As spring continues to tempt our region, Fayetteville is pulling out all of the stops to welcome the season with its annual celebration of spring that we all know as the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival. Held in the historic downtown and Festival Park, the three-day festival welcomes more than 200,000 visitors to the city center all with one thing in mind — having a good time.

The festival, which kicks off on Friday, April 26, features live music, a street fair, food, friendly competitions and a midway. As in year’s past, the festival has brought some of the top names in entertainment to the area, as well as giving local performers a chance to share their talent with visitors to the festival. This year is no exception.

On Friday, the festival opens with the Bloom and Boom Kick-off Party featuring southern rockers, The Marshall Tucker Band. The Marshall Tucker Band is a tried and true Southern rock band that meshes rock, blues, country and jazz.

From their first album in 1973, to their powerful stage presence today, The Marshall Tucker Band has played countless concert venues around the world, performing classics like “I Heard It In a Love Song,” “Can’t You See,” and “Fire on the Mountain.” A recent edition of GRAMMY magazine named The Marshall Tucker Band as one of the top 10 bands that “need no introduction.” After The Marshall Tucker Band takes the crowd on a trip down memory lane, the skies over Fayetteville will bloom with one of the best fireworks shows of the year. The Bloom & Boom Kickoff Party begins at 6 and ends at 10 p.m.

The festival remains true to its southern roots on Saturday night, when country icon John Michael Montgomery takes over the Festival Park stage.

Montgomery’s career caught fire in the ‘90s, when his romantic ballads owned the air waves, country dance clubs and weddings. Montgomery’s debut album Life’s a Dance, set the stage for his climb to the start. Montgomery’s string of successful hits include: “I Love the Way You Love Me,” “I Swear,” “Be My Baby tonight” and “Grundy County Auction.” The concert begins at 9 p.m.

On Sunday, the Festival Park stage will be filled from 1-4 p.m. and will feature a mini-beach music festival with music from Classic Soul, The Entertainers and Liquid Pleasure. Grab your partner and head down for an afternoon of dancing and fun.

The weekend is filled with other entertainment and events on various stages and entertainment areas. Check out the Street Fair Stage in the parking lot between Hay Street Church and the Cumberland County Library.

Saturday

Noon - 1:30 p.m. - Cape Fear Music Center Student Showcase

1:30-2:30 p.m. Seal the Deal

2:30-4:30 p.m. Cape Fear Music Center Student Showcase

4:30 - 6 p.m. Big Daddy DriveSunday

12:30-3:30 p.m. Cape Fear Music Center Student Showcase

3:30 - 6 p.m. Fayetteville Jazz Orchestra The CenturyLink Performance Area, located in the 100 block of Hay Street at the Market House, will also offer great entertainment.

Saturday

12:30-1 p.m. Shadows of the Fire Belly Dance

1-1:30 p.m. Musha Dojo

1:30-2 p.m. Shadows of the Fire Belly Dance

2 -2:30 p.m. Musha Dojo

2:30- 3 p.m. Kidsville Kids

3-3:30 p.m. Shadows of the Fire Belly Dance

3:30-4 p.m. Musha Dojo

4-4:30 p.m. Kidsville Kids

4:30-5 p.m. Yvette’s Dance

Sunday

12:30-1 p.m. Shadows of the Fire Belly Dance

1-1:30 p.m. Musha Dojo

1:30-2:30 p.m. Roland’s Dance

2:30 -3 p.m. Shadows of the Fire Belly Dance

2:30- 3 p.m. Musha Dojo

3:30 - 4 p.m. All American Fencing

4 - 4:30 p.m. Shadows of the Fire Belly Dance

4:30 - 5 p.m. Musha Dojo

5 - 5:30 p.m. Roland’s Dance

Disabled parking is designated in the Hay Street United Methodist Church parking lot and the Bank of America on Ray Avenue. Dowtown parking is available. Suggested areas include: Franklin Street Parking Deck, which is free weeknights and weekends, Cumberland County Courthouse, city lots on Person and Olde streets, Paid parking in the Masonic Lodge, Systel Parking lot and at the Up & Coming Weekly office at 208 Rowan Street.

No coolers, pets, weapons, bikes, roller blades or skateboards are allowed in Festival Park. The Dogwood Festival Committee has a zero tolerance for bad behavior.

Find out more about the Dogwood Festival at ww.faydogwoodfestival.com.

Photo: John Michael Montgomery headlines on Saturday night.

The Fayetteville Police and Fire Departments have taken up the mission to keep the residents of the City ofFayetteville as safe and secure as possible. They are always no farther away than a call to 9-1-1 and can be counted on to come to our aid at any time, day or night. The men and women that make up these departments put their lives on the line every day in an effort to protect us.

In the line of duty, situations often arise where the two, usually separate, departments have to work together to properly serve the public. As a result of this, the two departments have developed a camaraderie and bond between them; almost like siblings. As with any other pair of siblings, a rivalry can also form out of that closeness.

On April 26 from 12 to 4 p.m., Festival Park and The Dogwood Festival will play host to a competition between the two departments that has been dubbed The Battle of the Badges. Teams from each department compete in a series of challenges that test both squads physically, mentally and emotionally. Plates of chicken wings will be devoured, an obstacle course be conquered and the teams will go toe-to-toe in a match-up of strength and endurance that is the tug-of-war.

The event last year saw the Police Department escape with victory by the narrowest of margins. This year, the Fire Department will try to even the score with the Police Department. In the end, the team that is left standing will be named champion and have bragging rights for 2014.

Assistant Chief Richard Bradshaw of the Fayetteville Fire Department said that he expects the Battle of the Badges to, “showcase a lot of what we have to offer our community. We hope that the community recognizes what fine public safety organizations they have.”

When asked about a prediction for the event, Bradshaw was clear about his expectations, “The Fire Department is going to win. I have a group of very dedicated individuals that take pride in, and feel the pressure of, this competition… We want to walk away from the park that afternoon being the victor. I want their chief to have to cater to my chief. There is a lot of pride on the line. I want our guys to be able to say we won. We lost by one point last year due to a piece of equipment breaking; we feel like we owe them one.”

In addition to the competition, each department will have some of their best equipment on display for the community to see and interact with; Ladder trucks, SWAT gear and much more will all be onsite. Bradshaw said that the city will have on display, “some of the finest equipment in the state of North Carolina.”

The Fayetteville Police Department band, The Rollerz, will also perform for those in attendance.

Bradshaw summed up the event by saying, “We are both two very professional organizations. We hope the community sees that in us by our actions in this charity event. We all get along very well, it is all for fun and a good cause.”

The Givens Performing Arts Center, as part of its annual season will host The 4th Annual River People Music and Culture Fest.This is a gathering of both nationally-renowned and local artists that showcase American Indian music and culture. The performance will feature The Ulali Project known for its contributions to the soundtrack of the film Smoke Signals and their musical appearance on the Tonight Show. Charly Lowry, who is a member of Dark Water Rising, Layla Locklear, a member of Lakota John and Kin are local performers who will also perform.

One of the most exciting new performers this year is Star Nayea who has won multiple awards for her powerful and moving music. Nayea began her music career at an early age. It was born from struggle, but is incredibly positive. “When I was 5, I started with music because it made me feel uplifted, happy and, in a way, untouchable. When I was young I suffered abuse but the music saved me and enabled me to latch on to who I was truly supposed to be. I was adopted by a family of non-natives and they were abusive. The music removed me and healed me. I loved the way music made me feel and I knew that the rest of the world must have probably caught on,” she says.

Nayea uses her music as far more than entertainment. She uses it as a tool to reach out and help heal struggling Native people, children in particular. She brings the healing and uplifting power of music to the communities through music camps. She explains her approach by saying, “Not every native child will have my life, but sadly many native children who live on reservations have things that they are battling. Some have trouble at home, bullying at school, depression or families that are not functioning correctly. These problems are heavy on a child. Also in Indian Country we have a high rate of suicides, so I try to concentrate on communities that are reeling from suicide. Some of the communities are traditional and some are very religious, but despite differences, music is one thing that connects us all. It heals all and brings joy to all.”

During her performance, Nayea will be joined by a group of local Lumbee youth.

“I am coming to the community one week before the festival and working with the Lumbee youth. We will have a daily music camp where I will work with them on writing and recording.

“We will work together to craft one song. I wish we could do more, but we have limited time and I think it would be better for us all to join together to create one beautiful song that embodies who they are and what they want to say. Then they will get on stage and sing this song with me,” she said.

The festival is on April 26 at 6 p.m. at the Givens Performing Arts Center. The center is located at 1 University Drive in Pembroke. Children under five are free and tickets are $10 for adults or $5 for students with a valid ID. For more information visit www.unc.edu/gpac of call 910-521-6634.

Photo: Star Nayea, who has won multiple awards for her powerful and moving music, is set to perform at the event.

In a report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Jan. 10, Lung Cancer Incidence Trends Among Men and Women — United States, 2005–2009, it was stated that, “lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death and the second most commonly diagnosed cancer (excluding skin cancer) among men and women in the United States.” The report also stated that, “80–90 percent of lung cancers are attributed to cigarette smoking and secondhand smoke.”

It was through years of investigation that researchers were able to find the links between smoking and this particularly deadly form of cancer. Once those links were discovered and properly interpreted, educational programs were established, government regulations on tobacco products were instituted and society was able to reap the benefits of that new found knowledge.

According to CDC data published last year, from 2001-2010, the incidence and mortality rates of Lung Cancer patients steadily decreased year after year. Prevention programs can be credited with much of that success. Even though lung cancer continues to trend at the top of the charts as being a truly deadly form of cancer, victories like the one seen in the declines in diagnosis and death are to be celebrated.

Despite the positives seen in the statistics, lung cancer is still a very serious threat. The American Lung Association states on its online Lung Cancer Fact Sheet that, “approximately 399,431 Americans are living with lung cancer. During 2014, an estimated 224,210 new cases of lung cancer are expected to be diagnosed.” To put that into perspective, that would be equivalent to every single person in Cumberland County already having lung cancer with every single person in Harnett and Robeson Counties soon to be diagnosed. The American Lung Association website states that once a patient is diagnosed, that “over half of the people with lung cancer die within one year of being diagnosed.”

The National Institutes for Health currently lists 5,014 ongoing clinical studies regarding lung cancer. Those trials carry the hope for a cure and more effective treatments within them. The hope that those trials can provide requires large amounts of financial support and resources in order to be successful.

The NIH currently lists lung cancer research funding as coming in fifth behind Breast, Prostate, Colo-Rectal and Brain cancer research. This funding disparity is in spite of lung cancer being responsible for more deaths, from 2001-2010, than breast and prostate cancer combined.

To help raise awareness of the needs of those who are battling lung cancer, either as a patient or researcher, the Lung Cancer Initiative of North Carolina will hold its second annual Evening of Hope Gala at the Hope Mills Shrine Club on Saturday, May 3. The semi-formal event will consist of drinks, food, music, a silent auction and a Chinese raffle. The proceeds from the event will benefit the Lung Cancer Initiative of North Carolina and its mission, “to decrease deaths and provide support to those affected by lung cancer through research, awareness, education and access programs across North Carolina.”

More information is available online at www.LungCancerInitiativeNC.org.

Funnel cakes, carnival rides and the children’s jump tower can only mean one thing; it’s time for the 22nd Annual Children’s Fest! The fest will open at the Fort Bragg Fairgrounds on April 26. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission is $8 for access to carnival rides and prize drawings; adults and children under 36” are free. The event is open to the public.

The first 500 children to attend will receive a free T-shirt.

The Fort Bragg Fairgrounds are located off Bragg Boulevard across from Stryker Golf Course. Admission through a checkpoint is not required.

Attendees will enjoy children’s carnival rides, a children’s jump tower, climbing wall, face painting, as well as Pallabar the Clown and the Fort Bragg Fire Engine. Activities are planned throughout the day for children of all ages.

A large tented area with various toddler-friendly activities appropriately named, Toddlerville, will also be available for the young festival attendees. “Activities in the Toddlerville tent will give parents a unique opportunity to get involved in their children’s world for a day and experience some of the activities the children do while attending their Child Development Center during the week. Children will have the chance to show their parents how to play and have fun,” said Dorene Jenkins, Fort Bragg Child Youth and School Services outreach director.

Food vendors will be on hand with everything from hot dogs to funnel cakes. Drawings for prizes will take place throughout the day.

The Month of the Military Child was created in 1986 by former Defense Secretary Casper Weinberger to highlight the importance children play in the Armed Forces community. From deployments to new schools, military children face unique challenges that civilian children their age do not. The recognition of this month is meant to celebrate the resilience and strength of military children in dealing with these difficult aspects of military life.

Event Coordinator Gudrun Blackmon says, “For the past 21 years, Fort Bragg Child, Youth and School Services (has culminated April’s activities with the Children’s Fest. Historically, 3,000-3,500 people attend. In addition to age-appropriate carnival rides, the most popular activities have been the Kiddie Jump Tower and military static displays.”

On Tuesday, April 15,people were asked to wear purple in support and appreciation of military children. Purple is the color that represents all branches of the military, as it is the combination of Army green, Coast Guard blue, Air Force blue and Marine red and navy blue.

Blackmon says, “The event would not be as successful as it always is without the unselfish support and assistance of the Fort Bragg Special Events Team, the Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation Marketing Team, the outstanding sponsors in the Fort Bragg and Fayetteville area and most of all, the outstanding support from our Soldiers.

For more information about Children’s Fest, please call 910-396-8110 or 910-396-5128.

North Carolina is rich in history. A visit to the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum orNorth Carolina Veterans Park will convince you of that in just a matter of minutes. North Carolina also boasts of some well-known personalities like Andy Griffith, Elizabeth Dole and Michael Jordan. Another personality familiar to North Carolina is Jason Michael Carroll who performed at Festival Park this past summer.

Carroll, the son of a preacher, grew up in Youngsville, N.C., in Franklin County — not far from Raleigh. He is probably best known for his debut single, “Alyssa Lies.” “Alyssa Lies” is a song about abuse. In an interview, Carroll said he felt led to write the song but it still took almost three years to craft it to his satisfaction. He understood it was an important message and wanted to perfect it as best he could. Unfortunately, it is difficult to perfect something that is far from perfect itself. Carroll said the song was so emotionally painful that he got migraines while writing.

“Alyssa Lies” is based on a true story of a little girl that wasn’t saved in time. As the song evolves, the listener realizes the narrator’s daughter met a friend at school named Alyssa, who is suffering from abuse. To explain her injuries, Alyssa lies to the teachers and classmates, so as not to implicate her abuser. As the narrator’s daughter explains all this, she then asks why Alyssa lies about her situation.

Eventually, the father (narrator) of the little girl, after hearing her pray one night for Alyssa’s safety, decides to report the suspected abuse at school. However, when they get to school on Monday, it is too late.

This is too many times the case. Concerned people act too late.

Crime and behavioral studies have long cited child abuse for its devastating impact on society. Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) statistics are startling as well. According to the Fourth National Incidence Study of Child Abuse & Neglect:

• 95 percent of abuse is by someone the child knows and trusts.

• 73 percent of children don’t tell anyone until well after the abuse has occurred, if they tell at all.

• Statistically, approximately 500,000 babies born in the U.S. each year will be sexually abused before they reach age 18.

For those reasons and many more, Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation (FCPR) joined hands with the Child Advocacy Center of Fayetteville to protect children and stop abuse.

The partnership provides many benefits to both organizations and the Fayetteville-Cumberland community. One benefit of the partnership is training. The Child Advocacy Center’s training curriculum points out that CSA is pervasive in a society where it is repressed and not discussed. Thousands of organizations across the U.S. and Canada are now seeking out a dialogue for prevention and they are sending this message to parents and their communities.

When a parent leaves their child in FCPR’s care, they are entrusting to us their most prized and cherished possession. We take that responsibility very seriously. So seriously, that FCPR has sought after and achieved “Partner in Prevention” status; a nationally-recognized public standard to end child sexual abuse.

The designation was awarded for FCPR’s commitment to protecting children by training 100-percent of its full-time recreation staff on how to prevent, recognize the signs and react responsibly to CSA.

By partnering with the Child Advocacy Center, FCPR hopes to heighten community awareness of CSA. Please accept this as your personal invitation to join the fight as well. Our children need us. Youth can be empowered with awareness and choice, but the real responsibility for protecting children must be shouldered by the adults.

Don’t wait. You can receive the same training as the staff at FCPR. To learn more about CSA prevention and training, please contact our friends at the Child Advocacy Center of Fayetteville. With your help, we can make North Carolina well-known for yet another reason; protecting our most cherished resource — our children.

FTCC’s Continuing Education Division is constantly striving to meet the training needs and interests of our community by developing new courses and providing new locations that are convenient for our students. We are excited to announce a new program for 2014, Natural Hair Care, at our newest location, Tallywood Shopping Center on Raeford Road.

The Natural Hair Care Program is a 300-hour course that prepares students for licensure as a Natural Hair Care Specialist. Students will learn the techniques of hair braiding, locking, weaving and styling. Upon completion of the course, students must pass the state exam and pay the license fee to become a licensed Natural Hair Care Specialist.

In addition to the Natural Hair Care Program, FTCC will also offer classes at Tallywood in Esthetics and Skin Care and Manicuring and Nail Technology.

The 600-hour Esthetics and Skin Care Program provides future skincare specialists with the practical skills and knowledge necessary for success in the salon/spa industry. Students will learn how to perform popular esthetic services, such as facials, waxing and body treatments. This program prepares the students for the North Carolina State Cosmetic Arts Licensing Exam.

Nail care is one of the hottest specialties in the beauty profession today! The Manicuring and Nail Technology state-approved 300-hour course develops skills in all facets of manicuring, pedicures, nail extensions and artificial nails. This program prepares the students for the North Carolina State Cosmetic Arts Licensing Exam.

Students are taught by qualified, state-licensed instructors and gain their knowledge and skills through classroom instruction and practical application. In addition, our students will have the opportunity to provide their services to clients at a discounted fee!

Students are responsible for the FTCC registration fee, cost of textbooks, a program kit and their uniforms. Day and evening classes are offered for all three programs. Due to class size limits, pre-registration is strongly encouraged. For more information about upcoming class dates, times and fees, call Kimberly Allen, business services coordinator, at 678-0033.

Don’t delay; begin a new career today! Learn more about this program and about FTCC by visiting our website at www.faytechcc.edu. Or visit us in person! We have three campus locations: Fayetteville, Spring Lake and on Fort Bragg.

Photo: FTCC  offers natural hair care, esthetics and skin care programs.

Political Correctness: Ruining America

… and the American way of life. I’m not just pontificating, I believe this and experience it almost every day here in Fayetteville and so do you.

As despicable as it is, extreme political correctness has woven its way into almost every aspect of our daily lives. We live our lives guarded, walking on egg shells, careful not to say anything or do anything that would be interpreted as “offensive,” or not PC, out of fear of being slandered or labeled a bigot, racist, sued or both. I think this extreme PC is un-American, contrary to our core values and beliefs and is developing into a blatant attempt to stifle our First Amendment rights.

Good, decent people are afraid to speak out and step up into local, state and national leadership positions because they do not want to deal with the nastiness of those who simply disagree with their opinions. Sad. The people brandishing the PC iron are desperate and try to obtain some advantage point for the sole purpose of personal gain or gaming the system. Fortunately, these posers are usually easy to find and identify, as they are vociferous in nature, wrapped in hypocrisy, masters of subversion, advocates for the intangible and achievers of nothing. Hmmmm? Not necessarily the kind of distractions Fayetteville needs as we attempt to fight crime, improve our economic conditions and address the other priorities we have recently identified.

When did everything in our lives become so complicated and political? When did everything become racial? When did we begin judging each other by the net sum of our assets? When did we become so divisive? And, when will it stop? My political views are pretty much middle of the road, especially when it comes to the hot topics of the day: ObamaCare, gun control, gay rights, abortion, immigration and amnesty.

Now, we are in a danger zone with this extreme PC and I, for one, am not comfortable having other people and organizations judging my character or plotting my future based on their values and political convictions. Good people must speak up and speak out to reverse this hideous trend. We need leadership at all levels to challenge this hyper-political correctness and remind us that we are all Americans.

Best regards and thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  It’s not too late to adopt a duck for the 4th Annual Fayetteville Duck Derby on May 3. The grand prize is a 2014 Toyota Scion XD. There will be prizes for second and third place, as well. In the end, everyone wins because the money raised goes right back into the community.

As the big day approaches, Ducky is on the move visiting local schools and businesses to spread the word about The Duck Derby.

“The Quack Attack Tour is active and in full effect,” said Brandon Price, event spokesperson. “Quacky has been to Chick-fil-A, J.W. Coone Elementary School, Mary McArthur Elementary, Long Hill Elementary and he is going to the Special Olympics. He’s been at the North Carolina welcome centers at the Virginia border and in Lumberton. Quacky is all over the place — look out for him.”

One of the things that makes this event different from other fundraisers is that it benefits so many local organizations. Fayetteville Urban Ministry hosts the event, organizes the activities and manages the duck adoptions, but there are many nonprofits that have signed up to participate and to raise money for their causes.

To participate in The Duck Derby, the public is invited to visit www.duckrace.com/fayettevilleduckderby and adopt a duck. If you want to be sure that your adoption helps a particular organization, once you click the “adopt a duck now” button, click on the “teams” tab and choose a team or teams to support.

This year, the Cumberland County Schools system is participating, which gives the community an opportunity to support a particular school or schools. Several participating schools are sponsoring fun events to get kids and families excited about The Duck Derby. “Some of the uniform schools are allowing a dress down day for students if parents buy a duck and some of the schools are holding classroom competitions,” said Price. “The class that sells the most ducks will get a Quack Attack from Ducky during lunch.

”Price sees the Cumberland County Schools’ participation as a great fit because the big day features so many kid-friendly events. “It will be all about kids this year at The Duck Derby,” said Price. “We are going to have games set up — much like a field day. There will be a lot of Zumba and a band called 45 rpm will perform. It is an all-girl band.”

There will be live entertainment, food vendors and a Kids Zone where youngsters can play and enjoy activitiesfor free. Many of the nonprofit teams will be there to share information about their causes and to answer questions. The event starts at noon and ends at 3 p.m. The Corporate Duck Race is at 2 p.m. and is followed by the main event.It costs just $5 to adopt a duck. If you choose to support a team, the team will receive $1for each duck adopted under the team. At the main event all of the adopted ducks are dropped into the Cape Fear River. The first duck to cross the finish line wins and the person that adopted this duck will get the grand prize. Companies are invited to adopt ducks for the corporate race, as well.

Proceeds from this event that go to Fayetteville Urban Ministry are used to support the outreach programs at the organization. Fayetteville Urban Ministry is built around four programs: Adult Literacy Program, Emergency Assistance Program, Find-A-Friend Program, and Nehemiah Home Repairs Program. The organization serves people from all types of backgrounds. It serves a number of veterans, active military service members, single parents, grandparents, dual parent households, and the list goes on. Not everyone it serves is poor or a single parent. Many of the people Fayetteville Urban Ministry serves are in crisis, or they moved to the area due to natural disasters. Fayetteville Urban Ministry is a place people come to when they need help. The programs are designed to give a hand up not a hand out and continue to exist because people continue to support the organization and events like the Fayetteville Duck Derby. Whether it is teaching someone how to read, tutoring or mentoring a child, helping with food or clothing, or helping to make homes safer, Fayetteville Urban Ministry does it 100 percent free of charge. While the need is great and sometimes resources are scarce, the staff at Fayetteville Urban Ministry knows that no one can do everything, but everyone can do something.

Find out more about Fayettville Urban Ministry at www.fayurbmin.org. Sign up a corporate team or purchase ducks at www.fayettevilleduckderby.com. It costs just $5 to adopt a duck and the money goes right back to the community. There is still time to schedule Quacky for a visit, too.

Photo: On May 3, thousands of ducks will race down the Cape Fear River to support local nonprofits.

We have all seen the movies and television shows that depict Civil War amputations performed by bloody, dirty and sweaty men in a tent or on the back of a wagon. Most times the men being operated on are provided a shot or two of whiskey and then given a stick or strap of leather to bite down on before the surgeon begins to remove the afflicted limb. Hollywood has shown time after time that field medicine during the Civil War was crude by today’s standards. Or was it?

According to Dr. Matt Farina, a retired pediatric cardiologist and Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Albany Medical College in Albany, N.Y., “Civil War medicine has been described as the three Bs; butchery, barbaric and brutal. The Civil War was really a home to medical advancement. Widespread use of anesthesia, the ambulance corps and emergency triage all come out of the Civil War. The field of American nursing was also greatly impacted by the Civil War. Effective pharmacology, orthopedics, prosthetics and clinical cardiology all come out of the American Civil War.”

Farina is an authority on the Civil War and how it has shaped modern medicine. His perspective and expertise are the result of a love of military history coupled with his training as a physician and years of independent research. His passion for the Civil War came from a series of battlefield tours that he went on with his wife during the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. Since that time, he has researched and learned all that he can about the Civil War’s impact on modern medicine. He has joined and spoken at Civil War Round tables locally and in the northeast.

On Sunday, April 27, at 2 p.m., Dr. Farina will present Civil War Medicine: Myth and Reality at the Museum of the Cape Fear. The program is hosted in conjunction with the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of North Carolina in the Civil War. This event is sponsored by the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources and is free and open to the public.

Farina’s presentation will be a visually interactive discussion complete with period medical items and an amputation kit that he has recreated to demonstrate the tools of the day. His talk will be about many of the commonly held myths regarding Civil War medicine. One of those myths is that surgeries of the time were done without any anesthetic on men who were in screaming pain. According to Dr. Farina, “most were performed after the patient was given chloroform or ether.”

The discussion also includes how the change in weaponry from the smooth bore musket to the rifled musket resulted in an increase in battlefield amputations and the development of vascular surgical techniques. Notable individuals from the medical community during the time period will be discussed, namely Dr. Samuel Preston Moore who served as the Confederate Surgeon General throughout most of the war and is responsible for many of the advancements in medicine.

More information about the presentation is available online at www.NCDCR.gov/NCMCF/Events or call the Museum of the Cape Fear at 486-1330.

Photo: Medical practices during the Civil War were often different than most people would expect.

On Friday, April 18, The Crown Coliseum plays host to Grammy-Award-winning country music artist Darius Rucker and the True Believers Tour. Rucker will take the stage to perform the hits from his third Country album, True Believers.

The most popular single from the album, “Wagon Wheel,” is his interpretation of the song that was originally started by music legend Bob Dylan and finished by the Old Crow Medicine Show. “Wagon Wheel” quickly rose to number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Country Music Songs when it was released last year.

Rucker’s current single from the album, “Miss You,” was released on Feb. 4 and is currently working its way up the charts.

True Believers is another sales success for Rucker having achieved Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) Certified Gold status with sales of almost half a million records to date.

Jim Grafstrom Jr., general manager of the Crown Complex, expressed his pride in the upcoming show, “to have Darius here in the Carolinas where he calls home … we couldn’t be more excited to have him.” When asked about the crowd that he expects Grafstrom said, “We are very happy with the turnout for the show, but there are still great seats available. We certainly feel that we are going to have a great night here in Fayetteville, with Darius Rucker.”

Rucker is one of the most popular country music performers touring today, but that is not where his story starts. He first achieved success as a member of the rock band Hootie and the Blowfish. Their debut album, Cracked Rear View is one of the top 20 best-selling albums of all time, having reached RIAA Certified Platinum status 16 times. In 2008, the band went on hiatus so that Rucker could try his hand at a solo career.

Since going solo in 2008, Rucker has reinvented his musical career by releasing three country music albums:

The first album, Learn to Live, quickly reached Platinum status based on the popularity of three singles from the album that all reached number 1 on the Billboard Country Music charts.

The second album, Charleston, SC 1966, reached number 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums based on the success of three singles, two of which reached number 1 on the Country charts.

In addition to Rucker, fans will also get to see the 2012 Academy of Country Music Song of the Year winner, the Eli Young Band and acclaimed independent artist Corey Smith.

The Eli Young Band is currently performing music from its Billboard chart-topping album 10,000 Towns. Singles “Crazy Girl,” “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” and “Drunk Last Night” have given the group their three biggest successes, based on chart positions. In addition to their 2012 ACM Song of the Year win for “Crazy Girl”, the group has been nominated for more than 15 other awards since 2009.

Corey Smith is an independent artist that has found great success in making music on his own. He has purposefully stayed away from the major labels in order to allow himself to stay true to his art. Smith says, “I feel like I owe it to my fans … I owe it to my family and my community to be honest. I am not going to give in to the temptation of sacrificing art to get popularity.”

Photo: Country Music singer Darius Rucker takes the stage at the Crown on April 18.

I was so close to becoming a human vegetable that my wife was planning ways to serve me up as a side dish. She will tell you, even now, that I had become rooted to my recline.

rI couldn’t argue her point. Pain in my shoulders from shredded rotator cuffs and tendons had virtually ended my long-time love affair with golf and, when I retired for a second time in May of 2013, I pretty much quit moving. I used the DVR to record shows and movies and spent most of the day watching television, reading or working crossword puzzles. I would go to bed around midnight, get up between 9 and 10 a.m. and begin the cycle all over again.

I became noticeably weaker, began suffering bouts of feeling light-headed and took on the traits of an elderly semi-invalid. I shuffled my feet, walked with my head down and without moving my arms. Putting on a pair of pants was a daunting task and, by the time I had struggled to get my socks and shoes on, I was pretty much exhausted. Just going out to dinner became something I dreaded.

That’s when a friend intervened. He had suffered his own share of physical problems, including a hip replacement, and he suggested I pay a visit to a physical therapist where he was receiving treatment.

I was reluctant at first. I had been to physical therapists before for the shoulder problem and a knee replacement. Those sessions had helped greatly at the time but that had been a few years ago when I was younger, stronger and spent a lot less time in the recliner. So this was different. How do you rejuvenate a vegetable?

Well, the first thing these therapists did was to make me feel like a human being again. They greeted me with smiles, made me feel they had a real interest in my well-being and that perhaps I might even be able to improve enough to play golf again. They worked on my balance, taught me how to hold my head up when I walked and put me through a series of strengthening exercises.

Their patience with my stumbling and fumbling was incredible. They led me through a series of exercise routines and showed me how to help myself. They even forgave me on the days I forgot to wear my hearing aids and they were forced to virtually shout the instructions in my ears.

Despite my original Doubting Thomas attitude, they won me over. After a few sessions, I could tell a difference. I was moving quicker and walking up steps without having to hold on to something. The recliner got less use and the wife took me off the vegetable menu.

One thing I had to learn was to do some of the exercises at home between sessions. The therapists can help you through the exercises during a scheduled session, but they’re like school teachers in that if you don’t do your homework you’re going to fail some tests.

I still slack off on some of the homework, but I’m trying and it’s paying dividends. The dizziness has virtually disappeared and I’m walking with firmer steps and with my head up. Hey, it’s been days now since I stumbled into someone.

I’m nowhere near being in the shape I’d like to be, but I do see progress. And as long as those therapists keep smiling and telling me how proud they are of that progress, I’m going to keep keeping on.

In fact, I’ve already started chipping and putting again. Can a drive be too far in the future?

Photo: Staying active is an important part of being healthy.

My View on Grove View

Wow! Good news! The Fayetteville Observer reported last week that the Fayetteville Metropolitan Housing Authority announced what I think is great news for Fayetteville and the residents of Grove View Terrace, an out-of-date, low-income public housing community off Grove Street.

I have no idea how it came about, but, the United States Department of Public Housing and Urban Development has given local FMHA Director Dawn Driggers one year to submit a plan to relocate Grove View Terrace residents and rebuild the development. What? Did they say rebuild? Whoa! Why would we want to do that?

Surely, the mayor, city planners, city council and the city manager will weigh-in on this important matter. This opportunity is a godsend as we focus our time, talent and resources on reducing crime, beautifying our city and enhancing our quality of life. Think about it. From the Cape Fear Botanical Garden, past Festival Park to the Airborne and Special Operations Museum, Grove Street has the best potential for becoming Fayetteville’s premiere gateway into the city. And, with the recent success we have had with the Hope VI Development Project in replacing Campbell Terrace and Delona Gardens, why would we even consider “rebuilding” or “replacing” Grove View Terrace? The mere fact that Grove View qualified for this new HUD program confirms the need to rid the community of this crime-ridden, worn out, run down and dilapidated eye sore. The residents of Grove View deserve better and our community deserves better

.LIPSTICK ON A PIG

About 15 years ago we spent millions of dollars to camouflage the Grove Street blight only to enhance it. Check out the crime statistics for this area. Now, in 2014, we have a second chance to reclaim this 29 acres of natural, pristine inner-city beauty and to better the lives and living conditions of hundreds of low- and medium-income families while enhancing the quality of life of all Fayetteville residents. To do this we need strong, progressive and aggressive leadership.

What happens on Grove Street and the future of Grove View Terrace should not be left solely in the hands of its residents, the FMHA director or its board. We will have only one chance to get this right. Miss it and Grove View Terrace residents are guaranteed another couple of decades of mediocrity and we will lose our gateway. Again, this will take leadership. Let’s see who steps up — or who doesn’t.

Stay tuned and thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Photo: The future of Grove View Terrace should not be left solely in the hands of its residents, the FMHA director or its board. 

Over the past 50 years, literally tens of thousands of students enrolled in Fayetteville Technical CommunityCollege have discovered that the college’s Success Center can help ensure their academic success. One-on-one and small group supplemental instruction and support have made all the difference to many students in achieving success. FTCC serves a cross-section of the communities within Cumberland County and beyond. Students range from teenagers dual-enrolled in high school and FTCC to recent high school graduates to adults seeking a new career to military service members deployed throughout the world. For many, the challenge of attending college is a dream fulfilled.

FTCC second-year Criminal Justice student Michael Morrow explains how he benefited from FTCC’s Success Center: “Because of the extra instruction and support that I received from caring Success Center instructors, I made the Dean’s List last semester.” Morrow’s comment echoes those made by many students since 1963, when the original Learning Lab opened in the one-building (Lafayette Hall) campus of Fayetteville Technical Institute. Originally housed in Lafayette Hall, the Learning Lab began with a handful of instructors selected by its first Director, Patricia Nunalee. At that time, the Lab’s “technology” included 33 1/3 rpm vinyl records and filmstrip projectors — cutting-edge technology — at that time.

During those early years, Learning Lab staff focused on providing one-on-one tutoring. They gained the trust of students and established an enviable reputation among their peers. As the college’s enrollment grew and new courses of study were added, the staff responded by researching and identifying new ways to serve the ever-increasing student body. The first computer was added in the early 1980s, and by the early 1990s, there were more than a dozen computers available to students, along with a range of instructional software designed to help students improve their academic skills, succeed in their studies, graduate and enter their chosen careers.

In 2001, as a department within the new Learning Technologies Division and under the leadership of its second director (Roger Dostall), the Learning Lab began transitioning from almost exclusively tutoring students one on one to increasing the use of state-of-the-art technology and the instruction of small groups. Today, Success Center instructors are joined by visiting classroom faculty, colleagues who voluntarily share their expertise on a scheduled basis. The focus remains on providing supplemental instruction to meet individual learning needs, with a strong emphasis on helping students recognize and accept responsibility for their own learning, progress, and success. In 2005, the Learning Lab became the Success Center, moving into its first-ever custom-designed facility on the second floor of the Harry F. Shaw Virtual College Center.

With 40-plus student computers, workspaces for at least 75 students, five small Focused Group Instruction Rooms, and a classroom serving individuals who are studying to maintain their NC Teacher Certification through specially-designed Continuing Education courses, today’s professional staff strives to fulfill the Success Center’s mission of providing “…supplemental instruction and resources to FTCC curriculum and developmental studies students in order to help them succeed academically and become independent learners.”

Every year in North Carolina, 1 in 8 babies are born premature. Prematurity  is the leading cause of infant death in North Carolina with the highest rate inf African-American and Native American infants, so that is why the March of Dimes sponsors the March for Babies on Saturday, April 12, at 10 a.m., at Methodist University.

“We have been walking since 1970 and have raised more than $2.3 billion for healthier babies,” said Stephanie Benson, Cape Fear Region community director. “Our goal for the 2014 March for Babies campaign is to raise $150,000 through community involvement and mission connected families.”

Benson added that the organization is anticipating 700 to 1,000 families to participate this year. This year’s 2014 March of Dimes national ambassador is Aidan. He was born 12 weeks early weighing just 3 pounds. He is described as an adventurous 6-year-old who loves soccer, baseball and gymnastics. To honor the nurses and doctors who saved his life, he visits the newborn intensive care unit on his birthday every year. Aidan and his parents will travel the country and help raise awareness of premature birth.

“This year we wanted to reach out to the military and I am a military spouse who understands the stress that a military marriage endures,” said Benson. “This family is amazing and they have a heartfelt story to share.” March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit for pregnancy and baby health.

For more than 75 years, the March of Dimes has worked to help babies get a healthy start in life. 76 percent of the money is used for research and programs that support solutions for babies that are born prematurely or have birth defects. Premature babies suffer lifelong consequences such as mental retardation, blindness, learning disabilities and cerebral palsy. The cytomegalovirus (CMV) causes birth defects in 8,000 babies each year. Moms can pass the virus on to their baby before or during birth. The March of Dimes is funding the development of a vaccine that can prevent the infection in women of childbearing age.

The programs educate women on how to increase their chances of having a healthy baby. There is also a great push for newborn screening and health insurance for all women and babies.

The walk is held in 900 communities across the United States and involves more than 7 million people.

“Our walks are a family affair,” said Benson. “Everyone is connected to our mission and there are many ways to support our mission.”

For more information, call Stephanie Benson at 910 778-5670.

Photo: March of Dimes presents March for Babies on Saturday, April 12, at 10 a.m., at Methodist University. 

Motorcyclists and car enthusiasts know it is spring because it is time for Fayetteville’s Annual Hogs and Rags rally. Hogs and Rags has become a staple event for motorcycle and car lovers from across the state. For those who are not familiar with this event, it is a sanctioned Fayetteville Dogwood Festival event and raises money for local charities. Each year, hundreds of motorcycles, classic cars, convertibles, Jeeps and anyone who just wants to drive descend on downtown Fayetteville for a day of fellowship, fun, food and riding.

This year’s proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society, the Green Beret Foundation and the Kidsville News Literacy and Education Foundation. Also, the Hogs and Rags committee will donate $1,000 to the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Memorial fund.

This year’s event is on Saturday, April 26. The event will begin at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum at 7:30 a.m. City of Fayetteville Mayor, Nat Robertson, will lead the ride and is the Grand Marshall of the event.

Various police departments provide a police escort the entire way from Fayetteville to Myrtle Beach, S.C. There are several stops planned along the way. The first stop is at the Rocking A Ranch for a big breakfast and door prizes. The group will then head out to the Horry County State Bank at the South Carolina border for a water break and to allow riders who want to take off their helmets to do so. Then it‘s off to Landry’s Seafood Restaurant at Broadway at the Beach in Myrtle Beach for a great lunch and the raffle drawings.

This year, Ray Price Motorsports of Fayetteville is the premiere sponsor. First Pawn of 3056 North Main Street in Hope Mills has graciously donated for a raffle. There is also a raffle for $2,500 cash. This raffle has turned out to be like a TV game show where five tickets are drawn and those five people decide if they want to split the money or play their luck.

This year there is a pre-ride welcome party Friday night, April 25, at Speakeasy’s Lounge located at 3986 Sycamore Dairy Road in Fayetteville. This event will start at 8 p.m.

This is the ninth year for the event. The event was started by Gardner Altman in 2005 and has gotten better each year. Over the years, the event has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for various organizations. The event is planned in such a way that you get two meals, a good riding pace, cover two states, a Hogs and Rags T-shirt and still be back in time to enjoy the Dogwood Festival.

If you are not familiar with the Kidsville News Literacy and Education Foundation, it is a great resource that puts a newspaper into the hands of each teacher and student from kindergarten to the sixth grade. Not only does Kidsville News! do a wonderful job helping parents, teachers and the children with education and reading abilities, the company is very involved with the kids and works hard to bring the best out of each student here. Check them out at www.kidsvillenews.com or you can pick up their publications at various locations around town.

Fort Bragg is the home of Special Forces. Special Forces Soldiers are known as the “Green Berets.” In 1961, President John F. Kennedy authorized a small unconventional unit, the Green Beret, because he believed that their special mission deserved special recognition. In 1962, President Kennedy called the green beret “a symbol of excellence, a badge of courage, a mark of distinction in the fight for freedom". The Green Beret Foundation provides unconventional resources to facilitate the special needs for wounded, ill, and injured Special Forces Soldiers and their families. They provide support to the Special Forces community in order to help the Soldiers and their families uphold the Green Beret traditions and values when they need help. To see more about this great organization please visit them at www.thegreenberetfoundation.org.

The American Cancer Society provides researchers and health professionals to explore all avenues to stop cancer.

This event is a win/win event for everyone involved. Although the event benefits local charities it is really about our community and the people that these great organizations touch.

The ride costs $50 per entry and $30 per additional passengers. This price covers both meals and a T-Shirt. The Mayor is leading the ride and leaving the Airborne Special Operations Museum at 9 a.m., so come with a full tank of gas and an empty stomach and help make this the best ride of the year.

For more information, you can go to www.hogsandrags.com or call Wendy at 910-818-0458.

Photo Riders assemble at the Airborne & Special Operations Museum for the Hogs and Rags ride.

When the hit band Green Day made its way to Broadway it was a huge success. The high-energy punk rock nature of the songs in combination with the tough topics it tackles makes for not only an entertaining but also a deeply moving show. On April 15, for one night only, the Professional Artist Series brings the tour to the Givens Performing Arts Center on the campus of the University of North Carolina-Pembroke.

Andrew Humann, who is an ensemble character in the production, describes the show as, “... a big jumble of fun. It is like a rock concert with a heartfelt message. It’s about three men who are trapped in a small town. One escapes to the city and one to the Army. There is something for everyone to relate to, like family members or friends going to war. It also deals with drug addictions, a heroin addiction and the demons that come with that, and the depression of being trapped in suburbia. People should expect a wild night of fun. The show combines all of these motifs and flows with Green Day’s American Idiot album.”

Modern music often gets a bad reputation as not having enough substance and meaning. American Idiot has no such problems. The focus is on three men who are life-long friends, and each is struggling with his own personal demons in a post 9/11 world. There are multiple struggles and themes within this play, but one of the most potent is on the subject of home.

“The show deals with the foundation of home and how important it is. They want to get the hell out of ‘Jingletown’ as they call it and branch out and see new things, but sometimes life brings you back to what really matters most like friends and family and what was there in your upbringing,” Humann explained.

A national tour id an exhausting experience, and because American Idiot is such a high-intensity show it is even more difficult. The constant bus rides coupled with performances is naturally exhausting. But by being conscious of the trials and staying healthy it is an incredibly rewarding experience.

“The reception at the end is great. We have never not had a standing ovation. The reaction is the greatest reward. No matter how crappy your day has been, whether your dog has died or whatever, the gratitude from the audience just makes you forget how crappy it has been and move on,” says Humann. This positive attitude and excitement that all of the actors have makes the show all the more incredible to watch.

The curtain rises on Green Day’s American Idiot at 8 p.m. The Givens performing Arts Center is located at 1 University Drive in Pembroke. Tickets range from $34 to $45. Tickets can be purchased from the box office at 910 521-6361.

Please be advised that the performance contains adult content and language that may not be suitable for all audiences under the age of 14. Viewer discretion is advised. For more information visit www.uncp.edu/gpac.

Photo: Modern music often gets a bad reputation as not having enough substance and meaning. American Idiot has no such problems. 

The Center for Economic Empowerment and Development welcomes the 6th Annual Dancing with the Fayetteville Stars on April 12 at the Double Tree by Hilton. The annual event is a charitable fundraiser beneĀting CEED’s Housing Program. The Events and Promotions Director for CEED, Christina Kenon, describes the event as “a show, not just a dinner … we have fun watching the people that we know in our community put it all out there.”

CEED advocates for families and individuals. The CEED website states its mission is “To promote growth, productiveness and well-being through peer counseling, education, information and advocacy programs.”

Kenon described the purpose of the Housing Program as CEED’s effort to “provide nice, safe and affordable houses to a lot of people in the community. We are able to upkeep them and purchase and rehab homes.”

The event begins at 6 p.m., with a vintage Hollywood red carpet cocktail party with a photo booth and cash bar in the Grand Hallway of the hotel. A meet and greet with the dancers is on tap to allow attendees to meet and mingle with them before they take the floor. The vintage Hollywood theme carries over into dinner and dessert along with the fun and entertainment of the dancing.

The event features 20 couples comprised of members of the Fayetteville and Cumberland County community including the reigning Miss North Carolina U.S.A., Olivia Olivera. She is paired with the Vice President of Village Green Related Properties, Franklin Clark. There are married couples competing like Dan and Ashley Culliton and Michael Adams and Babs Wolfe. Respectively, there is a local chiropractor, a local real estate investor, editor of The Fayetteville Observer and a healthcare administrator. Tara O’Neill, who is the Director of Sales for Home2Suites by Hilton, will take the floor with Brandon Odom who is an active-duty officer in the United States Army stationed at Fort Bragg. Candidate for District Court Judge Stephen Stokes and his dance partner, dance instructor Teresa Barnes, will attempt to wow the audience with their style of dance.

The performers have a range in dance experience from novice to professional but all of them have “put in a lot of time and effort to make a good show … these dancers have really worked hard to raise money for our housing program” said Kenon.

The pairs perform routines of merengue, salsa, swing, and others, which Kenon noted “may not necessarily be ballroom.” A

ll of the performances take place in front of the audience at the Double Tree and via a live stream on the CEED website. Each pair is in competition for votes, which will not only raise money money to beneĀt the works that CEED performs in the greater community, but also determines the champion of this year’s event. Fans and supporters are able to vote and contribute online now for the team they want to win; the voting will remain open until the last couple has performed on April 12.

Two ticket options and sponsorship opportunities, which will allow for reserved seating, are available via the website, www.ncceed.org/dancing.

Tickets are expected to sell out; Kenon recommends to “Get them fast.”

Why stay informed about child sexual abuse? CSA is no stranger to Cumberland County and the surrounding area. Last year, the Child Advocacy Center assisted almost 500 families through the trauma of alleged child abuse. Recently, Chancellor James Anderson of Fayetteville State University, the keynote speaker at the 2014 Human Relations Commission Recognition Banquet, spoke hauntingly about the loss of 5-year-old Shaniya Davis in 2009. He reminded us of our personal responsibility to the children and youth in our community — to keep them safe, healthy and whole.

Child abuse, in general, and child sexual abuse, in particular, are neither vile subjects that we can wish away, nor can we afford to pretend they do not exist in our community. April is National Child Abuse Month. In an effort to educate the community, the CAC sponsors an annual conference that informs participants about topics of concern regarding children and youth. This year’s event, A Community Cares: Putting Our Children First, is on April 15, at the John D. Fuller Recreation Center. Unable to attend this informative program? Here are three ways you can be an active participant in eradicating child sexual abuse and other forms of child abuse.

Use Social Media. Follow people and organizations dedicated to preventing CSA on Facebook and Twitter. Personally, I follow Erin Merryn, a tireless advocate for the prevention of CSA and an adult survivor, who details her work to pass Erin’s Law at facebook.com/Erin’sLaw and @ErinMerryn on Twitter. Briefly, Erin’s Law focuses on legislation requiring developmentally appropriate curriculum to increase the awareness of child sexual abuse for children and youth. More details of Erin’s Law are at www.erinslaw.org. Another organization committed to the prevention of child sexual abuse is Stop It Now!, Twitter handle @StopItNow. Locally, the Child Advocacy Center’s Facebook page, facebook.com/CACFayNC and Twitter account, @fayNCcac, share news of local events and information in the fight against CSA.

Attend Local Events. Recently, the Junior League of Fayetteville sponsored a Women’s Conference featuring Dr. Sharon Cooper, an expert on all areas of child sexual exploitation, as a plenary speaker and workshop presenter. Unflinchingly, Dr. Cooper, in her talk Protecting Girls: A Community Response, presented research and human stories on the sexualization of our society, and of our young girls, in particular. On April 10 at 6 p.m., Cumberland County Schools Student Services, Cumberland County District Parent Teacher Association and the Child Advocacy Center will host a screening of the documentary film, Chosen, at Douglas Byrd High School Auditorium. Chosen is a prevention film produced by Shared Hope International that highlights the true story of two “All American” teenage girls who were tricked into sexual trafficking. Dr. Cooper will be the facilitator. No registration is required to attend this free workshop.

Be on the lookout for similar events in our community and become an active participant in the work to protect our children and youth.

Support the Child Advocacy Center. The Child Advocacy Center is a non-profit organization that welcomes volunteer assistance in multiple ways. Interested in volunteering? Call Faith Boehmer, prevention and volunteer coordinator, at 910.486.9700. Another way to champion the work of the CAC is to attend events like the aforementioned April conference, the recent American Girl Fashion Show, or the upcoming Gently Loved Purse Sale. Check the CAC’s website, www.childadvocacycenter.com for information about volunteer opportunities and upcoming events.

This is our community and it is our responsibility to take care of all of our children and youth.

Russian President Vlad “the Impaler” Putin has gotten some bad press lately. Like the zombies in the Walking Dead, the U.S.S.R. is back from the grave. Our old Cold War nemesis, the U.S.S.R. has been reanimated as Russia to chomp on pieces of Eastern Europe. Vlad is seeking Lebensraum for Russia courtesy of Crimea and chunks of Ukraine, Moldovia and possibly Ruritania. Lebensraum is the German word for “I like your house and I am going to take it. Now get out now or eat lead.” Like the Greeks, the Germans had a word for it.

After Vlad annexed Crimea into Russia, some soreheads accused him of being unpleasant. Vlad’s Q factor, which measures personal popularity has dropped in the West, while hitting new heights of Q-dom in the Russian Motherland. Vlad is not one who does things halfway. He wants everyone to love him, not just readers of Pravda. Accordingly, Vlad is embarking on a charm offensive to make us forget about Crimea.

When a celebrity in the West creates a personal mess that hits the news there is a prescribed pattern for regaining popularity. Vlad is no dummy, if reputation rehabilitation almost worked for Lance Armstrong, maybe it will work for Vlad. Vlad has hired the public relations firm of Dewey, Cheatem, & Howe to recover his reputation in America. Our man Putin is going to be on the next season of Dancing with the Stars, tripping the light fantastic all over Eastern Europe. Vlad tests very poorly with gays due to some unfortunate statements he made regarding their right to exist. To restore his reputation with gays and transgendered folks, Vlad’s dance partner will be Chaz Bono.

Like every other disgraced celeb, Vlad will appear on the Oprah Show fessing up to his psychological problem of wanting to eat small countries. After an hour of genuflecting in front of Oprah, she will grant him absolution. Oprah will present him with a coupon for a course of weight-loss treatment to help him stop overeating small countries. Vlad has lined up a number of commercial endorsement deals designed to soften his image. He will be in an Acme Dental Floss ad to display his life long interest in dental hygiene. The Acme ad shows Vlad promising to floss his fangs after eating any small country. “You only have to floss the fangs you want to keep” is his tag line. He will be appearing with McGruff the Crimea Dog promising to take a bite out of Poland. Vlad will appear in series of light hearted ads for Ritz crackers featuring the tag line “Putin on the Ritz” in which he reveals that Ritz crackers are an excellent accompaniment when snacking on small countries.

Another ad Vlad will appear in is for potato chips in which he compares eating potato chips to eating small countries.

Vlad: “Whether I am devouring a small country or a bag of potato chips, its hard for me to stop. Bet you can’t eat just one.”

Vlad’s PR firm suggested that a good way for Vlad to appear less vile is to compare him to people who are even more unpopular than he is. To that end, Vlad is going to travel around the United States with a dunking booth on his Look Down that Loathsome Road tour with Woody Allen, Mel Gibson, Justin Bieber and the President of Duke Energy. Compared to those guys, Vlad doesn’t look so bad. Admittedly Vlad has had some trouble booking into major venues like Madison Square Garden due to his current unpopularity. However Vlad and his entourage will set up their dunking booth at Bubba Murray’s athletic field behind the solid waste treatment plant at Kipling, N.C., over the Easter weekend. To bring a local touch to the festivities, Vlad’s dunking booth is filled with coal ash water direct from the Dan River. For only $5 a throw you will get the chance to drop one of these individuals into a bath of arsenic and heavy metals.

From Russia with love, Vlad will be coming to your town and lots of Eastern European countries this Spring.

Photo: Putin on the Ritz

Fayetteville: We Are Family

Who doesn’t have a crazy aunt in the attic? Who doesn’t love to eat sausage, but hate watching it made? Almost everyone I know, unless they are lying. I’ll wager those statements are true for most of us. That doesn’t stop us from going about our daily lives conducting business as usual. It is comforting to know that as we deal with the day-to-day needs, challenges and developments in our community we have not forgotten the important elements that define Fayetteville, our community and our quality of life... it’s people.

Here’s proof. Last week, Kidsville News, Inc., hosted its 10th annual national publisher’s conference. By design, we invite our clients to Fayetteville on 4th Friday weekend to intentionally showcase the many positive aspects of our community. Why? Because it reflects positively on Kidsville News!, and the experiences my clients participate in assure them they have made a sound decision in choosing to do business with Kidsville News! and bringing it to their communities. In three days, we manage to send a little bit of Fayetteville back to cities and towns from San Antonio, Texas to Portland, Maine. Sweet!

It was a beautiful thing to see and experience. During their visit they met and interacted with local residents, the Mayor of the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County Commissioners, business owners and educators. They stayed in local hotels, dined in local restaurants, visited our Historic Downtown and the Crown Coliseum. Needless to say, we made the most of the time they spent with us. However, the warm and friendly hospitality shown by local residents was “genuine” Fayetteville.

The point? As we face the challenges of a growing community head on, we will deal with things like crime, homelessness, unemployment, where to host the farmer’s market, economic development, new taxes or no new taxes, parks or no parks, tainted water and what to do with the Prince Charles Hotel just to name a few. Local issues like these are important but do not and should not change the nature or personality of our residents. In the most candid ways, the true nature of our community came shining through leaving a polished, positive and lasting impression with our guests.

I want to say thank you to the staff of Kidsville News!, Up & Coming Weekly and the entire Fayetteville community for again making us proud to call Fayetteville home. We have much to be thankful for. Our future looks bright. Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Photo: Kidsville News! hosted its annual national publisher’s conference this week and shared a lot about the community with publishers from around the country.

Fayetteville: We Are Family

Who doesn’t have a crazy aunt in the attic? Who doesn’t love to eat sausage, but hate watching it made? Almost everyone I know, unless they are lying. I’ll wager those statements are true for most of us. That doesn’t stop us from going about our daily lives conducting business as usual. It is comforting to know that as we deal with the day-to-day needs, challenges and developments in our community we have not forgotten the important elements that define Fayetteville, our community and our quality of life... it’s people.Here’s proof. Last week, Kidsville News, Inc., hosted its 10th annual national publisher’s conference. By design, we invite our clients to Fayetteville on 4th Friday weekend to intentionally showcase the many positive aspects of our community. Why? Because it reflects positively on Kidsville News!, and the experiences my clients participate in assure them they have made a sound decision in choosing to do business with Kidsville News! and bringing it to their communities. In three days, we manage to send a little bit of Fayetteville back to cities and towns from San Antonio, Texas to Portland, Maine. Sweet! It was a beautiful thing to see and experience. During their visit they met and interacted with local residents, the Mayor of the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County Commissioners, business owners and educators. They stayed in local hotels, dined in local restaurants, visited our Historic Downtown and the Crown Coliseum. Needless to say, we made the most of the time they spent with us. However, the warm and friendly hospitality shown by local residents was “genuine” Fayetteville. The point? As we face the challenges of a growing community head on, we will deal with things like crime, homelessness, unemployment, where to host the farmer’s market, economic development, new taxes or no new taxes, parks or no parks, tainted water and what to do with the Prince Charles Hotel just to name a few. Local issues like these are important but do not and should not change the nature or personality of our residents. In the most candid ways, the true nature of our community came shining through leaving a polished, positive and lasting impression with our guests. I want to say thank you to the staff of Kidsville News!, Up & Coming Weekly and the entire Fayetteville community for again making us proud to call Fayetteville home. We have much to be thankful for. Our future looks bright. Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Photo: Kidsville News! hosted its annual national publisher’s conference this week and shared a lot about the community with publishers from around the country.

There is nothing more effective to change public policy than public outcry. Duke Energy is learning this truism the hard way — although it should have been aware of it years ago. Duke Energy has 32 coal ash ponds in 14 locations statewide. None of these are lined to prevent seepage of toxic coal ash water into ground water or nearby, canals, streams or rivers.

On Feb. 2, Duke Energy allowed 39,000 tons of toxic coal ash sludge to be released into the Dan River. In March, Duke Energy was caught red-handed pumping 61,000 gallons of coal ash toxins from storage ponds into canals that empty into the Cape Fear River above Fayetteville. This kind of outrageous disregard for the purity and safety of our state’s water has been demonstrated by Duke Energy time and again and it is because of the company’s well-developed political connections and expensive but effective lobbying that it was overlooked.

Public outcry has now been heard and Duke Energy’s immunity to our state’s laws regarding pollution may be over. The Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR)-imposed $99,111 fine for unlawful maintenance of storage ponds and dumping was appealed to an appropriate court, by DENR attorneys, for retraction. DENR lawyers realized that they had crossed the line, that the wrist-slap citation and fine to Duke Energy was far too lenient and the public was just not going to stand for it. The seriousness of the Dan River spill has been widely but not under-publicized. The Dan will be polluted not for weeks or months but likely for years.

How the subject and issue of Duke Energy’s coal ash storage arrived at the current condition is a long story. Some of it could be explained by observing that coal ash is the residue of burning coal and burning coal is what Duke Energy does to provide our state’s businesses and residents with electricity. The state agency charged with the responsibility of policing environmentally harmful activities is the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Simply put, that state agency did not do its job as it pertains to Duke Energy.

The election of Pat McCrory to the governor’s office exacerbated an already out-of-control situation due to lack of adequate attention by Democratic governor appointees to head the agency. When McCrory appointed long-time crony, John Skvarla, to head DENR, there was no hiding the fact that DENR was going to be run by a new sheriff with new policies handed down by Gov. McCrory. As a 29-year former employee of Duke Energy and recipient of multi-million dollar campaign contributions from the utility, McCrory knew where his bread was buttered. “Be kind to business and business will be kind to you,” was his guiding principle and light. Upon appointment,Skvarla announced that his agency was to be “business-friendly.” That policy was laid out by Skvarla’s lieutenants as “Get on board with a policy of helping business overcome environmental regulations or get your desks emptied out.” Some did — including a very vocal lead staffer, Amy Adams, who now works for the environmental organization Appalachian Voice.

So, Duke Energy continued to operate without restraints. It had its man in the governor’s mansion. Under the McCrory administration, Duke Energy continued (without concerns of interference by DENR) to pollute and operate coal ash facilities without required permits or adequate attendance or maintenance to those facilities. But when the Dan River coal ash pond let go, even a ham-fisted politician such as McCrory recognized that this kind of irresponsible behavior, which demonstrates utter disregard for our state’s environment, is bad for reelection probabilities. DENR has received revised marching orders, no doubt something along the lines of “Continue to be business friendly but make it look as if the agency is really trying to do its job.” DENR could actually do that but it would require putting a few teeth into their enforcement efforts. It may struggle with this until it gets leadership that puts the well-being of the state’s natural resources above the best interests of big utilities and massive hog farms. We shall see, but one thing is without a doubt — John Skvarla will not be heading North Carolina’s Department of Environment and Natural Resource much longer if McCrory has any ambitions of serving a second term.

Photo: On Feb. 2, Duke Energy allowed 39,000 tons of toxic coal ash sludge to be released into the Dan River.

Starting in April, Operation Ceasefire will host its movie night initiatives in an attempt to reduce gun and gang violence in Cumberland County. All movie events are open to the public and held outdoors. The movies start at 7:30 p.m., and everyone is encouraged to bring chairs, families, friends and colleagues to enjoy a free movie under the stars.

Operation Ceasefire is an intervention program dedicated to improving the quality of life for all residents of Fayetteville/Cumberland County by reducing gun and gang violence in our community.

Although Operation Ceasefire is not an amnesty or a gun turn-in program, it does work to reduce gun violence and inform felons of their restricted rights and new responsibilities pertaining to firearms and ammunition. Not only does this program seek to reduce violent crimes in our community by maintaining strategic and effective partnerships, but it also offers to assist individuals in successfully changing their lifestyles.

There are several businesses dedicated to hiring former felons or assisting them with job placement, ministries that are willing to mentor, admonish, and exhort individuals struggling with changes they undergo in life, and resource organizations designed to help with the daily needs and challenges of successful living.

Operation Ceasefire is not a program that forgives offenders for their violent acts, but rather a program that meets individuals where they are and helps them to reach the next level of change, if change is something they really want. For those who continue doing harm, it is a promise to bring the full impact of a united community to vigorously prosecute violent crimes.

Operation Ceasefire has had an 80 percent success rate in intervention. More than 6,000 residents have made connections with law enforcement and one another at a Ceasefire Movie Night events, and more than 1,000 children have made the commitment to stand against gun violence. In 2011, fugitive surrender cleared 200 warrants, peaceably removing over 130 names from the “WANTED” list.

The plan for Operation Ceasefire is to offer help to former offenders that want to change and need assistance turning from crime and violence, to teach offenders about state and federal firearms laws and Operation Ceasefire’s role in enforcing the same, to respond to future incidents of violence through arrest and prosecution to the fullest extent of state and federal law aggressively and to promote firearm safety and gang prevention throughout the county.

The national received rate of individuals with criminal record averages 67 percent. Without intervening programs like Operation Ceasefire, most of those individuals would continue to commit crimes again and again, leading them to be incarcerated within three years of their last conviction.

From Jan. 1, 2011, through June 30, 2011, Fayetteville experienced a 10 percent reduction in gun crime compared with the same time frame in 2010. Of the participants called-in from August 2010 through July 2011, 80 percent have either successfully completed probation or are in good standing with no criminal violations.

The dates for the movie nights are April 11, May 9, June 6, Sep. 19 and Oct. 10. For information on the event locations, contact Operation Ceasefire Resource Coordinator Lisa Jayne at (910) 433-1017 or LJayne@ci.fay.nc.us.

Additional useful resource links for investigators, parents, children and community stakeholders can be found athttp://ceasefire.ci.fayetteville.nc.us/links.aspx.

Photo: Operation Ceasefire is an intervention program dedicated to improving the quality of life for all residents of Fayetteville/Cumberland County by reducing gun and gang violence in our community.

Fayetteville is a diverse community. People from all around the world and from all walks of life have come to this thriving community and embraced it. Often cultural organizations look for ways to share the cultures of their native lands. On April 12, the Southeastern North Carolina Asian Indian Association (SENCAIA) presents a showcase of the Indian community.

Dancing is an art form that every culture has embraced. Indian dancing in particular has a strong cultural significance as a method to pass on religious and cultural traditions. It is a method of storytelling. “It gives a glimpse into the culture and into the cuisine. We will have entertainment all day. There will be someone on stage at all times. There will be dancing and singing. Some of the performers will be local and some will be from out of town,” said Dr. Sumedha Dalvi, who has been involved in the festivals organization from its inception.

Entertainers of all ages will showcase their talents. The sheer effort that is put into the dances that are performed is astounding. “When you see the kids perform a five minute dance, that dance took weeks of practice, it is impressive. These kids are busy with school, sports, homework and things, but they still make the time to practice. Those five minutes take so much work because they want their performance to be perfect. The parents and the kids have a great time and they get to show off their talents. They’ll even invite their friends from school to come support them,” Dalvi said.

Another important aspect of any culture is its food. People can experience Indian food in several different ways at the festival. “There will be two food vendors. People can purchase all different kinds of Indian food.

There will be vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. You can get a snack or a whole platter. This is always very popular. We will also have Indian drinks like chai and fruity drinks like mango and lychee,” Dalvi said.” There will be cooking demonstrations every hour on the hour as well. “People from our community will demonstrate how to cook traditional Indian dishes. People always like this because they get to learn how it is made and sample it. We also have a spice garden that is a booth that will be selling Indian spices. If people try a dish at a vendor and ask what is in it and want to make it at home, the booth will have spices and recipes and things.”

The traditional clothing of India is also a distinctive and beautiful aspect of the culture. “There will be three fashion shows. First, we have the kid’s fashion show, then a youth fashion show and finally, a ladies and couples fashion show. The theme for our adults fashion show is a wedding — so they will all be dressed as a bride or groom or as someone in the bridal party. We will have a bridal procession leading up to it and a fashion show on stage,” Dalvi said. Additionally, vendors will sell beautiful and traditional Indian clothing and jewelry. Two women will also help with the wrapping of the clothing. There will also be a bargain corner for donated and lightly worn traditional Indian clothing and jewelry available to purchase at a lower price.

The India Festival is a lot more than just a festival. It is a celebration and benefit the entire community. “All of the proceeds, after the cost is covered, go to local charities. This is our way of giving back to the community. We’ve been here 15 years, but coming from India and getting settled here... the community has really embraced us. This is a way to show our culture and to give back,” Dalvi said.

The event is on April 12 from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. at the Crown Arena. The Arena is located at 1960 Coliseum dr. Admission is $2 per person and kids under three get in free.

Photo: The India Festival is a lot more than just a festival. It is a celebration and a beneጀt to the entire community.