junction.”

Poulos noted there is even more to look forward to, “We have simulators that people can get inside and also there will be military equipment on display for people to enjoy. We will also have more vendors.”

The festival takes place at the Hellenic Center at 614 Oakridge Avenue. Find out more about the Greek Festival at  www.stsch.nc.goarch.org.

While it makes for a full weekend, both the Lafayette Society and the congregation of Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church have much to offer in the way of entertainment, activities and education. “We are happy to partner with the Lafayette Society to bring two great events to Fayetteville for one great weekend.”

J. Bayard Clark Park and Nature Center, or as it is more commonly known Clark Park, is a true gem. Located at 631 Sherman Drive, the park is the second largest regional park in the city. It provides residents with beautiful natural woodlands. The three trails in the park showcase local animals, the Cape Fear River and all of the native woodland plants. The park also provides a safe haven for local wildlife and helps to preserve the environment. Park rangers educate residents about trails and all of the beautiful things that can be seen beside them. The park amenities include a picnic area with eight tables and a parking lot near the beginning of the five-mile Cape Fear River Trail, which is a perfect for the beginning of a walk, run or ride. To make things even easier, the trail is paved. Clark Park also offers opportunities for learning through the events hosted at the park. Typical events include activities such as nature fairs, basic astronomy and animal print tracking just to name a few. This year’s events include the Fairy and Action Figure Fort Fest.  This is a three-day introduction to miniature gardens. These small gardens are increasingly popular and can be used as “forts” or homes for equally small dolls, depicting magical creatures like trolls, fairies, animals or action figures. The goal of this three-day event is to help groups or individuals learn about and then construct their own miniature gardens.

Day one is Thursday, Aug. 25. from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Park rangers lead  workshops about what goes in to making a successful miniature fort or garden. Friday, Aug. 26, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. is dedicated to building these forts or gardens. The third and final day, Aug. 27 from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. is a public viewing of all the gardens.  

While fairy gardens are popular, they are definitely not a new concept. Their debut in the U.S. can be traced to the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair where the bonsai dish gardens at the Japanese Pavilion enthralled the American public. The exhibit was such a hit that The New York Timesfeatured them in an article, according to www.fairygardening.com. “The practice of Fairy Gardening® has been around for more than 100 years and today, many of the fairy gardeners we meet throughout the country are thrilled to tell us how the tradition has been passed down from one generation to the next,” the website notes. 

One of the things that makes miniature gardening so much fun is that the builder’s imagination is the only thing limiting the creation and design of the garden. Because they are small, these gardens work well in small spaces. They can be used indoors or outside.  

Workshops and building days are hosted in the shade of the forest on Clark Park trails. Guests who come on Aug. 27 get to vote on the best forts. Registration is required for groups and individuals. To register, call 433.1579.

 My students are my everything.  I spent the entire summer wondering if they are eating well, reading and having fun. It is not an easy task for some students to obtain school supplies for the upcoming school year and that is why the Register of Deeds Office is having its annual backpack school supply drive for Cumberland County’s homeless students. 

 The idea started when one of the senior staff members at the Register of Deeds Office expressed her concern that she was at church and a Fayetteville police officer had done a presentation about homeless students in the Cumberland County School System and the need they had for school supplies.   It really bothered her and she wanted to help with that need. A staff meeting was held and all of the staff members agreed that they wanted to help. This was the beginning of a wonderful sentiment that has turned into an annual event. 

 “This is our ninth or 10th year that we have collected school supplies for backpacks for Cumberland County’s homeless students,” said Lee Warren, registrar of deeds for Cumberland County. “We have an awful lot of good folks in our community that whenever there is a need, they step up to the plate and help fill the need.” 

Warren added that they try to think of what a child will possibly need to ensure that they will be a success in school and start school with all of the same supplies that any other child will have.  

 The items needed include pencils, notebook paper, pens, binders, glue sticks, scissors, hand sanitizer, toothbrushes, toothpaste, toothbrush holders, notebooks, rulers, folders, composition books, pencil sharpeners, erasers and crayons.    

 The goal this year is to collect items for 600 backpacks for students.  “For many years there were 800 homeless students and now there are 600,” said Warren. “What we would like to do is work ourselves out of a job and not have any homeless students next year.” Warren added that they are preparing 800 bags because in addition to preparing 600 bags for Cumberland County’s homeless students, they are preparing 200 bags for other agencies.  

 School supplies, cash donations and gift cards can be dropped off at the Cumberland County Courthouse in Room 114 throughout the month of August.  

 “I anticipate that we will do the school supply drive again next year,” said Warren. “This is something that really touched our hearts and we have done every year since.”  

 For more information call 678-7775.  

Governor Pat McCrory and a host of local, state and federal officials cut the ribbon on a six-and-a-half-mile section of Fayetteville’s Outer Loop last week. The $146 million project extends the future I-295 from Ramsey Street to Bragg Boulevard, providing Fort Bragg with direct access to I-95, something the Army has wanted for decades. 

“This is a game changer,” said City Councilwoman Kathy Jensen. 

The project has been on the drawing board since the 1980s, but was given unprecedented acceleration in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks. The first phase from I-95 to Ramsey Street opened in 2005. The section still under construction will extend from Bragg Boulevard to the All American Freeway, and completion is expected by the end of the year. Then the next section of the Outer Loop will span three miles from the All American Freeway to Cliffdale Road. The N.C. Department of Transportation awarded an $85.2 million contract for this project in June. It will be completed by 2021. 

“This is one of the many sections of the Fayetteville Outer Loop we are completing to meet growing transportation, military and logistics demands,” said N.C. Secretary of Transportation Nick Tennyson of the section just opened.

Construction of Interstate 295 from US 401 to the All-American Freeway was actually scheduled to begin in late 2008, and be completed by 2012, according to the NC DOT. But this project was put on hold in November 2008 because of the recession and the severe shortage of money for highway construction in North Carolina. The delays continued through 2011. Instead of this segment being undertaken as one contract, DOT split the work into three smaller contracts. It began in 2009 on the section from Bragg Boulevard to Murchison Road, using federal stimulus money. The section was completed in 2014. Meanwhile, in March 2011 a contract to construct the portion of the loop between US 401 and Murchison Road was awarded but did not include final paving. Three years later the contract for paving was issued. This is the six-mile segment that opened this month. 

Gov. McCrory last year encouraged the legislature to accelerate construction of the Outer Loop even faster. It and other local road projects were included in the 2015 state budget. The North Carolina Board of Transportation approved them in January 2016. 

“The reforms I signed into law will get these roads built sooner,”  said McCrory. 

The section extending the loop from Camden Road to Interstate 95 South of Fayetteville will see construction accelerated from 2021 to 2020. The remainder of the 39-mile future I-295 is funded through the state’s new transportation funding formula, which Gov. McCrory championed to take the politics out of transportation planning. Under the formula, more than $400 million is targeted to complete the entire loop by 2025. 

A natural gas explosion can be devastating. A single gas leak has leveled city blocks. Recently, a house in the King’s Grant community exploded because of a gas leak, badly injuring the homeowner. “Causes of such instances cannot always be detected,” said Fayetteville Fire Marshall Michael Martin. “Natural gas is a safe, reliable and affordable energy choice, but it should be handled properly and with care,” according to Piedmont Natural Gas. The company says it’s important to be educated about the properties of natural gas and of the potential hazards if natural gas is released through damaged or leaking pipelines.

Carbon monoxide gas is deadly when inhaled. CO monitors are almost as common as smoke alarms in homes. But, rarely do we hear about alarms that protect against combustible gases. Natural gas and propane gas have pungent odors. The best detector, Martin says, is your nose. “If you smell gas, get out right away.” Natural gas is not toxic to humans but it will displace oxygen. This means that a natural gas leak in a confined space could significantly reduce the amount of oxygen in the air and create a dangerous environment. Explosions or fires from leaking propane or methane gas can be prevented. Several companies manufacture home monitors. Safe Home ™ natural gas alarms can be purchased at home improvement stores and online. For homes that use natural gas for heating and cooking, the company recommends mounting monitors above appliances within six inches of the ceiling or on the ceiling 12 inches from a wall. That’s because natural gas is lighter than air and rises. Propane is heavier than air so propane alarms should be mounted 4 to 20 inches off the floor near appliances. Combustible gas alarms sound when the concentration of gas is less than 25 percent of the lower explosive limit. Safety Siren Pro 3 gas alarms plug directly into outlets. Safe-T-Alert, in 120VAC and 230VAC models, have a line cord for correct placement without a nearby outlet.

Piedmont Natural Gas recommends the following when someone smells natural gas: After leaving the area, call 911 and Piedmont Natural Gas at 1-800-752-7504 from a neighbor’s house or from a location far from the smell of the gas. Do not use anything electrical that may create a spark; this includes cell phones. Do not operate any light switches or strike a match or cigarette lighter. Do not attempt to locate and stop a leak. Do not return to the area until the fire department has declared it safe.

Gas fired appliances, including fireplace gas logs, have pilot lights. “They should have blue flames that are yellow near the tip,” Fire Marshall Martin said. If the pilot light in your gas appliance or heater shows a lot of yellow, orange, red, purple or green color, this indicates inefficient combustion and the presence of potentially hazardous chemicals. A yellow or orange pilot light will produce carbon monoxide — an odorless, colorless gas that can fill your home and cause carbon monoxide poisoning. 

The new owners of Fayetteville’s Prince Charles Hotel have suffered numerous setbacks in getting renovations underway. One of the obstacles was the lack of money to do the job. Urban developers with sterling reputations and decades of commercial construction experience across North Carolina could not get a bank to finance their plan to refurbish and reopen the rundown building. Investors in what is now Prince Charles Holdings Development, LLC, approached 10 North Carolina banks for loans and were turned down by all of them, according to PCH Development Manager Jordan Jones. Why? “… because it was a downtown Fayetteville project,” he said. “The banks haven’t gotten beyond the city’s Fayettenam reputation,” Jones added. He and Michael Lemanski, both of Durham, are overseeing a $15 million restoration of the nearly century-old Hay Street landmark. “I’m excited about the opportunity to bring one of Fayetteville’s iconic buildings back to life and contribute to the revitalization process already underway in downtown Fayetteville,” lead investor Michael Cohen said in a statement when he acquired the property last year.

The investment group bought the hotel at auction for $200,000. The adjoining 2.5-acre property was another $2 million. After being turned down by the banks, Prince Charles Holdings began exploring non-traditional financing and is confident about the prospects of a $9 million urban mixed-use loan from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, according to Jones. Ironically, his great grandfather’s company, J.A. Jones Construction Company, built the hotel, which opened in 1923. Most of the rest of the construction costs will be offset by federal and state historic tax credits, some of which were only recently restored by the state legislature at the urging of Governor Pat McCrory. “We see a lot of potential in the future of downtown Fayetteville,” said Jones.

Lemanski’s firm, Greenfire Development, has managed more than $300 million of investment in distressed properties in downtown Durham. There’s a lot of work to be done on the Prince Charles. The interior of the eight-story building will be entirely overhauled and rebuilt, resulting in 62 one-and two-bedroom apartments Jones told Up & Coming Weekly. They will rent from $800 to $1,200 a month. The former eighth floor ballroom will be transformed into a three-bedroom, three full-bath penthouse. It will contain 3,300 square feet with 14’ ceilings and historic hardwood floors. The tenant will have exclusive access to the terrace, which overlooks Hay Street. “This unit has the potential to be the most exclusive residential unit in downtown Fayetteville,” Jones declared. It will rent for $3,300 a month.

$2 million alone will be spent on the building’s façade, according to Jones, including $800,000 to refurbish the windows. They cannot be replaced because the building is in an historic district. The windows can be repaired so long as they retain their original appearance. Retail shops and an upscale restaurant will occupy the first floor and mezzanine and will be entered from Hay Street. Apartment dwellers will enter from a private side entrance near the elevators. “This is going to change Fayetteville,” declared Jones. “The apartments will fill a void in the market,” he added, citing “the many people who work downtown and have no place nearby to live.” Use of the historic tax credits requires that units be leased for the first five years. They could be converted to owner-occupied condominiums after that. “The market will decide which way to go,” according to Jones. Construction isn’t expected to get underway until next June and will take about a year to complete.

With an executed memorandum of understanding with the City of Fayetteville, Prince Charles Holdings is planning an estimated $60 million in commercial development around the planned baseball stadium. That could include a parking deck, hotel, more apartments and other amenities. Also planned is a pedestrian foot bridge over the CSX mainline railroad tracks. It would connect the Airborne and Special Operations Museum with the stadium, providing convenient additional parking. Jones tells Up & Coming Weekly that plans for restoration of the Prince Charles Hotel will go forward regardless whether the ballpark is built.

Up & Coming Weekly has learned that the proposed construction cost of a minor league ballpark planned for downtown Fayetteville will not exceed $33 million. A Fayetteville City Council stadium committee has been meeting privately for several weeks to hammer out a “non-binding memorandum of understanding with the Houston Astros that will set the stage for further negotiations,” said Councilman Jim Arp. He went on to say he would not support the stadium if he thought the project would require a tax increase. The committee also recommends that additional project costs such as architectural fees and other charges not exceed $2 million. City Council must agree to terms of the memorandum of understanding this week for it to move forward. Council held a public hearing to gauge initial citizen interest in a stadium. Sixteen people spoke … ten of them were opposed to the idea, five supported it. One speaker wasn’t clear as to his position.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring Lake Police Chief to Retire            

Spring Lake Police Chief Troy McDuffie is retiring at the end of the year. “It was not an easy decision, but I know it is the right decision for me personally,” McDuffie said in an announcement. His last day will be Dec. 1.

“It has indeed been a distinct honor and privilege to serve as Chief of Police for the great Town of Spring Lake,” he said.  

He ends a 30-year career in law enforcement, the last seven as chief in Spring Lake. Before that he was a detective with the Fayetteville Police Department. McDuffie led the agency in the rebuilding of the department after it was relieved of its police powers in the wake of a scandal. The department “has been transformed into an independently-functioning department with 35 sworn officers dedicated to protecting and serving the Spring Lake community,” he said. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fayetteville Mountain Bike Trail   

Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks & Recreation has opened a new mountain bike trail. Bikers can access the three-mile trail from Clark Park on Sherman Drive or the Jordan Soccer Complex on Tree Top Drive. The trail is the result of support from various volunteer groups and individuals. The course features technical terrain and biking challenges. Tight turns and changing conditions require vigilance and constant attention. Riders are required to wear helmets at all times. The first half mile is located near the Cape Fear River, providing beautiful scenery and interesting terrain. The trail crosses the Cape Fear River Trail and continues along a winding route that allows bikers to explore nature in the middle of the city. The goal of Parks & Recreation is to stimulate the interest of users to justify additional mileage. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mental Health Crisis Intervention 

The latest class of the Fayetteville-Cumberland County Crisis Intervention Team academy has graduated following a 40-hour course of instruction. The 27 graduates are now among nearly 800 CIT-certified public safety and court system officials to advance through the program. Gail Staley, former program coordinator for law enforcement training at Fayetteville Technical Community College, received the first ever CIT Founders Award in recognition of her efforts in helping establish Cumberland County’s jail diversion program. The program provides specialized law enforcement response to individuals experiencing crises related to mental illness. First responders are trained to recognize mental or emotional incapacitation so they can provide appropriate treatment and avoid incarceration. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Train Station Gets an Overhaul   

The passenger platform canopy of the downtown Fayetteville Train Depot is getting what the city calls “an overdue and necessary” makeover. Pressure washing and painting of the lengthy canopy has been underway for several days. The city is also replacing the  roof of the protective passenger canopy. City spokesman Nathan Walls says the project should be completed next month. Repairs are estimated at $46,500. The Building Maintenance Division of Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks & Recreation is overseeing the work. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fayetteville Award Winner       

Barbara Brooks, a volunteer counselor with the Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program has received the Mickey Hanula Volunteer of the Year award. It is one of four statewide awards for outstanding work in providing free, unbiased counseling about Medicare and other health insurance issues to seniors in North Carolina. Brooks counsels at the Cumberland County Coordinating Council on Older Adults in Fayetteville. She became a volunteer six years ago after retiring as Director of the Department of Social Services in Cumberland County. This year’s awards were presented at the Annual North Carolina SHIIP Coordinators’ Training Conference in Greensboro. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Correction

 In the Aug. 12 article titled “Cumberland County Property Revaluation Is Coming,”  Up & Coming Weekly stated that “County commissioners will adopt the SOV in November which will be effective Jan.1. The bills will go out that month, and must be paid by September to avoid penalties.”

Actually, the 2017 notices of new values will go out that month or January 2017.  Bills will be mailed in August 2017 and must be paid by January 5, 2018 to avoid penalties.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am what most would call a weather geek. I love watching the weather. I study it. I often give weather forecasts to friends and family. That’s why I was uncomfortable with the cavalier attitude our local weather forecasters had concerning our recent unwelcome guest, Hurricane Matthew.
Being a weather geek, I follow the different models. And, I can say with no hesitation, always look at the European model. Its accuracy is far better than ours. So while everyone around was telling us not to worry, the storm wasn’t going to come anywhere near the Cape Fear region, the European model was SHOUTING, “Hey, you guys! Get ready.” Unfortunately, no one paid attention.
Instead, we all sat here, thinking ourselves safe and out of harm’s way. Until we were in harm’s way. Then everyone acted surprised. I would like to say that I smugly thought, I told you so. But I didn’t. I worried about my friends and neighbors. I worried about our first responders out in the midst of the storm. And I worried about those lookey loos who always find themselves stuck because they didn’t think it was that bad.
Sitting here, in the darkness of my home, I listened to the wind blow and watched the water levels keep rising. My neighborhood became a lake, and many found themselves under water. While I was safe, city and county officials hovered, trying to make a plan. And, while they planned, our law enforcement, fire department and EMS were out in the midst of the storm — taking care of us. 
They saved countless people who thought they could drive through 3 feet of water. They helped those stuck in their homes. They rescued those who simply had no sense. And they mourned those they couldn’t save. Friends I know who are among our heroes worked double shifts. They left their families alone, to fend for themselves, so they could take care of our community. 
When so many want to talk about police relations, this community saw who had their back. They saw who braved the storm to take care of them … no matter their creed or color. 
Our community leaders used every means possible to keep the local citizenry informed. They were on news casts. They were on Facebook. If there was a means to get the word out, they used it. I don’t want to single any one person out, but I have to say that I followed Kirk deViere’s Facebook posts religiously. I also followed Jimmy Keefe and Mayor Nat Robertson. The Fayetteville Observer also did a great job keeping us up to date.
Of course, I can’t pass up the opportunity to heap praise on the fearless men and women of all of our local utilities. They worked through the storm.
They were wet, cold and tired. But they kept going. 
I will admit, I was unhappy sitting in the dark. I was unhappy being without water. But I wasn’t wet and cold. I wasn’t facing downed electric lines and pouring rains and wind. They kept going. They are among the heroes of this storm. So, too, are the neighbors who came together to cut trees and move them from roads and houses. They offered help when others needed it. 
People can say what they will about Fayetteville and Cumberland County. But I know it is truly a community of heroes, people who care about their neighbors and go the extra mile. Matthew may have surprised the weather forecasters, but the reaction from our community did not surprise me one bit: Heroes, history and hometown. They all surely define our community.

It’s homecoming week at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and Givens Performing Arts Center is pulling out all the stops with two unique performances. The shows are open to the public. Shanghai Nightsfeatures China’s premier acrobats, while the second show, The Purple Xperience is a tribute to musical great Prince.

“We’ve brought acrobat acts to GPAC previously, and our audiences have loved them. It’s a family-friendly show that thrills everyone regardless of age,” said GPAC Marketing Director Chad Locklear. “We usually bring a concert during UNCP homecoming weekend to add to the festivities. There are UNCP alumni returning to campus and families and friends of our students are visiting, so it gives them a time to come together to celebrate and another option of entertainment during the week.”

On Oct. 18, don’t miss the Shanghai Acrobats of the People’s Republic of China debut of their brand new program Shanghai Nights! Visit the Far East through performance art. The acrobats use stories and vignettes along with movement, music and color to take the audience to the lively and diverse city of Shanghai. The sophistication, bustling energy and beauty of the city are all played out on stage. More that 50 of China’s finest acrobats come together to bring the Shanghai experience to the audience.

“The performances are breathtaking, and you can sense the enthusiasm from the performers. Many of them train their entire lives to perform. Audiences can expect to be mesmerized by their talents, focus and energy. They really are pushing the limits of the human body. Many of the acts you witness seem impossible,” said Locklear. 

The company of Shanghai Acrobats of the People’s Republic of China 2016 belongs to the artistic entities of governmental finance allocation. An elite performance group, the company is one of China’s most decorated company, performing in more than 30 countries since the 1980s and bringing home awards from acrobatic and circus competitions around the world. In 2009, the troupe won the Silver Clown award at the Monte Carlo International Circus Festival. 

“The Shanghai Acrobats started in 1959 and are considered one of the best acrobatic troupes in the world,” said Locklear. “They’ve won many awards throughout the years and traveled extensively. You might see similar circus acts to the ones you would see in Cirque du Soleil, but many of these are unique to this company and you won’t see them anywhere else. The costumes, music and occasional dance that you will see are all Chinese in origin.” 

On Friday, Oct. 21, The Purple Xperience takes the stage with Matt Fink leading the five-piece Prince tribute band. Find is a three-time Grammy Award winner and an original member of the Prince and The Revolution. The Purple Xperience started in 2011 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The performance includes all the fan favorites from the Prince catalog.

“This show is going to be a lot of fun,” said Locklear. “Audiences are going to see Dr. Fink perform who was Prince’s original keyboardist for years and even has co-writing credits for some of Prince’s songs. Marshall Charloff will perform as a Prince impersonator. He sounds very much like Prince and does a great job at channeling Prince’s appearance and stage presence. Many people didn’t get a chance to see the legend before he passed away earlier this year. With one of Prince’s original band members, this is one tribute band that can perform the music of Prince’s catalog authentically.”

Purchase tickets online at uncp.edu/gpactickets or by calling 910.521.6361. 

It’s been more than 30 years since Flash Gordon came to Fayetteville. Actor Sam Jones, known for his role as Flash Gordon in the 1980 film of the same name, is one of the many guests attending this year’s Fayetteville ComicCon on Oct. 15 and 16. More recently, Jones was also in Ted and Ted 2 with Mark Wahlberg. Like many events, ComicCons come in a variety of genres, and Fayetteville’s ComicCon encompasses just about all of them. 

Michael Chaudhuri cast a wide net when he set out to host Fayetteville’s 2015 ComicCon last year. And why wouldn’t he? He knows the area and the diversity that thrives here. In short, last year’s event was a success, drawing more than 8,000 visitors. Chaudhuri could have stopped there. Instead, he decided to go even bigger this year. “Our con features a little bit of everything. If its geek, we got it,” said Chaudhuri, adding, “We do more than most conventions in the country. We have great guests, gaming, cos play, a kids dome, sci-fi speed dating — we put Fayetteville on the map. We had a lot of people say Fayetteville wouldn’t support an event like this … then people came and were amazed.”

With 72,000 square feet of space to fill, Chaudhuri pulled out all the stops bringing in special guests from the world of comics and popular culture; MtG, Heroclix, Yu-Gi-Oh other items of interest include video game tournaments; panels; portfolio reviews; trivia contests; martial arts and swordplay demonstrations; door prizes; photo ops; free comics or packs of non-sports cards to everybody (while supplies last); and two cosplay contests, with prizes galore, including one for best active-duty military entrant. 

Jones has been attending ComicCons for about 20 years, but the last two years have been especially busy. For fans, this is a great opportunity to come out and talk with Jones one-on-one and take pictures with him. “I am usually scheduled for a panel, and I really enjoy these because the moderator usually opens it up to the fans. The questions are always really good,” said Jones. “One common comment is, ‘It must have been a lot of fun making Flash Gordon.’ Believe it or not, because I was in every scene, I didn’t get any time to enjoy it. It took five months to complete. I was sent from one set to another to shoot a scene, to rehearse a scene, to practice with a bullwhip artist, the list went on. And in your 20s, it is easy to do. Now, I get to do screenings and other events with the fans, and I enjoy that.”

The guest list is impressive with ghost hunters, actors from a variety of films and shows including Power Rangers, Pokémon and The Walking Dead. Comic book artists and authors, Tugg the Super dog, Kitt the car from Knight Rider and the Scooby van will also be onsite.

For Chaudhuri, bringing guests like Jones to the event is an important part the activities, but it is one piece of a big and colorful puzzle. “It is going to be crazy for us,” he said. “I like to see the smiles and people having fun. One of the highlights was dancing and a main stage … last year we had 10 Harley Quinns dancing together. There were Dead Pools, dancing furbies and other characters. We didn’t have a plan for that, but when I saw 12 Dead Pools dancing together, I knew we had something good.”

If EJ Snyder looks familiar, there’s a good reason. This retired Army combat veteran fell in love with survival training when he was at the U.S. Army Ranger School. He was a U.S. Army Ranger School instructor, a Survival and Tracking instructor and a drill sergeant. He went on to appear on Discovery Channel’s Naked and Afraid three times, TNT’s 72 Hours and History Channel’s Patton 360. He’s currently the host of Discovery Channel’s Dual Survival. “A lot of people don’t realize I am a Fayetteville resident. I get asked all the time what I am doing here,” said Snyder. Being a retiree, it works for my family. It was nice having survival work waiting for me. I’ve been on three Naked and Afraid’s, and I am the host of Dual Survival. We did three episodes in Brazil, we went to Utah and the Louisiana swamps as well as the country of Georgia. That episode aired recently. Our last two episodes take place in Africa.”

While the Dual Survival season is almost over, Snyder says he’s not done with survival shows just yet. “We are waiting for Dual Survival to let us know if we are going to do another season. We will see what happens. I have several other shows I am getting ready to pitch to different networks, too.”

When he’s not filming, Snyder stays busy in the community. He is a motivational speaker, makes appearances at local venues and looks for opportunities to share his survival training and knowledge wherever and whenever he can. “I offer classes for backpacking and survival training. I do demos at schools and have even done birthday parties,” he said.

Fans can find Snyder at the Fayetteville ComicCon Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shop booth on from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. “I’ll be there to meet and greet fans and talk with them,” said Snyder. “There will be some survival items for sale. I am also bringing items I used on Naked and Afraid and Dual Survival. I will answer questions about any of the shows. We are talking about maybe doing a Zombie Apocalypse survival panel, too.” 

For more information about Snyder, visit www.ejsnyder.com.

It’s not always easy for big organizations to work together, especially when it comes to sensitive subjects like child abuse, but the Child Advocacy Center and its partners do just that. They work together to provide a safe place for abused children (more than 670 of them last year alone) to talk about traumatic events — one time. Then local agencies and law enforcement get to work on behalf of the young victims. There is no telling and retelling. No reliving the drama. A mission this big and this important takes a lot of planning and coordination. And money. On Saturday, Oct. 15, the Child Advocacy Center is set to host its Third Annual Pinwheel Masquerade Ball and Auction to Unmask Child Abuse at the Metropolitan Room in Downtown Fayetteville. 

This is Ann Shaw’s third year on the planning committee, and she’s looking forward to the big day. “My favorite part of the whole thing is watching everyone and seeing how they are dressed up. The thing I really like about the ball is that it is almost like walking into a winter wonderland. The decorations and lighting are fantastic, and seeing every one dressed up and getting into the theme is a lot of fun. We wanted to make sure is that it didn’t look like a prom. We wanted it to be a fascinating event, and I think we did that.” 

Come ready for a good time, and don’t forget to bring a mask for pictures in the photo booth that will be on site and the mask contest. A deejay, dance demonstrations, live and silent auctions including things like vacation packages and other items are planned. Come hungry, too. The 11 culinary sponsors are going out of their way to impress the crowd with food and drink options.

“We have a mask contest and that is fun to watch. Some people really get into it,” said Shaw. “We have seen everything from handheld eye masks to painted on masks to a porcelain mask that was custom made to fit the person wearing it,” said Shaw. Mask contest categories include (most unique mask, best mask couple, best mask female, best mask male, best mask group and best ensemble from head to toe.)

The menu is designed to enhance the already elegant event. All 11 of the culinary sponsors come ready to impress. This year, the food is provided by Evans Catering, Inc.; Sweet Surprise Candy Buffet; R Burger; Chris’s Steak House; Dorothy’s 2 Catering; Sammio’s Italian Restaurant; The Wine Café and The Coffee Cup; Elite Catering; PDQ; Sherefe; and Cooking Connection; and A Taste of West Africa. “We also have a signature drink that will be provided by Broadslab Distillery,” Shaw added.

The auctions, both silent and live, are a big part of the evening. Items up for bid are: lodging and breakfast at the Cape Fear Winery; a golf package for golf enthusiast; Alaska Cruise on Royal Caribbean; UNC football game tickets with signed UNC football; private villa for eight in Cabo San Lucas; Costa Rica getaway; two Myrtle Beach vacations and many more exciting live and silent auction packages. 

Proceeds from the event go to the Child Advocacy Center and bolster efforts and programs to serve local children. “Growing up in a community where people watched out for each other’s children gave me a sense of security as a child. Remember the old saying, ‘It takes a village to raise a child?’ Finding that mentality today is very rare. That is why the need to provide educational programs that recognize and prevents child abuse is greater now than it has ever been before. Victims of child abuse are often left without hope, and it saddens my heart. I’ve always felt very blessed as a child and as a mother, and so I want to be a part of an organization that provides hope, help and healing to victims of child abuse,” said Shaw. 

 Tickets are $100 per person, $175 per couple and $850 for a table of eight. Tickets can be purchased at the Child Advocacy Center, or order online at CACFAyNC.org; Eventbrite or text PINWHEEL to 44222. 

Oct. 15 is the beginning of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra’s 2016-2017 season. The concert, Fall Spooktacular is focused on fun, seasonal music and sponsored by Sandhills Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. For this concert, the musicians perform a mix of classical and popular music with the idea of celebrating a fun, spooky and family-friendly Halloween. All of the music is set to stories of witches and sorcerers. Some of the featured pieces are works like Bach’s “Toccata & Fugue in D Minor,” music from Harry Potter and even music from Psycho. Families are encouraged to get into the spirit of the season and to enjoy the concert, in Huff Concert Hall at Methodist University, dressed in their finest Halloween costumes.

Another exciting aspect of this concert is that it is part of the Final Five Series. This series highlights five conductors applying for the position of music director/conductor of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra. In order to give the community a voice in the decision of who will be the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra’s next conductor, these five applicants have been invited to guest conduct a concert. These concerts are essentially public auditions. After each concert, an opportunity for audience members to comment on the concert and on the conductor is planned. The feedback received in this manner is used by the Symphony Board of Directors to make the final decision. 

The guest conductor for the “Fall Spooktacular” is Alfred Sturgis. He is currently the conductor of the Tar River Orchestra, Carolina Ballet and the North Carolina Master Chorale. Audience members will have the opportunity to get to know Sturgis a little before the concert with the Pre-Concert Talk. Joining Sturgis on the stage is the FSO “Music Nerd.” The Pre Concert talk will start at 6:45 p.m., and everyone is invited to learn more about the potential new leader of the orchestra. 

Tickets for the “Fall Spooktacular” are $27 and can be purchased at www.fayettevillesymphony.org. However, there are also season packages available that offer discounts with the purchase of multiple tickets. 

From it’s inception in 1956 the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra has been dedicated to the citizens of Cumberland County. The symphony works to educate, entertain and inspire through its artistic excellence. Having community input in the selection of the new musical director/conductor is vital for the future of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra. This is a unique opportunity to help shape the artistic nature of the musical community in Fayetteville. Community support and participation is what makes this work, and it may be difficult to pick your favorite conductor if you have only seen one of the five auditions.

The next guest conductor is Stefan Sanders who will lead the concert, “Czech is Out!” on Nov. 19. During this concert, the Fayetteville Symphony will bring to life Dvorak’s “Symphony No. 8,” which harkens to Bohemian folk music. Mozart’s “Piano Concerto No. 8 in E-Flat Major” is also part of the performance by soloist Scott Marosek. Sanders is currently the Associate Conductor of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. He will also be available for conversation during a Pre-Concert Talk with the FSO
“Music Nerd.”

The issue has bubbled beneath the surface for years: Does the annual Dogwood Festival have a broad appeal to Fayetteville’s diverse population? The most recently available demographic data indicates the city’s population of 204,000 residents is 45 percent White, 41 percent African-American and 10 percent Hispanic. Mayor Pro-Temp Mitch Colvin alluded to the figures at a Fayetteville City Council meeting when questioning whether festival musical headliners appeal to all segments of the community. Colvin had met privately with Festival Executive Director Carrie King prior to the meeting to discuss musical diversity that might broaden the appeal to African-Americans. Historically, Friday and Saturday night headliners have been country and rock performers. 

Colvin, and Councilmen Chalmers McDougald and Larry Wright contend the main acts do not represent music preferences of half the community. King contends that over the course of the three-day festival as many as 25 diverse acts appear on stage. Colvin said the city contributes more than $100,000 in in-kind services and should expect main events to appeal to a broad swath of the community. During the popular three-day spring festival, King says, the events attract from 200,000 to 250,000 people each year. “We think we do a fair job of programing,” King said, adding that a 2011 study found the top four musical genres favored by festival-goers were country, rock, jazz and Christian.

More than once King invited Council members to join with the organization’s board in the selection of performers. She said the board of directors takes into account festival goer’s preferences, sponsor considerations and the budget in selecting musical acts. “I think there is a way that we can amicably work this out and make this more of a community event,” Colvin said during the Council meeting. Mayor Nat Robertson agreed. But McDougald pointedly took note that only one member of the festival board present was black. “It’s really lacking a little bit,” he said. “We have never excluded anyone from the decision-making process,” King insisted. She has been executive-director of the private organization since 2006. 

“The Dogwood Festival recognizes the … growing diversity in the community and inclusion at festivals,” Board Chair Mary Beth MacKenzie said in a news release issued immediately following the Council meeting. “We have already planned our 2017 festival and entertainment, but this discussion will potentially frame the 2018 process,” she added. King would not disclose the performers or musical genres chosen for next year. MacKenzie pointed out the board has a non-scientific survey available on the Festival’s website asking about musical preferences. The survey choices are country, rock, urban/R&B/hip hop and jazz/blues. 

For nearly 35 years Fayetteville’s Dogwood Festival has placed among the top festivals in North Carolina. The organization has donated more than $110,000 to other non-profits in the community. It’s stated purposes includes in part “encouraging unity through celebration and fostering civic pride.”

Houston Astros President Reid Ryan came to Fayetteville last week, four days after he purchased a California minor league baseball team for $10 million. He plans to move the club to Fayetteville where it will join the Carolina League as an expansion team. Reid, 43, is one of the youngest team presidents in the game. He stopped in at Fayetteville City Hall for a few minutes to introduce himself to members of City Council’s Baseball Committee. Consultant Jason Frier was on the phone as the son of Hall of Fame Major League pitcher Nolan Ryan was introduced. 

Frier is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Hardball Capital whose core business is the operation of affiliated Minor League Baseball teams. He owns stadiums in San Antonio and Columbia, S.C., and has been hired to guide Fayetteville through the process of building a $33 million stadium. City-owned property behind the downtown Prince Charles hotel building is the site of the new ballpark. It will be modeled after Frier’s Triple-A stadium in Columbia. He told the committee that he expects a formal lease agreement will be ready for council’s consideration in the next 30 to 45 days. “That’s when the city’s memorandum of understanding becomes a binding contract,” said Frier. At the same time, a stadium architect will be selected. Thereafter business details will be finalized with an eye toward executing the contract and beginning site construction in July. 

The South Carolina facility, Spirit Communications Park, was honored by Ballpark Digest as its 2016 Ballpark of the Year. It was selected as the top park across Minor League Baseball nationally for 2016. “Spirit Communications Park is not only our Ballpark of the Year, it’s also one of the best ballparks opened in the last decade,” said Publisher Kevin Reichard. It’s “the centerpiece of serious economic development in Columbia,” he added. Fayetteville’s Baseball Committee members and city staffers visited the Columbia facility this summer and came away committed to patterning the local stadium after it, albeit on a smaller scale. 

The team the Houston Astros purchased is one of two franchises that are leaving the California League at the end of the 2016 season. Both will join the Carolina League. Kinston, which has a professional baseball history dating back to 1956, landed a Texas Rangers MiLB team. With the Sept. 30 purchase of its California team, the Astros have committed to Fayetteville for the second Carolina League club. “We are happy that professional baseball will return to Kinston and we are pleased with the steps Fayetteville has taken to bring professional baseball back to that great city as well,” said Minor League Baseball President & CEO Pat O’Conner. 

Fayetteville won’t be thought of as home of the new team during construction of the stadium. It will play in a yet to be determined temporary location, probably not in Cumberland County because officials are not optimistic that a Fayetteville location can be found. County government is said to be negotiating an extension of its agreement with the summer college league Swamp Dogs for use of J.P. Riddle Stadium. Jim Perry Stadium on the campus of Campbell University is under serious considered as the temporary home until the new Fayetteville stadium opens for the 2019 season. Jim Perry Stadium seats fewer than 700 fans. Buies Creek is 35
 miles from Fayetteville in Harnett County.

About 50 people were present at the Fellowship Hall of Highland Presbyterian Church for a community meeting some knew nothing about until they got there. The City of Fayetteville’s Planning Division organized the session as a follow-up to some brainstorming about the future of Haymount over the summer. Urban Designer Eloise Sahlstrom told the group she wanted to hear ideas from Haymount residents and business people about their hopes and concerns for the future of the community. 

Haymount was named for a prominent 18th century citizen of Fayetteville, John Hay, whose estate was named Hay Mount. Hay Street bears his name. In 1789, Hay was made one of the original trustees of the University of North Carolina. 

Sahlstrom and Fayetteville Planning Director Scott Shuford said ideas from residents would help the city better understand key planning issues that are critical to the future of Haymount.

 “How do you envision Haymount 20 years from now?” Sahlstrom asked. An hour later, the responses gleaned from a dozen or so roundtable discussions were varied, but there were some common concerns. Many residents are disappointed that older houses are being torn down and replaced with newer homes that don’t always match the traditional character of the neighborhood. Parking in the five points business area has always been a problem. Some bemoaned the lack of sidewalks in some areas. The retail community is varied but residents would like to see a small, mom and pop grocery, which they believe the community would support.  What they don’t want is a big box supermarket. 

City planners came up with the idea of “Uptown Haymount” as a way of branding the historic area. 

“One hundred-year-old homes could qualify for the National Register of Historic Places,” said Sahlstrom. 

She displayed a map of century-old homes and others known to be 75-years-old. She told the gathering that the study conducted by the city is especially timely and pertinent given a number of factors, including the recent destruction by fire of the Haymont Grill. Many are still wondering if it will be rebuilt. She also pointed to talk of building a Civil War History Center at Arsenal Park. As envisioned, the center would replace the Museum of the Cape Fear, and once built would be operated and maintained by the state.  

Some of those in attendance said they had no idea what the meeting was all about but had heard about it by word-of-mouth from neighbors. They were the same longtime residents who recently persuaded the Fayetteville City Council not to allow conversion of an historic ante bellum house on Morganton Road known as Fair Oaks into a private school. City officials describe the community is “very neighborly” and self-protective. A follow up meeting is planned for Nov. 3.

Former Fayetteville City Manager Ted Voorhees is working for an executive recruiting firm that has been retained by Cumberland County to find a new director of the Solid Waste Management Department. Developmental Associates is a North Carolina-based company that most recently conducted searches for county government to hire an assistant county manager and tax administrator. “Voorhees is doing consulting work for Developmental Associates, which … is assisting with our Solid Waste recruitment process,” said county spokesperson Sally Shutt. Voorhees is employed by and being paid by Developmental Associates and is not employed by the county, she added. Former Solid Waste Director Bobby Howard retired on Dec. 31, 2015. He was with the county for 33 years and was Solid Waste Management director for 11 years. Engineering and Infrastructure Director Jeffery Brown is serving as interim director. Voorhees resigned under fire earlier this year after three-and-a-half years as Fayetteville city manager. 

 

 

 

 

 

2017 Principal of the Year

Dr. Vernon S. Lowery, principal of Westover Senior High School, is Cumberland County Schools’ Principal of the Year. Lowery will now compete against other regional award recipients. One of them will be selected as North Carolina’s 2017 Wells Fargo Principal of the Year. Lowery has served as a school administrator for nine years. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Chemistry from Methodist University. Lowery later obtained Master’s in Education and School Administration and a Ph.D. in Education from Fayetteville State University. Lowery only recently was appointed principal of Westover High. As Principal of the Year, Dr. Lowery received an award from the Cumberland County Board of Education, plus a cash award and floral arrangement, an engraved desk clock, a commemorative Principal of the Year ring, a $5,000 check for school use and $1,000 for her personal use from LaFayette Ford/Lincoln. E.E. Smith High School Principal Melody Chalmers won statewide accolades this past year as the North Carolina Principal of the Year.

 

 

 

 

Police Command Staff ChangesThe retirement of Fayetteville Police Chief Harold Medlock has resulted in a number of personnel changes in the police department’s command staff. Interim Police Chief Anthony Kelly has named Captain Jesse Devane an acting assistant chief. He will supervise the Uniformed Patrol Bureau for the next 10 weeks while Assistant Chief Michael Petti is away attending the FBI National Academy. Assistant Chief Chris Davis is in charge of the Administrative Bureau, which provides technical services and training. Davis also heads the training and communications division. Assistant Chief Katherine Bryant continues to lead the Investigative Bureau as Chief of Detectives. Petti will resume his post as Administrative Bureau Chief when he returns to duty and Davis will lead the Patrol Bureau, said spokesman Lt. Todd Joyce.

 

 

 

 

 

Fox Attacks Two Men

The State Public Health Lab in Raleigh has confirmed a positive result of rabies in Cumberland County. Animal Control picked up a dead fox at Rosamond Drive, off Ramsey Street near Methodist College Oct. 4. County spokesman Jon Soles says the fox chased two men, one of whom was in a golf cart. The men jumped over a fence into a nearby resident’s yard. “The fox tried to jump over the fence, but the two men killed the animal by striking it with a golf club and a tree limb,” said Soles. Animal Control officers retrieved the fox’s body afterward. It was the seventh case of rabies in the County this year.

Deep in our hearts, we all know what is most important in our lives — who and what are dearest to us, who and what have shaped the lives we are living. For me, outside my own family, closest friends and good health, my education has shaped and enriched my life more than any factor I can name. My education, most of which was delivered in the public schools of North Carolina and in our revered UNC system, has given me the tools to understand at least some of our world, helped me enjoyed cultural and artistic creations by my fellow human beings and encouraged me to satisfy my curiosity about whatever crosses my mind, first in libraries and now in the comfort of my own home with my own computer. I even confess to waking up in the middle of the night with some question on my mind and researching it right then and there with my tablet computer. This is the real gift of technology for me! Like everything else, though, education is changing. I would not change my liberal arts studies — I was an English Literature major —a s I know I would not be “me” without all that reading — some engrossing, some boring, and lots somewhere in between. I also know, though, that the way many people view education and particularly higher education has changed dramatically. Gone are the concepts of education’s inherent value to individual and his quality of life and of the critical importance of an educated society. In is the notion that education is merely a ticket to a better job and higher income with no emphasis on less quantifiable but undeniable enrichment of education. As the concept of education as a ticket to income and little else spread, so did the idea of the receiver of an education as a “consumer,” not as a student. And, if that person is a consumer, he must then pay for what he consumes, resulting in rising tuitions and falling public funding for education at all levels. This is the thinking that education is an individual expense, not a public good, that has turned education into a business saddled millions of Americans with debts some of us will never be able to repay. Now you know some of the worries that keep me up at night, researching on my tablet or just tossing and turning. A new documentary, Starving the Beast, takes a hard look at what is happening in American public higher education, including such respected research institutions as Louisiana State University and the Universities of Iowa, Wisconsin, Virginia, and our own University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. All have seen significant funding cuts from state legislatures, so deep in some cases that LSU actually considered filing bankruptcy. Writing in Inside Higher Ed, Ellen Wexler describes the issue the film confronts this way. “The film lays out an overview of the debate’s philosophical underpinnings: originally, states saw public colleges as a worthwhile investment in their residents. Poor students could gain useful skills and move up in the world while also contributing to their states’ economies. In the early days of public higher education systems, many states charged little if any tuition. “On the other side, there are the reformers and think-tank leaders, the anti-spending politicians and political operatives... say that public colleges are too wasteful, and lawmakers feel an obligation to keep taxes low.” Count me on the side of quality public education at all levels in North Carolina, as our state Constitution clearly mandates. Article 1 reads, “…. knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools, libraries and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.” Article 9 tells us whose responsibility higher education is. “The General Assembly shall provide that the benefits of the University of North Carolina and other public institutions of higher education, as far as practicable, be extended to the people of the State free of expense.” I believe that education is not a product but an enriching experience that grows and lasts a lifetime. I believe that education strengthens both the individual and society at large, and that is important to know the history of where we come from and to recognize works of great literature and art. I believe that if we think of education the same way we think of buying a car or a house, we are not seeing the big picture of what it means to be an educated person or an educated society. Someone can take your car or your house, but once you have an education, you can share it with others without losing it and no one can ever take it away.

The Indigo Moon Film Festival will bring 38 independent films to Downtown Fayetteville Oct. 7-9, featuring the work of students and seasoned professionals alike. The films were submitted from around the world, including some from local filmmakers.

“If you love films, I hope you will make your way here,” Pat Wright said.  

Wright and Jan Johnson, founders of local non-profit GroundSwell Pictures, organized the event. Both Johnson and Wright are award-winning producers/directors/writers. After years of attending other film festivals, the pair decided to organize a festival locally.

“We do have a thriving arts community here,” Johnson said. “But film is not well-represented to enhance our cultural arts options.”

The festival is the first of its kind in Fayetteville, Wright said.  

“There will be films from around the world,” Wright added, noting that films were submitted from the U.S., Great Britain, Australia, Myanmar, Thailand, India and Hong Kong. “Through these films we get to see other cultures, feel empathy and understanding.”

At about a dozen of the screenings, the actual filmmakers will be on site to discuss the film afterward, Johnson said.  

The pair explained how they came up with the name of the festival.

“Independent films are called ‘indie,’” Johnson said. 

“You have an opportunity like this once in a blue moon,” Wright added.  “This is our chance, our once in a blue moon.”

No strangers to taking chances or filmmaking, Wright and Johnson created GroundSwell in 2014 to engage and inspire others by making films, teaching filmmaking, showing films and supporting other filmmakers.  Their own films tackle tough topics such as child pornography, the effects of desegregation and recovery efforts in Haiti after an earthquake killed more than 230,000 people in 2010. Wright and Johnson say they are committed to educating the public and creating a groundswell of constructive change.

While some of the films shown during the festival will cover serious topics such as genocide in Iraq, suicide and domestic violence, there are also lighter and humorous topics — the story of a 100-year-old artist, the happenings at a hotdog stand, nuns cited with “radical feminism” by the Vatican.

First-time festival-goers should visit the website www.indigomoonfilmfestival.com  to review descriptions of the films and watch the trailers. With 38 titles and a wide variety of genres, there is something for every viewer. The selections range from two-minute short films to two-hour features.  

Not only for those who enjoy viewing films, the IMFF is a competition. There are six cash awards and five awards voted on by the audience. The categories are: narrative feature, narrative short, documentary feature, documentary short, animation and student film. All films will be shown over three days in four venues Downtown: the Cameo Art House Theatre, the Arts Council, Hay Street United Methodist Church and the Cumberland County Headquarters Library.

Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise will open the festival on Friday at 7 p.m. at the Cameo, Wright said. The film, released earlier this year, is a documentary about poet, author and performer Dr. Maya Angelou. It reflects on how the events of history, culture and the arts shaped Angelou’s life and how she inspired others through her autobiographical literature and activism.

The film has been on the independent film festival circuit, Johnson said, explaining it is a rare opportunity to be able to show it in Fayetteville.  

“We all kind of embraced her as our own,” Johnson said, “We thought we knew her.” 

Before her death in 2014, Angelou taught at Wake Forest University and made her home in Winston-Salem. The documentary includes clips from older interviews as well as her final interviews, and goes into parts of her life most are unfamiliar with, Johnson said. 

After seeing the film about Angelou’s life, “You can’t help but feel inspired and motivated,” Wright said.

On Sunday, the final day of the festival, an awards banquet BBQ is slated at SkyView on Hay Street at noon with an encore showing of the winning films at 1:30 at the Cameo.

There are several options for film-goers. To attend the opening night film and party at SkyView, tickets are $25. Tickets are $15 to attend the awards banquet. Individual tickets for films are $10. Tickets to see blocks of the short films, which range from two to 30 minutes each, are $10. You can also purchase a VIP pass for $80-$100 which includes the opening night film and party, the awards banquet, tickets for up to five film blocks, an IMFF festival tote and first admittance to screenings. There are discounts for students, seniors, military and Moon Shadow Film Society members.

There is limited seating in all venues, and you must pre-select your choice of films when you purchase tickets/passes to guarantee your seat.  You can purchase passes on the website or go to the Rainbow Room on Hay Street.

Any unclaimed seats will be made available for $10 cash only five minutes before the screenings.

Under GroundSwell Pictures, Johnson and Wright also run the Moon Shadow Film Society, which hosts a screening of an independent film at the Cameo Art House Theatre the first Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. Fittingly enough, October’s film was The Last Film Festival.

“It is the film Dennis Hopper was working on when he passed away,” Wright said. Hopper stars as a movie producer whose film has been turned down by 3,999 of the 4,000 film festivals in the world.

Like the Indigo Film Festival, the actual filmmakers are often on hand to answer questions and discuss the film after the screening. Also after each Film Society screening, the audience is invited to a reception at the Rainbow Room.

The next Film Society screening is Oddball on Nov. 1. The film is based on the true story of a chicken farmer who trains his mischievous dog to protect a wild penguin sanctuary from fox attacks and in the process tries to reunite his family and save their seaside town. The film is appropriate for the entire family.

Tickets for Moon Shadow Film Society showings can be purchased at the Cameo. 

For more information on the Indigo Film Festival or the Moon Shadow Film Society, visit www.groundswellpictures.co

Cumberland County Schools presents its 13th Annual Reading Rocks Walk-A-Thon & Block Party on Saturday, Oct. 15, at 8:30 a.m. in Festival Park in Downtown Fayetteville. 

“Reading Rocks is an event that Cumberland County Schools hosts each year and it promotes literacy among our schools,” said Jody Hawley, executive director of information technology and media services. “We actually have several events going on during Reading Rocks.” Hawley added that after the walk, the school district’s Parent Teacher Association will have a “Rock the Block” party. 

The walk-a-thon is a 15-minute walk in Fayetteville’s historic downtown area. “We have thousands of walkers attend each year,” said Hawley.  “Last year our schools raised more than  $265,000, so we would love to top that amount this year.” 

The proceeds are used to purchase books, digital tools and other learning items that will benefit the students and media centers in Cumberland County. 

The agenda consists of the mayor and Dr. Frank Till, superintendent of Cumberland County Schools speaking. John Malzone is the emcee of the event. Choruses and band ensembles will provide entertainment. “We have invited mascots from the community as well as mascots from our schools to attend the walk,” said Hawley. “We will have our high school host band inside Festival Park leading the music for the chorus and we will also have other middle and high school bands along the route so all walkers can enjoy the sights and sounds of our school bands.”         

A new addition to the event this year is the “Rock the Block” party sponsored by the district’s Parent Teacher Association that takes place after the walk. There will be a deejay, food trucks and community vendors on site.  “We are excited to partner with our district PTA this year and we hope the block party will be a success,” said Hawley.  

Promoting literacy among students is very important to Cumberland County Schools. “We know children who gain literacy skills at a young age are more successful,” said Hawley. “All subject areas require reading and we know kids who have a high vocabulary do well in reading and other subject areas.” Hawley added that reading is fun and it lets kids’ imaginations run wild when they read fiction. They also get to learn new things when they read nonfiction and be explorers. She noted that it truly is a wonderful thing to see a child who can master reading.    

Sponsor categories range from $25 for Book Buddy to the Platinum Superintendent’s Circle for $5,000. Any amount is appreciated. Checks can be made payable to your child’s school or CCS’ Media Services to support the countywide Reading Rocks fund. 

“We look forward to seeing everyone at the event,” said Hawley. 

The event is rain or shine. Gates open at 8 a.m. The walk will begin at 9 a.m.  For more information or to become a sponsor, call 678-2613.