We knew it would happen and it has. 

Millennials now outnumber Baby Boomers, 83 million to 75 million, becoming the largest of two gigantic lumps in the United States’ demographic snake.

The U.S. Census Bureau officially announced the rout last summer, meaning that the Boomers, my generation born into post-World War II America between 1946 and 1964, have been eclipsed by many of our own children, those born roughly between 1980 and 2000, although the exact defining dates remain fluid. Many Boomers continue hale, hearty, and in charge of at least themselves if no one else. Millennials, though, are clearly ascendant, with notables such as Mark Zuckerberg and Taylor Swift already driving
forces worldwide.

We all know and probably love some individual Millennials, but as a group, who the heck are these people? How are they different from the Americans who proceeded them? What makes them who they are?

Millennials’ most defining characteristic is that they are the first generation in all of human history to have grown up with computers in their homes. Not all of them, of course, but as a group they have never known a time without wireless communications and the reality that knowledge about almost any topic is literally a few key strokes away. Rapid communication via social media is a major factor in their daily lives, and for many, there is no such thing as the “slow lane.” The rest of us are “digital immigrants,” but Millennials are the world’s first “digital natives.”

They are highly diverse, with almost half — more than 44 percent — being part of a minority race or ethnic group, meaning they are not single-race white. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce notes that 11 percent of them are the children of at least one immigrant parent. This diversity trend is not slowing down anytime soon. Of the generation coming behind Millennials, those born since the turn of the 21st century, just over 50 percent is part of a minority race or ethnic group.

The Census Bureau also finds that Millennials are on target to be the most educated generation in American history. Seventy-two percent graduate from high school, and 68 percent enroll in college, with a graduation rate of 58 percent in six years. Many go on to graduate programs — perhaps to wait out our slowed economy — and while many do take on significant student debt, they do so because they understand the long-term value of education. 

Millennials may be interested in education, but religion — not so much. A full quarter of them say their religion is “None,” according to the Pew Research Center. Nor do they readily embrace marriage as have prior generations. A slowed economy is part of this trend, which is more pronounced among the working class who are less likely to marry and have children within marriage than college educated Millennials. In addition, Millennials are living at home longer than prior generations, perhaps from economic necessity but perhaps not, earning them the moniker of the “Peter Pan” or “Boomerang” generation.

These are just the facts, but there is plenty more as everyone from scholarly researchers to Boomer parents tries to figure out Millennials. 

What caught my attention as the mother of three of these folks is a recent piece on Inc.com entitled “3 Reasons Millennials are Getting Fired.” The author posits that Millennials are handicapped in the work place by the cold, hard facts that bosses are not their helicopter parents eager to cheer them on, that work is not always fun or accomplished on their personally flexible schedules and by their childhood experiences of receiving a trophy simply for showing up for the game. In fact, Millennials are sometimes called the “trophy generation.”

Researchers at the University of Michigan and UCLA have found that Millennials value wealth about 30 percent more than Boomers do, are less interested in political affairs, though they are classically liberal on social issues, and centrist on fiscal ones, and have little interest in “developing a meaningful philosophy of life” — whatever that might mean.

Of concern to Millennials, their parents and economists is what effects the Great Recession has had on Millennials and whether they are permanent. Many of them came of age during the Great Recession and found themselves either under employed or unemployed. No one knows yet whether slow starts in the workplace will mean Millennials will not achieve the American dream of doing better than one’s parents.

What emerges here is a portrait of a generation still defining itself, and it matters because Millennials are the largest generation in American history thus far. They, like their parents the Baby Boomers, will shape and leave their stamp on every aspect of American life, for better or for worse. Like many of my generation, I had no idea I was a Boomer until I was almost an adult, and my guess is most Millennials are just as clueless. They are busy figuring out their own lives, not their generation’s impacts and legacies. 

Does all of this sound like anyone you know and love?

If you have been following the Presidential Election Campaign for the past year, you are probably on election sound bite overload. With nearly hourly updates on the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries; with the Republican debates last Thursday and Democratic debates on Sunday; I have been forced over the edge of exhaustion and frustration and will join the ranks of hundreds of thousands of former Democratic and Republican Party members who have found credence in Groucho Marx’s advice to “Refuse to join any club that would have him as a member.”

For the average American, the polls have concluded that the government of the greatest nation in the world has not only let us down but has abused us. Both parties have grossly misrepresented their constituents, abused their power and ignored, disrespected and trampled upon the Constitution of the United States making the term “law-of-the-land” a joke. 

Americans are worse off now than they have ever been. They are scared, economically depressed and angry with a government that has proven time and time again by word and deed that we just don’t matter. Only they matter. 

This being the case, how can anyone pledge alliance to a politician or political order so brazen, selfish and corrupt? Well, I cannot. Out of protest, I have already pledged not to vote for any incumbent nationally after finding it almost impossible to distinguish who the good guys are. At least, as an Independent voter I can enjoy the fact that I have a choice. A choice without guilt. A choice without compromise. A choice that will allow me to feel that I am not part of the problem, which allows me not to advocate for a dysfunctional government. My choice allows me not to enable that government. It’s not much, but it’s a huge relief to practice my independence.

Thank you for choosing to read Up & Coming Weekly.  

The local distribution of sales tax revenue has driven a wedge between Cumberland County Commissioners and the Fayetteville City Council. In the next few days commissioners will begin discussion of changing the method by which sales tax proceeds are divided between the county and the nine municipalities. If that happens, Mayor Nat Robertson has said he will cut city services to offset up to $4 million in lost revenue. Town governments are accusing the City of Fayetteville of looking after its own interest to the detriment of the small towns. Fayetteville Mayor Nat Robertson concedes the point, saying he has the obligation “to protect the interests of city taxpayers.” 

For the last 13 years, the city and county have used a distribution method that shares sales tax revenues by population with a caveat. The city agreed to divide proceeds in a large area that it annexed. As the city’s population grew, the unincorporated area of the county shrank. Negotiators agreed it was only fair for the city to rebate the county one half of the new money it collected in those annexed areas. The towns got smaller shares of sales tax proceeds depending on their populations. The agreement between Cumberland County and Fayetteville has been renewed a couple of times and expires at the end of the current fiscal year.

Fayetteville Mayor Nat Robertson and City Manager Ted Voorhees have proposed phasing out the 50/50 sharing of revenue taken in from annexed areas. The county is opposed because it would lose millions over the five-year phase out period.  Robertson and Voorhees believe it’s the city’s money to keep because roughly 90 percent of sales tax revenue is generated inside the city.

The county is considering changing the method by which tax money is distributed to the ad valorem system or tax districts. The money would be divided, not by population, but by territories that each government unit covers. Cumberland County’s tax district is the entire county, which means it would get the lion’s share of tax collections. The city and towns would get much less money than which  they’ve been accustomed to. 

Commissioners have given the city until the end of this month to agree to a continuation of the current tax-sharing arrangement. City Manager Voorhees says Fayetteville “is prepared to extend the current agreement,” with a caveat: The city and the Town of Spring Lake want to claim all tax money available under the current formula in areas of Fort Bragg annexed by Fayetteville and Spring Lake. 

Commissioners have refused to negotiate a compromise with City Council, and have threatened in no uncertain terms to change the tax distribution formula on July 1. “Commissioners are not willing to serve on a sales tax negotiating team because the compromise has been on the table since 2013,” says County Commission Chairman Marshall Faircloth. “Further negotiation opens the door to the city’s desired phase-out of the agreement, putting county services at risk,” he added. The towns of Hope Mills, Wade, Falcon, Godwin, Stedman, Vander and Eastover would also suffer pro rata revenue losses. Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner accused Fayetteville of bullying, saying “We can’t fight the big dog…we have no voice.”

Progress, Prosperity, Places to Play! That’s the theme of the City of Fayetteville’s outreach effort to educate the public about the upcoming Parks and Recreation Bond Referendum. Voters are being asked to approve a $35 million package for several projects during the March 15 North Carolina Primary Election. 

A post on the city’s website (www.FayettevilleNC.gov/ParksBond) about the referendum reads: “A citywide bond proposal would enable us to build outstanding new facilities to provide city residents throughout the area with affordable, close-to-home options for recreation, sports and entertainment.”

The website provides an outline of the proposed projects as well as voter and ballot information. A page of frequently asked questions is included. Missing, however, is an explanation of financial details such as an amortization timeline, projected interest and total tax cost. The tax increase necessary to fund all the projects is $0.0135 per $100 of assessed property valuation. That translates to $16.98 a year for a home valued at $126,000, or as the city tells it, the cost of a two-liter soft drink bottle per month. At the request of Up & Coming Weekly, city officials said the bond debt would be retired over 20 years at an anticipated 5 percent interest rate. That is not included in the information online. 

The Fayetteville City Council came up with the list of projects after several weeks of discussions and utilizing the findings of a citizen survey. The bond package includes two senior centers, a tennis center, sports field complex, two skateboard parks, a Cape Fear River Park, seven splash pads and improvements to seven existing parks. All facilities are within the city limits. Here’s is a detailed explanation of the projects:

Senior Centers. Two full-service facilities, one of which tentatively would be built on Lamon Street downtown. The other is to be located along Raeford Road in West Fayetteville. The city says exact locations have not been identified. Key features would include libraries, video rooms, classrooms, art studios, dance studios, a fitness space and a meeting room. The combined costs are estimated as $10 million.

Tennis Center. It would be built at Mazerick Park for players of all ages and ability levels. It would include four clay courts and 13 hard courts, plus a tournament championship court with seats for 1,000 spectators and a 10,000 sq. ft. pro shop. The estimated cost is $6 million.

Sport Field Complex. A multi-purpose complex to be located on city-owned property on Fields Road off Cedar Creek Road that would include two lighted youth softball/baseball fields, two lighted youth softball/baseball fields with synthetic turf, two lighted adult softball/baseball fields, two lighted adult softball/baseball fields with synthetic turf, five soccer/football fields, two soccer/football fields with synthetic turf, three picnic shelters with BBQ grills, two children’s playgrounds and an 800-meter walking trail. Also included is a proposed 10,000 sq. ft. clubhouse. The cost: $9 million.

Skateboard Parks. One large in-ground concrete facility to serve the entire Fayetteville-Cumberland County region, and two mini parks. The larger park would provide a challenge for more advanced skate boarders. The mini-locations would be designed for novice skaters. The larger facility would include two parks at Robeson and Commerce streets for novice and advanced skaters. A novice park would be built at Westover Recreation Center. The total estimated cost is $1 million.

Cape Fear River Park.An urban riverfront park near downtown to provide passive river specific recreational activities. The exact location is to be determined. The city says it would be on the Cape Fear River bordered by Person, Broad and Grove streets. The park would include a boardwalk, access to the riverfront, boat docks, picnic shelters, trails and public open space with an estimated cost not to exceed $5.2 million.

Splash Pads. Six of them would be located at existing recreation centers, including Cliffdale Recreation Center, E.E. Miller, Gilmore Therapeutic Center, Kiwanis, Massey Hill and Myers Park Recreation Centers plus an additional location to be determined. One possible site could be Festival Park in downtown Fayetteville. 

Each location would include 2,000 sq. ft. zero depth splash pads and several water features which use recycled water. The total estimated cost for all seven locations would be $3 million.

Existing Park Improvements. Seven parks would be upgraded to include the renovation of some existing buildings and various park grounds. Among the projects are improvements to J. Bayard Clark Park & Nature Center, the Dorothy Gilmore Therapeutic Park building, Brentwood School Park, Massey Hill Recreation Center, Martin Luther King Jr. Park, Mazarick Park and Seabrook Park. The estimated total cost is $800,000.

The referendum form will not allow voters to pick and choose selected projects. It’s a yes or no, all or nothing proposition. The city says some of the facilities included in the bond proposal would be able to operate with little or no additional operating funds. But, says the city, it’s important to note that membership costs and entrance fees may be required. Memberships would be offered at different levels (family, couple, senior, etc.),  and daily passes would be available for those who go less often or could not afford yearly memberships. In addition, officials believe the new facilities would be available for school athletic programs as well as recreation activities. Also, the facilities would have the added economic advantage of job creation, and would provide other opportunities for generating revenue through tournaments, swim and track meets, and other rentals for a wide range of public or private events. Attracting competitions and other events would lead to additional revenue through hotels stays, restaurants, retail locations and local attractions.

Tax Increase?

“There is a difference between a fee and a tax,” said State Rep. John Szoka. It’s a distinction that is arguable, but for the record “fees are charged to pay for the provision of a service and only for that service,” added Szoka. Republican lawmakers don’t like to raise taxes, but they apparently are not as concerned about increasing fees. The GOP controlled general assembly raised motor vehicle fees, which went into effect this month. One that you’ll notice immediately is the cost of renewing a car’s registration. According to the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles, it went from $28 to $36. An 8-year driver’s license renewal is now $40 which is an $8 increase. A 5-year driver’s license renewal went up $5 to $25. The charge for a title certificate went from $40 to $52. The 30 percent overall increase is the first in 11 years. The updated charges are expected to raise $150 million for road and bridge improvements. Meanwhile, thanks to the political clout of North Carolina’s automobile dealers, the state’s low highway use tax on car sales will remain unchanged at 3 percent. “The distinction between fees and taxes may seem to be like splitting hairs but it is an important distinction,” said Szoka. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trailblazing Female General

The new Commandant of Cadets at the U.S. Military Academy took command this month. Brig. Gen. Diane Holland is the first female officer to assume the responsibility for the military, physical, character and social development of more than 4,400 cadets. She’s a 1990 graduate of the school. Earlier in her career Holland served with Fort Bragg’s 20th Engineer Brigade as a battalion logistics officer and then as a company commander. After that, Holland earned a Master of Arts at Duke University and returned to West Point to teach. She also attended the Army Command and General Staff College and the School of Advanced Military Studies, where she earned a Master of Military Arts and Sciences. Holland most recently served as a Deputy Commanding General, 10th Mountain Division, a unit of the XVIII Airborne Corps, which is headquartered at Fort Bragg. It was another first for a female general officer. Lt. Gen. Robert Carlson Jr., the United Stated Military Academy’s superintendent, said “The Corps of Cadets is getting a great commander and an outstanding leader.” 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CFRT’s New Administrator

Fayetteville’s Cape Fear Regional Theatre has a new managing director. The board of directors this month named Beth Desloges the leader of CFRT’s administrative team. She is a 2011 graduate of South University in Savannah, Georgia, where she earned a Masters of Business Administration and worked as Executive Director of Susan G. Komen of Coastal Georgia. As Managing Director of  the CFRT, Desloges will supervise all operations while working alongside Artistic Director Tom Quaintance to keep the theatre moving forward. “She is a perfect fit for CFRT, and I am thrilled with the team that we have in place going into 2016,” said Quaintance. Desloges said she learned the value of theatre as a teenager in New Hampshire. “Many of the valuable life skills that have made me a successful adult derived from my days as a theater kid in a small New Hampshire community.”

Athletics at FTCC

Fayetteville Technical Community College is establishing a competitive sports program. Mike Neal has been hired as Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at FTCC. He comes to Fayetteville from Sanford where he served for 25 years as Athletic Director of Central Carolina Community College. College officials say Neal will be responsible initially for establishing men’s and women’s basketball and golf programs for the 2016-17 season. Neal is a 1986 graduate of Western Illinois University. FTCC will play its basketball games at the Crown Coliseum. The golf program’s home course will be Stryker Golf Course at Fort Bragg. FTCC will likely add other sports teams later, although President Larry Keen has said football would never be an option because of its expense. Fayetteville Tech will likely compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association’s Division II.

 Once upon a time there was a king named Midas who lived in Macedonia. Once upon our time there was a billionaire named Donald Trump who lived in Manhattan. Turns out these two have a lot in common. Ponder the similarities. As you recall from your Greek mythology, everything Midas touched turned to gold. This didn’t work out quite as well as he hoped. Topping King Midas, everything The Donald touches turns to gold — and fear. This may not turn out as well as The Donald hopes. 

 In the land of mythology, Dionysus was the god of wine. Dionysus learned his party skills from his tutor Silenus. Silenus was an alcoholic satyr. Satyrs are half horse and half human. Horses can’t hold their liquor, which exacerbated Silenus’ alcohol problem. Silenus wandered off drunk one day and blacked out in Midas’ flower garden. Midas recognized Silenus and threw him a big party. Midas then took Silenus back to Dionysus. Dionysus was so glad to see Silenus that he told Midas he would grant him one wish. Midas, considering his financial future, asked that anything he touched would turn to gold. At the time this seemed like a good idea, just like hover boards and zillions of Christmas drones seemed like a good idea. 

 Initially Midas had some fun turning twigs, flowers and his daughter into gold. When he called for a banquet to celebrate his new found ability, Midas had an “Uh Oh” moment. As he tried to eat or drink, his food and wine turned into gluten-free gold which is pretty indigestible. Realizing he was going to starve to death or die of thirst due to his golden touch, Midas asked Dionysus to undo his wish. Dionysus told him to wash in the Pactolus River to remove the golden touch. Midas went down to the river and the golden touch vanished.

 This experience left Midas no longer interested in financial planning. Midas took John Prine’s advice and “blew up his TV, threw away his paper/went to the country, built him a home/planted a little garden/and ate a lot peaches.” While living in the country, Midas became buddies with Pan who was the god of the fields and an excellent flutist. Pan was so proud of his flute playing that he challenged Apollo the god of music to a flute off. Apollo won the contest but Midas objected to the referee’s decision. Never argue with a god. Apollo, feeling insulted, changed Midas’ ears into donkey ears. Midas was self-conscious about his ears. He always hid his donkey ears under a turban. The only person who knew about Midas’ donkey ears was his barber who was supposed to keep it secret. Barbers are not noted for secret keeping. The barber dug a hole and whispered the secret into the hole. Unfortunately for Midas, a bunch of reeds overheard the whispered secret and started spreading the news that Midas had donkey ears. Reeds were mythology’s version of social media. Reeds, like barbers, can’t keep a secret. 

 Now let us ponder the similarities between The Donald and King Midas. The Donald has the financial touch of Midas as he frequently points out to us how rich he is. He can turn real estate into gold. As a presidential candidate, he is doing his best to turn his opponents into objects of fear and loathing. He tells America we need to fear the Mexicans, the Muslims, the Chinese, Senator Cruz’s Canadian citizenship and the sissy boys playing touch football in the NFL. The Donald admires Vlad Putin in the continuing weird love affair between the right wing and a murdering commie dictator. The Donald has a populist gift for inducing fear and loathing by convincing vast numbers of voters that The Donald alone can protect them from The Other. Alienating everyone who isn’t white may not turn out to be the best quality for a president to have. Perhaps Dionysus still has a set of donkey ears left to send to Earth. 

 Maybe The Donald already has donkey ears on his head like Midas. Instead of wearing a turban on his head, (which would make him look like a Muslim), the Donald has this huge pile of hair on his head. Could the pile of hair conceal donkey ears? Only The Donald’s barber knows for sure. Maybe his barber has whispered The Donald’s secret into a fracking well in Oklahoma. It’s a hair-raising possibility. Only the results of the electoral college will know for sure.

 

Late last December, I wrote a rather pointed op-ed piece on the development of the parks and recreation plan for the greater-Fayetteville area. 

I appreciate our mayor and city council. I’m glad they have the foresight to improve the quality of life in our All-American City, because improvements are badly needed in our existing facilities, as is planning for new facilities. Organized athletics are not just entertainment. They can build teamwork and community spirit as well, and when they also reduce juvenile crime, the community gets a further bonus. Our senior citizens are living longer than ever before, and their quality of life is just as important as that of younger people. Two senior centers, one in East Fayetteville and the other in West Fayetteville, are long overdue.

But in my op-ed, I tried to explain the plan in its entirety, not just giving a “big picture” overview, but also taking a closer look at the hidden costs of the then-proposed $64 million plan. Several readers voiced appreciation for the background research I included in the article.

Last Monday the City Council met and revised the $64 million plan to a $35 million plan, still tying it directly to the bond referendum coming up this March. I sincerely think that’s a step in the right direction. The plan objectives are now set out much more clearly, for one thing, but transparency is essential to building trust. I still have several concerns about the modified plan, and about the local political context in which it would be implemented, if approved. 

First, is the information being provided to the City Council accurate and reliable? If the council is to make good policy, they need to have accurate information. For example, on Dec. 14, city management assured the Council the total cost of the then-$28 million multipurpose complex would be approximately $700,000 per year. That very night, the council voted unanimously to approve the bond referendum being placed on the ballot in March. But later, on Jan. 4, a memo was distributed to say that the number city management gave at the Dec. 14 meeting was inaccurate. Council had already voted on the basis of an inaccurate figure. Now council learned that the true cost would in fact be around $2.3 million a year. That is an understatement of $1.6 million — every year! Unfortunately, this is not the only example of such, “mis-statements.” City management is rightfully expected to do their homework before council votes, rather than afterward. Money is not the issue here. Trust is.

Second, in the recent municipal election, some on our council campaigned loudly that they were going to hold the line on hasty tax hikes — they would support no tax increase until they had “looked under the hood” to see what synergies or savings they could find — specifically in the Fayetteville Public Works Commission. They have not yet kept that promise. In fact, due to an exceedingly ambitious city manager, who apparently wants PWC totally under his thumb, we are now mired in a sticky lawsuit that will reportedly cost the taxpayers of this city at least $500,000 to litigate. Back during the Big Bang annexation, the city signed a commitment to pay approximately $70 million toward the cost of the infrastructure in this newly-annexed area. But the current city manager wasn’t here when that promise was made, and he seems not to regard it as binding. He is now attempting to renege on that obligation. Just call us “Litigation City.” Keep in mind this $70 million cost was not written directly out of the city budget but was a reduction in the amount the city would have received from technically the ratepayers of PWC. Again, the underlying issue isn’t money. It’s trust. We like folks who keep their word, Ted (Voorhees).

Prior to negotiations crashing and litigation beginning, PWC had agreed to give back to the city approximately $1.3 million growing every year for inflation. We ended up not only giving that stream of income up but costing the citizens of this city $500,000 for litigation cost. It’s interesting that that $1.3 million a year would almost completely cover the interest expense assuming that the bonds were issued at 4.25 percent, not principal mind you but interest-only.

True, City Council has the obligation for oversight of PWC. That does not mean City Council members — all of them “part-time” public servants, with private careers of their own — have the time, skill or experience to operate a multi-million dollar public utility. Ah, but that’s why we have city management professionals, right? Re-read the above paragraphs.

In the midst of the Civil War, a young slave named Dan lives on a Southern plantation and loves to play his drum. When a company of Union soldiers announce that the slaves have been set free, Dan has no family, no home and no place to go. He follows the soldiers, who befriend him. When Confederate soldiers attack, Dan discovers that he may be able to save his friends using his drum.

This is the tale told in Li’l Dan, the Drummer Boy: A Civil War Storyby renowned artist Romare Bearden. The book, the only one written and illustrated by Bearden, is part of the Romare Bearden: Beat of a Different Drum exhibit presented by the Arts Council and opening Jan. 22 during 4th Friday from 7 – 9 p.m.

“The book is a work of fiction,” said Mary Kinney, marketing director of the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County. “It’s a wonderful story of heroism and bravery of this little boy … finding friendship in unexpected places.”

The free Black History Month exhibition of artwork and artifacts will run until March 5 and includes lectures, performances and workshops. The Arts Council worked with Charlotte’s Jerald Melberg Gallery, the Romare Bearden Foundation in New York City and the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex to arrange the exhibit.

It incorporates historical pieces on loan from the Museum of Cape Fear including an authentic Civil War drum, a bayonet and a painting of the Fayetteville Arsenal before it was destroyed in 1865. Kinney said reproductions of a Union soldier’s uniform and a southern woman’s outfit will be available for visitors to touch.

The highlight of the exhibit is a series of colorful images from Bearden’s book, on loan from the Jerald Melberg Gallery. Kinney said the images and themes will engage visitors of all ages.

“We’re excited to present this story and works of Romare Bearden,” Kinney said. “There’s a sense of wonder to some of these pieces. This exhibit is very colorful with vibrant pieces. Some a little more abstract and collage focused. In this story told through watercolor, you get the sense that you know this little boy.”

Bearden was born in Charlotte in 1911, and lived much of his adult life in New York, where he died in 1988. Considered a prolific artist, his work was exhibited during his lifetime throughout the U. S. and Europe. Recognized as one of the most creative and original visual artists of the 20th century, Bearden experimented with different mediums and styles, but is best known for his richly textured collages. Bearden’s diverse interests were evident with his sets and costumes designed for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. 

“He did have a full career outside of artwork,” Kinney said. “He had a full-time day job as a social worker. Art was evening and weekend work. He was the type of artist that was open to exploring art. His different mediums make the show more accessible to more people.”

Kinney said the Arts Council expects a wide and varied interest in the exhibit from artists, students, historians and novice art enthusiasts.

“It is an opportunity to have access to artwork from outside our community, works that are normally not available unless viewed in high-end galleries,” Kinney said. “When they come, they will get a sense that they’ve seen something they wouldn’t normally have a chance to see, and learn something about African-American art.”

Group tours with educators and other organizations are available with docents who are educated on the time frame, art techniques and historical significance of the works.

The opening during 4th Friday will feature a meet-and-greet with Diedra Harris-Kelly, co-director of the Romare Bearden Foundation in New York and a relative of Bearden, as well as performances by Fayetteville State University’s Percussion Ensemble at 7:15 and 8 p.m. in the Arts Council’s Grand Hall. 

Harris-Kelly will also participate in a discussion on collecting African-American art at 11 a.m. on Jan. 23.

Kinney encourages visitors to also visit a related exhibition at the Transportation & Local History Museum. Cumberland County Goes to War commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Civil War and Cumberland County’s war experience. 

The Arts Council galleries are located at 301 Hay Street. Admission is free. Gallery hours are Monday – Thursday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday 9 a.m. to noon; and Saturday noon to 4 p.m. To schedule a tour from Jan. 25 until March 4, contact the Arts Council at 910.323.1776. To learn more about Romare Bearden’s life and work visit http://www.beardenfoundation.org/ 

 

In the 1970s, The Wiz took Broadway by storm revamping The Wizard of Ozwith an all-black cast in a super soul musical. Now, Cape Fear Regional Theatre is embracing the story and showcasing it as a part of their 2015-2016 season.

First time CFRT guest director Donna Baldwin-Bradby admits that this is her favorite show and her passion for the musical is evident in her excitement and that of her actors. 

“I remember seeing this show thinking this little girl [Dorothy] looks like me. It changed my life,” said Baldwin-Bradby. “The journey that Dorothy goes through is like everyday life. You can get disheveled; you can go through what you think is the worst, but you are better in the end. That’s what I want the audience to know and feel.”

The story of Dorothy going through the tornado, landing in Oz, meeting her friends is all there in The Wiz, but fans of the original Baum work will find that it follows his story even closer than the 1939 film changing the iconic ruby red slippers to silver shoes, involving the four original witches as opposed to just the Wicked Witch of the West and the Good Witch of the North and more that avid book readers can identify with in this stage production. Those changes make this musical even more of a treat and challenge the audience to remember their favorite books from childhood.

Not only does the musical stay true to the original work, the audience may be surprised not to find an actual yellow brick road, a field of poppies or even stage effects creating a tornado. Those parts of the show are played by actors and dancers as moving parts making the show a thrilling way to spend a night — or afternoon. 

“Almost everything is a person. The sets and the costumes are going to be amazing,” said TyNia Brandon playing Dorothy. “Everyone has a role and everyone is important to the show.”

The actors including Dorothy and adding in friends, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion and the Scarecrow, define an ensemble with easy chemistry where they admit that it doesn’t even feel like work. They are all just trying to be great, encouraged by a director who is also more of an educator.

“At the end of the day, our director has made us all a little brighter. My cup runneth over from being a part of this show,” said Fayetteville native T.J. Fields playing the Lion. This show was also groundbreaking because it helped celebrate black actors in a time where there were not many black roles and gave them a platform to showcase special music styles, dance and even life.

“There are so many cultural things involved that the entire audience may not grasp firsthand, but will love to experience,” said Deon Releford Lee, who plays the Tinman. “The set will have African Kente cloth and there is African dance incorporated. This musical is also a celebration of culture.”

As far as experiencing firsthand, the audience will also be encouraged to participate as the actors will use the entire theatre, not just the stage. 

“This show is interactive. We will be in the aisles and we will encourage the audience to clap, dance and shout,” said Baldwin-Bradby, “This show will leave you recharged and energized when the curtain closes.”

The musical comes to life on  Jan. 21 and runs through Feb. 14 with 2 p.m. matinees and 7:30 evening performances. Also available are limited seating “Lunch with Dorothy” tickets, where an hour before weekend matinee performances, those interested are encouraged to dress as their favorite character, have lunch in the Emerald City and meet The Wiz actors. Lunch tickets are $10. All performance tickets are $15-28 and are available at www.cfrt.org or by calling the box office at 910.323.4233. Ease on down!

Athletes seeking to push themselves — and have a great time — need look no further than the Boomerang Beer and Brat Fun Run 5K. For those not quite ready for the 5K, there is also a one-miler.  Hosted by the Special Operators Challenge, the event takes place on Jan. 30 at the Crown Coliseum. It’s not your standard road race, in fact, far from it, but Ivan Castro, the founder of Special Operators Challenge, and his crew, are working hard to make sure that it’s a fun day for everyone involved. The day’s plans include more than a road race, so bring a friend and plan to stay awhile. The course involves costume changes, eating (and drinking) on the run, a bratwurst eating contest and costume judging. 

This is the first year the event takes place at the Crown. Even though it has grown every year, Castro was looking to reach even more people.  “We did this two years in a row at the Carolina Horse Park and we decided to bring it home and move to Fayetteville so we can have all of Fort Bragg and Fayetteville, Spring Lake and Hope Mills join us. We want to include the students from Methodist University, Fayetteville State University and Fayetteville Technical Community College. We want everyone to come and have a good time,” said Castro. “When people hear our name they sometimes think this is just for the military and that is not the case. This is for everyone — of all experience levels and abilities.” 

The day starts at 10 a.m. with check-in and same-day registration. Food and beer are available for purchase and local vendors will join the fun to showcase their inventories. “At 12:20 p.m. the entertainment starts,” said Darlene Matos, Castro’s business partner. “It’s Jackie from Jackie’s Boot Camp. She promised not to boot camp us — she is a dancer and will be a lot of fun. We thank God for beer at 12:55 p.m. and at 1 p.m. we start boomeranging ourselves around the coliseum property. Hopefully everyone is done by 2 p.m. Then we have the brat-eating competition and costume judging. Last call is at 3:30 p.m. Then everyone is invited to the after party at Louie’s Sports Bar.”

The route is on the Crown property and involves mile-long laps — or one lap for the one-miler participants. “You drink a beer then walk (or run) a lap, then come around and eat a foot-long brat. Walk or run a mile and then drink a beer and walk or run a mile,” said Castro. “Our motto is: Eat. Drink. Race. Repeat.”

But that is just the beginning. There is plenty of fun to be had along the way. ”Every ¼ mile there is a pit stop with different activities at every stop. Maybe it’s dancing the polka or doing the Chicken Dance or the hokey pokey. We’ll have group hugs, singing, playing hopscotch and changing clothes with someone else,” said Matos. “So bring your ugly Christmas sweater or granny’s nightie. Bring something you would like to see someone else wearing. The clothes swaps happen three times. It will be a great time for spectators, too.” 

Participants as well as the general public are invited to contribute to the Boomerang food, diaper and clothing drive. “Like our events, this has grown every year, too,” said Castro. “The first year we had about three or four big wardrobe boxes full of things to donate. Last year we had an entire pick-up truck full of those boxes. Bring nonperishable, non-expired goods that are well packaged. We want to give back and food is not only something people need during the holidays. It is a year-round thing.”

While the Boomerang Beer and Brat Fun Run is right around the corner, it is not the only event that Special Operators Challenge hosts. This year there are five races on the calendar. “There is the Boomerang coming up on Jan. 30 and we are planning another in September for Octoberfest,” said Castro. “We have three other events in the middle of the year.” 

Mark the calendar for June 4. It’s the day of the Dirty Darby, which is a 5K mud and obstacle course event. That same day there is a kid-friendly race — The Little Muddy. Aug. 20, is the next race: The Esprit de Corps Challenge. That is an adventure race and event. It has shotgun shooting, archery and tomahawk throwing. There is a rock climbing wall, rapelling, canoeing, an observation game and fire starting. “That one has three options — no trek, a 5-mile or a 10-mile. It takes 5-12 hours depending on which trek you do,” said Castro. “We put people on a team so you get to meet people and you do not have to have any experience to participate. You can be a novice and still come out and have a great time. We have trained pros that will teach you how to do these things — draw a bow or load a shot gun or whatever you need. And if you feel uncomfortable with any of it you can opt out of that event and still participate in the overall race. If you don’t like to be in the water, you don‘t have to do it — you can pass on the canoe or guns or whatever station. You don’t have to partake of all the events. The same is true for all of our events. If you don’t care to drink at the Boomerang, no problem. If you don’t eat meat, take a pass on the brats, but come out and have a good time.”

All events are open for registration. Contestants can register for any of the events online at active.com or at specialoperatorschallenge.com. the Boomerang 5K VIP package, which includes choice parking and access to a heated tent; the Boomerang Beer and Brat 5K Fun Run individual for $35; the 1 mile fun run individual for $35; the Bratwurst eating competition for $10; and the Boomerang 6-pack team entry for $180. Registration includes a long-sleeve moisture wicking shirt, two beers and a bratwurst. Teams of six or more get a free beer for each team member. Medals are also available for $12. Participants must be 18 years old by race day and 21-years-old to drink alcohol. Nonalcoholic beverages are available for those who can’t or don’t want to drink. There are also vegetables to snack on.

Call 483-1900 or visit specialoperatorschallenge.com for more information.

The City of Durham’s police chief lost his job because of a growing violent crime rate. That’s a tough call for any city executive. Some would argue that you can’t blame law enforcement for crimes in a community. It’s difficult to prevent major crimes. Ask the mayors of Chicago, New Orleans and yes, Durham.

Murder, in particular, is hard to prevent. 

“Propensity to crime develops in stages associated with major psychological and sociological factors. The factors are not caused by race or poverty, and the stages are the normal tasks of growing up that every child confronts as he gets older,” says Patrick Fagan of the Heritage Foundation. “In the case of future violent criminals, the absence of the love, affection, and dedication of both his parents becomes perverse exercises, frustrating his needs and stunting his ability to belong,” Fagan adds.

Statistically, some communities must be more fortunate than others for reasons that escape the experts. Fayetteville is thought of as a violent city. But last year, the murder rate was down from the year before, and the year before that. In 2015, only 17 homicides were recorded in Fayetteville, according to Police Lt. David McLaurin. Chief of Detective Katherine Bryant says one other case is pending…the violent death of a 3-year-old baby. Bryant says the state medical examiner has not yet determined the cause of death.

Contrast that with 42 homicides in Durham last year. It’s a city of comparable size and demographic makeup. Fayetteville City Manager Ted Voorhees will tell you that’s where the similarities end, making the significant difference in murders remarkable. Voorhees was Durham’s Deputy City Manager before coming to Fayetteville three years ago. 

 

Fayetteville City Council members met for seven hours to tackle half a dozen agenda items during its monthly work session last week. No votes or decisions are made during the monthly work session. 

The monthly planning meetings are usually attended by staff and council; however, this month the meeting was moved to the Council Chambers because more than 20 people attended the meeting because of the agenda items. Those in attendance were exposed to an exhibition rarely seen by the public. It was a night of frustration for council members who had to deal with issues ranging from policy matters to appointing citizens to advisory boards, all of which were hotly contested by the members of the council. 

One of the hot button issues members dicussed was garbage collection in a far reaching area of West Fayetteville, an area served by Councilman Bill Crisp. Environmental Services Director Jerry Deitzen briefed the council on a pilot project in which a private contractor would be paid to pick up the trash to see if it could do a better job than Deitzen’s crew. Recent studies concluded the city performs at lower cost than private firms. 

Councilmen Jim Arp and Chalmers McDougald joined with Crisp to deride the plan that was approved by Deitzen and City Manager Ted Voorhees. The City Council decided the experimental trash collection project should be limited to Crisp’s district. The confrontation came because the council’s original directions were vague, according to Voorhees. Deitzen faced heavy criticism from the member of the council, with some challenging the validity of his report. McDougald went so far as to suggest he be fired. Voorhees came to Deitzen’s defense, pushing back in what continued to be a testy exchange between elected officials and their top administrators. 

Later came a clash among council members themselves over how best to appoint interested residents to the city’s numerous advisory boards and commissions. Bobby Hurst has chaired the committee with that responsibility for eight years. But some new members including Mayor Pro-Tem Mitch Colvin want to change the process. Under the current process, the city lists board openings on its website. City residents who wish to volunteer their time to serve on the board fill out an online application for the positions, some of which require licensure. The applications are then reviewed by the committee and recommendations for appointment are taken before the council for a vote. 

Hurst felt Colvin was questioning his integrity. Colvin questioned the process used by the committee to nominate citizens to the boards. Hurst and appointments committee member Bill Crisp got so angry they resigned from the committee. 

At 11 p.m., council closed their work session and went into special session to discuss the upcoming parks and recreation bond vote. Although Councilman Kirk deViere, a former Army officer, now downtown business owner, is the newest member of the board, he guided his colleagues through the process. This was his first work session having just been elected in November. Prior to his election, deViere attended council meetings regularly and took notes, which allowed him to hit the ground running. 

He sketched out the projects that council had chosen in an October planning session and reviewed those favored by residents who had responded to a survey. He led council to its final decision, which eliminated a proposed $3.2 million aquarium from the projects list and put to an end any further discussion of a $28 million multipurpose aquatic and senior center in order to avoid public confusion.

The marathon meeting ended at midnight.

The Greater Fayetteville Chamber is officially reorganized as it heads into another year of business advocacy for its membership. It was previously known as the Fayetteville–Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce and the Fayetteville Area Chamber of Commerce.

The numerous name changes reflect years of frustration, and what the Chamber once described as “an inability to articulate a unified vision for its future.” Organization leaders believe they now have “a clearer mission.” The Chamber’s new Chairman Brian Kent seems determined to grow the membership and exert its influence in the community. 

The Chamber is on its own now having separated itself from the Economic Development Alliance. The Alliance is funded in part by city and county governments and serves as local governments’ industry hunter. Under the new arrangement, the Chamber is self-sustaining and receives no public funding. It’s beholden only to its members and the business community.

Up & Coming Weekly spent an hour with Kent recently. Kent left the military in 2005, but elected to remain in Fayetteville. He bought the old Sears Warehouse on Cumberland Street three years later, and received a Chamber loan to rebuild the property. The new building opened in 2012 as K3 Enterprises, an “innovative global conveyor of information solutions and related services.”

Kent joined the Chamber in 2011, and immediately emerged as a leader. He joined the board of directors in 2013. Last year Kent was recognized as Entrepreneur of the Year by Methodist University. K3 Enterprises is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business with 80 employees handling technology contracts primarily with the military worth more than $10 million a year.

The Greater Fayetteville Chamber faces the challenge of recovering from a protracted membership slump which has seen its numbers plunge from 1,500 when David Jameson was president 15 years ago, to only 700 today. Kent would like to see chamber memberships become what he calls “structured sponsorships” offering networking, event-planning, training and business education. 

Kent isn’t happy with local government. The Chamber “has become a scapegoat for city and county inefficiencies,” he said. He’s among those who charge that the City of Fayetteville does not operate “in a business friendly environment.” 

Council members agree and blame city staff. Kent adds that government “must streamline their processes” to speed up regulatory requirements of the unified development ordinance. 

The city’s new Director of Inspections and Permitting agrees. Doug Hewitt rejoined the administration recently after an absence of a couple of years. He told city council this month that his staff is being cross-trained to respond to developer needs faster. He stressed the need for computer enhancements in order to synchronize internal systems so they can better communicate with each other. “We have to have a technology system that works,” said Deputy City Manager Rochelle Small-Toney, which places the onus on city council to adequately fund the department.

Two Months until the Bond Vote 

Fayetteville City Council refined the projects that residents will vote on in a March 15 parks and recreation bond referendum. Missing from the list is the $3.2 million fresh water aquarium that was under consideration. Council agreed on spending up to $35 million on six splash pads, two senior centers, a Cape Fear River Park, a skateboard park, a multi-purpose athletic field, a tennis complex and several neighborhood park improvements. A companion plan to lease a privately-built $28 million multi-purpose aquatic and senior center was separated from the referendum. 

“It needs to be totally divorced from this bond issue,” said Councilman Bill Crisp. His colleagues agreed and voted 8-1 to adopt the measure. Councilman Larry Wright was absent. 

Vets and Their Care

Fayetteville’s new $120 million VA Health Care Center is officially open for business with the recent formal ribbon-cutting. The real test of the investment lies ahead as Congressional leaders and VA officials keep their attention focused on those who served. The Veterans Affairs Department in Fayetteville serves one of the nation’s fastest growing veteran populations. The number of veterans receiving care from the Fayetteville VA has grown by 13 percent in the last two years, officials have said. 

“Our shared goals are to ensure that veterans have a clear understanding of  the VA and where to go for what they need within any of our facilities; that employees are empowered with the authority, knowledge and tools they need to solve problems and take action; and that the products and services that we deliver to veterans are integrated within the organization,” said VA Secretary Bob McDonald.

Poll Workers Needed

The Cumberland County Board of Elections is seeking precinct workers for the North Carolina primary on March 15. Candidates must be registered voters in Cumberland County. Unaffiliated voters and those registered from both political parties are needed to work at the county’s 77 voting precincts. Poll workers are paid for attending a mandatory five-hour training session and for working on Election Day from 5:30 a.m. until all precincts have closed. Anyone interested in being a poll worker should contact the Board of Elections office at 678-7733. Applications are available online at www.co.cumberland.nc.us/elections. They are also available at the Board of Elections office in the E. Newton Smith Office Building at 227 Fountainhead Lane.

We are in the early weeks of our New Year’s Resolutions, the period when we are enthusiastic about making ourselves — happier, thinner, kinder, more focused, better paid, or whatever it is we hope to become in 2016. 

I have resolved to lose 20 pounds, as I do every year, and to learn how to meditate — something I find much more interesting than dieting. I have already begun researching meditation practices and techniques online even though keyboarding uses few if any calories. I hope meditation will help with what yogis call “monkey mind” and what everyone else calls tossing and turning in the middle of the night.

I have plenty of company in the self-improvement resolution department. Most — some say all — New Year’s resolutions involve losing weight, and that is a good thing for those of us in North Carolina, where we face a number of significant health challenges, including fat. The United Health Foundation ranks North Carolina 31st in the nation in general health, with some good news and some not-so-good news. The good news is that we are up from 37th in the nation last year, and we are second nationally in childhood immunization rates. The bad news is, among other statistics, North Carolina is 33rd in the rate of diabetes, 44th in the number of dentists, 9th in binge drinking, and has a high disparity between the health of more educated people and those without high school diplomas.

Bad news as well about our weights. We are too heavy and getting heavier. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which tracks such numbers, reports that our adult obesity rate is now nearly 30 percent, up from 21 percent in 2000, and a petite 12 percent in 1990. Fewer children are obese, but then they have not had as much time and opportunity to eat. Obesity, of course, brings with it all sorts of health woes including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis and cancer.

Blessedly, help of sorts arrived earlier this month just in time to bolster our New Year’s resolutions in the form of suggestions from the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services about what we should eat and what we should not. No real surprises in the latest report, one that our government thoughtfully issues every five years. In a nutshell, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and not so much dairy and meats, especially highly processed meats. Take it easy on saturated fats, salt and sugar, which are singled out as particularly tough on the human body. The report says we take in our daily sugar quota in on 16-ounce soda, a fact which should cause soda consumers serious pause. 

Many an elementary school student has already mastered these general guidelines. It seems to be adults who have trouble with them, probably because our bad habits — which we probably did not know were bad when we started them —are of long standing. That is why we hope our resolve will hold beyond the month of January.

This year’s report sounds like good sense to me, but with all due respect to our government’s thoughts about what should pass our lips, I have a few of my own to share. 

The closer the food is to its natural state, the better it is for you. For example, fresh apples and grapes have not been processed and are fine. A piece of cheddar on occasion for sure, but processed cheese product in any form, especially powder, YIKES! Apple pie — well — you get the point. Ditto for broiled fish as opposed to a fried seafood platter and a small square of dark chocolate and a gooey s’more.

If it — whatever it is — is larger than your palm, think twice before you eat it. A slice of summer watermelon - yes, but a rib-eye steak, probably not unless you are 6 ‘5”.

If you read the ingredients and cannot pronounce or spell them, don’t eat it. There is simply no telling what you are putting in your body. My red flags also go up when the package lists more than five or six ingredients. They may be just fine but I do check.

We all know our forebears ate everything they wanted that they could get their hands on, and some of us feel we should as well. Our forbearers’ chow, however, was not laden with chemicals they had never heard of, and their life expectancies were nowhere close to those of today’s Americans.

And even if your resolutions fall by the wayside as most do, including my 20 pounds, which have been with me for quite a while now, do not despair. Agriculture and Health and Human Services are probably already working on the next round of eating guidelines due to arrive in time for New Year’s 2021.

For heaven’s sake, pay attention Fayetteville! We have a major decision to make in eight weeks about the future of our community. I’m not talking about just voting in the upcoming March 15 Primary Election for local and national elected officials, but rather for the local $35 million bond issue that will increase Fayetteville’s degree of livability. When it comes to economic development, there is no doubt that one of the reasons why we cannot attract lucrative industry to enhance our stature is lack of amenities like parks and recreational facilities.

 I am amazed and disappointed at the lack of awareness local residents have about this critical upcoming decision. Even more disturbing is how many folks are misinformed about the P & R Bond and its potential impact on our community and quality of life. 

Admittedly, local government’s rationale for determining the communities needs and formulating the right package has left many of us scratching our heads and rolling or eyes. But now it’s done. In the weeks to come the City of Fayetteville has every intention of providing residents information and details about the initiative. To the city’s credit an intensive education and awareness campaign has been implemented. It will include community meetings, public hearings, a media campaign and community outreach. The information will be out there. Now, it will be up to the Fayetteville citizens to pay attention, access the available information, ask questions and make an intelligent and well-informed decision. After all, it is our future. 

On another note, but still on the same page, it is too bad that the city didn’t buy airtime during the J. Cole Concert Special that aired on HBO last Saturday night. Not only did HBO do a great job showcasing this talented native son, but they, like most misdirected media, made sure America got to see our seedy neighborhoods, run down houses and trashy streets. They didn’t leave out Bragg Boulevard’s shady icons and, of course, our community of homeless residents living under our downtown bridges. 

To the detriment of our community, but perhaps a wake up call for us, HBO made a great case to vote yes for the March 15 Parks & Rec Referendum. The reality is, this is the way Fayetteville is viewed by the outside world and we are the only ones who can change that. 

Get smart. Get involved. Get informed. 

Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

For those who visit local galleries regularly, more than likely they have seen Dwight Smith’s abstract paintings. Smith lives in Fayetteville and is an assistant professor of art at Fayetteville State University. His paintings are highly textured, thick and “oozy-sensuous.” Often the mark making in the paintings seem to reference a drawing process — reason and intuition is mediated throughout the finished work. 

After years of wanting to explore printmaking, Smith recently made the time to become a student of the genre. After seeing the early results, Gallery 208 is excited to host an exhibit of the relationship between Smith’s paintings, drawings and prints in Dwight Smith: an Artist’s Approach to Discovery. The artist’s reception is Jan. 19, from 5:30-7 p.m., and includes several of his paintings while the remainders of the works in the exhibit are drawings and prints. 

Visitors to Dwight Smith: an Artist’s Approach to Discovery will clearly see how an artist transitions between mediums while retaining the thematic essence of who they are. Each process contributes to personal meaning or content — his oeuvre is embedded in the material he is using at that moment.

The following statement by Smith is the key to understanding how he moves so easily between the different media: “My research and investigations into contemporary painting involve mixed-media painting and drawings that are influenced by material surfaces and scale.” 

For Smith, the act of drawing translates into a direct experience and an immediate source of discovery — a process least impeded by technical considerations of a finished painting; he is unencumbered by the “finished” process in a painting. Instead, drawing is the immediate formulation of ideas and is the result of hand, drawing material and the surface of the paper.

In his approach to painting, Smith explained, “As an artist, my current painting practice involves methods of integrating opposites into a state of harmony and balance. Elements of design referenced in African, African-American or multi-cultural imagery create a catalyst to begin my visual language that informs the work. Through the work I am responding to the tension generated by a resounding past and an insistent present. Each work is a commitment to intimate concerns about painting and the contemporary language of abstraction.”

Printmaking was simply an extension of Smith’s approach to drawing and painting. The use of materials became possibilities, not an objective search, but about discovery, experimentation and selection. In that printmaking is a studio environment for artists to explore imagery and creative problem solving, Smith thrived due to his approach to drawing and painting — thinking in layers, colors, the graphic use of black, texture and incorporating his personal symbols.  

No matter what the medium, all Smith’s work reflects what is important to him: “…I create celebrate life, family histories and tributes to artists. I express certain social realities concerning the world while exploring aesthetic qualities of being black in America and addressing the literal symbology of contemporary blackness within the legacy of Abstract Expressionism, thereby creating a pliable structure for intuition, improvisation and chance.” 

No matter which media Smith is using, it is easy to sum up his approach as an artist by citing a statement by Sarah Thornton in her book Seven Days in the Art World: “You are materializing — taking something from the inside and putting out into the world so you can be relieved of it.”

After retiring to Fayetteville from a career as a graphic designer in the automobile industry in Detroit, Michigan, Smith has enriched the area with his talent, skills as a teacher and as an art advocate in the community. After being only retired for one year, he was hired to teaching painting at Fayetteville State University. While teaching with Fayetteville State he completed a required advanced terminal degree for studio artists, a master’s of fine arts from the Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Smith is also the director of the Rosenthal Gallery on Fayetteville States’campus. 

Some of Smith’s most recent group invitations to exhibit include NAAHBCU National Exhibition: AfroFurturism, at the Tubman African-American Museum, Macon, Georgia; FORECAST: OVERFLOW at the Brown & Juanita Ford Art Gallery, Wayne County Community College in Detroit Michigan; Earthy Abstraction: Works by Jack Kehoe, Kipley Meyer, Brian Rust and Dwight Smithat the Madison Artists Guild in Madison, Georgia; and Contemporary Works on Paper at the Brandywine Center for the Visual Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Selected solo exhibitions include OBSERVATIONS: Mixed Media Works from Dwight Smith at the Ellington-White Contemporary Art Gallery in Fayetteville, North Carolina; New Works by Dwight Smith at the National Conference of Artists Michigan Chapter Gallery in Detroit, Michigan; Peintures, Le Manufacture in Aurillac, France; and National Conference of Artists International Exhibition at the The National Gallery in Dakar, Senegal.

Selected recent presentations by the artist include “Black Art: Abstraction, Social Change and Cultural Identity in My Postwar America” in Rosenthal Gallery on the campus of Fayetteville State University and the Institute of Boston at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts; “Examining Interrelationships of Black Art on Social Change and Cultural Identity” at Fayetteville State University; and “The Evolution of the Black Image in Illustration and Fine Art” for the Friends of African and African American Art at the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County in North Carolina.

Smith’s commitment to the idea of discovery is not limited to the studio, but reaches into the community with his art advocacy.  His community service includes leadership in the Fayetteville Art Guild, participating in the Ellington-White Community Foundation on Gillespie Street and instructing in Discovering the Arts (an after school and summer program for young students). 

Gallery 208, at Up & Coming Weekly, is pleased to share Dwight Smith: an Artist’s Approach to Discovery with the community. The opening and artists’ reception on Jan. 19 is free and the exhibit will remain up until March 5. Gallery 208 is located at 208 Rowan Street and the hours are Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. For information on the opening or the exhibit, please call Up & Coming Weekly at 910.484.6200.

Col. Ron Stephens, commander of Fort Bragg’s Womack Army Medical Center will pass command to Col. Lance Raney on Jan. 8. Stephens is leaving this week to serve  as Deputy Commander, Army Pacific Regional Health Command. He’s been at Womack since May of 2014, when he replaced Col. Steven Brewster who was relieved of command following the unexpected deaths of two patients and what the Army describes as a loss of confidence by his superiors.

“The past is in the past…we are looking to the future,” Stephens told his staff of more than 4,000. “We do have some work to do.” 

Stephens said he was comfortable coming to Womack because he knew the organization well. “We have re-established faith, trust and confidence in the staff, leaders around Fort Bragg and the patients whom we serve,” he said. “We have placed a relentless focus on safety, which was a key concern.” 

Acknowledging that soldier readiness is priority one, Stephens pointed out the medical center also focuses on research, collaboration with other medical facilities, education and training. Womack has the only podiatry residency in the Army healthcare system. 

Stephens says the region’s medical community is facing a constant turnover of clinicians that causes wait times he has worked hard to manage. He spoke of opportunities that present themselves at other facilities which results in resignations. 

“We have been short of primary care providers since I got here,” Dr. Stephens said. “Constant turnover is a constant problem.”

Womack has 120,000 patients enrolled in its direct care system… the largest in the Army. Another 30,000 are assigned to civilian care providers. Fort Bragg’s pharmacy is the busiest in the Department of Defense. 

The budget he began with this year was higher than the year before and the year before that, Stephens observed. He declined to criticize the budget process noting that “Budgetary opportunities are based on primary care clinics and number of patients…we never, ever compromise safety and quality of care.”  

He expects that over the next few months with the hiring of additional providers, Womack will be able to add thousands to its enrollment.

Stephens said departing Womack Army Medical Center and the privilege of command “is bitter sweet…I am comfortable that we have the programs and policies and initiatives in place that will allow my successor to hit his stride and Womack Army Medical center will continue to move forward. I wish I could have stayed longer.” Col Stephens notes that he was a soldier before he became a doctor. He spent his first 10 years in the Army as an enlisted man, having joined as a member of the Georgia National Guard. He was commissioned after graduating from his college ROTC program. Dr. Stephens has spent the last 20 years as an Army physician, and is grateful for “the community’s unwavering support of the Army and Army medicine.” 

Fayetteville Police Officer Paul Davis, Jr. and 25-year-old Reginald Butler recently crossed paths. From what Police Chief Harold Medlock recounts, Butler should be glad he’s still alive. Davis and his family are no doubt reflecting on what could have been his last day on the job. 

Butler had crashed his car, and Davis was one of three officers to respond to the scene of the one-vehicle wreck on Bunce Road. The accident investigation disclosed that Butler became “visibly agitated,” according to Lt. David McLaurin, but he apparently was not hurt. Davis asked him to take a seat in his own car and relax, at which point “Butler became even more agitated, took off his coat and threw it on the ground,” McLaurin added.

Davis was speaking with Butler while the other officers were reviewing the accident scene. Then, in a split second, came one of those “decision points” as Police Chief Harold Medlock described it. While Butler and Davis were talking, Butler reached down and pulled up one of his pants’ legs. The police report indicated Butler pulled a handgun from his sock. Davis grabbed the man’s hand and pistol and pressed them against his leg. Seeing the commotion, the other officers took control of Butler and he was disarmed. The weapon was a 38-caliber snub-nose revolver.

Medlock tells Up & Coming Weekly had it not been for training and the officer’s presence of mind, the incident could easily have gone differently and Davis would “probably have been justified in shooting Butler” who is black. Davis, a field training officer and a 10-year veteran of the department,  is a “squared away professional” according to Medlock. 

Butler, as it turns out, has a lengthy criminal record. He is in jail and is being held on several charges including three counts of assault with a deadly weapon on government officials and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to police. This was one of several similar incidents in recent months during which police officers had to confront armed subjects who attempted to assault them, said McLaurin.

This is not a Fayetteville problem, but rather one that is being faced by law enforcement officers across the nation. 

“It worries me to no end,” Medlock said. “It’s different at the chief’s level, worrying about their safety. We’re faced with these situations all the time.” 

The other officers involved in this case were Dylan Kettell, a K-9 officer with 11 years’ experience and Matthew Smith who’s been on the department since 2013. 

Editor’s note: Last week, the Fayetteville Police Department lost one of its own. A young officer took his own life. Police ask that the community keep the family and the department in prayer.

Assistant Register of Deeds Receives Order of Long Leaf Pine

Cumberland County Senior Assistant Register of Deeds Pam Stultz received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Dec. 18 during her retirement ceremony in the Courthouse. North Carolina Sen. Wesley Meredith presented the order to Stultz on behalf of Gov. Pat McCrory. The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is the state’s highest civilian honor.

Stultz has been employed with the Register of Deeds Office since 1987, following four years of employment with the State of North Carolina. In 2011, Stultz received the Charles W. Moore award from the North Carolina Association Registers of Deeds. The award is given annually to a register of deeds assistant or deputy in recognition for outstanding service to the association.

Cumberland County Register of Deeds Lee Warren also presented Stultz with a ceremonial key to the Deeds vault in recognition of her years of service to the Cumberland County Register of Deeds office.

 

Educators accused of assaulting children

Two former Pauline Jones Alternative Middle School educators await trial on charges of assaulting students. Terry Van Drake, 47, faces three counts of child abuse stemming from separate assaults. Danny Pettigrew, 61, faces one charge. Both men are no longer with the school system, according to School Superintendent Frank Till Jr. 

The charges stem from incidents that occurred in late October and mid-November. A Sheriff’s Office investigation was initiated when a parent of one of the children complained. Drake served as Pauline Jones’ safe school coordinator. In one instance, he allegedly grabbed a child by the wrist and yanked him from a desk, according to Sgt. Sean Swain of the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department. Drake later allegedly grabbed the child by the wrist, pulled him from a chair and forced him to the floor and placing his knee in the child’s back. Drake allegedly grabbed another student by the wrist, placed his left hand on the child’s back and forced him to the floor, said Swain. He then allegedly picked the child up and forced him into a desk. Two days later, Drake allegedly grabbed another child, jerked him out of his desk and took him to the ground while forcing the youngster’s hands behind his back. Pettigrew, who was a teacher, is accused of grabbing a child by the neck and chest and throwing him against a wall. 

 

The 23rd Annual Martin Luther King Prayer Breakfast is at 8 a.m. Jan. 18 at the Crown Expo Center.  Rev. Brian Thompson, pastor of Simon Temple A.M.E. Zion Church, is the guest speaker.  

The event, hosted by the Fayetteville/Cumberland County Ministerial Council, Inc., will also honor all first responders. Admission is $20 in advance or $23 at the door.  Tickets are available at the Crown Box Office or by contacting the FCCMC. 

Rev. Mary C. Owens, the president of the FCCMC, said special recognition will be given to members of the police departments, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department, EMS workers and members of the military.

“The reason we chose to honor them is because, with all the things going on in our nation and the world now, when something happens, they’re the ones there first, putting their lives on the line for our communities,” Owens said.

That idea of community is an integral theme of the event, Owens said, as is educating current and future generations. Owens said the event not only pays tribute to the memory and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., but also reminds attendees to continue to contribute to their own community, an idea espoused by Dr. King during his lifetime.

“Many young people are so removed from King’s life experience,” Owens said.  “Our goal is for young people to know ‘the dream’ and what Dr. King meant by ‘becoming the beloved community.’”

“All of us in our little individual parts make up this whole community… despite our differences, when it comes down to the end of the day, we all have to live and work together,” Owens said.

Coming together in love and a spirit of peace can transcend race, gender, socio-economic status and political affiliation, Owens believes.

Evidenced in his speeches and writings, King’s view of the “beloved community” highlighted his assumption that human existence is social in nature.  According to The King Center, the core value of the quest of King’s ‘beloved community’ was agape love — understanding, redeeming goodwill for all, love seeking to preserve and create community.

 “The solidarity of the human family” was a phrase King used frequently. Owens said the FCCMC adheres to a similar mantra. “The belief that family is central to society,” she said.  “We rally and pray, to fight for the family.”

The FCCMC, a non-profit, has programs to assist the homeless, provide training to ministry personnel, provides some monetary support to other local charities and awards scholarships to high school seniors.

The annual MLK breakfast is the FCCMC’s biggest fundraiser. It funds the annual scholarship program. For the past eight to nine years, Owens said, the FCCMC has been able to award $10,000 annually to graduating seniors in a May scholarship banquet. Each winning student receives $1,000 that can be used for college expenses. Applications for the scholarship become available at the MLK Breakfast.

“What greater thing can you do than give back to the children?” asked Owens.

Involving the next generation in the MLK Breakfast itself is important, she said.

“We always try to include young people in it,” Owens said.  “Some are involved in greeting and presentations. We will recognize winners of the MLK art contest during the breakfast.” The winner of the poetry and spoken word contest will also present at the breakfast. For those not able to attend the Monday Breakfast, Owens said the public is also invited to attend the 23rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Worship Service on Sunday, Jan. 17 at 5 p.m.  The keynote speaker is Rev. Joe Leggett from Falcon Children’s Home. The worship service is at the Second Missionary Baptist Church. No tickets are needed to attend the worship service, but any donations made during the offeratory will benefit FCCMC programs.  

To learn more about the FCCMC missions and activities, visit www.ministerscouncil.net or call 910-670-5662. The Worship Service will be held at Second Missionary Baptist Church, located at 522 Old Wilmington Road, 910-483-5925.

The Sunday school class that I am a member of discussed Zechariah’s Song on Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015. In that song, Zechariah, who is the father of John the Baptist, expresses thanks for God’s faithfulness, talks about how his son will prepare the way for Jesus, and concludes by giving the only course to peace and successful living. That course is in Luke 1:78-79 which says: “Because of our God’s deep compassion, the dawn from heaven will break upon us, to give light to those who are sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide us on the path of peace.” Light symbolizes seeking to live as God commands while darkness represents everything that is anti-God. I am convinced that America is a country in darkness.  Beyond being in darkness our destiny is in the hands of leaders who do not seem to recognize that we are in darkness nor do they comprehend the consequences of being in darkness.

This state of darkness shows through in many ways. These ways range from acceptance of same sex marriage to legalizing marijuana and wanting to legalize more destructive drugs. Add to these the wide-spread support for abortion, driving Christianity from the public square, viewing out-of-wedlock pregnancies as a societal norm and living beyond our financial means as a nation. On and on goes the listing of darkness indicators. 

As of Dec. 15, I am reading every installment of a series of articles that brings this darkness front and center. The series is “Poverty’s Price” by Greg Barnes in The Fayetteville Observer. Let me be clear in saying Barnes is reporting what is happening and putting forth the thinking of various people on the matter. He is doing a superb job. Regarding the aim of his series, Barnes says even though he tells stories about black citizens, “…it is not primarily a story about race. Instead, it is a story about poverty. Grinding, multi-generational poverty that provides only glimpses of hope for emergence.”

Barnes says that a report released by the University of North Carolina Center for Urban & Regional Studies classified six census tracts in Fayetteville as economically distressed. He writes, “To reach that designation, poverty and unemployment rates in the census tracts had to be at least 50 percent higher than the state average and annual per capita income at least a third lower.” The writer focuses on the Old Wilmington Road and B Street area, which are among the six economically distressed tracts. Almost all of the residents in this tract are black. Barnes records, “Here, nearly one family in three doesn’t own a car or earn more than $10,000 a year, according to the most recent statistics.”

Now comes a discussion of reasons for this “grinding poverty:” 

1. Lack of opportunity.

2. Children being reared in single-parent households by a mother or grandmother in a family stuck in poverty.

3. Limited access to preschool, which leads to children starting school without much exposure to learning. 

4. Poor parent involvement in the education process of their children. 

Walker-Spivey Elementary School serves the Old Wilmington Road area. Unexcused absences and tardiness are a factor in children performing poorly in school. Barnes writes that Erica McAdoo, the Walker-Spivey principal, said at her school these conditions can be attributed to transportation issues or a caretaker working two jobs. He adds, “But she acknowledged that parents are largely to blame. Most of the children who attend Walker-Spivey live within walking distance of the school.”

5. Poor role models. This especially refers to black men without good jobs.

6. Out of school suspensions.

7. High arrest rates among blacks. Again, this factor especially focuses on black men.

These are not all the possible causes of poverty among Fayetteville citizens as reflected in the article. Against the backdrop of the poverty causes listed above, consider the following comments from community leaders as to how poverty can be alleviated. Some of these are from the article while others are from elsewhere but inspired by Barnes’ article. What I see is the usual argument for government spending more money on a multitude of programs and people outside these poverty-stricken communities having total responsibility for correcting the dire situation within those communities:

1. Talking about the progression of a black boy in poverty to a brush with the law, Barnes writes, “Because his family is poor and because public resources to assist him are stretched, he may not get much help to make this brush with the law a chance for redirection.”

2. Val Applewhite, a former member of City Council who recently lost her second bid to become Mayor of Fayetteville, posted this on Facebook after an early article in Barnes’ series, “This is Fayetteville, N.C. Yet, our Mayor and City Council will ask us to vote in March 2016 to approve millions of dollars to spend on pools and baseball fields.”

3. On Dec. 13, an Observer editorial talked about the negative impact of poverty on the whole population then said, “Breaking the cycle would have an enormous payoff. But that will require investment, and this state is moving in the opposite direction — cutting, for example, early-education funding instead of increasing it to meet community needs.”

4. Rick Glazier was a state lawmaker for 13 years and now heads the N.C. Justice Center. Larry Wright is a local pastor and member of the Fayetteville City Council. Barnes writes that Glazier and Wright argue, “…that the city and the state aren’t doing enough for poor people and poor neighborhoods.”

So, my reading of the series so far leads to the conclusion the prevailing thinking is that people outside of these poverty-stricken communities have a responsibility to spend more taxpayer money and assume responsibility for externally correcting a problem for which the core causes are individual citizen responsibilities and life-style choices.

Here is the prime picture of why the “spend more money” and put the correcting responsibility on people outside the economically distressed communities shows us to be a country “locked in darkness.” Barnes tells the story of one black boy who is going through the experiences and reactions that could land him in jail. He casually, routinely mentions that this 11-year old has four brothers and all his brothers came from different mothers. Then this from Barnes, of the 73 women who gave birth in this census tract in 2014, only three were married, and all 73 were living in poverty. Nowhere in the first three articles have I seen that anybody raises this matter of out-of-wedlock pregnancies. Without doubt, this is the primary cause of the grinding poverty that Barnes writes about. 

Several years ago I was driving four black boys to an event. All of them were sixth or seventh grade and from households headed by a single female. Out of nowhere, those boys started talking about how the cycle of out-of-wedlock pregnancies had to be stopped. They began with how it negatively impacts the children and families. They ended with, “Sex outside of marriage is a sin.” Those boys understood darkness and the consequences of living in darkness.

If a group of sixth and seventh grade black boys could figure this out, how is it so many adult Americans seem clueless? 

There are only a few possible answers: 

(1) Having people in poverty and appearing to care for them is politically profitable. It wins votes. This process financially incentivizes out-of-wedlock pregnancies.

(2) There is money to be made from the existence of poverty. 

(3) In spite of common sense and history indicating otherwise, they genuinely believe that government spending is the answer to alleviating poverty. 

Whatever the reason, we are following a course to a guaranteed horrible outcome.  America needs people who understand the light of God that values all people and calls us to a way of life that is morally responsible and thereby dispels the darkness. Light that unlocks the darkness includes teaching abstinence and purpose, fiscal responsibility and goal-setting, accountable parenting and pursuit of opportunities. This instruction will be most effective when done in the context of a call to Godly living.

  

What can you say about a year that brings a 100 degree drop in temperature overnight, the rise of Lawrence of Arabia and the Theory of Relativity? How about happy birthday 1916? Ponder what was going on 100 years ago, which coincidentally coincides with 1916. The first colorful factoid for our consideration is that Climate Change was born that year. On Jan. 17, 1916, the temperature dropped 100 degrees from 44 degrees to minus 56 degrees overnight in Browning, Montana. Crops and people froze at an alarming rate. A hundred years ago, they just thought it got pretty cold, pretty quick that night. Would a hard freeze by any other name smell as sweet?

World War I was in full swing, the Battle of Verdun began in February and ended up creating more than 700,000 casualties. In theory, the French ultimately won in December 1916. On a less homicidal note as opposed to the mass insanity of World War I, Pancho Villa invaded the United States in March 1916 attacking Columbus, New Mexico. Naturally this drew the ire of the U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, who sent General Black Jack Pershing to invade Mexico to catch Pancho Villa. After about nine months of searching in vain for Villa, Pershing was called back to the U.S. 

In March 1916, Robert Stroud, who ultimately became the Bird Man of Alcatraz went into solitary confinement at Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary after stabbing a guard to death. Stroud spent 30 years at Leavenworth, where he became interested in canaries after finding an injured bird. He raised birds in prison and wrote two books on bird diseases. Stroud developed and sold bird medicines. In 1942, he was transferred to Alcatraz where he remained until expiring in 1963 when death allowed him to fly over the prison walls to the Great Canary Nest in the Sky. 

May 1916 saw Albert Einstein present his Theory of Relativity, which was prompted by too much time with his in-laws. Einstein’s Theory of Relativity postulated there is a tremendous difference between a vacation and a family outing. Demonstrating the Theory of Relativity, May 1916 also saw Norman Rockwell’s first cover for The Saturday Evening Post. It featured a couple of boys wearing baseball uniforms laughing at a third boy wearing a suit who was unhappily pushing a younger sibling in a baby carriage. 

A farm boy named Dwight Eisenhower married a pretty girl named Mamie Doud in July 1916. Ike went on to win World War II, get elected President twice and be criticized for playing too much golf as President. He had the greatest campaign slogan ever invented, “I like Ike.” Unlike Jeb Bush, Ike didn’t have to put an exclamation mark after his name. People genuinely liked Ike. Bush, not so much. 

Unsurprisingly, there was trouble in the Middle East in 1916. Some things never change. The Brits were in a major ruckus with the Ottoman Empire, which had joined the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy in World War I against the Triple Entente of England, Russia and France. Lawrence of Arabia was sent by the British Army to stir up an insurgent campaign by the local Arabs against the Ottoman Empire. Miraculously, an empire founded upon using large foot stools had controlled much of the world for six centuries. The Ottoman Empire was founded in 1299 by a major dude named Osman I. It expanded to cover most of southeastern Europe, chunks of western Asia and North Africa. By the 16th century, under Suleiman, the Ottoman Empire had about 15,000,000 citizens in three continents. But as George Harrison sang, “All things must pass.” By the 19th century the Ottoman Empire was winding down after a great 600-year run. However, it still controlled much of Arabia. 

Lawrence’s goal in Arabia was to neutralize the Turks by driving them nuts with an Arab revolt to get them out of World War I. His strategy was to force the Turks to give up their Ottomans and instead start using Laz-E-Boy recliners. The British High Command’s theory was that if the Turks stopped using Ottoman foot stools and sat in western style Laz-E-Boy recliners they would become too lazy to assist their allies in the Triple Alliance. 

Lawrence’s change of living room furniture campaign was successful. The Turks got comfortable in their Laz-E-Boy recliners with the built in beer caddies. The Turks studied war no more and exited World War I leaving the Ottoman Empire out by the curb. 

Hence the phrase, “Chair today. Gone tomorrow.” 

 

For many of us, the holidays bring precious time with family that is often hard to come by during the rest of the year. The Dicksons shook our holidays up a bit this year with less formality but plenty of togetherness with various family branches at a Christmas Eve supper, a Christmas Day oyster roast, a post-Christmas fried chicken fest and New Year’s black-eyed peas with pimento cheese muffins.

Plenty of both family and food.

Family relationships ebb and flow, of course, with beginnings and, sadly, endings. They morph, contracting and expanding among husbands and wives, parents and children, siblings according to changing circumstances and age. We all recognize when things are evolving in our own families. What we may not see as clearly is that our change may not be personal to our own families. They may be part of trends that are carrying others along as well.

I am part of the Baby Boom generation, the largest American generation born after World War II, until the Millennials, some of them our own children, blew past us in numbers. Our two generations sport many differences, among them that Millennials are far more diverse than Baby Boomers. Another is that while Baby Boomers married for the most part in our 20s, that is not the case with Millennials.

Today’s Americans between 18 and 34 are, in fact, less than half as likely to be married as were their counterparts 50 years ago.

Reasons for their aversion to the altar seem elusive but money likely plays a significant role. The Great Recession slowed most people down a bit, few more so than young folks just starting out. Many continue to live in their parents’ homes out of economic necessity. In a recent American Family Survey, Millennials acknowledge financial security as a reason to defer marriage, but they also reference education, several serious relationships as points of reference and home ownership. Love, it seems, is not enough to tie the knot, making marriage less a marker of young adulthood than a later-in-life achievement.

Families come in all shapes and sizes, of course, some of them being foster families and adoptive ones. North Carolina has plenty of both, with more than 10,000 children in foster care with more than 2,000 of them waiting for an adoptive home. The number of adoptive families is harder to pin down, as many of today’s adoptions are private. Foster children who do not find their “forever families” have far too often had a difficult time, because they aged out of the foster care system at 18, often into nothingness. The North Carolina General Assembly has now allowed some foster children to stay in the system until 21, not a perfect solution but three years better than finding oneself entirely on one’s own at the tender age of 18. In addition, the state has launched an initiative to place foster children in forever homes. 

No one had ever heard of paternity leave when I was a child, and my father did what most men of his generation did — he brought home most of the bacon and was sweet to and tolerant of my sister and me. I remember a very sleepy Daddy reading “The Three Little Pigs” to my sister who knew the words by heart, of course. He groggily misread a line, saying “laying pigs and slapping mortar between them,” which sent the toddler into wails of distress. I do not recall any diaper duties or meal preparation, except for occasional soft scrambled eggs cooked in the double boiler.

Contrast that with new father Mark Zuckerburg, also famously the father of Facebook. The Zuckerburgs have a new daughter, Max, and daddy Mark has announced he will take two months of paternity leave. Facebook offers four months of paid paternity leave. Mother Priscilla Chan is a pediatrician who is taking an undisclosed maternity leave, so little Max will be well attended. Mark has already posted a photo of himself changing a diaper on Facebook with the caption, “One more down, thousands to go.”

Admittedly, Mark Zuckerburg has the resources to do whatever he pleases and admittedly paid paternity leave remains rare in our country outside the technology industries. The fact that the high-profile Zuckerburg is taking his paternity leave so publicly still strikes me as significant. It says to the fathers of his generation, Millennials, that babies need their fathers as well as their mothers and that this is A-OK. It also says to his generation that paternity leave is an important business practice and that American companies should provide that benefit as companies in other nations, especially in Europe, do routinely.

All this may not be evolution in a Darwinian sense, but it is evolution nonetheless.

Anyone who cares about this community and watches a lot of TV should notice the similarities in the relationship between the City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County as our own local and never ending mini series of Game of Thrones.  

The similarities are astounding, and like the series, everyone wants to be the King of the Seven Kingdoms. Yet, unfortunately, there is only one throne. So, a battle ensues between the self-anointed privileged with everyone eager and willing to engage in a brutal, ruthless and senseless war, where the main rule is that there are no rules. In this war, anything goes. And, like the TV series, while these wannabe kings battle, the citizens of the kingdoms suffer practically unnoticed. Frustrated and helpless, these citizens try to understand as they watch their families suffer and their homes and businesses disintegrate under the burden of needless, self-serving laws, policies and ordinances that favor only the privileged few. Basically, their voices go unheard. 

Unfortunately, in this kind of war, there can be no winners, only losers. In the upcoming weeks we will witness this Game of Thrones-like scenario as city and county powers that be test each other’s will as to who should rule over the kingdom of Fayetteville/Cumberland County. At stake: the quality of life of 310,000 residents. The stakes are high ranging from future parks and recreation facilities to controlling millions of tax dollars. Ironically, the residents of this kingdom see the nature of the conflict in a more simple, humanistic light with truth, honesty, respect and the philosophy of “doing the right things for the right reasons” going a long way in moving this community forward. Let’s all hope that’s what we get in this new fall series of city and county government. After all, in the Game of Thrones, kings have a very short life span and their kingdoms are eventually destroyed. Don’t touch that dial. The season is just beginning.

Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.