Four million babies were born last year and the March of Dimes was there for each and every one of them. One in nine babies are born too soon. The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. It is in support of this mission that the March of Dimes will host its “March for Babies” walk on Saturday, April 13 at 10 a.m. at Methodist University. This is the 75th anniversary of the March of Dimes. Founded in 1938 by FDR, the organization’s original goal was to eradicate polio. When March of Dimes fulfilled the mission, the new challenge became helping to prevent birth defects and premature births.

“This exciting event is a celebration of the fundraising that takes place year round by our teams and sponsors in the area,” said Catherine Heindselman, director of the Cape Fear Division of March of Dimes. “There will be 1,000 participants who will come out for the event and they consist of family teams, company teams and individual walkers.”

The money is raised through online fundraising or the various events the groups have during the year. The agency has set a goal of $140,000 for the event.

The event will consist of food, fun and entertainment. Dance teams, step teams and singing groups from Methodist University and the community will perform. Food vendors will be on hand to sell subs, pizza and breakfast items. There will be a Kid Zone with many activities for the youngsters to enjoy.

The March of Dimes’ Ambassador Family, the Poulks, will speak along with Dr. Ben Hancock, president of Methodist University. Their twin children, aged 2, were born prematurely. They were born at 25 weeks and 5 days and weighed 2 pounds, 14 ounces and 2 pounds, 14.5 ounces. One child spent six weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit and the other one spent seven weeks in the NICU at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. They are doing incredibly well today. Each year an Ambassador Family is selected to tell the story of how the March of Dimes impacted their children’s lives and the successes of their birth.

“We encourage everyone to come out and support us as we take on this challenge,” said Heindselman. “We are recruiting teams so please come out and register.”

Registration for the event begins at 9 a.m. The opening ceremony will start at 9:40 a.m. and the walk will begin at 10 a.m. Visit www.marchforbabies.org or call (910) 483-3691 for more information.

Photo: The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.

As any great musician knows, it takes time to master an instrument, and the oldest musical instrument in the entire world is the human voice. For centuries people have used their unique vocal cords to sing for many different reasons. This natural instrument could be used for religious praise, passing on history or for entertainment purposes. On April 13, at Methodist University the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra and the Cumberland Oratorio Singers will come together with college and community choirs for a spring performance that is sure to energize the soul. In recent years the FSO and the Cumberland Oratorio Singers have combined forces to bring first-class performances to the community.

The Cumberland Oratorio Singers consists of 75 adults, all of whom are unique in their backgrounds and experiences; and each has mastered their God-given instrument, their voice. There is more to oratorio than just singing. By definition oratorio is “a musical composition for voices and orchestra, telling a sacred story without costumes, scenery or dramatic action.”

This style of performing is of Italian origin, and can be traced back directly to an Italian concert hall from the 16th century. The Cumberland Oratorio Singers embrace their centuries-old musical roots, but are not limited in performance style. The group has an extensive repertoire that includes classical secular styling’s, contemporary classical works, masses and traditional oratorios and show or pop music.

The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1956 and is the oldest continuously-funded orchestra in North Carolina. Under the direction of Dr. Fouad Fakhouri, the orchestra performs throughout the community several times a year, including several free performances.

On April 13, the members of the orchestra will perform The Symphony of Psalms, which was created by the composer Stravinsky. This piece was composed in the 1930s and is named after the verses of the book of Psalms that are used in the choral pieces of the performance.

The program will culminate with Gustav Mahler’s powerful Symphony No. 1 in D Major.The joint performance the Cumberland Oratorio and the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra will be held at Reeves Auditorium on the campus of Methodist University, which is located at 5400 Ramsey St., on April 13 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 at the door.

For more information about the event or about ticket availability, contact Margarette Kelly at 482-0006. She can also be reached by email at mkelly5733@nc.rr.com. Further event information can also be found at the website www.singwithcos.org. Find out more about the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra at www.fayettevillesymphony.org.

Photo: Gustav Mahler

Sunset on March 26 began the weeklong celebration of Passover, one of the holiest times in the Jewish tradition. Fayetteville is rich with the contributions and sacrifi ces of the Jewish community, and in celebration of that, the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum is hosting an exhibition of Jewish history running from March 15 through early 2014.

The presence of a Jewish community in Fayetteville coincides with the founding of the county of Cumberland. In fact, Fayetteville was North Carolina’s second largest town in the 1820s. After a devastating fi re in 1831, the town emerged from the ashes and was rebuilt. Judah P. Benjamin, who gained fame as a Confederate leader serving as Secretary of State and War in the Cabinet of Jefferson Davis, lived in Fayetteville from 1815 through 1822. While there was a Jewish presence in Fayetteville early on, numbers remained modest. Despite that, in the early 1900s, Jews would contribute immeasurably to the city’s economic growth.

The first “skyscraper” in Fayetteville was built by the Stein brothers. Another department store was established by Hyman Fleishman and these businesses became anchors of Fayetteville’s growing economy. In 1910, Jewish families formed Beth Israel. To that point, they had been worshipping in homes for religious services. They met for years at the McKeithan Building on Market Square as well as the Stein Bridge Building. Desiring a more permanent place of worship, Beth Israel’s synagogue was completed in 1922.

Bruce Daws, director of the museum, shared the importance of the exhibit. “The Jewish population has been a cornerstone in the growth of Fayetteville. This exhibit looks at two primary periods in history primarily, events occurring from Fayetteville’s inception and contributions from the mid-20th century.”

With the advent of World War II, Fayetteville grew exponentially and the Jewish population was extremely supportive of the military. The Stein brothers offered the top fl oor of their building as an Officer’s Club. The Jewish community was also active in the USO and adopted soldiers with the aim of providing fellowship, a place to worship and some down home kosher food. There were Jewish military members from Fayetteville who paid the ultimate price and the exhibit is one way of honoring their service.

The museum is located at 325 Franklin Street in downtown Fayetteville. Hours of operation are Tuesday- Saturday from 10 a.m. through 4 p.m. For more information please call 910- 433-1457or visit the museum website at www.fcpr.us/transportation_museum.

Photo: Beth Israel, Fayetteville

It was a few years ago, Bill Bowman, the owner of the Up & Coming Weekly and Kidsville News!, called and asked me to help him with an event. If you know Bill, he is such a sweet guy that is hard to say no when he asks a favor. The event is Fayetteville’s annual Hogs and Rags Rally.

This year will be the 8th annual event — and my third year of involvement — and I have to tell you, everyone does a great job of putting on a memorable and fantastic rally. The Hogs and Rags Rally is an event for motorcycles and convertibles to raise money for a variety of charities. This year, the proceeds will go to the Shriners Hospital for Children, the American Cancer Society and Kidsville News!

The rally a sanctioned Dogwood Festival event, and it takes place on Saturday, April 27. Registration opens at 8 a.m. The event will start at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum. We will leave promptly at 8:45 a.m.

Although in the past there has been a great turn out of motorcycles, last year there was a really nice turn out of classic and convertible cars, too (hence the “Rags” in the name Hogs and Rags). Everyone is welcome as long you can keep up with the police. That’s right, we have a police escort from Fayetteville to Myrtle Beach.

After we leave the museum, we will head out with a police escort to a farm near Chadbourn, N.C., for a wonderful breakfast. From there, we will head toward South Carolina with a water stop at the border and then on to Myrtle Beach.

Once at Myrtle Beach, the caravan stops at Broadway at the Beach for a lunch at Landry’s Seafood. This will be the third year eating there, and it is a very nice experience. While eating lunch, there will be drawings for raffle prizes and guest speakers.

The lunch concludes the official ride, so everyone can enjoy the Boardwalk and ride back at their leisure. You will have plenty of time to get back to the Dogwood Festival to see the Saturday night show. This year, the Dogwood Festival will feature Fahrenheit at 6 p.m., Blackfoot at 7 p.m. and Molly Hatchet at 9 p.m. at the Festival Park.

The ride is $50 per entry and an additional $30 for each additional passenger. The rally includes breakfast, lunch and a T-shirt.

Remember, this rally is for all types of motorcycles and vehicles. Last year, we had a Jeep and Ferrari fighting it out to be the lead car. I believe the Ferrari came out ahead. If you have a club, please come out and join the fun. Let us know ahead of time, and we will group you all together for the ride.

This is going to be a great time for a great cause, so please tell your friends and mark your calendar. You can pre-register or make a donation online at www. hogsandrags.com.

Come with a full tank of gas, come hungry and come ready to ride!

If there is a topic that you would like to discuss you can contact me at motorcycle4fun@aol.com. RIDE SAFE!

Don’t Get Sequestered:  Protect What You Have

Part 1 – A Business Survival Guide

What is Sequestration? Is it what the vet does to Fido? Do men say, “Geez, I came home so late last night, I thought my wife was going to sequester me.” For some, Sequestration is going to feel just like that procedure. For others it is an opportunity. Yes, I said that, and not just an opportunity to throttle the nearest politician. Sequestration brings the kind of multi-directional pressure that will crush weak companies but leave the strongest (and smartest) not only still standing but often bigger than ever. It will make you fight to protect your customer base, fight harder to grow it and bedevil staff retention. All that while squeezing cash flow, payroll and advertising budgets. However, if you have an effective strategy to deal with these pressures, you will not only survive but be in a position to absorb market share from those who don’t. In this and following articles, we’ll discuss methods to make a stressed marketing budget more effective and Sequester-proof your business.

Step 1. Protect what you have. We’re not talking about iron underwear here. But keeping customers in an economy under stress is no easy task either. In a normal economy, approximately 10 percent of a company’s customers are considering going elsewhere. In a stressed economy that number tends to go up as customers shop for better value. Note: Value is not necessarily price. Buyers more often do business with companies they trust and that make them feel appreciated than with the one with lowest price. There are many inexpensive tactics to promote customer loyalty and trust. You can institute a program of discounts/rewards for customer longevity or return visits. You can survey your customer base and see what they think of your product or service so that improvements can be made. You can buy radio time and print space (as I do in this newspaper). My personal favorite (for obvious reasons) is to promote loyalty and trust through promotional gifts. A useful item with your company name and message on it is like a permanent ad repeating your logo and message day after day. Research shows that customers who are given promotional gifts have a higher impression of the company who gave it (Trust!), are more inclined to buy from that business and more likely to refer a friend. All of that can be obtained from one small gift which can cost less than a buck.

There are an infinite number of ways to bring gifts into your transactions. One is Gift with Purchase. Purportedly invented by Estee Lauder and is as the name says, rewarding a customer’s purchase with a small gift. I like this one because it can be a sales driver (If the gift is of high enough value, it can be advertised to bring new customers in the door) as well as a loyalty enhancement. The value of the promo gift should somewhat mirror the value of your product. The higher the price-point of your product, the higher the value of the gift. So if you are selling cars, you could give a $20 picnic set. If you are selling fast food, you could give a .25 cent collectable cup. The possibilities are endless but you get the idea. None of those items would significantly reduce margin on the sale but will begin a chain reaction of goodwill, referral, purchase and goodwill again.

If your company serves customers through sales professionals or service technicians, whether in the home or office, an imprinted leave-behind tool or other useful item can work well for you. A plumber or electrician can leave a magnetic flashlight on the refrigerator. A lawn maintenance tech can leave a rain gauge on the lawn. The average charge for any of those services is near a hundred dollars yet the gifts only cost around a buck or two. If the item is seen just once or twice per week over the course of a year, the cost per exposure f your logo is a penny or two. That’s efficiency!

Right now, your competition is brain-storming ways to take away your customers. What are you doing to protect them? There are many more methods to promote customer loyalty on a budget than I have space here to write, however, the important thing is to pick one that fits your budget and get going!

In my next installment, we’ll be discussing ways to attract new customers.

For research data on the effectiveness of promotional products in enhancing customer loyalty, go to www.uslogoworks.com/research.

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New York has its Easter Parade and Lexington, Ken., has its derby, but the biggest spectacle of spring in North Carolina is right in our backyard with the 62nd running of the Stoneybrook Steeplechase on Saturday, April 6 at the Carolina Horse Park.

The race, which features everything from a 5K run to tailgating to a hat contest to the actual race has been a tradition in the area since its inception in the 1940s. The race itself was the realization of a dream by Michael “Mickey” G. Walsh. Walsh, an Irish immigrant came to Southern Pines in 1939, where he used his passion and skill with horses to become one of the preeminent trainers of steeplechase and timber horses. At this point, you might be asking yourself what excactly a steeplechase is. Steeplechase is a form of horse racing, which derives its name from early races in which orientation of the course was by reference to a church steeple, jumping fences and ditches and generally traversing the many intervening obstacles in the countryside. Today, a steeplechase is a distance horse race with diverse fence and ditch obstacles.

In 1940, Walsh brought his love of horses to and the race to Southern Pines, when he purchase his own riding and training stable which was home to the first Stoneybrook Steeplechase. The race continued until 1993 when the farm was sold following Walsh’s death.

Local horse enthusiasts, who shared his passion for the not only the race, but the social event it had become, formed a nonprofi t charitable foundation, now known as the Carolina Horse Park. Following an eight year lapse, the Stoneybrook Steeplechase was restarted in 2001 in celebration of its 50th anniversary. Since that time, those who grew up with the Steeplechase as the marker of spring have gathered to celebrate not only the beauty of the race, but also the tradition. The race has grownexponentially each year, with attendance reaching more than 10,000 in recent years. Don’t let the numbers put you off. There is ample space and more than enough to do on race day, and, the event itself invites you to meet new people and make new friends during the day-long tailgating event.

Race day offers more than just the races. Each year, the event has grown and organizers have added more entertainment. The 2013 runningfeatures activities for both children and adults. From the 5K/1K Run for the Ribbons to the traditional tailgate and hat contests to stick horse races, expansive Kid Zone, vendor area, pub tent, beer tent and opening ceremonies, there is something for everyone. While the tailgating area opens at 9:30 a.m., the fi rst horse race doesn’t start until 1:30 p.m.

General Admission tickets and parking passes are available for $25 in advance and $30 on race day. Children under the age of 12 are admitted free with a ticket-holding adult. advance sale / $30 on race day; kids 12 & under free with ticket holding adult. Tailgating spaces are available all the way up to race day and range in price from $150 to $450, which includes a limited number of tickets. Tailgate spaces are designed for parties of 12 or less. This year, you can forget about cooking and enjoy the day in the Pub Tent located in the infi eld, which is sponsored by Huske Hardware. Admission to the tent is $50 and includes a Southern Style BBQ with beverage. Discounted tickets may be purchased at Harris Teeter Grocery Stores in Whispering Pines, Aberdeen, Fayetteville and Laurinburg. Military members may also receive a 20 percent discount. For more information, visit www.carolinahorsepark.com/stoneybrook.

Photo: Stoneybrook Steeplechase offers more than exciting horse races.

The difference between entertainment and art is that art strives to teach us something about human nature.This statement holds true across all mediums of self-expression, though art and entertainment are not mutually exclusive.

Art may still be entertaining and entertainment may still be emotionally touching or jarring; but a work is only truly art when it illuminates a truth about humanity. The play The Effect of Gamma Rays on The Man-In-the-Moon Marigolds is art. It is on stage at the Gilbert Theater from April 4-21.

The play was written in 1964 by Paul Zindel. Zindel, a science teacher, received the Pulitzer prize in 1971 for the play. The story, set in the ‘60s, centers around the dysfunctional Hunsdorfer family.

Matilda “Tillie” is the protagonist of the story and the youngest of the family. Throughout the story she struggles against the darkness in her life and serves as a symbol of an individual who can rise above their circumstances.

Ruth is the oldest sister, and unlike Tillie she cannot defy her controlling and abusive mother. Beatrice is the main antagonist of the story, and the mother of the family. She is a single mother who is overwhelmed with the abuse and destruction she rains upon both herself and those around her.

It is obvious that the story is a dark one, but it is often by exploring the darkness in ourselves that the beauty and strength we hold internally is revealed.

Amanda Brooks Learner, who plays Beatrice in the show, says that the play “is a compelling story. It is suspenseful, and the audience should expect to be taken on a trip. It is full of painful, beautiful and painfully beautiful moments. There are horrible moments and the story will force the audience to ask questions such as ‘what is the meaning of life and how can we take this circumstance and find hope?’

“Throughout the play, the audience sees true cruelty and the affects of alcoholism. Most people have been affected by alcoholism in some way, be it a family member or relative, and in this story we see the affects of truly hopeless alcoholism, abuse and cruelty on children. We see that some can rise above it and some can’t,” she said.

The antagonist is often an under-rated character. Without the evils in the world there could be no good, the same principle holds true within this play. Without Beatrice, Tillies amazing story of perseverance would not be as powerful as it is. Learner expresses this sentiment in her excitement to portray the character.

Learner says, “I (Beatrice) can help to tell her story and bring humanity to Beatrice so that the audience can relate to a poor, struggling woman in a time period where divorce is unheard of. I can speak to the audience and help them to identify with the pain of being lonely. I live through them and this is an opportunity to journey into myself and explore the darkness within myself. The darkness scares me, but through it I am able to support the light.”

The Gilbert Theater is located at 116 Green St. For more information or to order tickets, contact the theatre at 678-7186 or at www.gilberttheatre.com

Ah, spring, with its bright, sunny days, buds and blossoms, gardens and festivals — and for area locavores, foodies and residents who enjoy fresh, locally grown foods and original crafts — the ramping up of activity at the Fayetteville Farmers Market and City Market in downtown Fayetteville.

The Fayetteville Farmers Market operates on a year-round basis from 3-6 p.m. on Wednesdays and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturdays on the grounds of the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum at 325 Franklin St. People may purchase seasonal fruits and vegetables, eggs, honey and other farm products as well as candles, jewelry, plants and fl owers, pottery, soap, tea and more. But every April, the market kicks-off the new growing season, and Bruce Daws, historic properties manager for the City of Fayetteville, hopes this market season sees even greater growth in the size of both the market and its offerings.

“This will be the market’s third year coming up at the transportation museum,” said Daws. “We are working to build. We are recruiting vendors. We want it to become, especially on Saturday, a destination for people not just to come and buy produce or a piece of art and leave, but also to come and stay.

“We’re adding more so people have the opportunity to eat. From time to time, we’ll have a band playing or music or some other activity on the grounds,” continued Daws. “We’re trying to make it more of a destination for people to come and just hang out.”

And Daws notes that the museum has plenty of space to “grow the market.”

“The vision for the market is to wrap it all the way around the museum. We’ve got the Russell Street side, which is not at all occupied currently. We’ve got the front of the museum, we’ve got the front parking lot and we’ve got a covered shelter on the Russell Street side. We’ve got a lot of room to grow this to its fullest extent property-wise.”

Also located on the grounds of the museum is the City Market, now in its second year. Daws explained that while the focus of the farmers market is on farm products, the City Market’s emphasis is on art and original craft-type materials.”

He noted that all vendors are vetted.

“As far as the crafters,” said Daws, “we want original work. It’s not a fl ea market.”

Daws also stressed that along with the space to grow is ample space for visitors to park.

“Half a block from us is the brand-new parking deck,” Daws said.

The deck rate is just .50/hour until 5 p.m., Monday-Friday. Additionally, free hourly parking is available around the museum on Maxwell and Franklin Streets, in front of Pennmark Place Townhouses on Ray Avenue and in unnumbered spaces behind the townhouses, as well as at the two-hour parking lot on the Russell Street side of the museum. Neither the hourly or paid parking is enforced after 5 p.m. and on weekends.

Want to sell your agricultural products or crafts at the markets? Daws encourages prospective vendors to stop by the museum and pick up an application.

“We are growing all the time, and we are recruiting vendors,” he said.

Please note that, according to the Fayetteville Farmers Market website, www.thefayettevillefarmersmarket.com, anyone who wishes to sell prepared foods, baked goods, canned goods, meat, poultry, eggs, seafood or dairy must meet North Carolina Department of Agriculture regulations.

If you want to sell arts, crafts or antiques only, contact Amanda Klinck at AKlinck@ci.fay.nc.us for an application. For more information, please call (910) 433-1457, 433-1458 or 433-1944.

Photo: The Fayetteville Farmers Market, located at the Transportation Museum is open every Wednesday and Saturday morning.

Cruise the Main Drag on memory lane — a whiff of suntan lotion and hair spray … hot summer days and hotter nights, with cool music that stirs the soul.

Carolina beach music is more than a lifestyle … it is a genre. Its roots go back to the 1940s. The music captures tunes from blues, rhythm and blues and southern soul and has been heard in the pavilions and beach clubs along the beaches of North Carolina and South Carolina for at least six decades. The thin beach strand of these two states is the place where true beach music originated. And for those who must move to the beat and the songs that speak to youth and love, the Shag was born.

So forget fighting the traffic across the bridge at Wilmington, finding a place to park on Ocean Drive or worrying about the weather. The beach is coming to Fayetteville. It is Spring Break and the fun is rolling into Hay Street.

The Headquarters Library will begin the festivities with a program on the rich cultural legacy of music that is also our Carolina history. John Hook, an author of eight books on beach music and one of the people who lived the times as a radio personality in Myrtle Beach will immerse us in memories of bands like The Embers, The Drifters, the Tams and the Chairmen of the Board

.The evening begins with Warren McDonald and Classic Soul taking us to the audio “fountain of youth” with songs like “Carolina Girls,” “My Girl” and “I Love Beach Music.” Our own Fayetteville shaggers will demonstrate the dance.

The music and shag begins in the Pate Room at 6:45 p.m. for audience enjoyment. Hook will speak to the times and remembrances with a special announcement of Fayetteville’s special link to beach music — The history of beach music: A Fayetteville first.

Friday afternoon, March 30, the “beach crawl” begins along Hay Street. Downtown merchants will offer beach “specials.” Find sandals, wine, books, picnic goodies, cute fashions and other goodies to prepare for the coming summer. Sample food and special drinks (i.e. “Sex on the beach” at Huske Hardware) while shopping or taking a break from dancing.

Classic Soul, our own sidewalk beach band, will play beach music starting at 3 p.m. in front of the Parkview Offices on the 320 block of Hay St. Wear your shag shoes because the Fayetteville Shag Association will be giving shag lessons.

The classic cult movie, Shag, is scheduled to be shown at the Cameo at 3 p.m. and at the Gilbert Theatre at 7 p.m. for donations only. So bring the family for this feel-good film that shows the Myrtle Beach culture of the ‘60s along with crinoline slips, tailfin convertibles, beach parties and beach music with the some of the original groups.

The evening will culminate with a “fun” raiser for the Cameo Theatre. Classic Soul will open the concert and shag dance (of course) with The Embers.

Curtiss Carpenter, the “voice of beach music” will emcee the evening. Mellow Mushroom will offer a cash bar for wine, beer and soft drinks … and pizza!

Tickets are $25 and are limited. So buy early. Tickets include a chance to win a free weekend at Myrtle Beach. Tickets can be bought at the Cameo Box Offi ce (910-486-6633) or Up & Coming Weekly (910-484-6200).

This event, like the original efforts to buy the digital cameras for the Cameo, started with a small committee of people committed to saving our art theatre; a “grassroots” movement that grew out of love for our downtown. So come down and enjoy. It is Spring and time to “Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy”—no matter how old you are.

Photo: The Embers

Nonprofits serve a very important role in our current society, nationally, locally and globally, with one of the most important roles being improving quality of life. In the past, people have depended on government programs to care for many needs of our senior citizens, disabled veterans, physically/mentally challenged individuals and undernourished children, just to name a few. While federal, state and local governments are striving to rein in budgets and are cutting government programs, a tremendous number of needs that are unfulfilled or will be left unfulfilled remain. A family breadwinner who becomes unemployed and no longer meets qualifications for federal subsidies due to downsizing of government programs will look to nonprofit organizations and their volunteers for help in feeding his or her family. Uninsured individuals needing extensive medical treatments, such as cancer patients, turn to nonprofit organizations for financial and emotional support.

While many label charitable organizations as nonprofit, they can be highly profitable. Nonprofits do not provide a balance sheet to shareholders with profits or losses reflected in bottom lines; their credence and standing as a “profitable” nonprofit is based on the value of service and/or goods they provide in fulfilling the needs of the community. There are numerous organizations locally that provide such services. These organizations are headquartered not only locally but also nationally and internationally.

Nonprofits play a significant role in the current economy, and it appears they will continue to do so in the future. This impact is not only in services they provide, but also in the employment opportunities they provide. The Urban Institute reported in November of 2012 that while unemployment in the business and government sectors of employment was dropping, employment in the nonprofit sector grew by 4 percent, and wages increased by 6.5 percent from 2007 to 2010. Nonprofits employed 9 percent of the country’s labor force in 2010. In 2013, the N.C. Center for Nonprofits reported that nonprofits provide 1 out of every 9 jobs in our state or 11 percent of jobs, while paying $15 billion in wages to North Carolinians.

A nonprofit organization is gauged on its ability to achieve its objectives, and therefore organizations are specifically seeking individuals with backgrounds in this area. As employment opportunities increase in the nonprofit sector, specialized training in nonprofit management, including fundamentals of compliance, ethics and stewardship, reflects positively on one’s resume and job applications. If you are interested in working with a nonprofit organization or starting your own, FTCC is now offering a certificate in Nonprofit Management as part of its Business Administration/Public Administration program. Certificates may be completed in one year and cover coursework in accountability, compliance, fundraising, stewardship, board governance, leadership, ethics, marketing and public speaking.

The BA/Public Administration program also offers an Associate Degree in Public Administration, Community Leadership Certificate, and Government Procurement and Contracting Certificate. The degree and certificates may all be completed through online courses.

For more information, contact Cheryl Campbell, Program Coordinator for BA/Public Administration at 910-678-8595 or by email campbelc@faytechcc.edu.

¹http://www.urban.org “Nonprofit Sector is Growing Faster than Rest of Economy”, 11/01/12.

²N.C. Center for Nonprofits, www.nonprofits.org, “Quick Facts: Nonprofits’ Impact on North Carolina”, 1/12/13.

Exorcism (Rated R) 1 Star

When you name your movie The Last Exorcism you had better mean it. Obviously, since there was money to be made, the producers of The Last Exorcism Part II (88 minutes) decided to ignore this one simple fact. I have seen some crap horror movies in my time but this one is right up there in the top ten. I would venture to say it is even worse than any crap horror movie I saw in 2012 — The Apparition and Silent Hill: Revelation don’t even come close to matching this level of bad. I can never claim I didn’t know in ad-vance just how bad it was probably going to be, but this week’s alternatives weren’t much more appealing. For example, I would rather drive rusty railroad spikes into my eye sockets then watch Jack The Giant Slayer.

I’m not sure what is worse — that the first movie was actually a four star horror movie in my book (rendering the sequel that much more awful by comparison) or that this movie is so patriarchal it verges on satire. Of course, the first movie celebrated the patriar-chy just as much, but in the original version it worked by making male domination of the protagonist add to the horror of the narra-tive. Here, it just makes me roll my eyes.

And while we’re on the topic of the patriarchy and male oppression, etc., which Big Book of Stereotypes did the writers use to come up with the dialogue in this movie? I swear if I never hear the word “chile” for “child” again it will be too soon. And writers, please tell me more about your made-up religion that vaguely resembles Voodoo!

The film opens on some archival footage from the shaky-cam original. Then, the scene shifts to some kind of condo and a couple of randoms who are about to have a real bad day. When Random Male is attacked, the spooky musical cues clue us in that Something Demonic is Afoot. The scene ends on Nell (Ashley Bell, still looking like Michael Cera in a wig) crouched on top of a kitchen coun-ter, still wearing the filthy white nightgown from the first film.

She is supposed to be about 17, not that she looks it. For most of the film she is dressed like a thirteen old who is channeling her great grandmother. Maybe her fashion sense is what gets her put into the group home? Since it is immediately obvious to the doctors treating her that she has survived an encounter with a cult (eye roll), she is promptly put into a home for Wayward Girls Who Have Been Through Some Stuff.

The home is run by Frank Merle (Muse Watson) because if there’s one thing that girls from abusive homes need, it’s a strong male authority figure to fix their lives for them and tell them not to wear crosses for some undefined reason. Seriously — a group home, run by a creepy dude, who suggests to his young and vulnerable charge that she should not wear her cross.

Nell’s roommate Gwen (Julia Garner) befriends her, but she is possibly involved in the cult from the last movie or possibly possessed, or possibly a poorly written character. It’s really hard to tell. They work at a motel together, where Nell meets a boy named Chris (Spencer Treat Clark from Gladiator). Chris is not as creepy looking as Caleb the Ginger from the first film, but he’s pretty close. He is also possibly involved in the cult from the last movie, or possibly possessed, or possibly a poorly written character.

So, nothing really happens for most of the film, except her possibly dead or possibly not dead father Louis (Louis Herthum) showing up a few times. Then, there is this voodoo lady, and she is stupid and does stupid things with her stupid voodoo friends; the end. Thankfully, it was not filmed in shaky cam — the only thing that would have made this movie any worse.

Now showing at Wynnsong 7, Carmike 12 and Carmike Market Fair 15.

Last year Barbara Spigner was a partner in the team Cape Fear Heroes. She has recently become its sole owner. She has a vision to take the team to the next level and wants do to some exciting things going forward. Being a successful business woman, Spigner knew her skills would allow her and the team to do great things with the right goals and objectives behind her. Part of her vision is for the team to be more accessible and active in the community and for the team to work more with charitable causes. That being said the Heroes were set up as a non-profit legal entity and although it will still take strong participation from team sponsors and ticket sales to make the Heroes successful. The non-profit status will help the team do many additional things within the community.

The Cape Fear Heroes open up their 2013 professional indoor football season against the Washington Eagles on Friday, March 29 at the Crown Coliseum. The theme for the evening is “Celebration and Youth.” There will be a poster give-away to the first 700 fans through the door. Game-night festivities include the official unveiling of the 2012 Heroes Championship Banner, entertainment for all ages, recognition of area youth groups as well as City and County First Responders.

The fun starts at 5 p.m. in the tailgating area with Heroes Fan Fest. Here, Heroes fans can enjoy a free kids inflatable area with various games. Bring your favorite food and tailgate with your family and friends before the game. City and County First Responder Units will have special vehicles displayed in the tailgating area.

At 6 p.m., the band 45 RPM takes the stage for an hour long concert. 45 RPM is an all-female band. RPM stands for “representing positive music.” 45 RPM is made up of for multi-instrumentalists whose goal is to put out positive music along with a positive image. The band consists of Katie Goulet (bass guitar/keyboards/guitar/vocals), Tayler Morgan (drums/keyboards/bass/vocals), Teraasia Archer (percussion/keyboards/vocals) and Sarah Martinico (guitars/vocals).

Just learning their instruments within the last two years, the band has performed as opening acts for cpuntry music artist Josh Thompson. They were asked to perform as Clarence Burke’s (“Ooo Child”) band for several shows and performed for ABC’s Extreme Home Makeover Fayetteville concert. They have performed at the Crown Coliseum (Fayetteville, NC) on various occasions, Fayetteville’s Amphitheater Festival Park multiple times and performed at many local fairs and school functions. The group was founded and produced by Grammy nominated producer Brian Morgan.

Spigner has not wasted time in getting the Heroes involved in the community. This past season she donated five laptop computers to players from the Heroes Youth Football Organization, a member of the AIF for Kids program. Players were asked to write about one of their heroes in life, a player with the best essay was then selected from each age group. When the tragedy happened in Newtown Conn. recently, the Heroes we looking for a way to acknowledge the 26 people who lost their lives and offer a positive reinforcement for the surviving family members and loved ones.

The Heroes sent each family (through the Newtown Police Department) a Build-A-Bear custom teddy bear in remembrance of their lost loved one.

For game day tickets contact the Crown Coliseum Box Office or any Ticketmaster location or go online to ticketmaster.com. For group tickets contact the Heroes offices at 910-835-0919

.For more information about the Cape Fear Heroes go to www.capefearheroes.com.

Spring Break is that magical marker in time that denotes the passing of winter and the promise of Spring. For thousands of college students that means an exodus to sunnier climes. For smaller children, it may mean a magical trip to Disney World or the first toes-in-the-sand visit to the beach. For those who work for a living, it usually passes without much notice — but not this year.

On March 29, supporters of The Cameo will bring Spring Break to downtown and you’re invited to kick off the work-week blues and join in the fun. Step back in time when dancing the Shag was all the rage, when the soles of your Weejuns were slick from so much time on the dance fl oor and the beach was always hopping.

The event, which is sponsored by Park View, Duggins & Smith Companies, Mellow Mushroom, Chuck Weber and Up & Coming Weekly, kicks off at 3 p.m. with Shag lessons and demonstrations at the Park View offices at 321 Hay St. Once you’ve figured out how to dance the Carolina’s favorite dance, slip out onto Hay Street for the Downtown Beach Crawl, which features beach bargains including everything from books and wine to beach music and art brought to you by Cape Fear Studios.

Also at 3 p.m., you can slip into the Cameo to view the iconic film tribute to the dance, Shag. The movie, which pretty much went straight to video, is a coming-of-age story of four Carolina girls who shrug off their responsibilities and head down to the forbidden land of Myrtle Beach to participate in the Ocean Drive Shag Contest. The film is fun and, if it doesn’t get your feet itching to dance or at least to cruise the strand, you have been working way too hard. A repeat of the fi lm will be shown at 7 p.m. at Gilbert Theater.

Following the movie, you may want to grab something to eat at one of your favorite downtown eateries before heading over the Metropolitan Room to dance the night away to the sounds of Classic Soul and the godfathers of Beach Music, The Embers. This event, which is being touted as a “Fun” raiser, will benefit the Cameo Art Theatre’s campaign to go digital. There will be a cash bar and pizza brought to you by Mellow Mushroom. Classic Soul will perform at 6 p.m. and at 7 p.m., The Embers will rock the house. The event is being emceed by beach music legend, King Curtis Carpenter, one of the founders of the CAMMY’S, North Carolina’s own Beach Music Awards Show.

If you are not from the Carolinas, you might be wondering about this thing called the Shag, well here’s is a brief primer for you.

“Beach Music is Coming to Town” is a headline you couldn’t see in the 1950s and early 1960s, even though Beach Music was all around. Fas’ dancers in the Carolinas were steppin’ to this music at the coasts, a few dozen inland armories, lakeside dance slabs, and other widespread pavilions. But it didn’t have a name.

In 1965 Beach Music silently celebrated its 20th birthday. There still wasn’t a universal name which everyone understood, it had just blossomed. Jack Stallings, one of the early Catalinas from Charlotte remembered a party they played in Conway that summer. Several times that day, a few of the kids requested some ‘beach music.’ Jack fi nally asked what they were talking about.

“You know, those songs you can hear down at the beach,” they named a few by the Impressions, Four Tops, and Drifters. Jack thought, ‘oh, rhythm and blues, we play that stuff all the time.’

Two years earlier, Dillon County musician Rufus Oates took the first steps of his dream to open a music store to sell all kinds of instruments to school bands and musicians like himself (if it had strings, Rufus could play it — bass, mandolin, guitar, banjo, fiddle). Rufus opened his Music Center in September 1963 back at the beach where he’d wanted to return since he and his wife lived in Conway a few years earlier before moving to Tarboro, NC. The dream was on with his new Beach Music Center in downtown Myrtle Beach.

Funny thing about that name … right away folks saw the sign, went in and asked if he had “Sixty Minute Man,” “One Mint Julep” or “Green Eyes.” Ever the capitalist, Rufus said he’d be getting them in pretty soon. That was the beginning of the section of his store which became the (*Beach Music* Center) inside the Beach *Music Center.*

It took two or three years for the word to spread about the new ‘Beach Music’ store in Myrtle Beach. Apparently the term ‘Beach Music’ automatically made sense to people who had experienced the R&B heard almost exclusively on the Pavilion jukeboxes up and down the coast.

Beach Music is a phrase that describes more than one phenomenon. It’s the convergence of at least three infl uences.

There was the unnamed music which Shaggers and Boppers (or Fas’ dancers and Basic dancers) danced to from 1945-1965. A tiny percentage of those songs were retroactively named Beach Music.

Local combos began to appear on college campuses before Rufus’ store opened: Gladiolas at Limestone College 1957, Clemson 1958, USC Chapel Hill 1958; Catalinas at Charlotte College 1958; Jetty Jumpers at Wilmington College 1959; Hot Nuts at UNC Chapel Hill 1959; 1961-1965 Plaids, Weejuns, Madras, Turk-Cords, Bob Collins and the Fabulous 5, Embers and a few others were playing the campuses, but they still weren’t *Beach Music* … The term wasn’t universal beyond the Beach and Conway. The fi rst documented mention of “Beach Music” we’ve found beyond the beach is in a May 1967 issue of the Robesonian in Lumberton, NC.

Some bands played as early as 1960 and 1961 at the Magic Attic upstairs in the Myrtle Beach pavilion. Bands played at Folly Beach pavilion in the early 60s, the fourth Pawley’s Pavilion from 1960 onward, Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, and a number of other bandstands throughout the region. People showed up to Shag and Bop, but it still wasn’t called Beach Music until after the mid-point of the 60s.

Randy Rowland of Statesville co-owned Groucho’s, one of the premier Shag clubs in Charlotte from the 70s to the 90s. Not surprisingly, he left a good, full-time job to be close to the music and dance he loved.

Rowland also has one of those memories that are a researcher’s dream.

The first three records he heard on his family’s vacation together there in 1959 were “Almost Grown” by Chuck Berry, “…some of them were half-timing to it and some of the jitterbugs were trying to dance to it straight up [at its natural tempo],” Rowland remembers. The other two songs were “There Goes My Baby” by the Drifters and Lloyd Price’s “Stagger Lee.”

Occasionally, Rowland and a friend visited Kostakes Music in the NoDa district of North Charlotte. Kostakes was a jukebox and music distributor who sold used records in ‘grab bag’ boxes of 125 for $40. “We’d take those boxes home and look for treasures, Billy Stewart, Marvin Gaye, the Four Tops, and the Temptations to name a few,” Rowland went on. “We called it ‘soul’ music.”

After Larry Pressley’s Cellar opened in 1965, Rowland and friends attended Wednesday nights to hear the Embers and dance to the music, but it still had no name.

“We danced to it at Grace Park Recreation Center and George’s in Statesville, but I never heard it called ‘Beach Music.’ That was still true at the big 1967 dance contest Jimmy Kilgo of TV 9’s Kilgo’s Canteen at the National Guard Armory in Statesville. Kilgo had Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs set up at one end of the building and the Catalinas at the other. They’d alternate, playing the music we loved, but it didn’t have a name.”

Randy first heard the term “Beach Music” in the Army in 1968.

“One of the first guys I met was Durwood Martin. We used to talk about the music that we listened and danced to back home, the music Durwood’s band played. Durwood was an early member of the Embers. Once in a while someone would say, ‘yeah, I miss that good old Beach Music back home.’”

We asked Randy how he thought that ‘Beach Music’ might have retroactively annexed songs from earlier years and moved them under the 60s’ umbrella term Beach Music?

“The first record I bought was ‘I’ll Be Satisfi ed’ by Jackie Wilson in 1959. I’ve loved that song ever since. Funny thing is, most of the records on the jukebox at Sonny’s Pavilion on the Cherry Grove section of Ocean Drive, S.C., were still on the jukebox in 1966. They switched them out from time to time for some others, but the same records were being rotated.”

Shag and Beach Music ended up in Panama City, Florida in 1953 as a direct, personal import by a young girl and two guy-friends who traveled to Ocean Drive just to learn the Shag. By the time they got home they’d turned the ‘basic’ dance around. The dance became known as the P.C. Bop. Bop music dove deep to find the right beat in Gulf Coast rhythm and blues and blues.

In the Beach Music Guide Volumes 1 and 2 it is documented that the first Black music on jukeboxes in white venues showed up in 1945 simultaneously at Carolina Beach, Minnesott Beach, and Oriental Beach. It wasn’t by committee or telephone conference, it just happened.

No matter what suits your fancy, from Old World Charm to Carolina Beach Music, Givens Performing Arts Center delivers in April. Givens Performing Arts Center at UNC Pembroke is one of the best kept secrets in our local performing arts scene bringing in Broadway touring musicals, European Orchestras and more.

During April, GPAC kicks off the month in the grand tradition of Russian Ballet on April 2 with Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake performed by the Russian National Ballet. This outstanding presentation is followed by The Acting Company’s performance of Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men on April 25, and the month is wrapped up by the ever-rousing performer of North Carolina Beach Music, Jim Quick and the Coastline Band, Robert Lee Smith and the original Tams and The Embers on Friday, April 26.

If you wish to make your evening complete, match your musical tastes with culinary delights. Each of these performances is matched with a four-course meal served in the Chancellor’s Dining Room and deliciously prepared by Sodexo. The dining experience is $25 per person which includes a wine and cheese reception prior to dinner. Reservations are required.

One popular misconception is that the shows which come to the Givens Performing Arts Center are not the same touring groups which perform in larger venues across the state, however, this is not the case.

The Russian National Ballet Theatre was founded in Moscow during the period of Perestroika in the late 1980s with the help and support of the Ministry of culture of the Russian Federation. The company and its dancers are dedicated to the timeless tradition of classical ballet while incorporating new developments in dance from around the world. In 1994, the legendary Bolshoi principal dancer Elena Radchenko was selected by Presidential decree to assume the first permanent artistic directorship of the company.

Swan Lakewill continue its U.S. tour later in April appearing in Pennsylvania and New York. Quoting from the Washington Post, “The Russian National Ballet Theatre is a cut above its rivals.”

The Acting Company was founded in 1972 by two NYC graduates of Julliard’s Drama Division, producer/director/actor John Houseman and producing director Margot Harley. The company has won numerous awards for performance and education including the Obie, Audelco, Los Angeles Critics Circle Award and a TONY for Excellence in Theater “The Acting Company endures as the major touring classical theater in the United States,” according to The New York Times. After leaving Pembroke the show will continue its April offerings in N.C., Ky., Tenn., and Va.

Beach Music requires no introduction in North Carolina, so whatever your tastes may be, don’t overlook these fi ne opportunities for an evening of dance, drama or songs offered and supported by UNC Pembroke and GPAC.

All performances are at 8 p.m. with tickets available through the box office at (910) 521-6361. Find out more about GPAC and the Broadway Series at www.uncp.edu/gpac/broadway.

Photo: GPAC features Of Mice and Men as part of its Broadway and More Series.

Downtown Fayetteville is the heart of the city, and 4th Friday is when it truly comes alive with all the culture the area has to offer. This month, 4th Friday falls on March 22. The streets will be full to the brim with food, music and culture for everyone in the area to enjoy. Nearly everything will be open late for anyone to explore.

The art scene is one of the most prominent features of downtown, and this is the perfect time to explore it because everything will be open later than normal. Don’t miss Anne Frank: A History for Today and Propaganda in Nazi-occupied Holland. Both exhibits are featured this month at the Arts Council Fayetteville/Cumberland County. The exhibits are free and open to the public and not only provide historical insight to the World War II era, but take a hard look at intolerance and how the issue is still relevant today.

The Fayetteville Transportation and Local History Museum offers a companion exhibit that showcases the history of Fayetteville’s Jewish community. Learn of the many personal stories of sacrifi ce and challenge that Jewish immigrants face as they moved to the South. Explore the struggles they faced as they assimilated to a new land while keeping their cultural and religious identities. In addition, the Transportation and Local History Museum is open from 6 to 10 p.m. and will have its normal exhibits open, too.

Cape Fear Studios will also be open late for 4th Friday festivities. The studios are located at 148 Maxwell St. and the artists who work there are passionate about providing the public a free way to view and experience art. The gallery of various mediums of art such as, paintings, photographs, sculptures, wood working and glass art will be open for the public to explore. There will also be pieces for sale.

4th Friday is also a child-friendly experience. Fascinate-U is designed to interest and teach young children, and on 4th Friday admission is free and the hours are longer. This month, the museum celebrates the coming of Easter with an egg-decorating craft for kids. Families can make unique and beautiful foam Easter eggs using buttons, sequins and any other materials they would like. The craft and admission are free from 7 to 9 p.m.

Art is not the only thing going on in downtown Fayetteville. The area is brimming with historical importance. The Market House will be open from 6 to 10 p.m. with a special exhibit just for March. The March exhibit is Cumberland County in the War Between the States. The Market House is located at 108 Person St. All the shops and restaurants along Hay Street will also be open late for festivities. Many of them will have free drinks and snacks; some will even have live music for patrons to enjoy. There is no time quite like 4th Friday to come to the center of the town and see all that it has to offer. From the shops, to the history and art there will be something for everyone to enjoy on March 22.

In partnership with the Downtown Alliance, several shops offer special deals and discounts for the monthly event. Find out more about 4th Fridayat www.theartscouncil.com or www.faydta.org.

Photo: Anne Frank. Photo credit: ©AFS/AFF Amsterdam/Basel

Usually a period of sweetness and light ensues when individuals are hired in high-profi le positions in local government. Such may not be the case in regards to Rochelle Small-Toney who has been announced as deputy city manager.

In Fayetteville, her responsibilities will focus on community development in areas related to minorities that will include furtherance of the Murchison Road Corridor, public housing and addressing fairness for minorities and women in the city’s granting of contracts. These assignments are closely related to Small-Toney’s previous jobs in Charlottesville, Va., and Savannah, Ga.

In Charlottesville she oversaw the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority. In Savannah Small-Toney managed various community-development programs. She was appointed Savannah’s city manager in March 2011 and was asked to resign that position in September 2012. The relatively short tenure of Small-Toney’s career as Savannah’s city manager was marked with controversy beyond what might be considered normal.

The Savannah Morning News reported that as she took her offi ce, the city was in the midst of general belt tightening. Still, she chose to redecorate her offi ce with a price tag of $40,000. That was preceded by a $7,500 welcome aboard party for 400 or so guests that she threw for herself. Meantime the police department was asked to reduce its budget by 5 percent. The African-America police chief had his knuckles rapped for having the effrontery to complain and was ordered to say no more by Small-Toney.

A surprise development shortly after Small-Toney took office was the denial by the city’s bonding company of a $50,000 bond for her which is a requirement for Savannah’s city managers. The cause was a problem with Small-Toney’s credit history. But a more serious issue with Small-Toney’s tenure related to unprecedented salary increases for several staffers who received increases of more than 20 percent while city policy permitted no more than 2.5 percent. These raises also occurred while the city was in a severe budget crisis. To the dismay of the city council and citizenry, Small-Toney hired an Emergency Services Director at twice the salary of his predecessor. And, as it turned out, the new guy lied about his qualifi cations and was subsequently fi red for cause.

These issues were among failure to timely report travel expenses, inappropriate travel and convention charges and a purchasing department in disarray. Six months into Small-Toney’s tenure the City of Savannah elected a new mayor, who like Small-Toney, is an ambitious and successful African-American woman. In the year that followed, the mayor and city manager had difficulty working together and in September 2012 the mayor asked for Small-Toney’s resignation, which was rendered.

Had the issues that occurred during the brief year and one half that Small-Toney served as city manager been stretched out to five or 10 years she may have weathered the storm of criticism leveled at her. But the management style that Small-Toney demonstrated to the Savannah City Council, her staff and the people at large was too much and too soon. She clashed with a strong-minded female mayor and it was over.

So the obvious question is which Small-Toney will fill this newly created position in Fayetteville’s city government? Will it be the progressive hard driving get it done Small-Toney that attracted Ted Voorhees or will it be her counterpart that led ultimately to her demise in Savannah?

Hopefully she has profi ted by past errors in judgment and behavior and if such is the case Fayetteville will be the better community.

Photo: Rochelle Small-Toney

Are you math phobic? Do you cringe when someone wants you to figure the amount of a tip or taxes? People avoid math like the plague with the common refrain, “I’m just not good at math!”

You don’t have to learn about the Etruscans to study the Civil War; you don’t need to know how to diagram a sentence to study poetry. However, math is different; math builds on itself. Without a strong base, the upper stories of your math ability are a little shaky.

Many students seeking admission to Fayetteville Technical Community College’s academic programs need to strengthen their mathematical skills. developmental mathematics courses are a key component of the college’s “open-door” admissions policy.

Developmental mathematics courses offer students an opportunity to improve their mathematical and problem-solving skills, which will prepare them to enter the curriculum of their choice with a better probability of success.

In an effort to better serve students who require developmental math courses, the North Carolina Community College System has redesigned the developmental math curriculum across the state. Students can now complete the curriculum sooner with an individualized plan to meet each student’s need.

FTCC will offer these developmental classes with two options of delivery: (1) face-to-face delivery where students attend regular class meetings for one hour each day (Monday through Friday) and (2) customizable learning, where students work at their own pace in a computer lab setting with an instructor present to facilitate learning. These approaches will allow for quicker completion time of developmental coursework, and this will allow students to complete their degree in a shorter period of time.

Along with these new developmental classes, a new placement test has been created. This test will allow students to be more accurately placed in the coursework appropriate to their skill level.

The new developmental math curriculum at FTCC may not solve all of your math anxiety, but the redesigned developmental curriculum should make it easier to complete the math courses needed in order to enter your chosen program of study. FTCC will offer Developmental courses starting fall of 2013.

For those students who aspire to obtain a four-year university degree, allow FTCC to provide the solid foundation for these plans with one of our college transferable, two-year associate degrees. We offer the Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Fine Arts degrees, all of which are accredited and covered by the North Carolina Comprehensive Articulation Agreement for smooth transition to a University of North Carolina System school. FTCC truly provides education for life.

Photo: Developmental mathematics courses offer students an opportunity to improve their mathematical and problem-solving skills.

Turning Over Control

Plumb expriences first-hand the power of a song…her song.

Christian artist Plumb has written or co-written many songs that have inspired and encouraged thousands of people. Her latest song, “Need You Now” is a great example, only this time she was one of those on the receiving end of that encouragement.

Plumb was very vulnerable when sharing her story of how the song spoke to her in a time of desparation. “Literally God used this song to carry me through a really difficult, dark time in my life. Last year when everything seemed to be falling apart in my life I didn’t think I’d even still get to be who I am as an artist. Even though I’ve grown up in the church and I know Jesus and I love Jesus, I fell in love with Jesus for the first time when all that happened last year.

What do I do now?

I remember kinda repeating over and over as things were kind of unraveling, ‘I don’t know what to do; what do I do, what do I do?’ It sounds good to say ‘turn to Jesus’ but that’s a verb. When you’re in a crisis you can’t make sense of truly what am I supposed to do right now. And he reminded me in ‘Need You Now’ there’s no punch-card with him, there’s no limit. He doesn’t grow tired of our need for him.We have to trust him, we have to surrender.

Giving up control is scary

It took me about six to eight weeks of being in the midst of this real terrifying time in my life and my marriage and my home and some other things, and he finally got through. He got me out of the way. He needed me to quit talking. He needed me to just be still. That didn’t feel proactive. I wanted to fix things and it was very clear that I was making things worse. I’m being prompted to just be still and be quiet, and that felt scary.

Peace finally returns

The more surrendered I became, the more control I felt him take, and the more joy and the more peace I found. No matter how this turns out, whether I like it or not, I have a quiet confidence that God is in control of this now. And you know, joy is birthed from sorrow. Whatever sorrow someone is going through, and they may hear this song or a Matthew West song or an Aaron Shust song or any other song that makes them feel hopeful, it’s real. Hope is real. God wants to give us joy and he does not leave us and He does not give us more than we can bear. He really does carry the added load.

We can always begin again

Believe it or not, there is beauty from your ashes if you’ll let him turn it into that. You can have a confidence that I am pleasing the Almighty and I can trust him to protect me and to provide for me and to love me. It’s not contingent on whether or not I did the right thing 5 years ago or 10 years ago or 10 minutes ago. His mercies are new every morning. It’s good to remember to really live in the now and be hopeful about what is to come. Right this second, it’s a brand new breath, begin again.God is the master of begin-agains!”

That is an excerpt from a recent conversation I had with the artist Plumb referring to her song, “Need You Now”.

The Parchman Hour, on stage at the Cape Fear Regional Theatre, may be the most socially relevant and important theatre to be staged this year in Cumberland County. Now, having said that, I realize it might sound pompous or may even make you want to run screaming from the idea of seeing the play — but don’t let it. This is the must see of the season.

Written and directed by Mike Wiley, the show doesn’t just entertain; it challenges you to look inside, to do a reality check on your own ideals. As uncomfortable as that sounds, I would be remiss not to say that while it is a sanity check, it is also outstanding theatre. It entertains as well as illuminates the human condition, while visiting a dark era in our nation’s history.

The show chronicles the hot summer of 1961 and the Freedom Rides to integrate the segregated bus lines of the South. Historically accurate, the show focuses mainly on the tribulations of nine of the students/activists who traveled South during this turbulent summer. The cast, comprised of just 16 individuals, is required to play the role of a number of characters that cross both gender and racial lines. As a whole, the cast was without equal.

Wiley, who knows the material intimately, reworked the script for the staging of the show at the CFRT. Having drawn rave reviews across the nation, it was its opening at the Playmakers Repertoire in Chapel Hill, N.C., that drew the attention of the CFRT Artistic Director Tom Quaintance. In the notes for the show, Quaintance wrote:

“Sometime in the middle of the first act, I started to shake,” wrote Quaintance, who is the son of an Alabama Civil Rights lawyer who was intimate with the Freedom Riders.“

I grew up in a household where the Civil Rights movement was central to our identity, yet I knew very little about the Freedom Riders and their amazing story.”

After seeing The Parchman Hour, Quaintance knew it was a project that he had to bring to the CFRT stage.

“It was one of those ‘This is why I do what I do’ moments. This is why I became a theatre artist. This is why I moved my family across the country, so I could be in the position to support a production like this in a community like Fayetteville.”

Quaintance believed it was a show that the community would embrace, and from what I saw, he was right. To talk about a show like The Parchman Hour, you have to be honest. So, I am honest in saying that as much as we as a community tout our diversity, we remain a fairly divided community. Those who are regular patrons at the theatre will, if they are honest, acknowledge that the audience at most of the shows is fairly white. That wasn’t the case with this show. This show brought our community together to talk about one of the most divisive times in our nation; I believe that common ground was found.

You cannot see this show without having your biases, even if you don’t admit that you have them challenged — and that goes to people of all races. While the content is heavy and will leave you on the edge of your seat, you will feel uplifted at the ability of the human spirit to overcome hate and ignorance. The story is told through short vignettes that are interspersed with music; music that will uplift your spirit, even while it chronicles the sorrow of others. It was in music that the students and activists who were imprisoned in Parchman found their salvation and it is where we find it in the telling of this story as well.

While the story and Wiley’s telling of it is the ultimate star of this production, the performances by cast makes it shine.

Tim Cain, who portrayed Jim Farmer, the director of the Congress of Racial Equality (the group who organized the Freedom Rides), showed strength, wisdom and above all faith in the face of unadulterated hatred. What I particularly liked about Cain’s performance was the degree of humility that he brought to the role, rather than coming off as an extremist, he played the role of an elder statesman, who in the end, had to confront his own weaknesses. Sonny Kelly, a local minister who works with Fayetteville Urban Ministry and Christ Gospel Church, was a stand out. Kelly, who played the role of Stokely Carmichael, brought a passion to the role that shone through in his singing and dancing.

Joy Ducree Gregory has a beautiful singing voice that can make you see heaven even in the face of hell. Her mastery was matched by Hazel Edmond. Quickly becoming a favorite on the CFRT stage, Samantha Fabiani wowed with her vocal prowess. Lack of space prohibits me from mentioning everyone, but the performances by the cast as whole were stellar.

The show runs through March 24. To get your tickets, visit www.cfrt.org.

Photo: The Parchman Hour chronicles the hot summer of 1961 and the Freedom Rides to integrate the segregated bus lines of the South.

Ballet Classics springs to life on March 17 at Methodist University’s Reeves Auditorium. Ballet Classics, danced by the North Carolina Ballet, is directed by Charlotte Blume and will feature three separate ballets.

The lyric and beautiful “Les Sylphides” is set to music by Chopin and will headline the program. Holst’s The Planets will feature signature pieces “Jupiter” and “Venus.” The third ballet will be “Variations” and “Grande Pas Classique” from Paquita.

“Les Sylphides,” with choreography by Fokine was first presented in Paris by the Russian Ballet in 1909. It was staged by Fokine in 1940 for the American Ballet Theatre and restaged by Mikhail Baryshnikov in 1984. Blume learned the choreography from Fokine in his latter years and has staged the ballet for the North Carolina State Ballet.

The Planets, by composer Holst has bee performed in orchestral and electronic versions. The Tomita electronic version is the best known. The performance will feature Tomita’s electronic rendition of “Venus.” An orchestral rendition of “Jupiter” will accompany the dancers and contains the most well-known musical themes of The Planets. Choreographer Wei Nei has staged The Planets in a modern classic form.

Pasquita was staged for the Russian Imperial Ballet by Petipa in 1847. It was the first work he ever staged. Some 40 years later, Petipa revised the ballet to music by Minkus and that version has endured. “The Finale” and “Grande Pas Classique” remain in the repertory of the American Ballet Theatre. Nei has staged Pasquita for the North Carolina State Ballet.

A performance for Cumberland County and Regional Schools will be offered on March 14, at 10 a.m.

Reservations may be made for both the school and public performances by calling the ballet company at 910-485-4965 or through the company website at www.ncstateballet.com. Tickets are $16 for general seating and may be purchased through quicktixx.com or at the door. Children under 12 are admitted free.

Photo: Jupiter ‘The Bringer of Jollity’ from Holst’s The Planets will be a feature of the North Carolina State Ballet, Ballet Classics, March 17, at Reeves Auditorium, Methodist University. 

  For five years, Cindy Williams has joined two of her best friends, Julia Adkins and Carol Jones in putting together the American Girl Fashion Show to support the Child Advocacy. For the women, it’s an opportunity to enjoy each other’s time while raising funds for a charity that is near and dear to their heart. More importantly, for Williams, it’s an opportunity to teach her daughter about giving.

Her daughter has been modeling in the show for the past five years, and while this may be her last year in the show, Williams doesn’t see it as the last of her volunteer time with the Child Advocacy Center.

“This is something we do together,” said Williams. “She loves to volunteer with me each year to put the show together. If she is not on stage, she is right by my side helping me get things done. She and her friends have told us (Williams and her cochairs) that we have to continue to organize the show until they are old enough to take it over.”

It is that kind of caring and desire to give back to the community that Williams sees the fashion show promoting in the girls who participate in the event each year. She explained that there are 141 models involved in this year’s show, many of whom have returned year after year. The models, all volunteers from within the community, work hard to prepare for the show, but also in raising funds for the agency. So far, they have been very successful. With a goal of $50,000, last year the show raised more than $45,000 for the Child Advocacy Center.

“We’ve been doing this for a number of years and several of the girls, like my daughter, are aging out. We have a lot of new girls this year,” she said, “but so many of them come back year after year. It is in their heart to give back to the community. It makes me proud to see that in them.”

The $50,000 goal has been the target for a number of years, and each year the girls inch closer to it.

“Every year we get higher and higher,” said Williams. “This year could be the year.”

For those not in the know, the American Girl Fashion Show is a national fundraiser designed around the American Girl books. The show, originated by the makers of the books and accompanying dolls, is designed to raise funds for child-centered nonprofits like the Child Advocacy Center.

The CAC, celebrating its 20th year, has as its purpose alleviating the “trauma children experience once a disclosure of sexual abuse or serious physical abuse occurs by creating a community of collaborating advocates.”

The advocates come together under the auspices of the agency to coordinate services for child abuse victims and their families by providing a safe and child-friendly environment where professionals from 19 community agencies work together to interview, investigate and provide support for abused children by reducing the number of interview and providing specially trained personnel to conduct the interviews. In addition to the hands-on interaction with the children, the CAC provides continuing education to professionals who serve child abuse victims, as well as serving as an advocate in the community to raise awareness about child abuse.All of that comes with a cost, some of which is covered through state and federal funds as well as corporate and individual sponsorships. Started as a nonprofit volunteer agency, the CAC still depends on support of individuals in the community to fund its programs. That’s why the American Girl Fashion Show has been so successful. It lets the community take ownership of the agency by allowing children to provide support for other children.

“The caring these children show is modeled in the American Girl books,” explained Williams. “They are so wholesome and show strong role models for girls.”

Over the years the event has evolved from strictly a showing of the dolls with the models to a family event replete withe special events and refreshments. This year, the number of vendors who participate in the show has increased. They sell everything from clothes for the dolls to pretty things for the girls and their moms. The students at Paul Mitchell Beauty School are returning this year to provide manicures and hairstyles for girls and their moms the day of the event. All funds raised by the school go directly back to the CAC. This year’s show has a Western theme as it is based on the newest American Girl doll, Sage.“We’ve changed up the menu and the set is just beautiful,” said Williams. “It’s a complete Western theme.”

In addition to the introduction of Sage, the new historical doll being unveiled is Caroline. Locals may recognize the doll as it is modeled after one of last year’s models, Mya Long. Long, who participated in last year’s show, went to New York to audition for the American Girl company, and was selected as the face of the new doll.

The show is scheduled for Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24 at the Crown Ballroom. The event includes elegant refreshments, party favors, raffles and door prizes. Tickets to the event are still available and can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com or in person at the Crown Box Office. VIP tickets with seating close to the stage is also available. For more information, visit the CAC website at www.childadvocacycenter.com.

It’s been said many times and in many different ways: “Don’t judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes.” Many parents have said these exact words to their children. It’s easy to imagine their young minds wandering and suddenly an image of tiny feet inside of a big old pair of shoes comes to mind. They could be boots. They could be sneakers. They could be sandals or slippers. They could be oxfords or penny loafers. They could be cleats or fl ippers. Or they could be... high-heels.

The Rape Crisis Volunteers of Cumberland County is hosting the third annual Walk Awhile in Her Shoes fundraiser event on March 22 in downtown Fayetteville. Walk Awhile is a part of the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes international project in which men are asked to wear high-heeled shoes to raise awareness of sexual violence in local communities. Yes, men. Yes, high-heels.

These handsome guys will strut their stuff down Hay Street beginning at the Market House and ending at the AIT building where a reception will be held. Refreshments will be available for participants, whether they walked or simply donate to the cause. Band-Aids will also be on scene for those brawny, brave men who showed those stilettos who’s boss. General registration is $20 and includes a T-shirt, admission for two to the reception and two drink tickets per person. Student registration (must have ID) costs $10 and includes a T-shirt and admission for one to the reception. Participants can register onsite at the Market House at 6 p.m. and the walk starts at 7 p.m.

Bill Cannon and his two sons, Tyler (20) and Trent (15), will participate in the walk. Cannon feels that it’s important to set a good example for his boys and get them involved in their community.

“By getting my sons involved it teaches them that it’s okay to humble yourself, put yourself out there, and give back to your community for a great cause,” Cannon said.

Sexual violence doesn’t stand out as a topic of discussion in most people’s minds. It isn’t pretty, so it’s sometimes diffi cult to raise awareness. The people at Walk a Mile in Her Shoes understand this and that’s why Walk Awhile works; because it’s fun. It isn’t uncomfortable (unless you’re a foot) and it makes a sensitive subject easier to talk about.

“A lot of people don’t want to see it,” Cannon stated. “They want to close their eyes. This fundraiser can help open the eyes of those that may be too afraid to acknowledge the existence of sexual violence, but in a fun way.”In 2012, 100 men showed up to give their support and raise awareness in the community by taking that valiant, yet glamorous, stroll down those historic cobble-stone streets. This year the RCVCC hopes to raise at least $25,000 to help support the growing demand for volunteer and financial resources at the Rape Crisis facility. It is reported that in the 2011-2012 Fiscal Year, at least 378 victims of sexual assault were provided services by the RCVCC in our community; the number of cases continues to climb.

“We need more men to go out and support things like this,” Cannon said. “These women need to know they’re not alone.”

Statistics show that one in four American women are victims of sexual assault; meaning it’s likely that we all know someone who has been affected. Doing your part to support these victims can be as simple as putting one fabulous foot in front of the other, just be careful not to break a heel.

If you have any questions, want more information or wish to sponsor the walk, contact Deanne Gerdes, executive director of the RCVCC at 485-7273 or by e-mail at gerdes.deanne@gmail.com.

Photo: Real men wear heels.

Dr. Howard Loughlin, M.D., has been selected as the recipient of the 2013 National Children’s Advocacy Center Outstanding Service Award in the category of Medical Care. He will be recognized at the 29th National Symposium on Child Abuse on March 20 in Huntsville, Ala.

Dr. Loughlin was nominated by Fayetteville’s Child Advocacy Center in recognition of his many years of service to the children of Cumberland County. In 1991, Dr. Loughlin helped to found Friends of Children at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center to serve hospitalized children and their families. In 1993, Dr. Loughlin and other concerned professionals came together to establish the Child Advocacy Center, which will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year. Dr. Loughlin has served on its board throughout its history.

Dr. Loughlin started the Child Abuse Evaluation Clinic at Southern Regional Area Health Education Center in Fayetteville in 1994 so he and other local physicians could provide the necessary examinations for child abuse victims. He was director of that clinic until July 2012, when he partially retired. He continues to work at SRAHEC part-time.

In 2009, Dr. Loughlin was one of the first physicians in the nation to take and pass the exam to become a Board Certifi ed Child Abuse Pediatrician. In 2012, he received the Champion for Children award from the Cumberland County Break the Chain of Child Abuse Committee.

Skirmishes & Shortages: NC in 1863

On Saturday April 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the grounds of the old Fayetteville Arsenal will once again host Confederate soldiers. “Skirmishes and Shortages: NC in 1863 is a Civil War Sesquicentennial living-history event focused on what was happening in our state 150 years ago. Members of the 26th N.C. Regiment will set up camp and provide musket and drilling demonstrations for the visiting public at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. in Arsenal Park.

The Carolina Citizens, a civilian living-history group, will portray female munitions workers employed by the arsenal and visitors can try their own hand at rolling cartridges. Demonstrations are ongoing throughout the day.

Musical performances will be provided by the Huckleberry Brothers Band at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 pm. This popular group of musicians from eastern North Carolina performs songs, ballads and fiddle tunes from the 19th century. Instruments include five-string banjo, fiddle, guitar, accordion, mandolin, tin whistle, harmonicas, bones and tambourine.

Want to learn more about women workers in the Arsenal? Guest speaker Raina Kellerman, adjunct professor at Mount Aloysius College in Pennsylvania, will speak on this fascinating topic at 1 p.m. in the museum. She has been involved in Civil War living history for 17 years and is currently in the process of writing a book about women who worked in Civil War arsenals.

Have your tintype image taken by fine-art photographer Harry Taylor. Taylor uses the wet-plate collodion process, the same method used during the Civil War, which involves large format cameras up to 16x20 and on site processing in a mobile darkroom. Visitors are welcome to have their images taken and purchase a 4x5 tintype or ambrotype on glass for $50, or an 8x10 is available for $100. Photography will be available throughout the day.

Discover the story of “Long Grabs” McSween, the unofficial war correspondent for the Fayetteville Observer. A Fayetteville native, McSween wrote more than 80 letters to the Observer in 1862-1863. He was twice wounded at Petersburg as a member of the 26th N.C. McSween returned to Fayetteville after the war and became editor of The Eagle newspaper. Learn more about his extraordinary life and listen to an interpretive reading of his letters at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Photo: Dr. Howard Loughlin

Each year Better Health hosts an Evening at the Theater. It is a night of fun and entertainment that is unique every time. While offering something different year after year must be a challenge, event organizer Cassandra Vallery delivers time and again. Mark the calendar for March 23, and plan to head to the Highland Country Club for a cabaret show featuring Georgia Rogers, with Cassandra Vallery as the opening act.

A long-time supporter of Better Health and a performer in her own right, Vallery has had a hand in both writing and performing Evening at the Theater for several years running. Her vision for this latest rendition is defi nitely something worth getting excited about according to Judy Klinck, Better Health executive director.

“We have a professional cabaret performer coming to be the main performer in our show,” said Klinck. “She has done cabaret and stage plays and club singing and other theatrical work around the country and she writes her own shows. There will be a lot of opportunity for laughs — she is funny, and a great singer, too.”

One of Klinck’s favorite things about this event is that it is one-of-a-kind theater that can’t be foundanywhere else in town.

“People coming to this event won’t be able to go out next weekend and see this at a different venue, in fact as far as I know there is no other establishment in Fayetteville that provides this kind of entertainment,” said Klinck. “It is a unique opportunity to see a show you wouldn’t get to see ordinarily. It is also an opportunity to do good.”

In addition to an evening of entertainment, Better Health has some impressive items to raffl e. Come prepared for a chance to win a 46-inch sterling silver and rose quartz necklace from the David Yurman Collection. Retail Value: $975; Dom Perignon 2002 vintage champagne, Andy Warhol Collection (3 bottles). Retail value: $600; or a gift certifi cate for $100 to Morgan’s Chop House. Raffl e tickets may be purchased in advance from Better Health a board member, or at the event. Tickets are $10 each or three for $25. Participants do not have to be present to win. Three tickets will be drawn.

While this event is indeed a lot of fun, the proceeds benefi t a serious cause – the health of the community. Last year alone, Better Health fi nancially assisted 1,376 people with prescriptions, dental extractions and other emergency needs; served 488 people who participated in diabetes programs; loaned medical equipment to 277 individuals in the community and reached 1,221 through community programs about healthy lifestyle.

“The $30,000 we hope to net from this event is 9 percent of our current budget,” said Klinck. “So it is a signifi cant piece of the annual revenue Better Health needs to operate. We can get so caught up in the excitement of the event that it is easy for participants to forget what we are doing this for and that is to continue our services. We exist 100 percent on donations. We are locally grown and supported. The people we help are here in our community — 24.5 percent of people here do not have health insurance. We have a 13.5 percent diabetes rate, which is very high in the state. That is why we are a doing this fun and exciting event.”

Reservations for the event are $85 per person and are available at www.betterhealthcc.org or by calling 483-7534. Reservations include the show, heavy hors d’oeuvres, beverages, dessert and coffee. Find out more at www.betterhealthcc.org

Photo: Cassandra Vallery