This editorial message is a tribute and thank you to the entrepreneurial spirit of all of our privately owned, local Fayetteville businesses. 

No doubt, creating and developing your own successful business in these hard economic times is a major challenge. I’m talking about real grass root local businesses and not necessarily those hundreds of franchises that have migrated here. You know the businesses I’m talking about. The ones where absentee owners either cling to the elusive dream of striking it rich or revel in the title of “business owner” completely void of any sense of local community. 

The Internet compounds this situation and contributes considerably to the deterioration of local communities. Sure, “shop local” is a warm and fuzzy sound byte, but my fear is that it has become meaningless and somewhat of a cliché. That shouldn’t be. Small, independent businesses are the heart of America and the heart of this community. Yet dozens of new small businesses go out of business each month from lack of direction and support, while more established Fayetteville/Cumberland County businesses struggle to survive under the pressures of a sagging economy, high  taxes, excessive rules and complicated ordinances. And, of course, we have to again mention the Internet, which attracts and solicits an apathetic following, while returning nothing to the community. 

We need to celebrate locally owned businesses and create an ongoing awareness of their importance to our local economy. Alarm companies, printers, clothing stores, restaurants, financial services, pawn shops, jewelers, gift shops, art galleries, automobile dealers and even non-profit charitable organizations are local businesses that respond to the needs of our community. These businesses are the ones that sponsor arts and cultural events, buy season tickets and are asked to contribute to our schools, dozens of charities, festivals and cultural events. 

These people are committed. They are the ones who care about quality of life and have a true investment in our future. Big-box stores, franchises 

and Internet businesses siphon revenue, profits, taxes and opportunity from our community while locally owned businesses bear the burden of providing amenities  and infrastructure to
local citizens. 

Our local businesses are often contributors to the problem: unpredictable hours, short staff and questionable customer service. Look at downtown on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. People are out and about, but a large number of the businesses are closed!

I believe the majority of the local business owners truly care about their customers and the community. The point is this: No one is denying the lure and strength of the Internet. However, we need a greater awareness campaign marketing and promoting the support and consideration for locally owned businesses. A serious and aggressive one. Residents cannot continue to spend local dollars with Internet businesses and then depend on local businesses to support the community. 

 Here at Up & Coming Weekly we appreciate and salute small businesses and the entrepreneurial spirit. Count on us for continued assistance and  support. After all, we too, are a small business. 

Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

The day after Thanksgiving is a special time in Downtown Fayetteville. It is a celebration of history, tradition and goodwill; it is A Dickens Holiday. Come for a visit and travel back in time to the Victorian era. With the lively atmosphere, characters in costume and period decorations, it’s easy to get lost in the old-time traditions and activities of the day. Every year the Downtown Alliance and the Arts Council Fayetteville/Cumberland County team up to deliver what is intended to be Downtown Fayetteville’s kick-off  to the holiday season. The fun starts at 1 p.m. and runs until 9 p.m.

“There are so many favorite events that people have come to expect each year,” said Mary Kinny Arts Council Fayetteville/Cumberland County marketing director. “It is a lot fun but also a day where people can learn new things. We want people to come and learn about the Victorian era, to learn about how they dressed, to hear music they’ve not heard before.”

This year, the Arts Council invites photographers to bring their cameras and participate in an entirely new event: The Art’s Council’s A Dickens Holiday Photography Contest. It is free to participate and there are cash prizes for the winners as well as an opportunity to have works used in promotional materials for future events. Photographers can submit up to 10 images. 

“We have so many talented photographers in this community and we are always looking for new ways for artists to participate in events,” said Kinney. “We want them to have a chance to participate and bring their unique perspective to this event.” 

Visit the Arts Council website to enter. 

Bringing characters from the past to life is an important element to the Dickens Holiday celebration. Characters from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol roam the streets while other Victorian-era characters such as the Coventry Carolers mingle with the crowd as well, performing throughout the day. 

“We do plan to include historical tributes that include other characters, too,” said Kinney. “Of course, Queen Victoria will be there as well as other historical figures who lived during Victorian times.”

Adding a special twist to the event is New York Times best-selling author Charlie Lovett. With his new book The Further Adventures of Ebenezer Scrooge hot off the presses, Lovett tells the story of Scrooge 20 years after A Christmas Carol. Don’t miss the book signings and dramatic readings at 3, 4 and 7 p.m. at the Rainbow Room on Hay Street.

Vendors selling their wares offer up spiced cider and confections that were likely sampled in Queen Victoria’s court. Others offer items common to the 1800s including jewelry and other artistic pieces. Stores will be open for shoppers to experience the best that downtown has to offer.

In the 1800s, the Fisk Jubilee Singers shared “slave songs” with the world. They performed for royalty in Europe sharing the music of a culture the kings and queens had never experienced before. During Fayetteville’s A Dickens Holiday, Arts Council Board Member Rangel McLaurin leads local singers in a musical tribute to the Fisk Jubilee Singers.

Visit Annie’s Ale House, a Victorian Pub. Enjoy a beer, wine or nonalcoholic cider and experience traditional period pub music. It is located inside the Arts Council and is open from 1-9 p.m.

SkyView hosts this year’s Gingerbread Community of Hope Competition. The project is a joint effort between Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity and H&H Homes. The Community of Hope is made by community members and offers a unique perspective on what a community can be. The deadline to enter a gingerbread structure is Nov. 20. Applications are available that the Habitat for Humanity Restore. Find out more by calling 920-4657.

Pictures with Santa are a fun holiday tradition for many families. A Dickens Holiday adds a twist to that long-held event. Look for Father Christmas in his authentic Victorian sleigh in front of the Arts Council throughout the day. Prints are $6 or $15 for three.

See downtown from a new perspective with Dickens Carriage Rides that feature a horse-drawn tour of downtown. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Tickets go on sale at noon at 222 Hay Street and sell out fast.

The Queen Victoria Carriage Rides offer a longer tour and leave from the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for children. Tickets are available now by calling 678-8899. 

The second floor of the Market House opens from 1-9 p.m. with an exhibit featuring what life was like in Fayetteville during the Victorian era. Visitors will find literature, military items and even a Victorian Christmas tree. The display is interactive and includes some common household items from the 1800s that many people may not recognize.

Fascinate-U Children’s Museum is open from 

1 p.m. to dusk. Guests can make a Victorian ornament. Children can take their creations home or donate them to hang on the community tree. Find out more at www.fascinate-u.com.

Don’t miss Tuba Christmas at Hay Street United Methodist Church at 4 p.m. The concert takes place in the church sanctuary.

Gilbert Theater debuts It’s a Wonderful Lifeat 8 p.m. For tickets and information, visit Gilbertheater.com

The Museum of the Cape Fear’s Poe House is decked out for the holidays and is open from 10 a.m. to 

4 p.m. Tours are free and offer an in-depth look into what Christmas was like in Fayetteville during the Victorian era. Call 486-1330 for information.

An event like no other in town, the Candlelight Procession kicks off at the Arts Council at 5:30 p.m.  Bring a candle (available at local merchants as well as the Arts Council — while supplies last) and join the crowd on an evening march from the Arts Council to the Market House.  

“This is my favorite part of A Dickens Holiday,” said Kinney. “The procession isn’t until 5:30 p.m. but people start gathering at the Arts Council building as early as 3 p.m. sometimes. To see the excitement building as they wait, anticipating the procession is really something. Then to see the thousands of people come together to make their way to the Market House is so heartwarming. One of the greatest things about Fayetteville and this community  is the way people enjoy coming together with total strangers who immediately become friends. There is a sense that we are one community — one group of people — yet we are from all over the world and from all walks of life – so diverse and unified all at once.

After the procession, fireworks light up the Market House and Dickens After Dark begins. Immediately following the fireworks, Dr. Gail Morfesis and The Woman’s Club of Fayetteville will present a 15-minute excerpt from their production A Christmas Carol Revisited. This is a brief preview of the full-length production at the Woman’s Club on Nov.28 and 29. Find out more by calling 624-2651.

Find out more about A Dickens Holiday at www.theartscouncil.com or by calling 323-1776. Find out about the Downtown Alliance at www.visitdowntownfayetteville.com. Photos courtesy of Wick Smith.

 

For the past 18 years, the Heart of Christmas Show, featuring the Voices of the Heart,  has kicked of the Christmas season in Cumberland County. The unique show continues this year with new numbers, exciting costumes and scenes along with dazzling Christmas lights, trees and scenes.

With a wide variety of musical selections this is a show the whole family is sure to enjoy and want to see time and time again. Broadway-styled in its production, the show touches every emotion associated with the Christmas Season, according to Laura Stevens, the director of the show. From numbers with snow glistening on stage to a funny Rudolf and clever toy numbers all the way to the heart touching crowd favorite, “Christmas Shoes.” Such a variety in the show captures the true Spirit of Christmas. 

Stevens said the first half of the show is designed to bring to life the with the fun and expectancy of the Christmas season. The second half of the show portrays beautifully ,in song and dance, the true meaning and reason for the season of Christmas. The manger scene is powerful, moving and then breaks out into full celebration as the 36-member cast sing and dance through the story of the birth of Christ. 

While the show is unique in our community for the technical production, it is more unique for its cast. The show has all young performers as its cast. 

“These are amazing, talented young people who donate all of their free time and their talents, for several months, to this charity event knowing that in the end they have used their gifts to help less fortunate children in our area,” explained Stevens. “You see, The Heart of Christmas Show gives away all ticket sales from the weekend shows to local children′s charities that need financial support in order to help children in this area.”

The idea of giving back to the community has been the driving force for the show since its inception 18 years ago. To date, the show has raised more than $600,000.00 to help children living out its motto “Children Helping Children.” “When you buy a ticket to see The Heart of Christmas Show, you become a part of that big picture of helping children plus you get to see a wonderful Christmas production that has all the whistles and bells comparable to anything you would see in Myrtle Beach, Branson and even rivals productions in New York!” continued Stevens.

Another unique aspect of the show is that it is made possible through sponsorships of local businesses. The sponsorships allow all of the proceeds to go back into the community instead of into putting on the show.

Tickets are $14 for all reserved seats and groups of 15 or more are $12. Group reservations may be made by calling 978.1119.

All public and private schools have a special ticket rate as the show offers a condensed one hour presentation of the two hour production as a fundraiser for the schools. This is another way the show reaches out to help children. The schools can come see a Christmas show and in return 50 percent of the ticket price goes back to each individual school that attends. 

“The 2015 Heart of Christmas Show is in the making right now and it will bring back some audience favorites as well as offering some newly arranged songs and dance numbers!” said Stevens. “You will laugh, cry and be in awe of the beauty and wonder of Christmas as you watch the amazing Heart of Christmas Show!”

For more information, visit www.heartofchristmasshow.com.

Not everyone has access to appropriate healthcare. Recognizing the gap between needs and services, Better Health has worked since 1958 to give Cumberland County residents the health services that they need. The non-profit organization focuses on diabetes management and education, childhood obesity prevention and education, loans for medical equipment and financial assistance for emergency medical needs. 

“Several of our programs are preventative and/or disease management, so results come over time. Our most immediately gratifying program is our Direct Aid program. Clients can come to our office in need of help purchasing an emergency medication, having a tooth extracted, travel assistance to a medical appointment in Chapel Hill, etc.,” Amy Navejas M.D., executive director of the organization, explained. “We verify their income information and can assist them the same day. With these clients, we are able to see the impact immediately. Many come to us in tears and leave with a sense of relief that their needs are being met.” 

In order to support its programs, Better Health relies on the community. One annual fundraiser is The Red Apple Run, which is set for Nov. 21. 

“Direct Aid, Diabetes Management and Childhood Obesity Prevention are funded through this run. Thanks to operational support from the United Way, the funds raised at the Red Apple Run can go directly towards helping our clients,” said Navejas.

For Navejas, the organization’s diabetes prevention program has a personal connection. “My father has Type I diabetes,” she explains, “While Better Health does much more than diabetes management, the cause hits close to home for me. I grew up having been taught about a healthy diet, the signs and symptoms of low and high blood sugar and what to tell EMS if I had to call 911 for my father. Working with Better Health allows me the chance to see others learn to manage their diabetes effectively and live their life to the fullest despite the complexities of the disease. It is very gratifying to see clients gain knowledge and confidence that they can manage this!” 

Though this is only the third year of the Red Apple Run the community support has been tremendous. Last year more than 400 runners participated in the event. 

Though diabetes education and prevention is the focus for the Red Apple Run, Better Health provides all kinds of healthcare programs and assistance. The organization offers free exercise classes, child obesity prevention and healthy cooking demonstrations to name just a few programs.

The Red Apple Run for Diabetes is on Nov. 21. The 10K starts at 8:30 a.m. and the 5K starts at 8:45 a.m. Registration is $25 at www.active.com/fayetteville-nc/running/distance-running-races/red-apple-run-for-diabetes-10k-and-5k-run-walk-2015. The races will begin at 101 Robeson St. For more information, visit www.betterhealthcc.org or call 910.483-7534.

We all have experiences we immediately recognize as shaping our lives. Marriages. Children. Illnesses. Deaths. Jobs. Retirements. Some are positive, some are negative and some are both. We know these experiences both color and direct our lives, because they are personal. They happen to us.

What we do not always recognize are trends in our culture, outside forces that also impact and shape us, sometimes without our ever really understanding that we are buffeted by events, decisions and changes far beyond our own control. We may never even know they happened.

I am Exhibit A of thinking a national, even global, trend would not affect my own little world. 

Almost two decades ago, a literal act of Congress made changes in the communications industry, one of which was deregulating commercial broadcasting in the United States. As with other deregulations, industry consolidation was immediate. We, in our family broadcasting business, saw it coming, of course, but it did not register with me that our family could be swept up in that national tide. But swept we were, and the third generation went our separate ways in the business world. No one got sick or died, but a force we could not control altered our lives.

Across our nation, forces people may or may not recognize affect lives. 

Troubling indeed is a recent report by two 2015 Nobel Prize laureates that middle-aged white Americans are dying at higher rates than would be caused by common health issues like heart disease and diabetes. Alcohol and drug addictions and, tragically, suicides, afflictions of sad, angry and desperate people, are driving the statistics. Most affected are people between 45 and 54 with a high school education or less. Their mortality rate rose a staggering 22 percent between 1999 and 2014. Other demographic groups saw their mortality rates holding steady or declining.

Wham!

White people with a high school diploma or less are the folks devastated by the loss of jobs overseas and by the rapid expansion of ever-expanding technologies. Even for those with jobs, salaries have not risen appreciably and many skilled workers have been forced into low-skilled and low-paying jobs. Social scientists are describing the rising death rates in this group as akin to what happened in Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Political pundits opine that it is a factor in ugly, anger-driven politics as we head into the 2016 election cycle. 

John Quinterno, a research consultant in Chapel Hill, told the Raleigh News and Observer, “The report is pretty stunning. These are people who we see as the backbone of the middle class.” 

Says Dr. Angus Deaton, one of the Nobel Laureates and study authors,
along with
his wife, Dr. Anne Case, says, “Only HIV/AIDS in contemporary times has done anything like this.”

There is no way to make this sad picture pretty, but it can only be good that we are now taking notice.

Another trend that caught my eye is this one:

Young American women are living at home with parents or other relatives at the highest rate since the U.S. Census Bureau began tracking this statistic. Using Census data, the Pew Research Center found that more than a third, 36.4 percent of women between 18 and 34 lived with their families in 2014, besting the prior record set in 1940. 

Richard Fry, the economist who did the analysis, had this to say, “Some of what’s happening is probably economics, because the great recession really hit young adults hard. But I am still struggling with the economic explanation, since the labor market for young adults has improved in the last five years, and yet the percentage living their family is still going up.” 

The New York Times interviewed young women living at home. Said one, 24-year-old woman, “It would be nice to have my own space, but my parents are very supportive….My mom stays awake until I come home.” 

Says another, 21-year-old woman, “In my head, I see myself as an adult, but I don’t know what kind of job I really want. I don’t know how to get an apartment. I don’t have to buy the toilet paper, and that’s what being an adult is.” 

I understand that living with family can be very nurturing and comforting, but as a woman who came of age at a time when young women were heading into professional schools and careers, I find this growing trend baffling. 

Since 1940, the United States has become much more diverse and has many incorporated cultural values. Young people are also carrying greater student debt and marrying later than their parents and grandparents, and rent has increased.

But, still.

I am not comforted by the fact that, according to the Pew Research Center, more young men live at home than young women. Fry found that nearly 42 percent of young men lived with family in 2014. In 1940, that percentage was 47.5.

Are we, or do we want to be, the captains of our own ships?

Is Fayetteville a sanctuary city for the homeless? It could happen. Actually, it is happening. Why? Because we live in a community where love, generosity and compassion far outpace vision and aggressive, competent and compelling  leadership at both the city and county levels. Together, they are not even visionary enough to see the advantages of leveraging this pure and unfiltered outreach of Christian generosity for the betterment of the Fayetteville community.

What a shame. A blind man could see why our community fails to mature socially, culturally and economically just by the way we communicate or fail to communicate among ourselves. Unfortunately, instead of seeking prosperity and solutions for our community, our city and county leadership are collectively more concerned with finding fault with each other and making excuses for their lackluster achievements. 

A perfect recent example is the case of Operation Inasmuch’s dispute with St. Luke’s AME Church on Hillsboro Street over building another 40-bed homeless shelter. A community shattered needlessly. Why? Basically, because  building another homeless shelter is viewed by Hillsboro Street residents as creating another enabling haven for the homeless rather than a solution to a problem perceived to already be of epidemic proportion. This comes even after homelessness  has been publicly  proclaimed one of the biggest concerns and highest priorities of the community.

Why? Because city and county elected officials cannot come together to address the actual problem and find feasible solutions and remedies. No, they can only sit back with their political heads in the sand while dozens upon dozens of homeless men, women, children, veterans, vagrants and exploiting panhandlers cripple local businesses, terrorize residents and tarnish Fayetteville’s reputation and our quality of life. A stroll down Maiden Lane demonstrates how our elected officials have allowed our downtown Headquarters Library to be transformed to a  quasi-homeless haven at the detriment of the community.

City and county elected officials must work together to find real solutions to problems our community faces like homelessness, crime, littering, economic development, utility expansion and, of course, the need for expanded park and recreation facilities.

The solution? First, residents need to get active and vote. Second, they need to stop voting for the same old political hacks who say nothing and do nothing but serve as partisan placeholders. Third, demand that our elected officials state what their vision is for the community and how they plan to improve our city or county. Fourth, start holding our political leaders responsible. Speak out. Demand the facts, details and explanations of why things are or are not being accomplished. Fifth: Demand transparency. To be sure, no city or county resident has ever benefited from anything that goes on behind closed doors.

The lack of harmony and leadership in dealing with the Hillsboro Street homeless shelter and our failure to come together with adequate solutions to our homeless problem indicates a serious lack of vision and leadership – not necessarily a good position for a community with aspirations of greatness! 

2016 will be and can be a big year for Fayetteville and Cumberland County. However, vision and leadership are imperative for that success. And, that will be up to us. 

Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Employees of the Fayetteville Public Works Commission have reached a new safety milestone, having worked more than 5 million work hours with no lost-time due to injuries. The last lost-time injury was in November 2011. 

The accomplishment was recognized by the North Carolina Commissioner of Labor, Cherie Berry, on Oct. 23, and marks the first time in PWC’s nearly 110 year history that employees have surpassed the 5 million hour mark with no lost-time injuries. The North Carolina Department of Labor oversees the health and safety of employees at more than 250,000 places of business across the state.

 In the past year, NCDOL recognized just 17 organizations across the state for working 5 million or more safe hours. No other utility  in North Carolina has achieved a 5 million hour milestone in recent history.

“Reaching 5 million hours without a lost-time accident has a positive impact on our customers and the community as a whole by knowing our employees are committed to perform their jobs in the safest way possible while providing reliable and cost effective service,” said David Trego, PWC’s CEO/general manager. “While this is all very important, the thing I am most proud of is that since we started our 5 million hour journey, our employees were able to go home, without a major injury, to their families and friends each and every one of those days.”

 PWC’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration incident rate (0.78) is half of the U.S. average for utilities (1.8). PWC has more than 600 employees who face hazardous conditions every day and in the last year, worker injuries were reduced by 65 percent. PWC workers drive an average of 7,000 miles daily as well as work around dangerous electrical voltages, enter confined spaces, dig trenches 20-plus feet deep, handle hazardous chemicals and operate heavy machinery. Nationally, one in five worker fatalities were in construction as a result of electrocution, cave-ins, equipment and falls. 

“Safety is not something that can be driven from the top of the organization downward, nor can it be done by employee efforts alone,” said Trego. “It is a cooperative effort throughout the organization with the support of management, the commitment and involvement of all employees, as well as a desire to have a culture of safety that permeates throughout the organization.”

Operation Inasmuch is a Fayetteville-based nonprofit that provides a myriad of services to the city’s homeless population. The organization’s stated purpose is “to go outside the church walls to a world in need, offering the talents and gifts with which we have been blessed.” 

To that end, Inasmuch has submitted an application for a Special Use Permit that will allow for construction of a 40-bed homeless shelter for men located diagonally across from the organization’s primary building at 531 Hillsboro Street. The proposed site is next to Saint Luke AME Church.  The Fayetteville City Council held a public hearing on Aug. 24 regarding the application. This meeting concluded with council members directing city staff to get answers to several questions and report to the council at a future meeting when a decision on the application is to be made. I understand that meeting is scheduled for Nov. 9, two days before this column will appear in Up & Coming Weekly. 

My aim here is to examine the primary points made by those on either side of this issue and reach some reasonable conclusion as to the appropriate course of action. Since my thoughts will be published after council will hopefully have decided this matter, my contribution might only be in providing information that will help citizens assess the council’s decision. 

A starting point is to accurately define, accurately label, what it is Operation Inasmuch wants to build. It is repeatedly referred to as a “homeless shelter.” I did so in opening; however, my examination of the total picture says what they want to do is closer to supportive housing than to a simple shelter. 

A research report on the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness website titled Affordable and Supportive Housing says of supportive housing, “…the most successful intervention for ending chronic homelessness is permanent supportive housing, which couples affordable, community-based housing with supportive services that target the specific needs of an individual or family.” 

Based on this statement, I conclude that what Operation Inasmuch is proposing is more supportive housing than it is a shelter. This labeling matters significantly when examining the impact of the proposal. 

The above conclusion is based on the procedures and rules that will apply to residents coupled with programs that will be provided to them. As opposed to what happens in a shelter, residents of this facility will sign-in during breakfast at Inasmuch, be allowed to remain in the new facility over time while leaving their belongings there during the day and pay a fee. Further, these residents will be served breakfast five days a week and have access to job-search training and computers, entrepreneurial skills-building and alcohol and drug abuse counseling along with assistance in locating employment. They will also get to interact with volunteer men in activities such as Bible study, mentoring and general conversation, all of which help build self-worth that is critical to successful living. Those who do well in this facet of the Inasmuch outreach receive an opportunity to move into one of the organization’s seven homes. What is defined here is not a shelter, but closer to supportive housing.

The fact that this facility is far more supportive housing than a shelter is important because it allows for addressing the objection that the facility will drive down property values. The Furman Center’s research report titled “The Impact of Supportive Housing on Surrounding Neighborhoods: Evidence from New York City” concludes as follows: “The findings show that the value of properties within 500 feet of supportive housing do not drop when a new development opens and show steady growth relative to other properties in the neighborhood in the years after the supportive housing opens. Properties somewhat further away from the supportive housing (between 500 and 1,000 feet away) show a decline in value when the supportive housing first opens, but their prices then increase steadily relative to other properties in the neighborhood.”

Further, Inasmuch has seven houses in the Hillsboro area that serve as homes to residents who were homeless, but now have a place to live. These individuals work at regular jobs and pay rent. They also have access to the programs of the organization. These homes clearly fit the definition of “supportive housing” although individuals opposed to the Inasmuch project insist that they are shelters and argue that no more shelters should be placed in the neighborhood. Under Inasmuch control, the total tax value of these properties has increased by approximately 254 percent. The primary building at 531 Hillsboro Street was donated by Saint Luke AME Church. The tax value at the time of donation was $77,933. After renovations by Inasmuch, that value is now $495,587. All of this speaks not only to the positive property value impact of Operation Inasmuch, but also to the organization’s track record.

In the public hearing, one supportive speaker stated that Operation Inasmuch does not receive any funding from the City of Fayetteville. Councilman Chalmers McDougald said he thought the organization was in the budget. Hearing this, I thought he was saying these funds were from taxes paid to the city by residents. As it turns out, Inasmuch does receive $20,000per year from a Community Development Block grant for food, which is provided to the city by Housing and Urban Development, a federal agency. It is a local decision to pass those funds to Operation Inasmuch. So, in a city that has alleviating homelessness as a priority, this organization is prepared to through cash and in-kind donations, build a much needed facility, something that should be celebrated. But instead, it is accused by opponents of misrepresentation because a supporter of the project who did not know about the federal funds misspoke. I cannot see in this point a legitimate reason for opposition to the project.

I talked with Sue Byrd, executive director of Operation Inasmuch, about her organization’s proposal. My view of the public hearing indicates Pastor Artie Odom Jr., Saint Luke AME Church, is instrumental in leading opposition to this project. I made attempts to contact Pastor Odom by phone and letter, but did not hear from him prior to writing this column.

It seems to me the facts here present a situation requiring council members to do far more than hear responses to their questions in a politically and emotionally-charged meeting and then make a decision. This situation requires more than mere staff work. What’s needed is council involvement beyond the routine to bring divergent groups and interests together to do what is good and fair for the whole city. More and more, I am convinced the political process in this city and nation has deteriorated to the point this might be impossible. By the time this column is published, I suppose a test will have come on Nov. 9 regarding my declining confidence in our political system. 

We Americans talk a big game when it comes to electing our public decision makers. Every election that rolls around is accompanied by calls for change, for moving our city, county, state and nation forward, and sometimes even “throw the bums out.”  

That rarely happens.  We rarely walk the walk.

Take our community’s recent municipal elections. We faithfully re-elected our incumbents, with the exception of one new Fayetteville City Council member who joins the city board because the incumbent chose not to seek re-election. It was pretty much the same story across North Carolina’s larger cities, with a couple of notable changes. For reasons unique to their communities, Charlotte and Chapel Hill elected new mayors, and Chapel Hill also replaced two council members.  Voters there must be on a tear. So why, I wonder, is incumbency such an advantage?

Part of it is simply that we are more likely to know the names of incumbents than the names of their challengers. Part of it can be summed up in that old saw about “the devil we know as opposed to the devil we do not.” And part of it is just old-fashioned laziness. Too many of us do not make the effort to get out of bed, off the sofa, push open the car door, much less to pay attention to the quality of government we are getting or how challengers might want to improve it.

Mine is a tired lament, one that surfaces after most elections. No one seems to know how to light the fire of civic engagement in Americans both as voters and as willing candidates. As long as we cannot, though, we will pretty much get what we deserve.

…

At the risk of confirming paranoia, my cell phone is stalking me.  

I recently downloaded an update, as I regularly do with my fingers crossed and with great hope that the update is not some hideous cyber bomb, and my phone is now tracking my movements.

Example.  

Not that I asked it, but my phone now informs me how far it is from wherever I might be back to my house. If I drive downtown to the library, return and check out items, then get back into the car, my phone beeps and tells me that there is moderate traffic and it will take me 8 minutes to get home.  

Ditto for the grocery store.

Ditto if I go out of town and even out of state.

It apparently does not occur to my cell phone that I might not go directly home, that I might have errands to run, meetings to attend, people to visit, movies to see.

I think my phone is descended from world-class homing pigeons.  

I can only hope it is not psychic.

…

The Dickson household had no trick or treaters on Halloween, probably because there are few children in our mature neighborhood. Halloween is nevertheless the fastest growing American holiday, with almost $7 billion — yes, with a B — expended on costumes for children and adults. Facebook was consumed by photographs of people dressed in everything from French maid outfits to aliens from outer space, often accompanied by children dressed like monkeys, which seemed to be this year’s go-to costume for little ones. 

Now comes Thanksgiving with its famously fattening and always-delicious home-cooked feasts and family extravaganzas — I am hungry just writing about it!

Then on to Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, both fun and festive and deeply meaningful.  

Where did 2015 go?

…

Finally, from the “Where On God’s Green Earth Were This Man’s Parents?” department.

Earlier this month, I rushed to meet a friend for lunch at a local restaurant.  I — mistakenly, as it turned out—thought she was already inside, so I swung open the restaurant door and headed in at the very same time a younger man headed out with the heft and deliberation of an aircraft carrier. Call me a naïve and foolish old Southern lady, but I must have assumed he would yield to a much older woman.

Silly me in the uncivil world of 2015.

Not only did the youngish man — maybe 35 — not yield, he slammed his shoulder into mine and kept going without looking at me. As he past by, eyes rigidly ahead, he snarled out of the side of his mouth, “Get your a*& out of my way, b#$*&!”

Talk about being stopped in one’s tracks with one’s mouth agape!

Not only has no one ever spoken to me like that, I doubt my grandmother ever heard those words at all.

The times have changed, indeed.

Well, no doubt, I was not the only one that was sad and disappointed at the Fayetteville Observer’sThursday, Nov. 5, article written by Andrew Barksdale (Some See Divide in City Vote Totals). Here, he interpreted Mayor Nat Robertson’s 673 vote victory over challenger Val Applewhite as proof positive that our community is divided along racial and economic lines. 

Barksdale shamelessly expounded on our communities “apparent” divide between well-to-do aristocratic white Fayetteville citizens living in exclusive high-class neighborhoods to poor and lower-middle-class black Fayetteville residents living in segregated parts of our community including  the newly  annexed West Fayetteville area. How absurd. 

He also made sure that everyone understood that Robertson is a white male registered as a Republican who lives in the Terry Sanford High School area while accentuating that Applewhite is a black female registered as a Democrat and lives in the city’s middle-class western suburbs. As he reported, Applewhite’s campaign was based on the platform of inequality as she touted that there was a major disparity of income and wealth among Fayetteville residents, and that was unacceptable. 

In reality, she lost the mayor’s race because her base of likely voters did not buy into her radical and racially-charged conclusions.  Barksdale’s attempt to paint that as a foregone reality is the type of racial divide this community does  not need or want. And, the Fayetteville Observer’s Executive Editor Michael Adam’s sloppy left-handed mea culpa only added insult to injury. 

Barksdale is a talented reporter; however, he is not the boss. He has at least two newspaper editors above him that must approve and sign off on his stories. Hence, once printed, the story no doubt also representing the position and opinion of the newspaper. 

Well, here’s a newsflash: Val Applewhite’s inequality platform, even when supported and reinforced by the Fayetteville Observer, doesn’t make it truth or a Fayetteville reality. Far from it. What it does indicate is that they all are out of touch with the residents of the community.

Fayetteville ObserverEditor Michael Adams, in response to reader backlash, tried to soften the article’s intention and purpose. He tried to walk it back in Sunday’s newspaper and justify the purpose for it. His article, “Story Didn’t Show Reporter’s Insights” came across only as a weak, left-handed mea culpa. “We are sorry, but.....” !  

This begs the question: Do our daily newspaper editors (Adams and Tim White) even live in Cumberland County?

In closing, I do live in Fayetteville and I stay in touch with its residents. I can tell you unequivocally that I sense no racial divisiveness, hostility or bias among the residents that I come in contact with in all my daily social and business events. I only experience and witness divisive negative and destructive behaviors in our daily newspaper and liberal talk shows and when inept individuals find it politically convenient and self-serving.

Reality check: Fayetteville is now at a critical crossroads with a new Chamber president, reorganized City County Economic Development Board, Downtown Fayetteville Development, PWC issues and the all-important parks and recreation referendum. There is absolutely no room or time for divisiveness. This is crunch time! 

Now, more than ever, our community needs vision, perseverance, cooperation and most importantly, leadership. On Nov. 3, whatever the circumstances, the voters have made it clear on what they want and expect from their elected officials. Now, let’s get it done. 

Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

For almost 60 years, the congregation at Saints Helen and Constantine Greek Orthodox Church has pulled together to feed their friends and neighbors, the Fayetteville community, a delicious hot spaghetti meal. And every year, the community shows up in droves to enjoy the delicious offerings. This year, the 57th Annual Spaghetti Dinner falls on Wednesday, Nov. 18. It is a one-day only event and something that is worth attending.

This dinner is not only a treasured tradition for the Fayetteville community, it’s an event that pulls the Greek congregation together, too. More than 40 volunteers, including 15 cooks join ranks to put together between 12,000 and 13,000 meals in just 10 short hours. That equates to 4,000 lbs. of dry pasta, 900 gallons of meat sauce and 400 lbs. of grated cheese.

Tony Kotsopoulos started helping with the event in 1989. He took over as the head chef in 1993 and has been running things ever since.  The amount of work that goes into it is crazy, but when the cars start lining up at the Hellenic Center and the volunteers are bustling to fill orders, it is all worth it. Not many events get that kind of community support, and that is not lost on the volunteers.

While the pasta is definitely a great reason to support the spaghetti dinner, anyone with a sweet tooth knows that the Greek Pastry Sale that happens in conjunction with the dinner is in its own right worth a trip to the Hellenic Center. 

Twice a year, the public is treated to delicious Greek pastries and desserts, complete with traditional recipes and presentation. The Spaghetti Dinner is one of them. The other is the Greek Festival, which happens every September. Dripping with honey, coated in powdered sugar, with coffee or on the go, the pastry sale offers a little something for anyone craving a little something sweet from the islands of the Mediterranean.

The entire day-long event is a big commitment, but what is even bigger is the generosity of the Greek congregation. The World’s Largest Spaghetti Dinner is a fundraiser for local nonprofits. The money raised from this event goes right back to the community. The beneficiaries might change from year to year, but the spirit behind Spaghetti Dinner does not.  

This is a carry-out only event. Each meal costs $7. Tickets are available at the door. This all takes place at the Hellenic Center at 614 Oakridge Ave. It runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visit http://stsch.nc.goarch.org/spaghetti-dinner or call the church at 484-8925 for information.

The Cumberland Oratorio Singers, a mainstay in Fayetteville’s musical scene, opens its 2015-2016 season on Friday, Oct. 23 with Mozart’s “Coronation Mass.” This choral music group is composed of local singers who are driven by their love of the art. It’s their passion. Through their concerts, the entire community benefits. Under the direction of Dr. Michael Martin, the group continues to deliver performances that keep the singers challenged and audiences enthralled. 

The first piece of the season is the “Coronation Mass” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The piece is a great selection not only because it is so beautiful, but because it gives the group an opportunity to showcase the work of one of classical music’s powerhouse composers. 

On Dec. 12, the ever- popular, holiday piece, “Hallelujah Chorus” or “Messiah Sing” from Handel’s “Messiah” continues as one of the Sandhills’ favorite Christmas traditions on Dec. 12. In April, “Carmina Burana” is set for April 6 and the season closes with Ola Gjeillo’s “Sunrise Mass.”

In selecting this season’s music, Dr. Michael Martin uses the performances to build on the skills of the singers, each one preparing them for what is coming next. 

“All the large works we are doing in the fall help us to prepare for ‘Carmina Burana’ in the spring,” said Martin.

The first concert of the season, Mozart’s “Coronation Mass,” was written after a fairly miserable job hunting trip to Paris and Mannheim.

 “He ended up in Salzburg, a town he did not like, and working for the Archbishop,” said Martin. 

“On April 4, 1779, it was premiered during Easter. Contrary to what the name implies, it was not written for a coronation. The general consensus is that it got the name from the Imperial Court in Vienna in the early 19th century where it became the preferred music for royal and imperial coronations.”

This is paired with Vaughan Williams’ first known choral work “Toward the Unknown Region.”

 “It is very “Brahms-ian” in character; many people  might say that it sounds like the music to a film score,” said Martin. 

The piece was Vaughan Williams’ first one for chorus and orchestra, but it is still somewhat obscure with regard to other popular choices of Vaughan Williams’ choral music. The text is by Walt Whitman, whose
“Leaves of  Grass” remains a source of inspiration for many composers.”

The theme of the 2015 season is Ethereal. 

“If no other reason than because of some of the material we are doing this year,” said Martin. The first features a piece by Vaughan Williams during the opening concert. “The second of these “ethereal” pieces will be performed in May and is called ‘Sunrise Mass,”’ by Ola Gjeillo. In his own words, Gjeillo indicated that the piece works  ‘“... as a metaphor for human development from child to adult, or as a spiritual journey.”’ In that sense, our season takes on a journey of different types of choral music.”

Singers are still welcome to join the Cumberland Oratorio Singers for performances of “Messiah” (December), “Carmina Burana” (April) and the “Sunrise Mass” (May). 

“They need only contact us through our website (singwithcos.org) and set up a voice placement,” said Martin. “It is not an audition but just to find out where your voice best fits in the choir. If you already know what part you sing, that’s great, too. Anyone who has sung music as a hobby or professionally should be part of Fayetteville’s choir. With about 275,000 people who live here, I would like to think we have more  than 65 singers ready to go.”

For more information about the season, visit the website at www.singwithcos.org.

Christmas is going to be a little different in Fayetteville this year at the Gilbert Theater. Instead of the familiar A Christmas Carol, a new holiday story will take center stage , with It’s a Wonderful Life by James Rodgers. 

The show, which follows the life of George Bailey, a small-town family man, runs from Nov. 27 through Dec. 20. Bailey feels trapped by responsibilities when a guardian angel brings back his sense of joy and fulfillment by showing him how life would be different if he had never been born. 

For years, the Gilbert Theater made a tradition of presenting A Christmas Carol. This classic tale is still poignant, but familiarity began to work against it. It was time to infuse some more excitement into the season. 

“We at the Gilbert were a bit tired of  — meaning  we needed a change — and I felt the community needed one as well,” Robyne Parrish the artistic director at Gilbert Theater explained. “You can never really tire of that story — but you can take a break and come back to it later with fresh eyes and heart. I have always loved It’s a Wonderful Life, so it was my first thought as a possible replacement. We are not sure at this point if the change will be ongoing — but if it works out well this year we will plan to bring it back again next year. There is always room for a new holiday tradition!”

This change, in many ways, is a community decision. The Gilbert Theater was less excited about another rendition of A Christmas Carol and the community echoed the sentiment in attendance. The next step after deciding change is necessary was deciding on a new production. The theatre reached out to the community again. 

“Before we made any decision, we polled our audiences,” Parrish explained. “For more than six months last season we asked our audiences to vote by ballot and they chose It’s A Wonderful Life!The response has been nothing but positive across the board . I was not sure what to expect since tradition is important here in the South. I think it might be easy for some to say... if it ain’t broke... but our excitement about producing A Christmas Carol was low and you really must do something that you feel a passion for and want to share with the community  or what is the point? I was happy to discover the overwhelming excitement from our community about getting to see this well-loved film to come to life on stage.”

This full-stage rendition of It’s a Wonderful Life is not a musical, but it is full of fun and festive music and singing. Adding another layer to the challenge is that this production will feature the largest cast that Parrish has ever seen in the theater — 24 people. Usually the cast size is limited to 15 or 16 members due to the intimate nature of the space, but the Gilbert Theater is committed to doing this show the right way, even if it means being a little crowded back stage. Parrish says that the passion of the actors will overcome these small discomforts and rather than double casting, it is important to maintain the integrity of each character for this story.

The Christmas season is always a highly charged and emotional season, and not all of these emotions are positive. It’s a Wonderful Life is still so relatable and applicable because it captures both the beautiful and difficult emotions that surround the season. “In keeping with our tradition of thought provoking material, Wonderful Life is a story of depression, love, loss and at last, redemption! It is a modern day Scrooge tale at its very core; a look at one man’s true struggle to find purpose and peace in this life we all share,” Parrish said, noting that while holidays are never simple but it’s this powerful mix of emotions that makes them so magical. 

The Gilbert Theater will also offer student matinees of this classic family-friendly tale. Already, the matinee for this production has sold out, prompting plans for the addition of a second matinee next year. Parrish feels that these opportunities for students are very important, especially when the production has such a relatable theme. 

“I especially feel that the more mature students will really understand the struggle that George experiences throughout the play. George is a small-town boy with a big city dream, and I am sure that many of our local students can relate to this feeling; the feeling of wanting to break out and do something big somewhere else! George, much like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, discovers that everything he needed was always ‘right in his own back yard’ but only after several decades of failing and picking himself back up again. He actually considers ending his life at one point but through the help of a spiritual guide or an angel, as it were, George discovers why he must stay and that he is loved. I hope that it will be a message to our kids that it is okay to fail. Failure is a part of growth,” she said. 

In addition to bringing a new production to the stage, the Gilbert Theater also brings a new actor. Parrish said, “Local favorite, Ken Griggs will star as George Bailey. This will be Ken’s first appearance on the Gilbert stage and we are thrilled to have him.”

It’s a Wonderful Life runs from Nov. 27 until Dec. 20 at the Gilbert Theater. Tickets are $16 and can be purchased online through a link on the Gilbert Theater website or by calling the theater. For more information visit www.gilberttheater.com or call 910.678.7186. The Gilbert Theater is located at 116 Green St. This is a classic family friendly tale that explores the holiday season honestly. And as Parrish says, “… it is a wonderful way to celebrate this holiday season.”

 

Vilas Tonape, like so many art professors in academe, wants students in his advanced painting and drawing classes to explore ways to “find their voice” as a visual artist. Yet, first, they must undertake the disciplined rigors of developing the skill sets and techniques of working from observation in his introductory classes. 

Explore evidence of Tonape’s teaching philosophy at Galley 208 while visiting Contemporary Realism of Vilas Tonape. This is his first one-man exhibit in the region. The exhibit hangs from Nov. 10, 2015 to Jan. 30, 2016. The show clearly demonstrates his qualifications for teaching the foundations of a classical figurative approach; while his personal work, as an artist, transcends descriptive painting as simple technique. 

Six years of undergraduate studies in art school prepared him for the rigors of observation yet meaning in the work is his response to the subject. Each of the works in the exhibit is a point of departure for viewers to experience his keen sense of beauty and dignity and the subtle uniqueness of the portrait and the still life as a subject. 

Recently hired as the Chair of the Department of Art at Methodist University, Gallery 208 will introduce him to the artistic community and patrons of the arts during the artist’s reception on Nov. 10, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. The public is invited to attend the reception and hear a brief presentation by this artist who brings a multicultural view to the educational and artistic community. 

After earning his BFA in painting at the Sir J.J. School of Art at the University of Bombay in Bombay, India, his instructors urged Tonape to go abroad and study. He took their advice and was pleased to receive a full scholarship in the MFA program at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. After graduation in 1996, he taught in various colleges, to include the geographic regions of Colorado, Florida, Idaho and Georgia. His professional teaching history includes being an instructor at the Amory Center in West Palm Beach, Fla., and “visiting artist” at Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, Fla.

Visitors to Contemporary Realism of Vilas Tonape will quickly acknowledge his skillfulness; but, with all good realism, it is important to take the time to look at each work carefully, to look beyond proficiency. Each work has meaning for the artist; it is the viewer’s undertaking and pleasure to pause for meaning to be revealed. The artist is communicating to us through his choices: his mark making, the way he applies paint, tone and light, the silence of a color, the stillness of a space within the composition, the composition itself. With all the options an artist has to choose from, during observation what the artist includes and leaves out reflects their intent — their personal interpretation, vision and perceptions to share with us. 

The works of Tonape are best described by the philosopher Benedetto Croce, “intuitive knowledge is expressive knowledge.” How Tonape constructs each work is the starting point for how he unifies his response to his subject. Where Croce is concerned with the idea and the nature of beauty, Tonape talked about how each character (portrait) means something to him, “they are individual personalities. After I meet someone I know immediately there is a personality I want to draw or paint, it is the spirit of an individual that I want to capture and share.”

Tonape is obviously a colorist and talks about his color palette in ways that reveal his system and his philosophy about color. “Color is based on my observation. Viewers might think it is subjective, but for me it is objective. These are the colors, the hues and tones I perceive that day. So, I don’t feel as if I am exaggerating or being subjective. And the value white! You will not see white in my paintings, in other words, no pure white without hue; every tone has its own color. I don’t think there is anything in nature that is hue-less.”

With so much photographic software in the market place, in academe, and cell phone photography, why would an artist still work from life? Tonape stated: “That’s how I was trained and I feel that is how it should be done — to see all the colors in the face. A camera cannot capture what I see in the face and I am able to see those colors! As well, from an academic standpoint, I am viewing something three-dimensional through observation, translating it into a two-dimensional surface and then back to an illusion of the three-dimensional. That is an experience, for me, it doesn’t take place in a photograph — in addition to the color factor.”

Working in a variety of mediums, Tonape is exhibiting charcoal and graphite drawings, pastel on paper, oil paintings and watercolors. No matter what the medium, he is always a mix of classicism and realism. He deliberately limits what we see, often leaving large areas of negative space as a place of visual rest, a way to emphasize color, or an approach to call attention to the object or portrait. Ever-present in each work, the complexity of form and three-dimensionality gives way to a directional or diagrammatic line. Either implicit or explicit, line leads the viewer around the composition or to a focal point. Line is an ever-present underlying structure throughout each work, an artistic strategy used to direct us or contrast with the volume in the work. 

A realist artist most often focuses on the world of people and places around them, but they also communicate and express something about how they perceive the world. After leaving the exhibit visitors will easily remember Tonape as an artist who views a world filled with grace, a sense of humor, beauty and dignity — a world of harmony. 

The public is invited to the opening and reception Nov. 10, from 5:30 - 7 p.m. Gallery 208 is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. during the duration of the exhibit and is located at 208 Rowan Street, in historic downtown Fayetteville. For information about the reception or exhibit, call 910.484.6200. Visit Vilas Tonape’s website at http://www.vilastonape.com. 

Flashdance the Musical comes to the Givens Performing Arts Center on Nov. 14. It is a tale about dreams, hard work, love and hope. 

It is a story about much more than just great dancing. “I love the Flashdancestory. I think a lot of people don’t really realize what the story is about. It’s about a girl who wants to go to ballet school. She doesn’t want to be famous, she doesn’t have these outlandish dreams, she is just a hard working girl who wants to go to ballet school. Its about blue collar workers, hard working people that just want a little more and I think we all have those dreams. It’s a fun story,” said Hannah MacDonald who plays Gloria in the show. 

MacDonald’s character, Gloria, also has a relatable story, but her dreams are even bigger. “Gloria is the character that does have these big outlandish dreams. She wants to be a pop star; she wants to be famous,“ MacDonald said. 

Gloria is a waitress at the local club and all she wants is to dance up there with her friend — but no one thinks she has the talent. So Gloria is stuck in the position of watching her friends dance while she waitresses. “She goes through this arc in the story where she ends up at a seedy strip join but her friends and boyfriend come and rescue herm,”said MacDoanld. Now, I can’t really relate to dancing at the seedy strip joint down the road but I think we all have dreams. I’m an actress so obviously I’m someone who has big dreams.”

MacDonald’s dreams started as soon as she could walk. According to her parents, she was a performer from the very beginning. “I was always a very theatrical kid. When I was three years old I knew I wanted to be on Broadway. When I was growing up, at every family function people were gathered around me performing. I did community theatre growing up, and I started working professionally when I turned 18. It has been something that has carried me through my whole life. There was never a question about whether I would do this,” she explained. 

Touring has its difficulties. The cast often stays in hotels, after traveling for hours. It is always physically trying. However, for MacDonald all the hours spent away from home are worth it. She says, “Its incredibly rewarding to be able to tour. We’ve been on the road maybe 10 days and I’ve already gotten to see so much of the country that I wouldn’t have been able to see if I wasn’t on tour,” she said. “Its also rewarding to be able to bring this story to so many new audiences. We all live in New York City so we can see these huge incredible theatre productions whenever we want so it’s exciting to be able to bring this to other parts of the country that might not have that access. And I get to meet a lot of new people and friends.” 

For more information visit http://www.uncp.edu/giving/advancement/givens-performing-arts-center/broadway-and-more-series or call 910.521.6287. Tickets range from $21 to $36 and can be purchased by calling 910.522.6361. The GPAC theatre is located at                1 University Dr. in Pembroke.

 

Currently 5.4 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s disease and about 13 percent of them that are diagnosed are 65 and older, making Alzheimer’s sixth in the nation’s leading causes of death. An estimated 150,000 of those are North Carolinians with Alzheimer’s. When it comes to dealing with Alzheimer’s, it’s important to remember that … “You don’t have to go it alone,” said Julie Russo. 

McKee Home’s has fundraised for the Alzheimer’s Association for five years. This year the Fayetteville Walk to End Alzheimer’s raised $90,372 which is significantly more than its goal of $69,000.

This year the walk included 76 teams 688 walkers and 818 total participants. The top two teams being Rhudy’s with $13,292 worth of donations and The A team with $12,083. 

To make things more competitive, the walk included a traveling trophy contest. The contest encouraged the teams to have a healthy competition to raise money and bring awareness to the cause. Teams organized garage sales, raffles and other fundraisers to build moral for the walk. 

One of the most touching aspects of the walk is the promise garden ceremony. Loved ones and caregivers can place pinwheel-shaped flowers in the garden of hope before the walk. Flowers are personalized with messages and names. The garden of hope also gives walker’s something to take with them to remain hopeful for a cure to be found.

Originally McKee homes started the walk in its own neighborhoods but the participation has been so overwhelming in recent years that the walk now takes place downtown. 

“My father-in-law Joe McKee died from Alzheimer’s complications. My husband Pat McKee and his brother Mike founded McKee Homes in their father’s honor and donate a portion of every home sale to the Joe McKee Memorial Alzheimer’s Fund. We use this fund to support the Alzheimer’s Association as well as other local and national charities. McKee Homes made a $25,000 donation this year,” said Russo.

The Fayetteville Walk to End Alzheimer’s has raised over $250,000 in the past five years. 

The money raised goes toward research, patient and family services, public awareness and fundraising. The Alzheimer’s Association strives to: 

• Help families across the country by continuing to provide and enhance programs focusing on education and support.

• Advance critical research studies into methods of treatment, prevention and ultimately, a cure.

• Speak up for the needs and rights of those facing Alzheimer’s through our public policy initiatives.

“After Pat’s dad died, he knew he wanted to do something to help others who were dealing with Alzheimer’s,” she said. 

To prevent Alzheimer’s some of the measures include physical exercise, mental exercises, no smoking and maintaining a healthy diet. 

“The thing I look forward to the most is the opportunity to bring the community together for a common cause. This disease affects so many and those it affects often are not aware of the services that the Alzheimer’s Association provides,” she said. 

If you missed the Fifth Annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s, next year’s will be September 24, 2016.

 

 Jean Stultz is a force of nature. Those who know her know her quick wit, her rich laugh, her business savvy and her incredible love of her family, friends and the Fayetteville community.

Last Saturday, hundreds of friends and family members from all over the country gathered at Highland Country Club  to celebrate and honor Ms. Jean on her 46 years of dedicated service to Bragg Mutual Federal Credit Union. 

Yes! 46 years! Friends, family, state and local government officials and credit union industry leaders attended the celebration and each spoke of the many contributions Ms. Jean has made to the credit union industry. They credited Stultz’s leadership for many ideas and innovations that directly resulted in the popularity and growth of credit unions across the nation. It was quite an impressive affair. 

Stultz left her mark not only on the credit union industry but on  all facets of life in the Fayetteville/ Cumberland County community. Few people have ever or will ever reach this pinnacle of success and fulfillment in their lifetimes. Her lifetime of awards, achievements, honors and proclamations pale in comparison to her energy and tireless contributions to humanity that will surely serve as her legacy.

Retirement is in her future. However, at 83 years young and with a 46-year career in her rear view mirror,  she shows no signs of slowing down. Yes, we are a better community because of Jean Stultz. In an age that measures careers in years rather than decades, she will continue to inspire us to achieve greatness through honesty, compassion, hard work and tenacity. No doubt the petite Ms. Jean casts a long shadow, and in doing so, gives us a not so subtle reminder that we should do it “our way.” 

Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Several weeks ago, I wrote a column as a follow-up to one I had done ten years ago on tattoos.  It is a subject that fascinates me and one that I also find mystifying.  As I did in the first column a decade ago, I asked readers to tell me about their tattoos, why they got them, what they mean, and whether they regret getting inked.  

Two readers responded this time with particularly rational and articulate emails, and I share parts of their responses below, with their permission, of course.

One came from Aissatou Sunjata, who also wrote to me ten years and who refers to herself as the “Tattooed Librarian.”  Her first tattoo was done to commemorate a job, which quickly went south, and she regretted the tattoo.  She has recently had what she says is her last tattoo, a dragonfly to cover that first one.  There have been others in between.

Here is some of what Aissatou wrote.

“Now, at 56…I realize time and age have compelled me to show my position in life by doing something other than getting tattooed.  Believe this final one makes eleven tattoos for me….Months ago, I was in a restaurant on Carolina Beach.  There were two couples several years older than myself.  One lady was overheard saying she could not imagine putting a tattoo on her body and how it would look as she become older and wrinkled.  Another lady from the same table said how she would never put a tattoo on her body and vehemently she was opposed due to her religious beliefs.  Well, I was getting ready to depart…and stopped by her table.  I announced…how I was a former teacher and a librarian and have several tattoos.  Upon students having expressed they too wanted a tattoo and could not wait until they became of age to get one, I would honestly give them ideas to consider.  I would alert them how permanent a tattoo is to the body.  I would compel them to think about what career, profession they intended to pursue.  I would tell them that contrary to belief, tattoos are not as mainstream and accepted.  Well, the woman who would not do so because of her religious beliefs began to recite to me according to the Word.  Respectfully, I listened.

“My response to her was that I have proof God loves and blesses me often.  Therefore, he must not be as disapproving, angry or against my having tattoos on my body as it seems to some humans.  I wished them continued blessings and turned on my heels and departed.  Before doing so, I think it was her husband I saw from the corner of my eye smiling at my response to his wife.”

Angela Livingston, also familiar with earlier columns on tattoo shared her thoughts as well.  She works in a professional arena and says her colleagues are surprised when they learn of her tattoos, including a local judge.  Angela wrote this.

“I was employed in a field where I worked closely with multiple community partners and I always remained professional.  Therefore, adhering to a strict dress code was a must.  My tattoos were always covered/hidden from the public and coworkers.  For many of my professional associates, they would not have ever known I had tattoos if I had not told them (including Judge ___).    I was not ashamed of the graphic art I chose to adorn my body with.  I simply know what is expected and is accepted in the professional realm and I act accordingly.  I have worked in various fields of child protection and prevention for over 20 years and my tattoos have never been an issue.

“It seems interesting that your curiosity remains active regarding the choice of others to express themselves via tattoo art.  For me, a tattoo is simply an avenue of expression.  To date, I have over 20 tattoos and I am proud of each choice….  I have not had a tattoo removed.  In the Bible, God gave a command to the nation of Israel to not do as their neighbors and mark their bodies with symbols of their gods.  I choose to not mark my body with any inappropriate symbols because my belief is in only one higher power than man.  As followers, women are encouraged to be modest and not draw attention to one’s self with expensive clothing, gold and pearls, etc.  Many women have already failed at that.

“As a strong, independent woman, I continue to wear my body art proudly and my tattoos remain covered when I am at work.  I may choose to obtain additional tattoos in the future.  It simply depends on what my internal spirit moves me to do.”

Clearly, our correspondents are grounded and secure women with similar outlooks on life, and I respect their choices and admire their confidence.  

No tatts for your columnist yet, and likely never.  That said, even though I did not realize it when I wrote about tattoos last month, I see now that I have done some mellowing over the last ten years myself.

For nearly half a century the Junior League of Fayetteville has hosted the area’s biggest and best holiday shopping experience. A long-time tradition in Fayetteville, the Holly Day Fair marks the beginning of the Christmas season for many. This unique event is the largest holiday gift and craft show in Eastern Carolina with 200 vendors. It’s not unusual for the event to draw 20,000 plus shoppers over the course of its four-day run. This year, the Holly Day Fair is scheduled for Nov. 5-8. 

One of the many things that makes the Holly Day Fair so special is the one-of-a-kind gifts and many handcrafted items available there. The Fayetteville Junior League works hard every year to find vendors that offer gifts that are hard to find anywhere else. From Christmas decorations to crafts, jewelry, clothes, toys, specialty foods household items and more, this is the place to go for that special gift for the discerning person on your shopping list.

Jami McLaughlin has worked on the Holly Day Fair committee for the past six years and loves ringing in the holiday season at such a lively event. “There are so many people that have been doing this a lot longer than I have. Once you start it is really hard to stop,” she said. “This is one of the few fundraisers that raises more than a quarter million dollars for kids in our community and it is through the efforts of a four-day festival. It is a lot of fun behind scenes, and all the money goes right back to the community.”

Jennifer Gasque is the chair of the Holly Day Fair and she is excited about how it is all coming together. “This is so exciting. For the past few years we have been right at the capacity for our venue. The Holly Day Fair just keeps growing. We host more than 20,000 visitors each year. We have close to 200 vendors this year that include some long-time favorites that offer anything from wind-up toys to kids clothes, monogrammed items as well as specialty item including antiques and more. And then we’ve got new local vendors. Blush Bridal will be there as well as Vibra’s. They have opened a location in Fayetteville. 

Every year guests are treated to something extra special in the Junior League’s area of the Holly Day Fair. There will still be cookies and other goodies but this year, instead of wrapping paper and a wrapping station, visitors can look forward to Fayetteville themed ornaments. “Our theme is Christmas in the city. We had ornaments made that focus on the city of Fayetteville,” said Gasque. We will have ornaments that have photos of the Cameo Art House Theatre, the Market House, the Airborne and Special Operations Museum and more. We have six different pictures that we have of places in the city. We wanted to do something different. We get so much support from the community it just made sense to highlight some of the local landmarks.” 

Sponsored by the Junior League, the Holly Day Fair offers more than a first rate kick-off to the holiday season. The funds raised from the Holly Day Fair benefit the local population in the form of Junior League of Fayetteville Community Assistance Program grants. The grants go to organizations and programs that support the Junior League of Fayetteville’s childhood mental health initiative. The 2014 Holly Day Fair raised more than $270,000, all of which went back into the community. “This year we have not earmarked any money yet. Our larger grants, the impact grants, are still accepting applications. They are available online at www.jlfay.org,” said Gasque. “If organizations want to visit our site, 100 percent of our funds do go back into the community.”

The Junior League of Fayetteville is an organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism. The group has more than 400 members and partners with many agencies that focus on child health and welfare. The Junior League of Fayetteville is educational and charitable, teaching its members about volunteering and leadership while helping the community. The organization firmly believes that a strong future for the community means helping local children. 

By working with organizations like the Boys and Girls Clubs and Operation Inasmuch, the Junior League of Fayetteville touches many lives each year. Additionally, the group awards Community Assistance Program Grants to local organizations in Cumberland, Hoke, Lee, Bladen, Robeson and Sampson Counties that provide services related to the health and welfare of women and children.

The Holly Day Fair opens for Super Shopper ticketholders on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 9 a.m. From 9 a.m. to noon, there are no strollers permitted at the Holly Day Fair. Super shopper tickets are $14 and well worth the money for hardcore shoppers looking for the first pick of the merchandise without having to compete with crowded aisles. Regular shopping hours on Sept. 5 run from noon to 8 p.m. Regular tickets cost $9. Nov. 6-7, the Holly Day Fair hours are 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, the hours are 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tickets are available on line at www.hollydayfair.com. They will be available at the door at no extra cost.

Cape Fear Regional Theatre’s second production in the 2015-2016 season, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, is an adaptation of the well-known movie starring Spencer Tracy, Sidney Poitier and Katharine Hepburn. Set in the late 1960s, a young, white Joanna Drayton (played by Lauren Mae Shafer) brings home her beau, successful, charming and black Dr. John Prentice (played by Dwain A. Perry). Personal beliefs are tested as the play pits long-held family values against a changing culture.

CFRT’s Artistic Director Tom Quaintance is always looking for ways to engage the community in meaningful conversation. Last season’s The Bluest Eye boldly shone a light on race and the many perspectives and cultural differences that communities, families and neighbors often grapple with. Director Kanisha Foster did such a great job with that production that Quaintance brought her back to direct Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. 

Foster brings a keen understanding of racial differences to the table. “My dad is black and my mom is white,” said Foster. “When my dad met my grandmother, she had never seen a black person before. So this is my family’s story. As an artist, so much of what I do is telling multicultural stories in an honest way.”

 In a production with so much complexity, getting the right cast was important. With no shortage of talent in the Fayetteville theatre community, Foster is beyond pleased with the group dynamic and where the play is headed. Casting Perry in the role of Dr. John Prentice was an easy call. Foster worked with him before and knew he would be great for the part. “He is smart tenderhearted and can hold his own ground. We are thrilled to have him,” she said. “It is a bit of a difficult part to cast. There are so many overlapping parts of the personality of this character. It is not just a love story. The character lost his wife and child eight years ago and was set on never loving again. It is hard to find someone who can do that role successfully but Dwain is perfect for it.”

Lauren Mae Shafer plays the part of Joanna Drayton. Shafer is new to Fayetteville and is quickly finding a home onstage at CFRT. The connection between Joanna’s and her mother Christina Drayton (played by Raleigh native Linda Clark) is palpable and brings just the right intensity to the story. “Lauren and Lynda are perfect in these roles,” said Foster. “That is one of my favorite things to watch in the show — their connection.”

Steven Minow is cast as Matt Drayton. James Dean plays the part of Monsignor Ryan with Ricardo Morgan as John Prentice Sr. Michelle Walker is Mary Prentice. Matilda Banks plays Sharon McNair and Libby Seymour is Hilary St. George. 

Backed by a solid cast, Foster is excited to tell this story and hopefully spark meaningful conversation about a topic that is just as relevant today as it was in the 1960s. To Foster this is not a play about horrible people who don’t accept a man into their home. It is more about two families who love their children and really want the best for them and are living in a world where they haven’t experienced anything like this before. “To me it is about change and how it happens,” said Foster. “And how people love their children. It is also about first times — first times meeting people and first times having experiences.”

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinneropens Oct. 29 and runs through Nov. 15. Information and tickets are available 

at http://www.cfrt.org.

 

Jean Stultz has been a pillar in the Fayetteville community for years. As the president and chief executive officer of Bragg Mutual Credit Union she gave a personal caring touch to an increasingly impersonal business. For her, the work at the credit union was much more than spreadsheets and account numbers, it was about helping real people make the best decisions for their future. She has done this work for over 40 years with a welcoming smile on her face. After so many years of tireless service, Stultz has decided to retire and enjoy some time with her family. “I am going to do a little traveling and probably spend some more time in Charlotte with my daughter and granddaughter there,” she said. 

Stultz started working at Bragg Mutual Credit Union when it had only three employees. When the manager retired, she jumped at the opportunity becoming the President/CEO in 1980. Under her leadership, the credit union has grown tremendously — despite the added challenge of breaking into a male-dominated industry. In an age where women business leaders were hard to find, Stultz stood up to a system designed for good ole boys and climbed the corporate ladder, beating many of them to the top. Stultz attributes her success to her work ethic. “When it comes to being successful, you do a good job — and you become noticed when you are doing a good job. If you are honest with yourself and honest with people you are working with, it helps you get ahead, too,” she said. 

While breaking through the glass ceiling Stultz also kept her priorities in line having a tremendous positive influence through community service. With a heart for the community, and love for people, it was just natural for her to reach out to the causes she holds dear. And she brought her passion for helping people and making change to every corner of the community. Her magnanimous personality and incredible drive make Stultz a boon to any organization. She’s served on countless boards, organized events and supported many causes over the years. Some of the organizations she is most passionate about are the Professional Women of Fayetteville, the Cumberland County Business Network, which she helped found and the Association of the United States Army. Despite her decision to retire, she has no intention of slowing down. “I intend to stay on some of the boards I am serving on because I enjoy that and I look forward to continuing my activity in the community as much as possible,” she explained. 

Perhaps one of the most important lessons to take away from Stultz’s fantastic career and admirable contributions to the community is the importance of passion in every day life. Looking at her list of accomplishments, it seems impossible that a single person could do so much for the community, but when fueled by passion it all hardly seems like work, “You must love what you are doing. You are being unfair to yourself if you aren’t doing what you love, said Stultz. I love the Credit Union and I love people. I had the opportunity to meet all kinds of people from all walks of life and I loved that. And I got to help people and I loved that, too.”

Jean Stultz plays such an important role in the community. Through her tireless work both at the credit union and in her various positions in community organizations she has positively touched the lives of many. It is exciting to see her transition into her next adventure and to speculate about the next great impact she will make. She shows no signs of slowing down, “I have enjoyed every phase of my career from working at the Credit Union to working with the community and I am looking forward to retirement but don’t intend to stop doing things in community,” Stultz said. And while no one would blame her after everything she has given, why would we want her to? Stultz is the epitome of the very best in 

this community.

Veterans Day has always had a very special place on the Fayetteville calendar. Fayetteville is intertwined with Fort Bragg and so the military plays a huge role in the community. To honor and thank these valiant community members, friends and family, as well as all vetertans, there is the annual Veteran’s Day Parade. This year it is on Nov. 7 from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. along Hay Street, kicking off with a C-130 flyover. It is an exciting and lively parade, but more importantly the Chair Kirk deViere noted, “This is an opportunity to honor those who made sacrifices and served our nation over the years.”

This year the parade will be bigger and better than ever, deViere said. “We will have over 100 participants and we are very excited. It is one of the larger parades. We have a lot of military service organizations like the VFW and high school ROTC units from all over Cumberland County. I believe it is the first time Fayetteville State University has participated in the parade. We will have choruses. The 18th Airborne chorus will be there. We will have vehicles and marching units. The 82nd Airborne band will be there so will USASOC. Of course 440th as near and dear to us as they are, will be participating. Methodist University will have their band and we will also have several high school bands.” Truly, the whole community is coming together to create a fantastic parade this year. 

DeViere has worked with the Veteran’s Day Parade for three years now, officially taking over this year. Organizing so many moving parts is challenging, but with experience and passion deViere continues to help the program grow each year. “It is our 16th year of doing and it gets bigger every year. The support this community has for military is great. There is always a great opportunity to come support the military,” he said. 

Each year the parade has a theme. Previously it focused on specific conflicts, but this year the organizers had a different idea. “The theme this year is women in the military. We are focusing on honoring women who have served the military, which we are really excited about it,” deViere said, “We have a lot of women’s auxiliary groups and vets who are participating in the parade. Our Grand Marshall is Maj. Gen. Marcia Anderson. She is the first African American female to get to major general in the Army Reserves. Command Sgt. Maj. Yolanda Tate, the Fort Bragg Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. will host the parade with her.”

Another exciting addition to this year’s Veterans Day Parade is Air Force participation and official recognition. Every year thousands of people come to see the parade and hundreds participate. This is a huge undertaking, and this year the parade is officially recognized by the Veterans Administration, leading to even further growth. “There are Air Force veterans groups participating this year, which we are very happy to see. There will be a C-130 flyover to start. They only do about six across the nation on Veterans Day and we are one of them. We have been designated as an official VA regional site, which means our parade is the official VA admin regional site. They only do that for a few parades across nation. It is a designation that your parade is important,” deViere explained. 

Fayetteville Mayor Nat Robertson

Mayoral Candidate

It was just over 27 years ago that I served as an intern for our late Mayor, J.L. Dawkins. I watched him transform his love and commitment to Fayetteville into public service for our community. I soon discovered that my interest and love for Fayetteville were deeper than just a summer internship.

Soon after graduating from Elon with a degree in public administration, I tested my skills in public policy, and my desire to serve our community, by running for a seat on the Fayetteville City Council. I was humbled at the support I received to become the youngest ever elected to a council seat.

My interest in government stems from my interest in policy, not politics. I am motivated by a desire to do the right things for the right reasons. I believe that all of our residents deserve to be heard and have a place at the table. That is how I governed before, and that is the way I will continue to govern as Mayor.

I am a proven leader with integrity and a track record that backs it up. I tell it like it is and have nothing to hide. I don’t owe any political favors, and I don’t play politics with special interests or taxpayer dollars.

That kind of leadership is not traditional; in fact it’s rare anymore. Over the past two years, we have been able to accomplish so many positive things because my leadership style allows everyone to have ownership of the issues. Under my leadership as Mayor, we have broken a decade-long trend of rising crime statistics. We have given Chief Medlock the tools and resources he needs to reduce the crime rate by double digits for two years in a row. We have dedicated the first swimming pool this community has seen since 1948. We have embraced technology like never before and brought real changes to several departments in City Hall. And, we continue to sharpen our customer service skills when dealing with our residents. Under my leadership, we are moving Fayetteville forward and making our city more competitive with other larger North Carolina cities.

My passion is to help others succeed. I want our city to be recognized by other communities in NC as a safe, progressive city with fascinating people from all walks of life, who contribute to our success.

J.L. used to say that our Mayor and City Council have a more direct impact on our daily lives than any other government body. He was right, and we as residents should give great consideration to whom we elect to lead our city government. Saying that, I am truly honored that you have chosen me to represent Fayetteville as your Mayor!

I respectfully ask for your vote again on November 3rd. Thank you in advance for your consideration, and don’t forget to visit my website, natrobertson.com, to learn more about our campaign and plans. My contact information is listed there, and I welcome hearing from you.

Nat Robertson is the incumbent Mayor of the City of Fayetteville.

Len Brown

District 2 Candidate

The recent passage of The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement is the final nail in the coffin for the American worker in manufacturing, intellectual property and copyright regulation. The NAFTA and GATT agreements were devastating enough in transferring jobs overseas but this policy will set the stage for America’s rapid decline. In the next “little while” the American dollar will not be the only reserve currency. The Chinese Yuan will be the new alternative. It is much stronger and more reliable, given America’s huge debt ratio.

So, what does that have to do with Fayetteville, North Carolina? You are not in competition with adjoining counties or states but, with the whole world. The internet and the computer have reduced distance and space. Fayetteville will have to step up its game, simply to survive. Short-sighted politicians and uninformed leaders are a luxury we can no longer afford. Those who major in minors must be dumped and replaced with intelligent statesmen and practical visionaries. The controversy with PWC should be quickly resolved by negotiation. Then we can focus on relevant problems like economic and public safety issues.

I bring a special skill-set to the table and at the risk of appearing immodest, I am best able to guide District 2 through the maze we will soon encounter. Our future lies in production of wealth through manufacture not in service-oriented industries. Where computer assisted design is used, production capacity is greatly enhanced. Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville Technical Community College and Methodist University will have to step up their game as well. They will need to get on the cutting edge of technology and strive to stay ahead of the pack. Antiquated skills and poorly prepared students will be frustrated by the lack of opportunity and be burdened by student loan debt. The future belongs to the prepared exclusively.

As your Council Representative I will diligently work to bring quality jobs to Fayetteville and District 2, work with the Council, Mayor and Police Dept. to reduce crime and the underlying economic and social reasons for it. Be assured that every child will have access to a quality education. Rebranding is not needed for a competent leadership team and a well prepared enthusiastic work force. People exiting the armed forces here at Fort Bragg will be delighted to find the environment already in place to speed their transition into financially rewarding civilian jobs.

I am Len Brown, and let me Thank You in advance for your vote on Nov. 3.

Kirk deViere

District 2 Candidate

The upcoming municipal election is about Fayetteville’s future. This election is about electing leaders who want the same things that you want for our City like a stronger economy with job opportunities, peaceful and revitalized neighborhoods and a place where our children and grandchildren come home to stay. 

I believe in Fayetteville’s future and will take responsibility to help make our city stronger and more peaceful. Ten years in the Army taught me the values and leadership that I will bring to our City Council. My perspective as a small business owner provides me the foundation for economic development and a unique perspective as to how we can create job opportunities. Growing up in a low-income household with parents who worked in a textile factory, I learned the value of hard work that has kept me grounded and acts as a constant reminder that I will always serve as a voice of the people. My wife, Jenny Beaver deViere, and our families inspire me daily to create a better tomorrow for future generations, a future that will encourage our children to stay here and raise their families. Over the last 15 years, I have worked alongside many of you to make our city better and this shared service provides me the optimism that we all really want the same things for Fayetteville.

Our biggest asset is the people of our city – people who are willing to work together to strengthen our neighborhoods, care for those who are less fortunate, and get involved in changing our city for the better. 

District 2 can lead the transformation our city needs. We have several unique opportunities within our district: higher than average unemployment; the need for development along our riverfront, Murchison Road and across the river in Cedar Creek; better solutions for our homeless; improving recreational centers for our youth and seniors; investment in revitalizing our neighborhoods; and most importantly, prioritizing resources to make our neighborhoods and business districts safer. 

We need people on City Council that can lead this transformation by working alongside the other elected officials and building bridges with key stakeholders in the community who share our vision. We need leaders who will roll up our sleeves, work hard and stand committed to changing the future of Fayetteville. Your decision to support a local candidate shouldn’t be based on your political party affiliation, what neighborhood you live in, or the color of your skin. Your decision should come down to electing the best person that can best serve you and shares your vision for a stronger city. 

As your councilman, no one will work harder than I to earn and keep your trust and lead the transformation of our city. I will not fail you. I ask for your prayers, your support and your vote for me, Kirk deViere, Candidate for District 2 City Council. 

 

That whooshing sound you may have heard recently was your columnist checking a big item off her bucket list. I have now been down the Cape Fear River from Fayetteville to Wilmington, all 125 miles of flowing water. If seeing the Cape Fear up close and personal is on your bucket list, the trip was wonderful!

Our little band, organized by the North Carolina Civil War History Center Foundation, met on a cool Friday before 8 a.m. at Campbellton Landing in downtown Fayetteville to begin our roughly 11-hour journey. What appealed to me about this trip was Philip Gerard, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington who has not only traveled on the Cape Fear himself but has written an excellent book about his river adventures, Down the Wild Cape Fear. Philip is not only knowledgeable about the river but is a historian to boot. His series about the Civil War in North Carolina published over four years in Our Statemagazine focused on issues and individuals involved in our nation’s deadliest conflict, highlighted the diversity of opinion about the war within our state at the time, and reminded North Carolinians that many of the issues involved in the conflict are still issues in 2015. He also wrote the narrative that undergirds the proposed Civil War History Center.

In other words, Philip was a two-fer.

Our captain was Freddie Mims, a Fayetteville character who takes interested folks down the Cape Fear for two or four hour (and longer) cruises. Three or four times a year he goes all the way to Wilmington as we did on his large, comfy pontoon boat. Freddie is a wealth of information about the river and the history of who, what and which boats travelled it during its heyday as a commercial waterway. He also knows a thing or two about the more colorful aspects of the Cape Fear, such as sandy beach areas known as Sugar Loaf, where, Freddie declares, just as much fun has been had as at the long-gone Fox Drive-In Theater.

So off we shoved into the calm Cape Fear at Fayetteville, below two bridges and a railroad trestle crossing the water and where the banks are steep, wooded cliffs. Mist floated above the water, and I was not alone in wishing I had worn a heavier coat even though I had dressed in layers. The air warmed as the sun rose, and by the time we floated into Bladen County, we were more comfortable and a few snacks appeared. Apparently, not everyone had breakfast. 

I and most others had never been through a lock, so when the first one, the William O. Huske Lock and Dam just inside Bladen County, came into view, it got our attention. Phil Edge, the longtime lockmaster who once taught me about the difficulties of fish trying to swim upstream when there is a dam, appeared to turn the wheels that operate the lock. No complicated electronics here. Basically, a lock operates like an elevator. A boat enters at one water level, gates close behind it, and Phil lets water out at the opposite end, dropping the water level to what it is below the dam, about an eight-foot drop. This is not as fast as an elevator, but it is not slow either, and we were soon back in the middle of the Cape Fear and on our way again.

Phil, who is just weeks away from retirement, met us at locks 2 and 1, in that order. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which operates the locks, has cut resources significantly since commercial traffic ended on the Cape Fear in the late 1980s. As we continued toward Wilmington, the landscape changed. Gone were the cliffs at Fayetteville. The rivers banks are flatter, though still wooded, and the river widens as it became clear that we were in North Carolina’s flat coastal plain, with all traces of the hillier piedmont far behind. Remarkably, outside the lock rest areas — yes, they have clean bathrooms, my travelling buddy and I saw only one other human during our daylong journey. A teenaged boy rested his arms on the porch railing of a house. We suspect he might have been skipping school, or perhaps he is a cousin of the terrifying hillbillies in Deliverance. Our Cape Fear has its wild and woolly aspects for sure.

By the time we reached Wilmington we had all slathered on sunscreen and were down to our shirtsleeves in the waning of a perfect October day. 

If this opportunity knocks on your door, go. Philip and Freddie enriched our trip immeasurably, but it is a great ride under any circumstances. And we had one last surprise---a poet in our midst and we did not even know it! Here is her rendition of our day.

“We left from the dock in Campbellton / 10 hours (125 miles) later arrived in Wilmington / Sugar Loaf and Spanish moss / Rockfish Creek — can’t get lost / Bathing turtles on cypress trees / River locks — they came in threes / Thick rich mud for beauty masks / Could make an old gator — a young lass / UNC-W professor told interesting lore / But wait — I can tell you more / A two-car ferry run by a cable / We must try it when we are able / Water, herons, sky — all blue / But oh my goodness who knew / A cruise so exotic could occur / Down the Cape Fear River

We want to welcome our newest contributing writer, Karl Merritt, to our community newspaper. His conservative and inspirational insights adds another enjoyable and intriguing dimension to our community newspaper. In the weeks to come you will see even more changes in the Up & Coming Weekly as we strive to stay relevant and influential in a dynamic community struggling to take ownership of its own identity. As electronic social media conveniently connects us to the world the unintended consequence is that it strips away a community’s personality, uniqueness and charm while masking its local amenities.  Thank you for allowing us to fill this void. Enjoy.

Bill Bowman

Dr. Ben Carson, How Dare you Escape

the Plantation?

There is surely a large group of Americans wondering how it can be that Dr. Ben Carson escaped the 21st century plantation. This is not supposed to happen.

For many years I have held that there is an ongoing effort to perpetuate among black Americans a condition similar to that experienced by slaves on the plantations of this country. That condition is one where people do not think for themselves and are so dependent on their masters that they dare not free themselves from the plantation. The following statement in an article on the Public Broadcasting Service website under The Slave Experience: Education, Arts, & Culture regarding preventing slaves from learning to read and write speaks to this process of controlling slaves:

“Fearing that black literacy would prove a threat to the slave system — which relied on slaves’ dependence on masters — whites in many colonies instituted laws forbidding slaves to learn to read or write and making it a crime for others to teach them.”

Although the tactics have changed, efforts to control black Americans with regard to thinking for ourselves and being free of exploitation continue without serious opposition. The tactics have shifted from beatings and lynching to suppressive entitlement programs, condoning violence by black Americans when in response to alleged discrimination, promising government sponsored “goodies” while doing little or nothing to provide real opportunity for individual responsibility and allowing tremendous black-on-black crime to go unchecked and barely noticed. The listing seems endless. The tactic that is proving extremely effective is for the controllers to, through character assassination, destroy anybody who threatens to disrupt this winning strategy. In our time, the aim has nothing to do with keeping crops profitable. It is all about controlling the black vote. All that is described above explains the overwhelming, and otherwise inexplicable, faithfulness of so many black Americans to the Democrat Party.

The sad fact of life is that black citizens who recognize this control strategy and leave the plantation, refusing to be controlled, do so at great cost. It is not simply a matter of safely and without opposition starting to think for one’s self and expounding positions that threaten the plantation arrangement. No, leaving the plantation requires escape with all the attendant threats, pain and other unbridled costs.

So, it is against this backdrop, in this context, that Carson chose to escape the plantation. He did not recently escape. Carson figured the current plantation system out a long time ago. His whole life reflects early escape. Second child of a mother who could not read, he grew up in poverty without a father in the home, but went on to become a world-renowned pediatric neurosurgeon. Not until his 2013 National Prayer Breakfast speech in which he spoke clearly and powerfully opposing several policies of President Barack Obama did his escape from the plantation show itself on the world-stage. He followed that event by choosing to seek the presidency of the United States of America. His total escape from the plantation is reflected in Carson running as a Republican who stands unflinching by conservative values.

In his presidential campaign, Carson is demonstrating that he stands a strong chance of winning. Consider that in national polling he is on the heels of Donald Trump, the front-runner for the Republican nomination, and ahead of Hillary Clinton for the general election. In the latest reporting period, Carson raised $20 million,  which was highest among all Republican candidates. His level of trust among Americans is in the 80 percent range, which is much higher than all other candidates, Republican or Democrat. Add to this Carson’s non-politician approach which shows through in his answering questions honestly and directly. This is a man who threatens the 21st century American plantation strategy and is now in the fire that comes with that status.

To see that fire, one only has to look at what mainstream media is throwing at Carson. From twisting and misrepresenting his statements on opposing a Muslim president faithful to Sharia Law to if Jews owned guns the Holocaust would have been different to how he would respond if confronted by a mass shooter, mainstream media is obviously committed to discrediting Carson and driving him from the race. They are even pointing to the seven malpractice suits filed against him over the course of a 35-year career. This is a man who performed over 15,000 surgeries. He averaged some 400 surgeries per year until near retirement. He took on many cases that were extremely complex. In each of the two lengthy articles I read regarding the malpractice matter, both admitted Carson’s malpractice suit situation is not out of the ordinary. This from an article titled “Uh-Oh: Presidential Hopeful Ben Carson Accused of Medical Malpractice” by Royce Christyn. I wonder how many people will look at the headline and read to this statement:

“That is a high caseload for neurosurgeons, experts say, but the seven known malpractice claims against Carson in Maryland – an average of one every five years throughout his 35-year career at Johns Hopkins — are consistent with a 2011 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, which found roughly 20 percent of neurosurgeons face a malpractice claim annually.”

My research shows that every charge against Carson by media is rebutted by reason and the facts. Consequently, we are watching yet another case of a plantation escapee being put through the flames intended to totally discredit him and scare potential escapees into continued submission.