Michelle Ingram loves jazz and she loves to laugh. She left Fayetteville 28 years ago and cultivated her love of jazz in places far and wide. “I have a lot of musician friends from Colorado, California, Florida and it was fun to go see them perform,” she said. 

Ingram recently returned Fayetteville and was pleasantly surprised at everything there is to do here. “It was like Fayetteville just exploded. Places that I remember as fields and dirt roads have shopping centers and housing developments on them now,” she said. While Fayetteville is definitely not the place she left almost three decades ago, Ingram is eager to be a part of the positive growth that has redefined the city — by bringing some of that jazz she loves so much to the community. “I moved here and my friends would call and they asked if there is a jazz club here,” said Ingram. “And they were surprised when I told them there is not. Actually, I was surprised, too, because there is some amazing talent here. I think a lot of people are unaware just how much local talent there is here or how good the local jazz artists are. Or maybe because a musician is local they don’t think of the performer as a big name. But if you look at where they have been and who they played with, they are big — and they are that good.” 

With a passion for jazz and comedy, connections in the music world, a deep pool of local talent, a growing city with a thriving music and arts culture, and experience promoting music events and venues in the past, it was clear to Ingram what she needed to do. She started Michelle’s Jazz and Comedy Entertainment and started putting together the inaugural season of Fayetteville’s Jazz and Comedy Showcase.

Instead of opening a jazz club, Ingram intends to host shows at different venues around Fayetteville. “I am thinking there will be a concert or comedy show every two months or so,” said Ingram. It will be enough that people can look forward to quality entertainment, but not so much that they become uninterested.” Her goal is to host a jazz festival in Festival Park in the summer of 2017 in addition to concerts and comedy shows throughout the year.

The first performance is scheduled for June 18 at the Metropolitan Room. The entertainment roster features an opening performance by Pete Everett and the Total Package Band, which is a touring international band playing original, jazz-infused rhythm and blues, funk, jazz and gospel music.

Poet Kwabena Dinizulu is set to perform also.

Vocalist Theo Valentin and bassist and musical director Mike Ely will perform as well as special guests Sam Rucker and Willie Bradley. Valentin sang her first solo for an audience in her church when she was just 5-years-old and her passion has never waned. She performed in high school and attended Norfolk University in Norfolk, Virginia, majoring in voice and minoring in piano. She’s been performing ever since.

Saxophonist Sam Rucker is known for connecting to the audience with his music. With two albums under his belt, Rucker’s original songs are not only encouraging, they are entertaining as well.

A son of Fayetteville, trumpeter Willie Bradley has a degree in music education and performance. He’s played with  pros including  Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Frank Foster, Max Roach, Betty Carter and Nat Adderley.

Grammy-award winner Norman Connors and the Starship Orchestra will headline the show. A native of Philadelphia, Connors showed an interest in jazz at a young age. He met music legend and his personal idol, Miles Davis, when he was just 13. By his early 20s he’d signed a record deal with Buddah Records and scored several hit songs including “You Are My Starship” and “Valentine Love.” His later songs include “Take It to the Limit,” “Black Cow” and “Passion.”

Set in a jazz night club setting, Ingram chose the Metropolitan room for its cozy feel. “There will be appetizers, which are included in the price of the ticket, and the tables will be for four instead of eight to make this an intimate experience.” 

There are two show times of 7 and 10 p.m. 

Next in the series is the 100 percent Outrageous Clean Comedy Show on July 30.  “Comedy shows are really enjoyable — laughing is important,” said Ingram. “Sometimes big shows come to town, but at the end of the day, if you can go to a small venue and have a good laugh, that’s just as good.  So I try to bring more clean comedy to the area. I guess as you get older maybe you don’t want to hear the profanity as much.” 

This event is at the Embassy Suites Hotel Ballroom. Entertainers include Dave Martin, Elaine Postman, Michelle Miller, Chris Petty and Ray Thomas. 

Ingram says she is in this for the long haul and is pouring her heart and soul into the project with the intention of having a lasting positive impact on the community. 

“I’m no one-hit wonder. I know other promoters have come and gone and maybe have left a bad taste in people’s mouths, but I am here to stay.” 

Other shows scheduled this year include:The Hit Ladies of Comedy Show at the Embassy Suites Hotel Ballroom on Oct. 1; The Latin Jazz Explosion at The Metropolitan Room on Nov. 5; and The Heart of Christmas at The Crown Theatre on Dec. 3.

For more information, visit www.michellesjazzcomedyent.com/home.html.

This is going to be the greatest election year in history. Each presidential election the candidates tell us this is the most important election in the history of the Republic. It never is, but politicians like saying that. They think we forgot that the last election was supposed to be the most important one in the history of time. 2016’s election may not be the most important one, but it is certainly going to be more fun than all of the previous campaigns put together.

What is so rare as the 2016 presidential election? Let us count the ways. The contest between The Donald and Lyin’ Ted Cruz is more fun than a barrel of snakes, particularly for Democrats. Little warms the cockles of democratic hearts more than watching a Republican circular firing squad plunking away at each other. You can’t make up what is happening to Republicans. Former House Speaker John Boehner calls Ted Cruz “Lucifer in the Flesh.” “Lucifer in the Flesh” sounds like the name of a porn flick. For the moment, ponder Cruz in a porn flick. That’s long enough. Now try to get the thought of Cruz in a porn flick out of your mind. It can’t be unthought. Your psyche is scarred for life.

Ted is our very special little guy. His warm and fuzzy personality brings out the poetic in his coworkers. Senator Lindsey Graham said, “If you killed Ted Cruz on the floor of the Senate, and the trial was in the Senate, nobody would convict you.” I first became aware that Ted might be the Zodiac Killer while watching Larry Wilmore tell jokes at the White House Correspondents Dinner. I was puzzled when Larry kept repeating that Ted was the Zodiac Killer. I missed the joke. After extensive research on Google, I learned many people believe that Ted is the Zodiac Killer. The Zodiac Killer story has gotten so much play that Ted’s wife, Heidi, recently had to deny that Ted was the Zodiac Killer. When asked if her husband was in fact the famous serial killer, Heidi issued a carefully worded non-denial denial: “Well, I’ve been married to him for 15 years, and I know pretty well who he is, so it doesn’t bother me at all. There’s a lot of garbage out there. Well, anyway a lot of people are swayed by it.” 

This leaves the door open. Maybe it doesn’t bother her that Ted is the Zodiac Killer. 

Sure enough, Ted does look like the police artist’s sketch of the Zodiac Killer. He fits the profile for a serial killer. He is a loner. The people who know him the best, his fellow senators dislike him intensely. Unfortunately, Ted was born in Canada in 1970. The Zodiac Killer killed his first victim in 1968. Unless Ted did some invitro murdering before he was even a gleam in his dad’s eye he is not the Zodiac Killer. Yet the rumor grows and grows. Republicans must answer the musical question: “Do we really want the Zodiac Killer to be President?” 

Ted displayed a sociopath’s disregard for the rules of polite society by picking his Veep Carly Fiorina before winning the nomination. Carly is now on board the Cruz ship Titanic helping Ted rearrange the deck chairs before crashing into the iceberg that is The Donald’s hair. 

Meanwhile back in North Carolina, it has been a delight to watch Governor McCrory twisting slowly in the wind in which the General Assembly left him to dangle while trying to explain our notorious House Bill 2. Watching McCrory’s interview with Megan Kelly defending HB 2 reminded me of something Mark Twain wrote. “A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way.” McCrory is doomed to carry the HB 2 cat by the tail all the way to November’s election. McCrory told Megan, “I can’t believe we are still talking about this.” He is having a learning experience that is going to keep on teaching. The most recent Civitas poll has McCrory 10 points behind Democrat Roy Cooper, his opponent for governor. 

Civitas is a conservative outfit which makes McCrory’s bad numbers remarkable. 

As we all know, under HB 2, transgender people must use the bathroom on their birth certificate. The potty enforcement mechanism remains to be spelled out for us. Maybe the Republicans will hire former House Speaker Dennis Hastert or former Subway spokesman Jarad Fogle to inspect the naughty bits of people using public bathrooms. 

This is going to be the greatest election ever. 

Ain’t democracy grand? 

City Center Gallery and Books isn’t like the large chain book stores. Located in downtown Fayetteville at 112 Hay Street, it is a beautiful place to spend an afternoon and get in touch with the local artistic community. Diane Parfitt is the owner of the City Center Gallery and Books, and for her, this bookstore is a dream come true. 

“I always wanted to open a bookstore. I was always in a book club or reading. I just loved the atmosphere. I was a nurse and I worked as a nurse for years. So it was never really something I thought would actually happen. I just thought to
myself, wouldn’t it be great,” Parfitt says.

Parfitt’s journey to fulfilling her long-time dream of owning a bookstore, wasn’t direct. 

“When my husband and I travel, we always find the local bookstores and galleries. We are art lovers, especially original pieces. We collected a lot of local art from Fayetteville artists. In 2000, when we bought this space we thought, why not make this official? So we rented out a space in downtown and had a gallery for a few years. We were renovating our space, and as we got closer we thought that having the gallery by itself might not be the best option,” she explained. “I always wanted a bookstore, so why not? A bookstore and a gallery are a perfect combo!”

City Center Gallery and Books is primarily a used bookstore. Much of the selection consists of classics, but there is a small section of new books that explore local history or are written by local writers. The art displayed in the gallery is also from local artists. The exhibit currently on display is Stephanie Bostock’s work, which will be displayed until May 22. Parfitt and her husband choose the artists to display in their gallery with tremendous care both by exploring local art shows and reviewing portfolios that artists submit themselves. 

Bostock’s work is a great example of this process. 

“Stephanie Bostock called us one day and introduced herself. She was getting back into art and had never been in a gallery and she wanted us to consider her art. So we arranged to meet and we went to her studio, which is in the back of her home. We walked in and in less than a minute I could see how wonderful her work was! It was an instantaneous connection. It really spoke to me. It is such a refreshing and up beat style. She has a couple of styles like watercolor and some more abstract work. It really spoke to me,” Parfitt explained. 

The next exhibit will be a compilation of several artists that embrace a summer and beach theme. All pieces displayed in the gallery are available for purchase. “Stephanie’s work is very affordable and most local artists are. You can decorate your home with pieces of and about Fayetteville or by Fayetteville artists that you have never seen before. They also make really wonderful gifts, especially for people who lived in Fayetteville and are moving,” Parfitt said. 

Find out more about City Center Gallery and Books at www.facebook.com/citycenter.galleryandbooks. Find out more about Stephanie Bostock’s art at www.stephaniebostockart.com.

It’s May – that time between the blistering heat of summer and the unpredictability of spring. This is the time of the year when people head outdoors. They start working on their yards. They start planning day trips, and, in the evening, they venture out to find a cool outdoor activity. For many people, that used to mean heading down to the Cape Fear River to take in the Cape Fear Regional Theatre’s River Show. 

With the river slowly reclaiming the stage at Campbellton Landing, the CFRT has been unable to produce a River Show the past couple of years, but the lack of an outdoor venue has definitely not prevented them from bringing great music and great musicians to the stage. This year is no exception. From May 12 through May 22, the Cape Fear Regional Theatre invites you to sit back and share an hour or so with the Man In Black, as Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cashcomes to the stage.

The River Show has always been a special project for Bo Thorp. In fact, she and her son penned a couple of the shows. For Thorp, bringing great music to the River Stage was exciting. Even though she can’t take this show to the river, she is still excited.

“The River Show always focused on great music,” said Thorp. “And that’s what people are going to get in this show.”

People who know Thorp know that she is not afraid to change a script around – or even start from scratch. With Ring of Fire, Thorp and the cast have been doing a lot of that. Thorp explained that the show was written for Broadway, which actually means that there was a lot of sparkle but not a lot of the grit that made Cash a legend. In order to bring the legend to life, Thorp is departing from the original script and the actors are doing a lot of impromptu things – all of which was part and parcel of a Johnny Cash live show.

“I’ve been doing a lot of research on Johnny Cash. I read his autobiography and it is all marked up,” she said. “I know more about Johnny Cash than I ever thought I would.”

What she has learned has not only intrigued her, but also inspired her and the cast.

“He was a very spiritual person,” she explained, noting that it was his Christian beliefs and principles that had him reaching out to the men in prison, which ultimately produced prison concerts. Cash had strayed far from the straight and narrow during his early years, but when he got himself straight, he had a compassion for those who were walking his old path.

All of this: his rowdy years, his troubled years and his just years combined to create some of the greatest music and made Cash an icon. 

Bringing Cash to life is Baxter Clement, a talented Southern Pines musician also owns Casino Guitars. Clement is no stranger to the CFRT stage or to the idea of the River Show. Several years ago he played Buddy Holly during the River Show, and he was one of the first people Thorp thought of when she started planning for Ring of Fire. Clement is classically trained, having attending the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University, the North Carolina School of the Arts and the Mozartium in Salsburg, Austria. 

He is joined on stage by James Villone, also of Southern Pines, who works at Casino Guitars. Villone is playing the role of James, a musician in Cash’s band. Like the other musicians in the show, he has challenged himself by learning other instruments and will play numerous instruments during the show.

That is part of the magic of this production. All of the musicians who are performing can play by ear and almost all have learned a new instrument. Clement said that there will be a lot of impromptu musical switches in the show, and he is looking forward to audience involvement, noting that the audience makes this kind of show.

Join the cast for a “foot-stompin salute to an American legend.” The show runs May 12-22 with tickets ranging in price from $15 to $28. To purchase tickets, call 323-4233 or online at www.cfrt.org.

How does Fayetteville present itself to America? There are at least a dozen communities named Fayetteville around the country. Many of them are very small towns. Three of them are profiled herein. 

Fayetteville, Texas, is the smallest. It’s a rural community about halfway between Austin and Houston. Its population was 274 in the 2010 census. According to the town’s web page, the settlement of Fayetteville was established by three families of Austin’s Old Three Hundred, and was originally a stagecoach stop for travelers. The town was named Fayetteville in 1844 and was later incorporated in 1882.

The City of Fayetteville, Texas, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has more than 300 historic structures. There are many historic markers and plaques around the courthouse square. The town’s water tower is the community’s most prominent landmark and gives the city its identity. It was built in the early 1930s.

Fayetteville is a bustling community with non-stop activities ranging from acoustic pickin’ in the park to chamber music concerts. It has an Arts for Rural Texas program and features regular book signings and lectures by prominent artists.

Fayetteville, Arkansas, is a college town. It’s home to the University of Arkansas. It’s the mid-size Fayetteville with a population of 74,000, and is the third largest city in Arkansas. When classes are in session, students on campus dramatically change the city’s demographics. Thousands of loyal Arkansas Razorbacks alumni and fans travel to Fayetteville to attend football and basketball games. 

The city’s logo contains its official seal. Although much of northwest Arkansas has grown with Walmart’s ascent to the #1 corporation listed by the Fortune 500, Fayetteville has made it clear that the city prefers to associate itself with the University of Arkansas rather than the worldwide retailer. Walmart is based in nearby Bentonville, and is one of six Fortune 500 corporations in the state (the others are Dillard’s, J.B. Hunt, Murphy Oil, Tyson Foods and Windstream). 

The city derives its cultural identity from the University of Arkansas, exhibiting many trademarks of a college town such as a prominent arts and music scene, emphasis on local businesses, college-oriented bar/restaurant entertainment district and progressive residents. Fayetteville’s Historic Square has been the center of town since 1829. The square plays host to a variety of events, including First Thursday on the Square, the Block Street Block Party and the Lights of the Ozarks Festival. The square is constituted of both historic structures and new construction including boutiques, restaurants, music venues, museums, condos, the visitor center, and a convention center.

Fayetteville, N.C., is an Army town and is the largest of all the cities named Fayetteville. It has an estimated population of 204,408 making it the sixth-largest municipality in North Carolina. It has received the All-America City Award from the National Civic League three times. Fayetteville is in the Sandhills on the Cape Fear River. Fort Bragg and Pope Army Airfield Field are just north of the city. Several U.S. Army airborne units are stationed at Fort Bragg, most prominently the XVIII Airborne Corps HQ, the 82nd Airborne Division, and the United States Army Special Operations Command. 

The city no longer uses its official seal as its logo. The centerpiece of the logo was the familiar Market House, which African American City Council members found objectionable because slaves were occasionally sold there in Ante Bellum Fayetteville. 

In late June 1775, residents drew up the “Liberty Point Resolves,” which preceded the Declaration of Independence by a little more than a year. Robert Rowan, who apparently organized the group, signed first. He was one of the area’s leading public figures of the 18th century. A merchant and entrepreneur, he settled in Cross Creek in the 1760s. He served as an officer in the French and Indian War, as sheriff, legislator, and as a leader of the Patriot cause in the Revolutionary War. Seventy-First Township in western Cumberland County (now a part of Fayetteville) is named for a British regiment during the American Revolution — the 71st Regiment of Foot. Fayetteville, NC, was named for Marquis de Lafayette, the French hero of the Revolutionary War. It was the first city in the United States named for him, and the only namesake he visited.

A recent sobriety checkpoint in Fayetteville confirmed a pattern; drunk driving is down. 

“I’m thrilled to death that the checkpoints don’t result in more arrests than they do. That’s great news,” said Fayetteville Police Chief Harold Medlock. Of 155 charges brought against violators during the latest checkpoint, only seven were for DWI. Police roadblocks are staged regularly in Fayetteville and across North Carolina to enforce the “Booze It & Lose It” anti-drunk driving campaign. “It’s becoming a stigma for people to drive drunk,” Medlock added.

With every gain, there’s a loss: The checkpoints are resulting in dozens of drivers being cited for driving without a license or proper vehicle registration. Medlock says his officers use discretion in deciding whether to issue warning tickets or citations when motorists are caught without licenses. He calls it “compassionate law enforcement” for officers to take personal circumstances into account before ticketing them. In the recent checkpoint on Robeson Street at Weiss Avenue late on a Friday night, cops cited 47 drivers for not having licenses or current motor vehicle registrations. Some others received warning tickets but those numbers were not available.

Another 49 drivers were arrested for driving while their licenses were revoked. What about them? “Personally I think all those folks ought to go to jail,” Medlock said. But again he has compassion for some. “I’m not a bleeding heart liberal, but you have to take into account a person working six days a week trying to feed a family, who misses his court date and now has an extra burden.” That’s a time when an officer takes circumstances into account before writing a ticket. 

Some law enforcement officials believe it would be a deterrent if cars could be impounded for driving without a license and other major traffic violations. 

“There are only a few specific laws that allow us to impound vehicles,” said Highway Patrol Sgt. Michael Baker, such as a driver who is apprehended after fleeing from police. That’s a felony — or, when a driver is found impaired within 30 days of a DWI license suspension.” Motorists whose cars have been impounded can appeal the decision before the Clerk of Court, who determines the disposition,
he added.

There apparently is no mood in Raleigh to strengthen impound laws. Changing the law to allow impounding “would be too strict a penalty,” said Sen. Wesley Meredith (R-Cumberland), Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. “If I make an arrest for driving with a revoked license I have the authority to have the car towed,” Chief Medlock clarified. But towing is not impounding. Medlock says it is nonetheless a severe penalty when towing and storage fees are taken into account.

Among other charges filed during the Robeson Street checkpoint were 26 various other traffic violations, five for open alcohol containers, five inspection violations, seven misdemeanor drug violations, three felony drug arrests and a handful of other charges. Also, 13 people with active ‘wanted’ warrants were taken into custody. All in all, a successful operation. It involved 76 officers of local police departments and the State Highway Patrol.

Interim Fayetteville City Manager Doug Hewett introduced the public to his budget proposal for the fiscal year, which begins July 1. He went over the budget in somewhat greater detail with City Council members last week. He and his senior management team met with councilmen in small groups of two and three, something former manager Ted Voorhees started last year. The intimate sessions give Hewett an opportunity to feel out each council member without them being influenced by others. 

Most city employees will get what’s called a mid-point two-percent merit pay raise. The city will share an increase in healthcare costs with employees. Public safety continues to be one of Council’s top priorities in FY17. A fire department step pay plan, which was initiated this fiscal year, will remain in effect. The police department has had a step plan in place for several years. Hewett is proposing education incentive bonuses for firefighters. The education incentive will benefit rank-and-file firefighters through the rank of lieutenant. “We must groom fire department leaders of tomorrow now,” Fire Chief Ben Major told Up & Coming Weekly. Hewett’s plan will reward firemen with associate degrees with an extra $1,500 annually. Those with baccalaureate degrees would receive an additional $3,000.  “My concern is what to do about those above the rank of lieutenant,” said Councilman Bill Crisp. “Currently they receive only what’s appropriated in the annual overall pay plan.” Crisp has said he intends to champion the cause of firefighters who until last year were left out of public safety pay increases. “We need a happy fire department,” added Crisp.

With the new fiscal year, the city will begin building an escrow account to support payment of parks and recreation municipal bond sales. Those bonds will be sold over a seven-year period to build $35 million dollars in new and refurbished facilities. In March voters approved a tax increase of $.0135 per $100 of assessed property valuation. Those improvements won’t begin for at least another year yet. Council is just beginning the process of establishing a detailed financial plan to prioritize projects. Construction of half a dozen splash pads will likely be among the first projects. 

In his budget message, Hewett proposes an operating budget of nearly $226 million across all funds except for the city-owned but independently operated Public Works Commission. The PWC budget will be presented to Council separately. The new ad valorem property tax rate will be $0.4995 which includes the parks bond referendum increase. “Our desire in achieving your goals is to keep our customers — our residents — in mind throughout the entire process, knowing that we serve them,” said Hewett.

Fayetteville police have put an accused serial pedophile behind bars. Rodney Scott, a former part-time basketball coach at two Cumberland County schools, was arrested May 2 for allegedly molesting a 14-year-old boy. The youth told detectives that Scott assaulted him in April 2015 at Scott’s home. He was initially charged with taking indecent liberties with a child. Since then, detectives with the FPD’s Youth Services Unit have received reports of additional allegations from at least five other young boys who say they too were molested by Scott between June and August 2006 and April and May 2007. Scott faces five additional counts of statutory sex offense with a child. One of the victims, who was 15-years-old at the time of the offense, reported that Scott assaulted him in the spring of 2003, also at Scott’s residence. The most recent victims came forward after police established a dedicated phone line for persons who want to report criminal misconduct involving Rodney Scott, said Lt. David McLaurin. The phone line, (910) 433-1163, is available Monday-Friday, 8: a.m. – 9 p.m. Callers may leave voicemail messages after hours or on weekends. Or if they choose, people may call Crime Stoppers at (910) 483-TIPS. Information can also be submitted via text-a-tip on smart phones to 274637 followed by your message. Confirmed allegations suggest other incidents may have occurred over a period of many years, according to McLaurin. 

Job Training for Veterans 

A lot of emphasis is being put on hiring military veterans across America. The Veterans Affairs Department is one of the agencies championing the cause. Fayetteville VA Job Placement and Employment Coordinator Jim Warner says a local program is among the first of its kind helping to train veterans. He says hundreds are already in the program in Fayetteville. 

The VA’s Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program provides veterans non-paid work experiences. Only government agencies are asked to provide intern-like job training at no cost to the agencies. The City of Fayetteville is partnering with the VA by pledging to provide eligible veterans with practical work experience. The veterans receive subsistence allowances from the VA during the six-month program. 

Health Survey 

Local residents are invited to complete a community health opinion survey as part of the local 2016 health needs assessment. The Cumberland County Health Department and Cape Fear Valley Health System are collaborating to gather the information. The survey will provide information about the health and well-being of Cumberland County residents and help identify needs, concerns and health problems based upon the opinions of residents. An action plan will be developed based on the survey data and other information gleaned from state databases. Residents are asked to take a few minutes to complete the online survey no later than May 20. The survey is available on Health Department’s webpage at www.co.cumberland.nc.us/health.

City of Fayetteville Summer Internships 

The City of Fayetteville is partnering with Fayetteville State University to provide two summer internships. Two FSU students, Sabrena Clayton and Robert Freeman, will work in the city’s Information Technology Department’s Business Intelligence and Innovation division. The internship begins on May 16 and last for 10 weeks. 

“We are excited to have Sabrena and Robert intern with the City of Fayetteville this summer,” said Dwayne Campbell, Chief Information Officer. The expectation is that the students will learn about how the city uses technology to improve decision making, service delivery and citizen engagement. These internships will occur in IT and Planning & Code Enforcement and will be paid for by a grant through FSU to place students in summer jobs in local government. Since implementation of the new program in 2015, students from Methodist University and Fayetteville State have participated in the city’s internship program, departmental research projects and volunteer opportunities at city-sanctioned events. 

More Army Uniform Changes May Be Coming

Additional uniform changes could be in the offing for the Army. A lighter, better-fitting Army Service Uniform shirt is among issues that have been raised by Sergeant Major of the Army Dan Dailey. Most recently, the ASU became the uniform worn by United States Army personnel where business dress is called for. The Army Combat Uniform is used in combat and casual dress situations. It’s commonly seen on soldiers in Fayetteville. The ASU was originally created as a secondary uniform to the former Army “class A greens.” It was issued to all soldiers in the fall of 2010, and eventually replaced the “Army Green” service uniform and the “Army White” uniform. It’s based on the current dress uniform known as “dress blues,” which has its roots in the uniform that dates back to the Revolutionary War. The Continental Army outfitted its soldiers in blue to distinguish them from the red uniform coats of the British Army. As for the future, an updated version of the Eisenhower jacket, made popular by Gen. Dwight Eisenhower during World War II is being considered. Also under consideration is improving the ASU’s white shirt. Soldiers have slammed the shirt for being too bulky, heavy and difficult to clean. An anonymous Army official said that it “will take several months” before any approved recommendations are presented.

FTCC achieves record numbers of Graduates

Fayetteville Technical Community College announces it is holding its 54th annual commencement exercises on Friday, May 13, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Cumberland County Crown Coliseum with this year’s commencement speaker being State Representative John Szoka. According to FTCC officials this is the largest recorded number of FTCC graduates to date earning degrees, diplomas and certificates.

Next season the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra begins searching for a new conductor.  This in itself is exciting, but even more so is the level of community involvement the orchestra is including in the search. Out of 273 applicants five finalists have been chosen. They are invited to plan and conduct one concert each, which has inspired the season’s name, “The Final Five.” After each concert, audiences are invited to submit surveys that will contribute to the decision of which conductor will be hired.  “We really want to give the community a chance to weigh in, Christine Kastner the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra president and CEO said. 

In addition to the actual concert, each guest conductor will come to Fayetteville a week early. In this time they will meet the Fayetteville Symphony Board, tour local universities, meet donors and supporters and participate in an open town hall meeting. These are all also opportunities for the community to provide feedback on this decision. “We are very excited,” Kastner said. “We have five excellent candidates and we want everyone to come out and meet them this next season. We will have opportunities like free town hall meetings and free pre concert talks. There will also be opportunities to complete surveys for the transition committee as they try to pick the new conductor.”

The first finalist is Al Sturgis. His 20 years of conducting experience includes the Tar River Orchestra, Carolina Ballet and North Carolina Master Choral. He starts off the season in October with the concert titled Fall Spooktacular.  This will feature a mixture of classical and popular works - all with a fun Halloween theme. 

The next finalist is Stefan Sanders with the concert titled Czech it Out. This references the Symphony No. 8 composed by Antonin Dvorak, the final piece of the show. Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 9 will also be featured. Sander’s also has a long list of qualifications. He is the Associate Conductor of the Buffalo Philharmonic and the Music Director of the Round Rock Symphony located in Texas.  

The award-winning Associate Conductor of the Kansas City Symphony Aram Demirjian will make his appearance in December with the concert titled Waltzing in a Winter Wonderland. This concert will feature not only the beloved holiday sing-a-long but also popular songs such as “White Christmas” and “Polar Express.” 

The search for the new conductor will resume in February with Joseph Young and a Wild, Wild West theme. He is the Assistant Conductor of the Atlanta Symphony and Music Director of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra. He also has received prestigious awards for his conducting skills. The concert will feature classical and popular pieces by Copland and John Williams.

The final concert, Heroes Among Us, is planned for March. The guest conductor is Dina Gilbert. She is the Assistant Conductor for the Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal as well as an ensemble she founded called Ensemble Arkea. Her focus of heroism will be interpreted though classical and popular works. 

All of these guest conductors have years of experiences laced with prestigious accolades. This is an opportunity for the community to help shape the future of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra and the musical landscape in Fayetteville. This season is not only unique, it is important. Be a part of these decisions. Find out more about the symphony at http://www.fayettevillesymphony.org/

Fine Arts Week at Fayetteville State University is right around the corner. This Fine Arts Series features music, visual art and drama and runs from Sunday, April 3 to Sunday, April 10. It is a week of activities that features Eleone Dance Theater, art work by former Black Panther Emory Douglass, percussionist Ndugu Chancler and a theatrical performance of A Raisin in the Sun. There are several opportunities throughout the week to see top-notch entertainment for little or no cost.

The celebration kicks off Sunday, April 3 with the FSU Jazz Express featuring Leon “Ndugu” Chancler. The group will perform music by Duke Ellington, Gerald Wilson, Don Radar and Juan Tizol. Chancler is a studio jazz and rock percussionist who has performed and recorded with Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Carlos Santana and Herbie Hancock. The performance is in the FSU Jones Student Center at 4 p.m. Admission is free. 

FSU’s Concert Choir will perform Monday, April 4 at 7 p.m. at Seabrook Auditorium. The department’s vocal ensembles-Mane Attraction, Men of Distinction and FSU Opera Workshop will also perform. Admission is free. 

On Tuesday, April 5 at 7 p.m., FSU’s Percussion Ensemble featuring Chancler will perform at Seabrook Auditorium. Admission is free. 

The evening of Wednesday, April 6 is in honor of Charles Chesnutt, one of the founding fathers of FSU. Student musicians will perform solo literature in recital in the Rosenthal Recital Hall. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. Admission is free. 

The FSU Theater Company will open the award winning play, A Raisin in the Sun, on Thursday, April 7 at 7:30 p.m. at Butler Theater. It is Lorraine Hansberry’s 1959 drama about the American dream and the first play written by a black woman to be produced on Broadway. The play won the Tony Award and the New York Drama Critics’ Award.  Call 672-1724 for ticket information. 

Friday, April 8, at 7 p.m., the Eleone Dance Theater will provide a dance experience that inspires and motivates audiences of all ages. The professional dance company has a diverse repertoire of works that are contemporary modern, spiritual, rhythm and blues, African and hip-hop in theme. The performance is in Seabrook Auditorium and the cost is $10. This is a one-time performance. Call 672-1724 for information. 

On Saturday, April 9 The Rosenthal Gallery will close its exhibition of Black Panther: The Revolutionary Art of Emory Douglass with a reception and panel discussion from 1-3 p.m. Douglass created iconic images that represented Black America’s struggles during the 1960s and 1970s. The exhibition opened March 19. Admission is free. For more information, call 672-1795. A Raisin in the Sun will opens at 7:30 p.m. at Butler Theater. On Sunday, April 10, the performance is at 2 p.m. at Butler Theater. 

The campus of FSU also has exhibition space for public art from April 3 through May 30. The Fine Arts Season is sponsored by a grant from the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County, the FSU Office of Title III and the FSU Friends of the Arts. 

For more information, visit www.fsuarts.com or call 672-1571. 

Yes, I am for keeping the Market House as our logo and on our city seal. It distinguishes our city as unique and should be retained, not only for historic and tradition’s sake, but, from the point of view that replacing it isn’t fiscally responsible. It will literally cost Fayetteville residents tens of thousands of dollars to physically change the logo – money that could be better spent serving Fayetteville residents by improving our gateways, lowering taxes and fees and moving this community forward in dozens of positive ways. 

I hope our elected officials will respect the taxpayers, allow cooler heads to prevail and objectively examine what the Market House really means to this community in terms of defining our brand. Branding in the business and marketing world means: who you are, what you are and what you stand for. Since 1993, the year the image was adopted, the Market House has developed into a valuable branding tool.  After 23 years, its worth is now hundreds of thousands of dollars. Yes, it has true value. Successful businesses, corporations and institutions know the value of such branded icons and they are vigilant to insure and protect them. Think Apple, Coca-Cola and Chevrolet.

Like it or not, the Market House is the symbol that reflects our brand. It reflects 180 plus years of objective history, achievements and accomplishments and Fayetteville’s unique southern personality. It stands for the traditions that define our community. All of these aspects far outweigh the negative conjecture and agenda pushed to the forefr

ont by a few local self-serving organizations and individuals (i.e. Attorney Allen Rogers, NAACP, ACLU) who want to selfishly capitalize and profit from instigating a needless controversy by cultivating conflicts through political correctness and selfish self-serving intentions. This should be noted for what it is and not be tolerated or allowed to blemish our name or abolish this stellar icon. Besides, this action is already too late to be meaningful. The Market House has already forged itself as the city’s icon and symbol of Fayetteville’s heritage. Ignoring this fact by trying to make it go away will only make us look silly.

Instead, we should be proud! Be proud that we have such a distinguished heritage. Be proud that we have embraced our history and are thankful for the progress we have made. Be proud it was here in Fayetteville where North Carolina ratified the United States Constitution. Be proud that it was at the Market House where we chartered the University of North Carolina. Be proud that it was here North Carolina ceded its western territory to create the state of Tennessee. Be proud that it’s the only national landmark in Cumberland County. And, when it comes to local government, we should  be proud that our leadership has a history of African-American  inclusiveness: Mable Smith, Ida Ross, Joe Pillow, Aaron Johnson, Charles Evans, Mitch Colvin, Kady Ann Davy, Larry Wright, Bill Crisp and Chalmers McDougald just to name a few. 

Finally, I hope the notion of substituting the Market House with any generic symbols like the American flag, plants, animals, trees (dogwoods) or statues of anything or anyone, goes away quickly. This includes our namesake, the Marquis de Lafayette. As much as I admire this Frenchmen as an American Revolutionary War general, the fact is, he only visited Fayetteville once and with the exception of our sister city St. Avold, we certainly have no ties or allegiance to France.

So, it is my hope that the members of the Fayetteville City Council spend time intelligently thinking this issue through. Think about the expense. Think about the fiscal responsibility. Think about the fact that no individuals should be able to hijack our heritage through intimidation and political correctness for personal gain or just because they can. We are so much better than that. 

Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Artist Daniel Reeves is inspired by and appreciates the “nature and the patterns of organic beauty.” His high skill level in painting is evident. The paintings in his exhibit at Gallery 208, Vantage Point: the Paintings of Daniel Reeves, speak more to what the artist excludes in his artist statement — an experience of entertaining possibilities! 

The artist is modest. He stated, “I was born and raised in the foothills of rural North Carolina. I believe beauty and inspiration can be found in any scene. I appreciate the patterns and organic beauty found in the natural settings I explored as a kid and feel the same connection with manmade objects such as buildings or an old rusting piece of metal. I also noticed this interest as a child when watching my dad take an engine apart … the precision and shapes of the engine’s interior where inspiring.” 

What Reeves does not say about his work is what the theorist John Dewey clearly refers to in his writing about aesthetics and can be said of Reeves’ painting. “Art is an aesthetic quality that rounds out an experience into completeness and unity as emotional … emotions that do not necessarily reference joy or hope or fear … emotions are qualities, when significant, of a complex experience that moves and changes.” 

Reeves’ work moves us with his wonderful sense of humor. In the painting titled “A Loving Family,” a young child happily rides a Texas Longhorn bull in a barren landscape of yellow ochre and cadmium yellow next to a joyful elephant — her little dog follows along! Joyfulness exudes from his well-crafted control of pigment, skill level and what the painting symbolizes. 

Whether investigating a more abstract image or the distinctly representational, paintings by Reeves unify the relationship of making with an aesthetic experience that we can enjoy. “A Loving Family,” like other works, is an expression of a feeling, a symptom of the artist’s state of mind. 

In all of his paintings Reeves has a system of symbols to convey the concept of play — always taking the time needed to develop his imagery and paint details. In the large painting titled Beautiful Demention the artist is depicting a night scene deep in a forest. Fanciful, curious creatures and loving animals surround the child by firelight to evoke a special place of safety and discovery. 

In several of the paintings in the exhibit, Reeves is less narrative and becomes even more symbolic through abstraction. In the painting titled “Needle in a Haystack,” the artist has painted a close-up of a seashell on the shore surrounded by the texture of broken shells. Visitors to the gallery will readily see how the title of the work reflects the artist’s sense of humor. 

Inspired by the realistic forms of Caravaggio, Gustave Courbet and Edward Hopper, Reeves stated he has also been inspired by “the color and fantastic imagination of 20th century science fiction art.” 

His knowledge of art history, love of the arts and skill level are shared every day with his students at Bell Hefner Element School in Fayetteville, North Carolina. 

In his customary positive manner Reeves shared the following: “Teaching art has been rewarding. My students’ ideas surprise and impress me. They remind me there is an infinite number of possibilities when creating an artwork.” (It is not surprising he was awarded Teacher of the Year at Bill Hefner Elementary for the 2014-2015 school year.)

Reeves earned an Associate Degree in Art from Wilkes Community College, a Bachelor of Fine Art from East Carolina University, and a Master’s Degree in Art Education from UNC Pembroke. 

Not only an art teacher, but also an exhibiting artist, Reeves was recently awarded 3rd place at the Arts Council of Fayetteville recent competition titled Once Upon A Time: Fairy Tales, Fables and Myths. He participated in the Cumberland County Art Teachers 3rd Annual Juried Competition at the Ellington-White Contemporary Gallery in Fayetteville, North Carolina in 2016. 

His exhibitions include, but are not limited to the KD Morris Art Gallery group invitational in Holden Beach, North Carolina and The Paul Hartley Legacy Exhibition in Lee Hansley Gallery in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Gallery 208 invites the public to attend the reception for Vantage Point: the Paintings of Daniel Reeveson Tuesday, May 10, 2016 between 5:30 - 7 p.m. The artist will talk about his work at 6 p.m. The exhibition and artist receptions at Gallery 208 are free to the public. 

Vantage Point: the Paintings of Daniel Reeves will remain up at Gallery 208 until late June 2016. Located at Up and Coming Weekly, 208 Rowan Street, the gallery hours are 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For information call 484-6200.

The experiences of my life indicate that there are times when bullies must be slapped. I am convinced that North Carolina is at such a point with regard to those who are bullying us. 

That bullying is underway in opposition to North Carolina’s recently passed House Bill 2. Along with other issues, the legislation addresses the use of bathrooms by transgender persons. Key wording from HB2 regarding this topic follows. Biological sex is that which appears on a person’s birth certificate. The full bill can be viewed at http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2015E2/Bills/House/PDF/H2v4.pdf:

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.

Passage of this legislation has prompted protest gatherings and actions intended to do economic harm to North Carolina and thereby force repeal of HB2. This looks, feels and smells like bullying to me. Oxford Dictionaries defines bullying as: “Superior strength or influence to intimidate (someone), typically to force him or her to do what one wants: a local man was bullied into helping them.” Keep that definition in mind as we look at what is being done in and to North Carolina.

The framework in which my thinking on this matter is shaped comes from my personal experience of being bullied. I am the son of a Baptist pastor. It also seems that for as long as I can remember my head has been as large as it is now. When I was about sixteen, my personal bully appeared. He would, more than some other fellas, call me “hammerhead” and thump my head, while teasing me. I thought maybe his dislike of me was because of my father’s prominence in the community. He never explained why he treated me with such disrespect and mental/emotional cruelty. I remember being fearful of the guy because he was much bigger and more athletic than me. Apparently, his aim was to belittle me in the view of others and by that control increase his standing among students in our class. 

Then the day came when I realized his actions were unfair and was having a serious negative impact on me mentally and emotionally. I decided he had to be stopped. Shortly thereafter, he sat behind me in a math class and hit me on the head with a pencil. I spun around in my desk while making a smooth and fast transition to a standing position. While making that turn, I slapped him across the face with all the strength I could muster. He sat there looking shocked. Later, in the bathroom, he grabbed me around the neck and held me against a wall. He looked directly into my eyes and made some threat, but then stopped and walked away. That bully never bothered me again.

That experience was over fifty years ago, but I remember it well. I see the same kind of attitude and conduct in entertainers who are canceling performances in North Carolina because they oppose HB2 and are trying to force repeal of it. Among the entertainers in this category are: Pearl Jam that cancelled a show at PNC Arena just two days prior to the show date; Boston (rock band); Bruce Springsteen; Ringo Starr.

The same is the case with powerful corporations. Some had committed to job-producing investments in North Carolina, but postponed or cancelled them in protest over HB2. Among these companies are PayPal and Deutsches Bank. PayPal had committed to a new global operations center in Charlotte that would have employed more than 400 people. The company cancelled those plans. Deutsches Bank froze plans to create 250 jobs at its Cary campus.

The question now is how should those of us who recognize the common sense of HB2 respond to these corporate and entertainer bullies? I contend reasoning with them is not possible … they must be slapped. Be clear, I am not calling for violence. No, just legal actions that show we will not succumb to bullying.

For instance, why must we depend on big-name stars? There are gifted individuals in this state, nation and around the world who will perform in North Carolina. Have them do so. The challenge is for us to support those who respect us and will perform.

Further, how is it an entertainer or group can cancel an appearance in protest of circumstances totally unrelated to the performance and not face legal repercussions? Without doubt, these entertainers and groups must be under contract. My reading at nevadalaw.com indicates having a valid contract where one party performs and the other does not while the performing party incurs damages due to the failure of the second party, there is basis for a breach of contract suit. To the fullest extent possible, anybody in a position to sue these entertainers who fail to perform should do so.

There is power in saying “no” to bullies. I had a PayPal account so that visitors to my website could use a credit card to purchase my father’s autobiography. That option is no longer available because I cancelled the PayPal account. In the process, I discovered there is a bunch of other companies providing similar service. The following link is to “The Top 12 Online Payment Alternatives to PayPal” which gives information on some of those other companies: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/top-12-alternatives-paypal/ 

Weeks before the city of Charlotte took actions that brought about HB2, I had a conversation with Wade Fowler, candidate for Cumberland County Commissioner, regarding economic development. He mentioned the Longmont (Colorado) Economic Gardening Initiative. Given what Fowler said coupled with my research, I believe North Carolina should investigate this approach. This is especially true in light of the corporate bullying we are facing. Two paragraphs from this link inspire hope:  http://www.nlc.org/find-city-solutions/city-solutions-and-applied-research/economic-development/small-business-and-entrepreneurship/longmont-economic-gardening-initiative 

Economic gardening is a specific type of economic development that seeks to grow the local economy from within. Its premise is that local entrepreneurs create the companies that bring new wealth and economic growth to a region in the form of jobs, increased revenues and a vibrant local business sector. Economic gardening seeks to focus on growing and nurturing local businesses, particularly those with an external market footprint, rather than hunting for “big game” outside the area.

Any business in Longmont, whether an existing business or a startup, is eligible to participate in LEGI, and can receive a combination of peer counseling, research data, data analysis, market analysis and competitive and industry intelligence. The initial interview, counseling, research data, and data analysis are free (nominal charges may apply for extended use or optional resources)

The actions detailed above are simply a partial listing of how we might slap those who bully us and not only have them stop bullying but possibly respect us in North Carolina. However, taking these and similar actions requires a step rarely taken in our time. After all these years, I know why my personal bully released me and walked out of that bathroom. It was because when he looked into my eyes, he realized that I was prepared to die if need be. That meant my fear of him was gone. Without that fear, his bullying had no effect on me. Citizens of North Carolina who believe in HB2 should slap our bullies. Doing so requires that we first be willing to risk all, even life itself. 

At the last meeting of the Fayetteville City Council, a discussion about Community Development Block Grants got a little heated. Having covered a lot of town council meetings during my younger years, it was rare that CDBG projects got people up in arms. Usually, they make people happy.

The CDBG brings federal dollars to cities and towns all across America. According to the Housing and Urban Development website, “The program works to ensure decent affordable housing, to provide services to the most vulnerable in a community and to create jobs through the expansion and retention of businesses. CDBG is an important tool for helping local governments tackle serious challenges facing their communities. The CDBG program has made a difference in the lives of millions of people and their communities across the Nation.”

The money used for grants is an annual appropriation that is allotted to “states and local jurisdictions called “non-entitlement” and “entitlement” communities respectively. Entitlement communities are comprised of central cities of Metropolitan Statistical Areas; metropolitan cities with populations of at least 50,000; and qualified urban counties with a population of 200,000 or more (excluding the populations of entitlement cities). States distribute CDBG funds to non-entitlement localities not qualified as entitlement communities.

 “The annual CDBG appropriation that is allocated between HUD determines the amount of each grant by using a formula comprised of several measures of community need, including the extent of poverty, population, housing overcrowding, age of housing and population growth lag in relationship to other metropolitan areas.”

In most cities, as is the case with Fayetteville, there is a point person on the city staff who handles the CDBG program. In Fayetteville, that person is Victor Sharpe, who is the Community Development Director. Sharpe has been with the city for a long time, and he knows what he is doing. Prior members of the city council were comfortable with letting Sharpe make decisions, with few if any questions. 

That’s both good and bad. Good because Sharpe is competent and takes care of business. Bad because they did not necessarily always know what was going on. That can be a problem when the city council leans too heavily on the staff and takes everything at face value.

So, while the meeting was contentious, it said something. It said that the council wants to be involved. It says that they are doing more than letting the city staff make the decisions. It means that they are engaged and informed. The sleeping giant has woken up. If they show the same kind of interest in all of the decisions they have to make, Fayetteville may be on the right road.

Humorist Celia Rivenbark published a column recently recounting her experience judging a fundraising dog show, complete with doggy costumes.  It turns out, though, that Celia prefers cats.  She found herself wondering how much “designer cat food it would take for a cat, any cat, to put up with this sort of thing.”

Not me!

Despite several hardcore, cat-promoting relatives, whose “gifts” from their kitties totally freak me out, I remain a dog lady through and through and a dog lady delighted to judge the Fayetteville Animal Protection Society’s dog show for the second year in a row.  FAPS—the very acronym conjures up flappy ears and wagging tails—is our community’s no-kill shelter for homeless animals, promoting adoption and responsible pet ownership.  FAPS is completely funded with private dollars.

So, on a lovely Sunday afternoon last month dog lovers and the objects of their affections gathered on the lush green grass of Heritage Square in downtown Fayetteville for “Puttin’ On the Dog.”  Contestants were mostly rescue dogs, many adopted from FAPS.   Categories included “Gorgeous Girls,” “Handsome Guys,” “Owner Look-Alike,” and “Best in Show.”  Judging was excruciating, but somehow we five judges managed.  Food trucks and baked goods helped ease our distress.

What came through clearly at “Puttin’ On the Dog” is that the folks who made the effort to get downtown during the Dogwood Festival, who paid $5 to enter their dogs in the contest, and who in many cases dressed up their beloved pets and themselves for the occasion adore their dogs and vice versa.  Nary a dogfight occurred, but plenty of hugging, kissing, and licking did—a treat for all to see.  

Sadly, not everyone is so loving, and FAPS, which has been around for more than three decades, can tell stories that will break your heart about abandoned and mistreated animals.  FAPS accommodates 60 dogs and 25 cats at a time at its shelter off Bragg Boulevard, and thousands of them have found lifetime homes over the years.  But FAPS can do only so much, and about 8000 animals are euthanized in Cumberland County every year.  As one devoted FAPS volunteer puts it, “We try to rescue all we can from them, but that’s a BIG number!”

My own “Gorgeous Girl,” Lilly the Lab, and I have been a team for 11 years now, and she and all her predecessors from the time I was a preschooler have enriched my life beyond measure.  They have also eaten my shoes and done unspeakable things to my rugs, smiling and wagging all along.  Even when the desire is there, not all of us are in positions to adopt a lifetime pet, but that does not mean we cannot help.  FAPS could not do the work it does without volunteers who donate time, talent, and treasure.  FAPS’s needs for food, toys, collars, leashes, and other pet supplies are ongoing, as are folks to get dogs out for a little exercise.  Lilly and I recently took a pile of old towels to FAPS, ones we no longer used at home but which would be just fine for drying wet critters.  Cash donations are always appropriate, of course, as is that ultimate gift that, a loving and permanent home for an animal who needs and deserves one.

I promise you will get more from a FAPS adoptee than you will ever provide, and here are some pictures from “Puttin’ On the Dog” to prove it.  

Enjoy!  Somehow, I think even Celia would, too.

Outer Loop Progress

The next phase of Fayetteville’s Outer Loop is scheduled to open to traffic in four months. North Carolina Department of Transportation Division Engineer Greg Burns tells Up & Coming Weekly the section of what will eventually be I-295, from Ramsey Street to Bragg Boulevard, will open in August. Overhead signs and guard rails are being installed now. The section from Bragg Boulevard to the All American Freeway is set to open in the fall. “Bragg Boulevard will not be closed until the work on Murchison Road and Bragg Boulevard through Spring Lake is complete,” said Burns. “We anticipate that work to be finished by December 2016 to January 2017.” 

The Army’s ability to close Bragg Boulevard (NC 87-24) to thru traffic motivated the North Carolina Board of Transportation to place the Fayetteville Outer Loop project on a fast track several years ago, bypassing a major highway project in Charlotte. But in 200, the project was temporarily stalled because of a shortage of highway funds. Military officials made a twofold request to DOT; first that it gain direct access to I-95 and second that an alternate high-speed route to Bragg Boulevard be provided so the Army could close off the boulevard in the vicinity of Stryker Golf Course thereby improving security on post. Murchison Road was upgraded with a loop to Bragg Boulevard.

Downtown Parking a Problem, Again

Remember the days of parking meters on Hay Street, downtown?  The Fayetteville City Council is seriously giving some thought to bringing back the dime-eating devices. A 7-year-old ordinance allowing on-street paid parking under some circumstances could make a comeback. The local law isn’t being enforced currently, and the Downtown Alliance isn’t anxious for its comeback. About 40 members of the Alliance held a quarterly meeting last week to hear City Traffic Engineer Lee Jernigan bring them up to speed. “Free parking has been a luxury in this community,” said Mayor Pro Tem Mitch Colvin at a March 29 City Council meeting. The Downtown Alliance will conduct a study on how to improve downtown marketing and the Council seems willing to wait for the findings. Parking is a big part of enhancing the downtown area. Since the opening of the Airborne & Special Operations Museum more than 15 years ago, real revitalization has revived commerce and good living and reduced crime downtown. One of the challenges is figuring out how to encourage people to use the Franklin Street parking deck. One way would be the resurrection of those meters on Hay Street.

VA Health Center to Close?                   

A blue-ribbon panel created to evaluate the Veterans Affairs healthcare system is floating a radical proposal to eliminate all VA medical centers and outpatient facilities over the next 20 years. Instead, the VA would transition 9 million veterans to the private sector. This, after a $120 million health center was opened in Fayetteville six months ago. Seven of the 15 outside advisers appointed to recommend ways to improve veterans’ health services proposed the startling move. David Blom, president and CEO of the Ohio Health System, authored the report with input from the six other members.  Blom wrote that the goal is to “meet the needs of every veteran,” something he claims is not being done now.

“The commission finds the current VA healthcare system is seriously broken … and there is no efficient path to repair it,” Blom and other commission members wrote in their report. Shuttering the largest medical system in the country would leave the VA primarily a payer, like Medicare. To entice physicians and facilities to accept more veterans as patients, the document proposes that VA reimbursement rates be set 5 to 10 percent higher than Medicare pays.

Backlash from veteran service organizations was swift. The American Legion noted many commissioners are medical-industry executives who stand to gain financially if VA care is privatized. Paralyzed Veterans of America said placing vets with special needs into private-sector care “is a death sentence.” Veterans Affairs Undersecretary of Health Dr. David Shulkin told commissioners March 23 that the VA is already undergoing a “bold transformation” to improve care at in-house health facilities. 

Nextdoor Polls Residents               

Connecting neighbors with one another via social networking is what Nextdoor is all about. More than 9,000 Fayetteville households are already signed up. Now, using www.nextdoor.com, members can participate in a new polling feature. Subscribers are asked to respond to questionnaires about crime and crime fighting. “It’s a way for us to follow chronic crime issues,” said Police Chief Harold Medlock. It’s an outgrowth of the White House Open Data Policing Initiative, in which Medlock has participated. He’s in Washington this week. The police department has used Nextdoor for nearly two years. Polling can be done in individual neighborhoods or citywide. It’s administered by the PD’s Crime Prevention Division and is the first use of the social media by a police agency in North Carolina.

Fayetteville Murder Rate Up                 

“This sort of thing creates fear in our city,” said Fayetteville Police Chief Harold Medlock. “I’m angry,” he added. Medlock was referring to Fayetteville’s eighth homicide of the year. That’s twice the number of murders during the corresponding period last year (and there’s been a ninth murder since then). Joseph Alexander Cason Jr., 22, of Amanda Circle, was jailed on a first-degree murder charge and two counts of shooting into an occupied vehicle following a rolling gun battle. Police identified the shooting victim as Thomas Durane Evans, 28, of Dudley Drive. 

The shooting stemmed from an incident the week before at a Graham Road convenience store in which Evans’ brother was shot. “This was a straight up retaliation shooting,” said Medlock. Cason and Evans faced off each other in the parking lot of the Rayconda Shopping Plaza off Raeford Road. They then got into their cars and began shooting at each other as they drove along Raeford Road. The vehicles turned onto Strickland Bridge Road, and at one point, Medlock said, the vehicles were side by side as the drivers exchanged gunfire. “Too many young black men are taking lives in this community and if they want to fire me for saying that, so be it. At some point folks have to take responsibility for their actions … I’ve had it. We can’t police stupid,” Medlock added. 

Camp Corral                 

If you’ve eaten at Golden Corral ® on Skibo Road recently, you likely were asked to make a donation to Camp Corral. It’s the latest effort by the Raleigh-based restaurant chain to support summer camp for the children of wounded, disabled and fallen service members. Fayetteville was home to the first Golden Corral ® restaurant, which was opened on Bragg Boulevard in 1973. The fledgling company began as an affordable steakhouse. Forty-three years later, Golden Corral ® is well known as America’s #1 buffet and grill. According to its website, when you make a gift to Camp Corral, you’re not only giving military children a week of fun, but also providing them with life-changing experiences. “Both of my kids came home with tons of new knowledge, skills and confidence. We have moved 13 times in 19 years, and the kids never really seemed to fit in with non-military kids because their lives are so different from the friends from school,” said one grateful parent. The fundraiser, which began this month, coincides with the fifth anniversary of Camp Corral. More than 2,300 kids are on the waiting list to attend 21 camps including one in eastern North Carolina. The company says it has raised more than $5 million for Camp Corral.

Holly Whitley owns Legend’s Pub, but she’s the first to admit that it does not belong only to her. It’s her friends and the pub family that make this watering hole a sanctuary for so many. The Gypsy Women are a big part of that family. Their history together runs long and deep. With a shared connection to the military, they came to Fayetteville as soldiers’ wives and daughters and never left. The Gypsy Women are known for their generosity and joie de vivre. This band of sisters has faced many struggles and shared countless losses and triumphs, but they’ve done it together. They know that life is short. They know what it means to take care of their own and they have a passion for making a difference in the community they call home. That is just what they do. 

The Gypsy Women have a magical combination of strength and tenderness that has touched many in the community these past 20 years. They’ve raised money to help pay for medical treatments due to injuries and illnesses and helped families struggling to pay bills after suffering staggering losses. If there is anything this group of women understands it’s that life is short and we can all make a difference. For two decades now, Legend’s Pub Owner Holly Whitley and the Gypsy Women have hosted a Spring Fling. It’s a weekend-long celebration of the friendship, tenacity, kindness and generosity that thrive at Legend’s Pub. And just like every day at Legend’s, everyone is welcomed with open arms and open hearts. This year the Spring Fling runs May 6-8. 

The event benefits Stan Stewart, a longtime Legend’s Pub patron. Stan recently sustained injuries in a crash. “Stan is such a friend to us. He’s supported so many of our events. Whenever we asked for a hand with anything, Stan was right there,” said Whitley. “Now that he needs our help, we want to be there for him. There is something that just feels right about helping one of your own and we are glad to do this for him.” 

Planning three days of fun is a tall order, but Whitley and her crew have it down to a science, and in the end it comes down to the generosity of the many volunteers at Legend’s when It’s time to get things done. “There are a few of us who get the ball rolling, but when it is time to put things together, there is no shortage of people willing to help,” she said. “I can’t tell you how many times I hear ‘What can I do to help?’ and that is such a wonderful feeling. From my daughter Christy, who has been by my side helping me for many years to Priscilla and Nancy and so many others. I can’t even tell you how many wonderful people have stepped up to help over the years.”

The fun starts on Friday night with a pre-party and pool tournament. The tournament starts at 8:30 p.m. Saturday’s activities kick off with the Stan Stewart Poker Run. It’s kickstands up at noon for a fun-filled afternoon of riding with the last bike in by 5 p.m. for the auction, raffles and dinner. “We are going to raffle off a Harley T-shirt quilt and a few other fun items,” said Whitley. “The auction is always a lot of fun, too. We have one friend of Stan who made and donated a cigar box three-string electric guitar for the auction. I’ve got some motorcycle paintings too. We are still taking items for auction. Donating to an auction that helps someone is the best way to regift items that may not suit you.”

On Sunday, don’t miss the bike show and cook out. “Because this coincides with Mother’s Day, we are also doing a Mother’s Day Giveaway on Sunday,” said Whitley. 

In 20 years of hosting Spring Fling events, Whitley has never kept a tally of the money she’s raised. For her the joy is in knowing that all the hard work she and the other volunteers have put in have made a difference for people in the community. “I don’t know what we have raised over the years, but I can tell you that the last two years, we brought in more than $50,000 at each event and that feels good because all of it stays in the community,” she said. “We don’t give to large organizations. We give to local nonprofits and families. That is where our heart is.”

Last year’s Spring Fling raised money for hyberbaric treatment for veterans. The year before that it was literacy and education that benefitted from the event. 

The Spring Fling is just one of five or six runs that Legend’s hosts each year. “We do some other smaller fundraisers throughout the year,” said Whitley. “But we have a lot of fun, too. Our friends and patrons are always there for us. Every time we ask, they are there to support us so it is important to give back to them, too. We have things like Valentine’s Day events and Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. My kids, Christy and J.D.  have celebrated the last 19 Thanksgivings at Legend’s. We set out a long table and serve turkeys and hams and everyone brings their favorite side dish to share. It’s nice to be able to celebrate like that with friends.”

You don’t have to ride to come and enjoy the Spring Fling festivities and make new friends in the process. There is no such thing as a stranger here, and many are lucky enough to join our ever-growing family. The welcoming smiles, cold refreshments and easy camaraderie make for easy conversation and life-long friendships. Call 864-2364 for more information

Well, another Dogwood Festival weekend in Fayetteville has concluded – and, wow! What a wonderful weekend it was. For anyone who has ever said, “There is nothing to do in Fayetteville,” those words only expose the fact that you have not taken the time to enjoy, appreciate or become aware of your community. 

This weekend, tens of thousands of people celebrated spring and a sampling of the local quality of life this community has to offer. I have to congratulate Carrie King, executive director of the Dogwood Festival, and the dozens of dedicated, hard-working community volunteers who helped put this wonderful event together. There was literally something for everyone with rides, music, food and fun all located on our streets and parks in downtown Fayetteville. 

There are other Dogwood Festival sanctioned events that make this time of year very special and memorable: The Lafayette Ford Classic Car Show, the Miss Fayetteville Dogwood Pageant, Fayetteville Urban Ministry’s Duck Derby and one of my favorite events, the Hogs & Rags Motorcycle Rally where hundreds of motorcycles and cars, led by our very own Fayetteville Mayor Nat Robertson and his wife Kim, ride more than 200 miles for local Fayetteville/Cumberland County charities. It was good to see the mayor involved and participating in the event. I also saw another elected official participating in an event. City Councilman Jim Arp and his son found themselves “up the creek” as they waded through the middle of Cross Creek retrieving wayward ducks after the Derby. 

I must contend that the best-ever conclusion to this already wonderful weekend was the tour-de-force music performance at Snyder Memorial Baptist Church: The Festival of Keyboards. It was the perfect event to end a perfect weekend. Accomplished pianist, Joy Cogswell and seven other equally talented musicians entertained a full house, sometimes leaving the audience breathless and amazed with the  music and talent of these local musicians. 

Yes, Fayetteville as a lot to offer. In the long-term, we are going to be a great city as leadership emerges from a community that seems to have more heart and hospitality than it has common sense when it comes to vision and leadership. However, I am confident that we will get there because we have all the makings of a great community. So sit back, relax and enjoy this community in all its various and wondrous ways. The annual Fayetteville Dogwood Festival is just one way we showcase what our community has to offer. Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Wrestling and boxing matches can be exciting on television, but there is nothing like attending a match in real life. On April 30, One Hit Promotions and Triangle Kickboxing Promotions are bringing Fayetteville a chance to do just that. And Still I Rise is bringing 15 amateur bouts and 10 professional fights to the Crown Coliseum. 

“I compare it to T.V. Everyone has seen Rockyand MMA fights on television, and it’s just like that but real. It is up close and personal, and it has a real Vegas excitement and atmosphere. Its always a must see because you never know who is going to win or who is going to get hit. It is always like wow, don’t blink you might miss something,” says Miree Coleman “the Pink Panther” Coleman, a professional fighter who will be appearing in the event. 

Coleman is one of Fayetteville’s own. His boxing career began to take off while he was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. As an amateur, he won many accolades both within the military and the general community. His connection to this area and his military experience can be seen in the deep personal meaning of his chosen name. “The Pink Panther is pink because my mom is a breast cancer survivor and I fight for breast cancer awareness. And the Panthers is a unit in the 82nd that I deployed with, twice. Once to Iraq and once to Afghanistan, so my name really has meaning to it,” he explained. 

For Coleman, his professional boxing career is about a lot more than putting on his gloves and fighting. It is also about fighting for a cause that is close to his heart: breast cancer awareness and transparency in charities. 

“The boxer that I most look up to is Muhammad Ali because of the effect that he had on the country. Everything that he did, whether it was good or questionable, the whole world knew about it. I’m trying to get on that level and I can say the things that other people can’t and then maybe someone that matters can take that point of view into consideration and do something about it. A lot of people donate to charities for breast cancer, but we don’t know where all that money goes. I’ll bring that up. Of all that money we raise, I want to give some to the women who are fighting it so she can put gas in her car and get to her appointments,” he says. 

Inspired by such an incredible athlete, Coleman seeks to be an inspiration for others himself. He often accepts invitations as a public speaker and goes out of his way to share his experiences with others. His advice, though tailored to his profession, holds true to anyone chasing a dream and searching for success. “I always say they should try and push themselves,” he said. “If you win or lose, there are always going to be naysayers. Add that to your positive motivation and continue to push for your dream. Be ready for your chance because you have to grab it when it comes.”

Doors open at the Crown Coliseum at 2:30 p.m. with the amateur bouts. The professionals should take the stage around 7 p.m. This is a family-friendly event and tickets begin at $30. They can be purchased online through the Crown Coliseum website. 

The Fayetteville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau closed the third quarter of the 2015/2016 fiscal year with a tally of more than 65 future meetings, tournaments and group tours booked for Fayetteville and Cumberland County in the coming months. These events, which represent more than  26,000 room nights at local area hotels, impact Cumberland County’s economy at more than $5.8 million.     

In addition to the booking achievements the FACVB:         

• Redesigned the  County’s Cultural Heritage Trails. 

• Attended 17 trade shows and handled 12,100

   inquiries at the three active Fayetteville visitor centers. 

• Issued 17 press releases and secured 60 pieces of publicity in travel and local

    media. 

• Facilitated four familiarization tours that brought attraction staff to visit hotels 

    and hotel staff to visit attractions to encourage cross-promotion.

 “Everything begins with a visit,” says John Meroski, FACVB president and CEO. “Our organization works hard to increase the number of visitors, expenditures and, in turn, taxes collected.”

FTCC’s Bang for the Buck                             

Fayetteville Technical Community College is the third largest community college in North Carolina. It’s one of 58 institutions that comprise the North Carolina Community College System. Yet, it’s 32nd in local funding at $934 per full-time student, according to FTCC President Dr. Larry Keen. Counties share the cost of funding community colleges with the state. Community colleges in cities of comparable size receive much more local support. In Wilmington, County Commissioners contribute $1,212 per full-time student. In Asheville it’s $1,161. During his annual report to Cumberland County Commissioners, Keen downplayed that FTCC is the least funded of the state’s seven largest metropolitan community colleges. The ranking is deceptive, said County Commissioner Kenneth Edge. “A penny on our tax rate yields much less than other cities,” he added. Keen is seeking a 5.18 percent budget increase in the coming fiscal year, including a 3 percent raise with benefits for employees.

Serious House Fire          

Fayetteville firefighters battled a house fire at 7311 Bertram Drive in Loch Lomond in which two occupants were injured, one of them seriously. Assistant Chief Kevin Morgan said the fire broke out in the middle of the night in the single-story house. The alarm was received by 911 dispatchers just after 3 a.m. Engine 8 was first on the scene and reported heavy fire and smoke. “Two people were inside the home at the time of the fire,” Morgan said. Both escaped the flames before firefighters arrived, but a family pet died in the fire. The fire department would not release names of the occupants, one of whom was hospitalized in critical condition at the Jaycee Burn Center in Chapel Hill. An investigation as to how and why the fire started continues. The fire department did not say whether the home was equipped with smoke alarms. Officials estimated the loss at $76,000.

Youth Council Honored      

The Fayetteville-Cumberland Youth Council received two awards this month at the North Carolina Youth Council Spring Conference. The conference was for state-chartered youth council, which compete for various awards for the work they have done all year. The Fayetteville-Cumberland Youth Council received the “Most Outstanding Project of the Year” award. The award was voted on by their peers following 10-mintue project presentations. The FCYC project was the Fayetteville-Cumberland Glow Fest: A Race for the Change. Information and photos about the event can be seen online at Fayettevilleglow.com. The Youth Council also received the highest honor of the conference: “2016 Most Outstanding Youth Council Award.” 

Canines have become a staple of law enforcement agencies around the world. Like many jurisdictions, Fayetteville’s K-9 corps is comprised of two primary breeds, the Belgian Malinois and German Shepherd. The latter is the most popular breed of police dog. The Shepherd is a 200-year-old breed in the herding class of working dogs. Law enforcement began using them for crowd control in the 1950s. The Belgian Malinois (pronounced Mal-In-Wah) is a smaller, sleeker version of the German Shepherd. These animals are imported from Holland. This 135-year-old breed is popular with police because they are hard-working dogs with a high level of endurance. They’re noted for their intelligence, speed and agility. The Malinois is the second most popular breed of canine in service in the United States. 

What may come as a surprise to some is that the Fayetteville Police Department is among the most experienced canine agencies in North Carolina. The department is staffed with 14 teams of dogs and handlers. Some of the handlers have been K-9 cops for more than 20 years, including Lt. Stacey Smith. He’s been with the FPD for 29 years and has been a dog handler for his entire career. 

As the unit supervisor, Smith is not assigned a dog but tells Up & Coming Weekly “I spend more time on the streets than most lieutenants.” Eleven teams of canines and cops are assigned to the city’s three patrol districts. Additionally, three animals are on special duty. Two are drug sniffing dogs assigned to the narcotics bureau. The third specializes in detecting explosives. Several
dog teams are on duty at any given time. 

“We’ve got a lot of ground to cover,” Smith notes. 

Fayetteville is among the largest cities in the state, area wise, encompassing 148 square miles, more than Raleigh, Durham and Winston-Salem.

Officer Heather Napieralski and her dog Hemi comprise what likely is the most important team in the unit. Napieralski is the training officer and she stays busy every day she’s on duty. 

“Constant training is what keeps the animals sharp,” she says. And there’s a lot of it. Fayetteville Police dogs are trained and retrained in obedience, agility, tracking, trailing, searching and narcotics and explosives detection. 

“All of our dogs live with their partners at home,” Napieralski says. They stay outdoors. Their training includes acclimation to family life in that “we need to let the dogs be dogs,” she adds with a smile. Smith says a typical police dog can weigh from 45 to 120 pounds. Their average life expectancy ranges from 8 to 14 years.  

Most police dogs are imported from established vendors in Holland and Germany. Smith says it’s less expensive to import them because they’ve been raised and initially trained by credentialed dealers who confirm each animal’s lineage and good health. 

Locally, Dr. J.K. Garrett, DVM, owner of the Animal Hospital of Fayetteville, has been the Police Department’s veterinarian for many years. Retirement is not something the animals or the cops look forward to. Smith says the vet and trainer determine when that time comes. In most instances the K-9s then become family dogs with their masters. 

Interim Fayetteville City Manager Doug Hewett is taking personal responsibility for management of the city police department. 

Hewett tells Up & Coming Weekly in an exclusive interview that he intends to oversee the police and fire departments, relieving Deputy Manager Kristoff Bauer of that responsibility. 

“I believe the scope of public safety requires that the chiefs report to the manager,” Hewett said. He pointed out that former Chief Tom Bergamine reported to then manager Dale Iman. Hewett served with Iman as an assistant city manager. He returned to city government last year and was confirmed by city council last week as interim city manager. 

Hewett acknowledged that he had been made aware of Police Chief Harold Medlock’s discontent resulting from former manager Ted Voorhees’ decision allowing Bauer to take oversight responsibility for police operations. Medlock would not confirm or deny that he told Mayor Nat Robertson he was considering resigning. The chief said that when he came to Fayetteville three years ago his understanding was that he would answer only to the city manager. 

“I shared my concerns with the mayor, and, it’s behind us now.” the chief told Up & Coming Weekly.

“I am very supportive of the realignment,” said Robertson. “Eliminating a level of management will make the departments operate more efficiently.”

Hewett said he had no idea of the changes city council was making on the night of April 11. He was home watching the Council meeting on TV when it went into executive session. An hour and a half later Mayor Robertson announced that Voorhees had submitted his resignation. 

“I was very surprised,” Hewett said, when he got the phone call from Robertson asking him to take over as interim manager. “Having known Ted for a number of years I was concerned.” 

Voorhees brought Hewett to Fayetteville several months ago to serve in a senior management planning role with the business community. 

“The relationship between the manager and council is one that must be close, and when priorities change job security is sometimes called into question,” said Hewett. 

The 45-year-old Hewett served as a Fayetteville assistant manager from 2004 to 2012. He has known, and in most cases worked with, other members of the senior management team for many years. Asked about community changes he’s noticed since his return, Hewett said he was “so excited to see a conceptual framework of the multimodal transit center actually come out of the ground.” It was a project he had worked on in its infancy. He recalled that the State Veterans Park was still in the planning stages when he left. 

“We have jobs to do as the city moves forward on the parks bond projects, economic development, public safety and more,” he said.

The manager added he will have a plan for involving council and the community in building our referendum projects. He says he wasn’t surprised that the bond passed. 

“The time was right, it was significant,” added Hewett. As for his future, Hewett says he hopes to exhibit a management style that results in a “great relationship with city council.” He hasn’t said whether he’ll seek the post permanently.