Who wants to play pin the pink star on the foreigners? It’s an exciting new fun game brought to you by the all Republican all the time current government of North Carolina. President Obi created the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that prevents the deportation of illegal immigrants under 30 who were brought to the U.S. as children and are now high school graduates, enrolled in college or who have served in the military. As part of this program, these people are eligible for driver’s licenses.

The N.C. General Assembly is not happy about issuing driver’s licenses to these folks. It came up with a colorful way to comply with licensing. Licenses issued to the undocumented will bear a pink stripe and the words “No Lawful Status.” How long do you think the General Assembly will be content with just putting the Pink Badge of Otherness on North Carolina driver’s licenses for this group? Pink Striping is not going to be enough for the Republicans. Some Republican representative is likely to introduce a bill requiring people licensed under this law to wear pink stars on their clothes to broadcast their status. Forcing people to wear the mark of Cain is what the strong do to the weak. Come on General Assembly, just do it. Make ‘em wear pink stars. You know you want to.

Remember Chuck Conner’s old western TV show Branded? Of course not. But I do, so you don’t have to. The General Assembly could recreate Branded’s opening sequence in its grudging issuance of driver’s licenses to those dastardly foreigners. Consider Conner’s plight. He is in the U.S. Cavalry. Through an unfortunate turn of events he is wrongly convicted of cowardice during a fight with the Indians. His commanding offi cer marches Conner, in full Army uniform, out into the middle of the fort and ceremoniously rips off all his uniform insignia, takes his hat and breaks his sword. The CO tosses Chuck and his broken sword out the front gate. Chuck is now on his own. As the theme song goes: “All but one man died/There at Bitter Creek/And they say he ran away/Branded, scorned as the one who ran/ What do you do when you’re branded, and you know you’re a man?”

The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles could use that branding experience to create the ceremonial issuance of driver’s licenses to the undocumented. March the prospective driver’s out into the middle of the parking lot at the DMV. Put their new driver’s licenses in a vat of chicken fat filled with water moccasins. Make ‘em bob for their licenses. When they get their license, pin the Pink Badge of Otherness on them. Paint a pink stripe down their cars for easy identifi cation by law enforcement. What could possibly go wrong with this plan?

The Republicans won the election and now we have them and they have us. We are in a world where Republicans frolic and run free to spread blessings upon the Haves at the expense of the Have Nots. A world of trickle-up economics with reduced unemployment benefi ts, increased sales taxes and rejected Medicaid benefi ts for people silly enough to be poor and sick.

Recall the great political philosopher Meat Loaf who wrote the classic song of young love, “Paradise by the Dashboard Light.” Mr. Loaf sang of young love that parallels N.C.’s current young love affair with the Republicans. The boy is attempting to convince his girl friend to make whoopee: “We were doubly blessed/’Cause we were barely 17/And we were barely dressed/... Though its cold and lonely in the deep dark night/I can see paradise by the dashboard light.” The girl replies, “Stop right there!/Will you love me forever?/Will you take me away and will you make me your wife?” The boy tries to dodge the question by telling her “I’ll give you the answer in the morning.” She isn’t buying it. He is overcome by the moment and “I started swearing on my mother’s grave/That I would love you till the end of time”

After the moment passes, as all such moments do. Mr. Loaf says “So now I’m praying for the end of time/To hurry up and arrive/ ‘Cause if I’ve got to spend another minute with you/I don’t think that I can really survive/I’m praying for the end of time/So I can end my time with you.” Some of us non-Republicans are now praying for the end of time so we can end our time with the Republican paradise by the dashboard light. Happy motoring!

Education is more important than ever in the current age. In the fast-paced science- and math-driven world, a sound basic education enables children to face their higher education goals with a head start. It is never too early to give a child a great education or an advantage for the future. St. Patrick Catholic School is one institution known for the quality education it has provided local residents over the past 75 years.

The school has educated thousands of students, but it had humble beginnings.

“St. Patrick Catholic School opened in 1937 as a parish ministry of St. Patrick Catholic Church at 811 Hay St., with an enrollment of 33 students. Four Sisters of Providence staffed the two-story building, which held three classrooms and a library on the first floor and provided living quarters for the sisters on the second floor,” according to school officials. “The backyard was used for recess and games. By the end of the first year, the school had grown to 50 students with one each in sixth, seventh and eighth grades.”

From there school moved to its new location on Fort Bragg Road where enrollment peaked at 295. In 1986, it relocated to a new building near Village Drive, and current enrollment is 225.

In order to celebrate its 75th anniversary and the growth and development of the school, St. Patrick Catholic School will host many events including a Fun Run. This is a 5k run/walk that will help fund the improvements in its technologies, Beth O’Leary, the coordinator of Family Life Ministry at the school explained. The event is scheduled for March 16.

Increasingly schools are turning to technology to supplement educational practices. It is often far more interactive and a very engaging form of education for the students — and an engaged student is a student that learns more effectively. Unfortunately, these technologies can be incredibly expensive, but proceeds from the registrations for the fun run will help to offset the cost of improvements. There is no better way to celebrate years of success than to raise money for more improvements.

“This is just a fun run in which anyone who likes to run or has a goal to run a 5K can participate. People can walk the route too,” O’Leary says.

There are no requirements to participate in the race, and everyone is welcome regardless of whether or not they are affiliated with the school.

Improving the education of the youth of the area is a great investment for the community. Well-educated citizens improve a community, so supporting the education of the next generation of leaders is an event where everyone can contribute. The event also celebrates the success of a longstanding and well-respected institution in Fayetteville.

Race day registrations is $25, with registration opening at 7:30 a.m. The race will start at 9 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic School, which is located at 1620 Marlborough Road off Village Drive. Register online at active.com or at the school.

Frustrating. How do we teach our children responsibility? How do we instill honesty, pride, dignity and integrity into their young developing characters when our entire country, from the President on down, continues to display such ridiculous and senseless levels of corruption, political correctness and irresponsibility? All of which results in no one, including our members of Congress, willing step up, man up and be responsible for the direction and well being of our country.

The recent sequestration volley is an example of irresponsible political behavior and fi nger pointing in what seems to be our country’s fifth rendition of the Republican and Democratic blame game. Who’s at fault? Who is responsible? Who even cares anymore?

Believe me, there is enough blame to go around for everyone. As a nation, we are reaching the pinnacle of obscurity when it comes to leadership. And, from where I sit, the reason nothing is getting done is pretty obvious. No one has to do anything. It seems that political entitlements now dictates that no longer does anyone have to be responsible for his or her actions, or inactions, in an American leadership position. How convenient.

Why is this? Our leaders have eliminated all responsibility and consequence. More simply put, our politicians at all levels have become so adept at shirking their duties and responsibilities that every Washington victory comes complete with a wardrobe of Tefl on suits. Nothing sticks. No accountability. No consequences. It just doesn’t matter!Where do we go from here?

I am concerned. Last Friday I attended a wonderful Dr. Seuss birthday party put on by the Cumberland County Association of Educators. It was a great community-supported event. There were hundreds of young children playing, reading, laughing and singing — all oblivious of the dismal future we adults are carving out for them. It made me sad to think of the kind of world we will be leaving them if we don’t come to our senses and start being responsible for our actions. We cannot continue to exist as a nation of no consequences. This is the core of what builds character in our young people.

How can we teach our children one thing and continue to demonstrate and practice another? No wonder our children are distracted, detached and confused. In their eyes, moral lines that separate good and evil must not only be blurred but quickly disappearing. Consequences do matter!

Today, it seems that it doesn’t matter what you do, what you saw or how bad, brutal, heinous, bazaar, corrupt or irresponsible the act or action was. It just doesn’t matter because there will be no consequences.

Recent examples:

Solyndra: We lost $500 million of taxpayers’ money. How? Why? It doesn’t matter — no consequences.

Our American Embassy gets attacked and destroyed in Benghazi. Four people die including our American Ambassador. How? Why? Who is the culprit? Who is responsible? It doesn’t matter — no consequences.

An American border guard loses his life because of a stupid gun-hustling plan — Fast and Furious. Who is at fault? Where is the justice? Who is in charge here? It doesn’t matter — no consequences. Thousands of imprisoned illegal immigrants were released from jail and no one knows who gave the order. Again, it doesn’t matter — no consequences.

Billions of taxpayers’ dollars are wasted on documented cases of waste, fraud and abuse of food stamps, welfare and other numerous entitlement programs yet these practices are allowed to continue unabated. Why? Because political correctness has reached unheard of levels and a corrupt political system encourages, rewards and fosters such behavior allowing it to become an accepted way of life. How did that happen? Because, there are no consequences for such behavior.

In closing, let me make it clear that this is not a Democrat or a Republican thing or a black, white or Hispanic thing or a rich, poor or middle-class thing. This is an American thing. A very sad American thing. So, breaking down this problem into it’s simplest form I will ask: In this kind of political environment how do you teach young children love, respect, honesty, a work ethic and integrity? At some point, there must be a consequence. Without it, there will never be truth.

Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

picture caption: How do you teach young children love, respect,
honesty, a work ethic and integrity? 

Intolerance is nothing new to humanity. Throughout human history individuals, and even entire ethnic and religious groups have been targeted not just for harassment, but for extinction. This spring several organizations in the community will come together to promote diversity and tolerance.

The Arts Council opens two exhibits on March 18: Art and Propaganda in Nazi-Occupied Holland and Anne Frank: A History for Today. Anne Frank: A History for Today was developed by the Anne Frank House and is sponsored in North America by the Anne Frank Center USA.

Unlike previous exhibits, visitors won’t enter through the front door. No, the exhibit opens in the Arts Council basement amid dirt and debris — a space reminiscent of a bombed-out building, dark and devastated; a potential hiding place for someone who is a afraid and on the run. Once inside, the walls are lined with Dutch Resistance Art and offi cial propaganda from the World War II era. There are original posters that were used by the Nazi-controlled Dutch government; linoleum and woodcut prints created by Marie de Zaaijer that show the hardships suffered in Holland during World War II; and original drawings created by Henri Pieck when he was interned at Buchenwald Concentration Camp.

Amid the oppressive propaganda that urges people to “support the heroic struggle of the German Wehrmacht against the dark forces of Bolshevism,” is a dusty furnace door that leads to what could have made a safe haven for any of the numerous “undesirables” targeted by the Nazi party during that time period. As visitors move to the upstairs exhibit, there is a stop along the way to the main gallery to watch a 28-minute video, The Short Life of Anne Frank. From there the tour concludes with Anne Frank: A History for Today, which is a timeline of the story of the Holocaust through the life of Anne Frank.

 “This tells the story of the Holocaust and it introduces people to the great history of World War II,” said Marketing Director at Arts Council of Fayetteville/ Cumberland County, Mary Kinney. “It talks a lot about the importance of individual action whether then or now.”

There are several other free exhibits throughout the community in March and April that parallel the message of the Anne Frank exhibits. From April 1-May 22, Cumberland County Public Library and Information Center will host a multimedia traveling exhibit from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The exhibit showcases how book burning played a part in America’s battle against Nazism. From March 18 - April 21 the Fayetteville Transportation and Local History Museum will exhibit A History of Fayetteville’s Jewish Community. Images, information, and artifacts tell the story about the positive impact of Jewish emigrants on the economic, social and cultural welfare of the local community.

The Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex examines intolerance through a different lens with an exhibit called Fayetteville and the Wilmington Race Riot of 1898. Propaganda and race relations are closely linked in America, even as far back at the late 1800s. This exhibit examines the struggle that took place in Wilmington and Fayetteville’s response and connections.

The JFK Special Warfare Museum offers a look at many of the propaganda posters used by different organizations during World War II. The four major themes in this exhibit are Support of Allied efforts; Security, Homeland Conservation and Production and War Bonds. The 82nd Airborne Division Museum has artifacts the division captured from the Dutch National Socialist movement during World War II on display. There is an additional exhibit featuring the liberation of Wobbelin concentration camp. The Airborne and Special Operations Museum features several examples of American propaganda posters from the World War II-era.

Beth Israel Congregation invites the public to a community observance of Holocaust Remembrance Day. The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra and Cape Fear Regional Theatre will present Olivier Messiaen’s “Quatuor pour la fi n du temps” (“Quartet for the End of Time”) and selected readings from a stage adaptation of the Diary of Anne Frank.

For more information, visit www.theartscouncil. com or call 323-1776.

Photo credit: ©AFS/AFF Amsterdam/Basel

It had just started getting tense in the South during the month of May in 1961. Little did the people who called the South home know that the summer was just beginning to heat up. That month, the first group of young Civil Rights activists boarded interstate buses to make the long trip into the integrated South. The first group of Freedom Riders, as they came to be known, left Washington, D.C. on May 4, 1961 and was scheduled to arrive in New Orleans on May 17. The purpose of their trip was to challenge Supreme Court rulings in Boynton v. Virginia and Morgan v. Virginia, which challenged the segregation of interstate buses.

The young idealists left Washington, with little or no idea of the reactions they would encounter in the Deep South. They were attacked by local mobs and did not have the benefi t of police protection. Instead, when the police arrived, the students were arrested for various reasons: trespassing, unlawful assembly and violating state and local Jim Crow laws.

As they moved further south, resistance and anger boiled to the front. It came to a head on Wednesday, May 24, when the Freedom Riders boarded buses to head into Jackson, Miss. While the buses were surrounded by the state Highway Patrol and National Guard, the students felt somewhat safe. That feeling didn’t last long as the minute they stepped off the bus, they were arrested. Once the local jails were filled to overfl owing, the students were transferred to one of the nation’s harshest jails, the Mississippi State Penitentiary, which was commonly known as Parchman Farm. While at Parchman, the students were placed on Death Row. They were only issued underwear. They were not allowed to exercise or receive mail.

All of this was intended to break their spirit. But it didn’t. Instead, it allowed them to keep their dreams of freedom alive through songs and the use of their imagination to take them beyond the walls of the dreaded farm.

 The stories of these brave students are chronicled in The Parchman Hour at the Cape Fear Regional Theatre from March 7-24. The show, directed by the author of the play, Mike Wiley, is one of the most anticipated shows of the season.

“It has been a fabulous journey thus far,” said Wiley during a recent interview. “It has been a pleasure to know and work with the great professionals at the CFRT to get this production going.”

Wiley was inspired to write the play following a visit with one of his friends.

“Bill Saone is a writer and playwright, as well as a musician who most people know from the Roof Top Singers,” explained Wiley. “I was sitting on his porch with him one afternoon in Maine chitchatting about things when he mentioned his time in jail in Mississippi. That gave me pause, because I thought I knew a great deal about the man and his history and hearing he had been in jail really came out of the blue.”

Once Wiley delved into his friend’s story, he found that he had been jailed while traveling as a Freedom Rider. He shared his story of his journey south and those of his fellow college students. The story gripped Wiley and he couldn’t let it go.

“These college kids literally fi nished their exams and then wrote wills and got on a bus and traveled to the Deep South to try and stop segregation,” said Wiley. “I realized this was a story that needed to be told.”

Wiley spent a lot of time getting to know other Freedom Riders and documenting their stories. They told him stories of abuse and terror. More importantly, they told him stories of triumph. They talked about how they overcame hate with music and imagination. They told him about the Parchman Hour. It was the time when the prisoners came together to sing and act and generally encourage each other. The state could take away their freedom of movement, but not their freedom to dream.

The Parchman Hour was originally staged at PlayMakers Repertory in Chapel Hill. Wiley has traveled to various universities to share the story with students hoping to inspire a new generation of idealists. While in Mississippi, he was astounded to fi nd that one of the Freedom Riders was in the audience. This young man was a native of Mississippi, but joined forces with the Freedom Riders. He was brutally whipped for his involvement.

“We were doing the Q&A after the show when he stood up and came up on stage. He said this was a story that needed to be told,” said Wiley.

The show that is set to debut at the CFRT is an updated script and features music that seamlessly adds to the tale. The actors and musicians who have been cast have found that rather than just telling the story, they have found themselves immersed in it. They have been changed by their involvement.

As one cast member explained, “This show makes you think about what you would do if you were faced with this kind of racism, with this kind of injustice. Would you act? Would you be moved? How would it change you?’

That’s a question that Wiley hopes many will wrestle with after seeing the show. Beyond that, he believes it is an important show in the way it shows the resiliency of people and the way it deals with a really bloody time period in our history.

The show will open on March 7 and will run through March 24. Throughout the run, there will be several special events.

Freedom Riders in the ‘60s Saturday, March 9, 5 p.m. at CFRT. Dr. Ekwueme Michael Thelwell, founding chairman of the Department of Afro-American Studies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, will talk about his personal experiences in the Civil Rights-era and give a contextual framework for the Freedom Rides. This is a free event.

Author Visit Monday, March 11, 7 p.m. at Headquarters Library. Wiley will discuss the play. This is a free event.

Pre-Show Conversations Each evening before the performance at 6:45 p.m., there will be an informative pre-show talk about the production, which will give insight into the time period and the historical characters.

For tickets and more information, visit www.cfrt.org.

Portsmouth where? Maine? Virginia?

Like many North Carolinians, my friend had not heard of Portsmouth, N.C. He was resisting my push to visit Portsmouth in connection with a planned trip to Ocracoke Island to participate in a program for public school teachers organized by the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, known as NCCAT.

Take out a state road map, I said, and look for an island just south of Ocracoke. You will see Portsmouth Island, and on it is marked the town of Portsmouth.

Portsmouth is just a small village with a few old buildings: houses, a store, post office, church, a former lifesaving station and a graveyard.

But no living people.

By the 1970s only three people remained on the island and they are long since gone.

The buildings, maintained by the National Park Service, stand as reminders of what Portsmouth once was: a thriving and important commercial center.

Portsmouth lies to the south of Ocracoke Island, separated by Ocracoke Inlet, which, according to the late Dirk Frankenberg’s recently reissued classic, The Nature of North Carolina’s Southern Coast, is “the only inlet on the Outer Banks that has been open continuously throughout recorded history. It was a major entry into North Carolina’s coastal sound and estuaries in colonial times — first for pirates and smugglers,” including Blackbeard, who was killed at the inlet in 1718. After the Revolutionary War, “the inlet became important as a transshipment site for materials used for developing the land resources of North Carolina and southern Virginia.”

The village, established in the 1750s, Frankenberg wrote, “played a major role in the maritime commerce of North Carolina for the next century.”

Local pilots were necessary to guide ocean-going boats across the shallow inlet. Later, facilities grew up to accommodate the need to transfer goods between larger ocean-going ships and the smaller boats that delivered cargo to local ports near the Pamlico and Albemarle sounds.

Over time a sand build-up made the Ocracoke Inlet more tortuous, and Frankenberg wrote that it was “quickly abandoned for the clearer channels of Hatteras and Oregon Inlets that were opened by the hurricane of 1846.”

My friend agreed to add Portsmouth to our trip. Our three-hour ferry ride from Swan Quarter got us to Ocracoke just in time to join NCCAT leader Alton Ballance and his group of teachers on a boat that gave us a long, cold ride across the inlet to Portsmouth with guide Rudy Austin.

Austin told us about each building and the people who worked and lived there. But other than his voice there was no sound. The eerie quietness surprised and then delighted us.

Ballance told us about once spending the night alone in the deserted village, feeling the spirits of the dead and departed villagers and trying to imagine what they were like and how they lived.

Later I remembered how Michael Parker’s book, The Watery Part of the World, set out a fictionalized version of the last three people who lived on the island. In Parker’s version, university researchers visited a couple of times each year and asked questions about history and life on the island. They recorded the answers and preserved the distinctive way the threesome spoke. Their answers were not always totally honest, and their brogues became more pronounced for the outsiders they called “the Tape Recorders.”

The history lessons and the spur to imagination that came from our visit to Portsmouth make such a trip easy to recommend, notwithstanding the difficulty in getting there.

But, says guide Rudy Austin, be careful about going in the summertime when mosquitoes and other bugs “will eat you alive.”

The Final Countdown

Since midnight on New Year’s Eve 2012, many residents in our community, including me, have been living under the gun. It’s a threat that we have little control over and one, in which our voice has not been heard, but come March 1, it’s one that we all will face.

If you are not a news junkie, you might not know what I am talking about, but in the coming weeks, even if this threat doesn’t directly affect you, it ultimately will.

I’m talking about Sequestration.

Sequestration is just a big word for making cuts in our national budget with no rhyme or reason. In particular, it targets the Department of Defense. And if you think civilian cuts to the DoD don’t affect you, wake up! The very economic health of this community is built on the budgets of every unit and command assigned to Fort Bragg. There are around 14,125 Department of Defense civilians employed on Fort Bragg. In total, the annual payroll for these employees is $548,502,504. Triple those numbers and you will be knocking on that of the soldiers assigned here.

Think about how much of that money is going into our community in housing, dining, retail, etc. If you don’t think it impacts our community, then you are probably living in the same dream world as the Congress.

If, over the next week, Congress makes no move to prevent Sequestration there will be $85 billion in cuts to the U.S. budget that will impact everything from food inspections to air traffi c control to law enforcement to education. If left as is, these austerity measures could cost 750,000 jobs and keep weak economic growth stunted for the rest of 2013, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office.

First implemented in 2011, these dire measures were supposed to be so painful that it would force the children serving in Congress to work together to make more intelligent cuts. That didn’t happen. So, instead of working as the clock winds down, Congress went on an eight-day President’s Day Break. President Obama, said on Tuesday from his golf hiatus that the Sequestration would “visit hardship on a whole lot of people.” Obviously not anyone who lives in Washington, D.C.

But here in Fayetteville, it’s a different story. Sequestration will directly impact this community. The hardship will be evident. Many of the companies that have relocated to Fayetteville in order to pursue government contracts will be left with their pockets empty as contracts are slashed. Remember those government civilians who bring more than $548 million to the economy? Cut that by close to $110 million. Guess who won’t be eating out? Guess who won’t be shopping? Guess who won’t be getting their haircut, their carpets cleaned or buying new cars or houses? Now think about how that will impact you and your neighbors.

Do you think our elected officials have thought about the second- and third-order effects of their inability to govern? Let’s look at what they are doing and what they are saying. First, they are on vacation. Really? When I have a deadline looming, I’m at my desk hard at work. I’m not taking a break.

Let’s look at what the House Minority Leader had to say when it was suggested that if all government employees were going to lose 1/5 of their pay over the next six months, then she should as well. Nancy Pelosi’s well-reasoned response was:

“I don’t think we should do it; I think we should respect the work we do,” Pelosi told reporters in the Capitol. “I think it’s necessary for us to have the dignity of the job that we have rewarded.”

Seriously? Who would have thought these words would have ever come out of her mouth. Consider them against the words of Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter when testifying before the Senate Appropriations Committee. Carter, who spoke eloquently of the dangers implicit in these cuts to our national defense brought it down to a personal level.

“There’s a real human impact here,” Carter said. “And in addition to the military and civilian personnel, the effects will be devastating on the defense industry, upon which we depend.”

Carter said that if Sequestration happens, and if government civilians are forced into 22 days of furlough, they will not feel the pain alone. He pledged to return a fifth of his own salary to the U.S. Treasury, noting that he cannot be furloughed because he is a Senate-confi rmed presidential employee. But he gets it. You can’t ask others to absorb the pain if you aren’t willing to do it yourself.

I propose that every member of Congress return 22 days of their pay, which collectively is $779,000. Further President Obama should return his 20 percent or $46,538.

It’s time that Congress gets the message: Get it together or get out.

Remember your senior prom? The angst of waiting on that special guy to ask you, then finding the perfect dress, planning the perfect pre-prom dinner locale and the after-prom party. For most high school students, the weeks gearing up for the prom are nerve wracking. Here’s your chance to attend your prom all over again, without the angst or worry. Join the Community In Schools-Cumberland County for an evening of fun at School House Rock: The Prom Edition.

School House Rock is one of the most anticipated fundraising events each year. Put together by the Communities in Schools-Cumberland County (CIS-CC) and its volunteers, the event brings the community together for a night of food, fun and dancing — all in support of the CIS mission, which is to to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.

Working in more than 3,400 schools in 24 states and the District of Columbia, Communities In Schools serves more than 1.2 million students and their families each year. Locally, CIS serves students in 56 Cumberland County Schools. Communities in Schools is the nation’s leading dropout-prevention organization, and the only one proven to both increase on-time graduation rates and reduce dropout rates.

Locally, the organization fulfi lls its mission through key programs:

Project Reads:Research shows that on average, low-income and minority students lose two months of reading skills during the summer. To combat this problem and encourage reading, CIS in partnership with Harvard University, is studying summer reading loss with an initiative called READS for Summer Learning. Local students receive 10 books over the course of the summer, complete questionnaires, and receive additional comprehension lessons. READS for Summer Learning, a five-year study, is funded by an i3 grant from the US Department of Education. Students at 10 elementary schools are participating in the initiative.

Yanoff Music Program:

CIS of Cumberland County in partnership with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra and Cumberland County Schools introduces classical music to all 4,500 third grade students. Created in 2004, this community collaboration brings a trio of symphony musicians into music classrooms around the county and provides each third grader with an arts field trip – a private concert with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra.

Fuller PLC:

The Fuller Performance Learning Center® opened in the fall of 2007 providing another learning option for our high school students and community. CIS of Cumberland County and Cumberland County Schools partnered to open this non-traditional high school with grant funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Students complete assignments using an integrated online and project-based curriculum. This small learning environment serves students on a 4×4 schedule who are not succeeding in a traditional school setting.

CIS Sites:

CIS is the nation’s leading dropout-prevention organization and the only one proven to both decrease dropout rates and increase graduation rates. Through a school-based coordinator, CIS surrounds students with a community of support, connecting students and their families to critical resources, tailored to meet their needs. In Cumberland County, CIS serves more than 8,000 students, elementary through high school, offering a range of programming and services from enrichment opportunities and parent engagement, to mentoring and career exploration.

Teacher of the Year:

CIS-CC proudly sponsors this prestigious event that honors CCS’ Teacher of the Year and also recognizes the district winners from each of the ten attendance areas throughout the county.

Educational Mini Grants:

Educational Mini Grants are a favorite among Cumberland County teachers with CIS awarding approximately $25,000 at an annual teacher-recognition luncheon each year. The program provides merit grants of up to $1,500 for teachers who have developed innovative classroom programs using special equipment, manipulatives or creative instructional materials.

Bill Harrison Scholarship Fund:

The Bill Harrison Scholarship Fund was established in 2008 by former Superintendent Bill Harrison in partnership with CIS – CC to assist a Cumberland County Schools graduate who plans to pursue a career in teaching.

The success of the organization is all in the numbers. Last year, 95 at-risk students graduated from Fuller PLC. Ninety-six percent of the students working with CIS were promoted, with a 90 percent graduation rate. Students showed both improved achievement in academents and attendance at 86 percent and 72 percent respectively. That success would not be possible without the support of the community, particularly support to its main fundraiser, School House Rock, every year.

This year’s event, again held at the Highland Country Club, will focus on proms from the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s — think “Stairway to Heaven,” “Almost Paradise” and “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing.” Think blue tuxedo, puffy sleeves and material girls. If you can bring your prom back into perspective (or maybe even still fi t in your prom dress) then you are ready for this year’s event. The prom starts at 8 p.m. and goes until midnight (don’t worry, you’re an adult now, you don’t have a curfew). It features hors d’oeuvres and cocktails (yes that’s right, you don’t have to drink wine coolers in the parking lot). You can plan to dance the night away to music performed by Jump Street, a band that “stays true to its roots while performing a variety of musical genres, including classic Motown, contemporary R&B, Top 40, as well as the classic dance hits from every era.”

Tickets for the event are $75 and can be purchased online at www.schoolhouserock.info or via mail by sending checks payable to Communities in Schools, PO Box 2882, Fayetteville, NC 28302. Your name will be added to the guest list. No tickets will be mailed out.

It has been said that while bread may nourish the body, it is the flower that nourishes the soul. But which flower would nourish your soul the most? If you were to ask the members of the Fayetteville Camellia Club, you could probably bet that they’d say...the camellia. March 2 and 3 the FCC will host the 67th Annual Camellia Show at Cape Fear Botanical Garden, where there will be hundreds of blossoms for your viewing pleasure. Last year there were more than 1,000 blooms on display and the number of attendees reached into the 300s.

A flower that is native to the Orient, the camellia is a blooming shrub that produces large and small, often double and wonderfully flamboyant flowers. From scarlet reds and pinks to pure whites and yellows, this fl ower is sure to please the eye. Blooming mainly in the fall and winter months, the camellia offers a respite from barren limbs and brown grass and brings with it the promise of spring.

“I have put camellias in pots on my front porch for the winter season. They have shiny, dark green leaves and their winter flowers give a nice contrast to the usual pot of pansies,” said Cathy McCamish, the president of the FCC. McCamish is also a Certified Master Gardner with a certifi cate in Ornamental Horticulture.

“The first camellia show I attended left me in awe,” McCamish explained. “I thought I would find a few favorite flowers to use in my landscape, only to start a never-ending wish list of camellia varieties.”

Whether you’re already a seasoned camellia lover or just starting out, there is something for you at the show. Planned are seminars with guest speakers on Saturday and tours of the Mary McLaurin Camellia Garden on both Saturday and Sunday. Admission to the show is free. However, a $6 fee for adults and a $1.50 fee for children will apply to those who want to take the tour as it provides attendees access to the entire 78-acres of the garden. If you’re looking to buy a camellia plant, an FCC member can help you choose from a selection of the best quality. They’ll even advise you on how to care for them.

“They can live for 50 years or more, with very little care,” McCamish said of the plant. “They’re attractive even without flowers, and their leaves stay green year-round.”

For those of you with green thumbs, you might enjoy entering your own camellia blooms for a chance to be a prize winner. Prizes will be awarded in 30 different categories, including Novice and Best Local Unprotected. If you think your blooms have what it takes, go to the FCC’s website (www.fayettevillecamelliaclub.org) and see how to prepare them to enter by clicking on the Camellia Show tab. Contestants must have their blooms to the Orangery, at the far right of the Cape Fear Botanical Garden visitors’ center, between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. Saturday, March 2. Judging will conclude around 12 p.m. and the winning blooms will be marked. The overall winners will be given the honor of being displayed together in their own separate group throughout the show.

“We hope to live up to our mission,” McCamish said of the FCC. “To stimulate and extend appreciation of camellias and to encourage and support the science and art of camellia culture.”

The show begins March 2 from 12-4 p.m. and continues March 3 from 12-4 p.m. Attendees should go to the Orangery at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden. The garden is located at 536 N. Eastern Blvd. (Route 301), Fayetteville. If you would like to sponsor the Annual Camellia Show or just want more information, go to www.fayettevillecamelliaclub.org or email them at info@fayettevillecamelliaclub.org.

Photo: The Camellia Show  is scheduled for March 2, at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden.

Children are the future leaders of the community, and because of this, educating them is a community effort. Many brilliant and ultimately successful people have come from low-income families, but it is often only because of the motivation from a member in their community that they’ve risen to positions of infl uence and power. Every child deserves a chance to learn and to achieve their dreams — regardless of their home situation or socio economic status. Since 1908, The Partnership for Children has been supporting just that by helping children from low-income backgrounds succeed in school.

In previous years the organization held a fundraiser in conjunction with the Academy Awards. This year they are trying something new — a Soirée.

“The meaning of soirée is an elegant party that is held in the evening. We created the soirée and each year the theme is a little different, this year we are going to kick this off with a Parisian theme: A Night in Paris. We know people will feel the French flare,” said Partnership for Children Communications and Development Administrator Tina Newcomb.

Tickets for the Soirée are $100 each. This pays for a beautiful dinner, a lovely night of entertainment, and great programs that reach the local community.

“The funds are for two outreach programs that we have. We are funding The Partnerships Kidstuff Activity at the Dogwood Festival as well as working with government and military affairs. This engages elected and military leaders to make sure civilian and military families and children get the support they need. We’ve received much engagement from legislators and local government, too.” Newcomb explains.

For entertainment, there will be a Dueling Piano Show. The entertainers will take song requests for a donation of $5. The pianists compete to see which one can play the most requests. To further support the cause and for a chance to win fabulous prizes, raffle tickets will be sold for $10 and $20. Prizes will feature wonderful travel packages, local dining, a trip for four to Disney and a trip for two to Paris. The event organizers will accept payments in cash, debit and credit cards the night of the event. And for all the sports fans, there will also be a viewing room to check on the score of the ACC Duke versus Carolina game.

The Soirée will be held at the Embassy Suites, with a start time of 6:30 p.m. Attire is semiformal. Cocktails will be served from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., every guest will receive a drink ticket, but there will also be a cash bar. Starting at 7:30 p.m., dinner will be served, and guests will have assigned seats for the dinner. The Embassy Suites is located at 4760 Lake Valley Dr., Fayetteville.

Tickets are $100. To purchase them, stop by The Partnership For Children or go to website, www.ccpfc.org, which is a purchase-secure site. Sponsorship packages are still available. For more information, contact Debbie Holland at dholland@ccpfc.org or via telephone at 910-867-9700.

The traditional and still popularly accepted perception of gaming and simulation establishes two distinct and mutually exclusive spheres using the same technologies: games, purely entertaining, more often than not violent, and largely catering to a group of persons who can only find fulfillment in virtual combat; and simulations, purely occupational, more often than not academic, and largely catering to soldiers, doctors, scholars and an erudite society of persons who can only find fulfillment in calculus solutions. These two spheres have enjoyed immense growth, both financially and technologically, in the last two decades. However, the industry has borne a certain stigma that links it to mass murder, fanaticism, and decadence in the propaganda of politics and pop culture.

What if visiting a virtual world on a daily basis became as esteemed and as essential to modern living as visiting one’s favorite stores? Then we could say that the industry has fulfilled its true potential, and we could expect industry giants to emerge. To achieve this lofty goal, there needs to be a game or simulation for everyone, and for everything, but is this possible? I believe it is because almost any situation in the real world can be morphed into a virtual world.

Then what stands in the way? Certainly not technology: graphically stunning and physically realistic 3D worlds — and 3D controllers that map all the intricacies of human body action onto them — have pushed the virtual envelope much closer to the reality of a Star Trek holodeck. If not technology, then what? I believe the limiting factor is content: although the traditional game repertoire of combat and sport has expanded into many far-flung and unexpected new realms with simulation creeping into a diverse portfolio of professions such as medicine and law. While the commercial successes such as The Sims and Second Life have popularized gaming, the minutiae of everyday life, content-wise, the simulation and game industry seems to be caught on the dichotomous cusp separating frivolity from functionality.

I believe the answer lies in the merger of the two: professionals debate the difference between a game and a simulation, ultimately concluding that the difference lies in the end use of the same technology. But is there a difference at all? Cannot a topic be gamed and simulated at the same time? Can we not find entertainment in simulating and training for reality, and can we not learn from even the oddest of game adventures? Life is already structured as both a game, with competition, levels of achievement, victory conditions, and above all, a never-ending quest for entertainment; and as a learning experience, comprising an ocean of details and procedures, and above all, a never-ending quest for experience.

I propose that we view every aspect of the real world as a source for virtual worlds, that our virtual lives always become a preparatory or experimental examination of real-life choices, and that we maximize the entertainment and satisfaction value of real-life events through the experience gained in virtual ones. In practical terms, this unified approach to simulation design will attract new mindsets to the industry, young and old, male and female, pragmatic and artistic; and a whole new set of life topics — from infancy to senescence — will emerge, continually revitalizing and reinventing game simulations and the academia and industry built around them. Only then will popular perception fully evolve, and only then will simulation and game technology gain the full respect that it deserves.

At Fayetteville Technical Community College, our Simulation and Game Development program is designed to promote this change in perception, not only for the future benefit of the industry, the technology, and those involved with both, but for the benefit of increased student diversity and the full integration of Simulation and Game Development into the mainstream of technology education and research. By assigning a more comprehensive and unified mission for the application of simulation and game technology, we can attract a broader spectrum of minds that will in turn train a more diverse professional pool than the current somewhat cultish one, and that will ultimately provide the broad human experience necessary to apply the technology to every facet of this experience.

We achieve this lofty goal by stressing a philosophical approach to simulation design that examines and integrates not only technology, but also psychology, sociology, engineering and history into the process. We also teach simulation technology as a conceptual tool to be learned and applied independently of the video game in its accepted format. Finally, we strive to diversify our student population by promoting the potential of simulation to enhance the life of every individual, by challenging individuals to come and discover and develop this potential.

Fresh salty peanuts, sweet brightly colored cotton candy and laughter are all tastes, sights and sounds associated with the circus. For people young and old the circus is a place to be awed and entertained by the amazing feats of the performers — animals and humans alike — and from Feb. 28 until March 3, the Ringling Brothers Circus will be in Fayetteville.

The Ringling Brothers Circus has been around since 1919, and is known for its extreme and awe-inspiring shows. Cathy Carden, an elephant trainer with the circus, described the upcoming show for us.

“It’s a really awesome high-energy show called Fully Charged. Everything lights up with color, and it’s very cool. We have a new ringmaster, David Shipman, who sings throughout the show. We have a lot of original music, some pop tunes and we have a live band, which is a Ringling tradition.”

Almost all of the music is original music with a high-energy sound. It is upbeat. The show includes everything an audience expects from a circus. There are jugglers and animals, clowns and acrobats.

“We have high-wire performers, and we have the globe of steel,” said Carden. “A steel globe is made out of strips of metal and you can see inside. The motorcycles get inside and ride in it — even upside down. It is one of the most dangerous acts in the circus world. They have three motorcycles in there at one time! The one we use is the smallest one in the business which means it has to be more precise and the riders have to have a faster reaction time.”

Exotic and trained animals are another major staple of the circus. No circus is complete without an elephant, but the Ringling Brothers Circus has all of that and more.

“We have many animals which include three elephants I have had my whole life,” said Carden. “For 39 years we’ve been together every day. It is very cool to have elephants as part of the family. We also have two camels, two Arabian horses, two Shetland ponies, one mini horse and a baby camel who is 7-months-old named Sable. He is so smart it is scary. I have 16 dogs, six of which are in training and 10 of which are performing,” she added.

Yet the Ringling Brothers Circus has far more than standard circus fair. There are dancers and acrobats — acrobats from Russia perform on a moving platform that is elevated like a trapeze/mini stage. They do fl ips on and off of the platform as it moves.

“We also have an award winning Cirque du Soleil personality from Russia as well,” said Carden. “He does a trapeze aerial act that is amazing. He takes a pad like a mattress and they pull him to the top of the ring and he falls and does incredible acrobatics on the way down. I have never seen anything like it.”

Another way Fully Charged goes above and beyond in its productions is by opening up the experience to the public.

“The one thing the kids really like is the preshow. It is free with your ticket and starts one hour before the show. They can come to the ring, meet the performers, and take pictures with them. You can see the elephants up close and come back stage and see the animals get prepped for the show and see all the props. That is one of the best parts of coming to the show,” Carden explained.

The circus will be in town from Feb. 28, until March 3, at the Crown Coliseum. Tickets can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com or at the Ringling Brothers Circus website www.ringling.com or by phone at 800-745-3000. For more information, call 919-510-0641. Remember, the preshow is free with tickets and begins one hour before the show starts.

Photo: Elephant trainer Cathy Carden has been with her elephants for 39 years.

Fayetteville is a city filled with people and artists who are originally from locations around the world. Gallery 208 celebrates this international benefi t by hosting a one-person exhibition titled New Paintings by Liviana Casotti. Born and trained in Italy, Casotti has resided intermittently in Fayetteville over the past 18 years.

Visitors to the Feb. 28, opening at Gallery 208 will meet the artist and may recognize her as someone who attends most of the gallery openings in the area — she is always in attendance at the Gallery 208 openings. If you don’t know Casotti, her paintings are just as intriguing as her artistic journey.

Born in Lucca, Italy, Casotti studied art in her hometown and later earned an art teaching degree in Florence, Italy. The Italian lifestyle and her early art experiences were steeped in classical western tradition, her studies in art included the rigors of drawing and painting from life, the fi gure and still life. Academics centered on understanding the theory and techniques of masters of the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries.

Her life and art career took a turn when she married and moved to Lawson, Okla. She then studied art and earned a bachelor’s of fi ne art from Cameron University in Oklahoma. Upon completion of her degree, she moved to California and began studying art at San Jose State University. I met Liviana when she moved to Fayetteville in 1996. An exuberant and effervescent individual, Casotti’s passion for art, politics and thinking out-of-the-box was always, and still is, contagious.

Over the years, she has exhibited in group invitationals at the Arts Council and at two venues which no longer exist — the Fayetteville Museum of Art and a one person exhibition at the Architect’s Gallery. Knowing her history in the area, I was interested in sharing her views of the arts in Fayetteville and how studying art in the United States infl uenced her approach to painting.

When I stopped by Casotti’s studio she was working on a still life; the natural light from the window was just right, her canvas painted with patterns of bright turquoise, many shades of green, complements of reds and orange, a dab of yellow here and there. Similar to her earlier work, her palette is still key; but a new system of exaggerated patterns is now part of her work, fixating on the affects of color and light. It is easy to see the patterns in the metal kitchen appliances of her still life; her choice of objects is always symbolic.

Her still life is organized with kitchen tools and appliances, often dog leashes and bowls — all metaphors for, according to Casotti, “part of a world that is in my past and cannot be retrieved but is in my memory. I cannot retrieve better days, nor revive people and animals lost during my life but I can put bright colors on my painting and depict objects of nostalgia to diffuse the longing. A search for order, but the realities of disorder are present in the compositions as in my life.”

Quick to share her views about content and meaning, Casotti explained that her work today is about “truth and life, order and disorder — a painting will evoke both. My painting evokes nostalgia, a feeling or refl ection on a pleasant and safe past, a time of life that was innocent, simpler and even happier.”

I asked her how studying art in the United States was different than when she studied in Italy.

“That’s easy. In Italy they have a very traditional academic approach while the schools I attended in Oklahoma and California focused more on the intellectual idea of exploring meaning and content. Although drawing is taught in the lower-level art courses, in the United States the upper-level courses focus on the many different approaches to contemporary meaning and introduce you to the variety of styles which are still prevalent,” she explained.

Although Casotti often returns to Italy to visit, her home has been Fayetteville for the last 10 years, so I was interested in knowing what she has observed in the visual arts locally and how, if any, it has changed or remained the same.

“I see galleries come and go in Fayetteville, now it seems there are very few left at this time,” she said. “The closing of the Fayetteville Museum of Art has had a huge negative impact on the arts in the area. It seems as if too many art venues are focused on creating revenue instead of bringing exhibitions to the area which broadens our idea of what is happening nationally and internationally in the arts. On the other hand, I think Gallery 208 has always been committed to the arts in the purest sense and hosts excellent exhibitions – art for art’s sake of high quality”.

The public is invited to meet Casotti and view her new body of work during the opening reception of New Paintings by Liviana Casotti at Gallery 208 on Feb. 28, between 5:30 and 7 p.m. Gallery 208 is located at 208 Rowan St. Regular hours to view their exhibits are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. For those who cannot make the opening reception, the exhibit will remain open through the third week in April.

Photo: The works of Liviana Casotti will be on display at Gallery 208.

Music is a magical thing. It is a phenomenon uniquely human, but it is popular in every culture in one form or another. In cultures all over the world communities gather and bond over music. Musicians bring people of all walks of life together to enjoy the beauty of song. Fayetteville is no exception. For 76 years Community Concerts has brought various musicians of all different genres to the town to share their art with the Fayetteville community, with the simple goal of “making Fayetteville a better place.” The next musical group coming to Fayetteville is Kool and the Gang.

The band was originally formed in 1964 as the Jazzicas, but changed its name in 1969. Since then, they have sold more than 70 million albums worldwide. Kool and the Gang is a group of talented musicians, who for more than 35 years has created a unique intersection of jazz, rhythm and blues, funk and pop. They have won two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, 25 Top Ten R&B hits, nine Top Ten Pop hits and have 31 gold and platinum albums. Some of their most well-known songs that made them famous are “Celebration,” “Cherish,” “Jungle Boogie,” “Summer Madness” and “Open Sesame.” The current members of the band are Robert “Kool” Bell, his brother Khalis Bayyan, their friends Dennis “DT” Thomas and George “Funky” Brown.

It is truly a feat that Kool and the Gang has been able to perform and create at this level for more than four decades. “Kool” explains the success by saying, “Hard work is very important. We are extremely grateful to all of our fans. The business is extremely competitive, but we have been touring a lot and it is great to have been able to perform throughout the ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s and into today.”

As glamorous and rewarding as the music business is, there are some hardships that the artists must endure for the love of their craft. “

Waking up at 4 and 5 a.m. to go to the airport with all of our bags and go through all the TSA is hard. Tour buses are a lot nicer, but after 40 years there is wear and tear.” Kool said. Regardless, Kool and the Gang still travels and performs all over the country with the same passion and energy they performed with in the ‘70s.

Experiencing music through concerts is different than listening at home. Seeing the music performed by the artists who created it adds an entirely new level to the sound. Kool and the Gang is skilled at bringing music to the crowds in a relatable and exciting way. Whether those attending are long-time fans or new to their sound, the performance is sure to be memorable and engaging.

“We have very high-energy shows. We perform hits from the ‘70s and ‘80s. It is a choreographed show, but we make sure to keep the energy up while we play all the hits,” Kool says.

Kool and the Gang will be at the Crown Theatre on Feb. 23, at 7:30 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact the Crown Box office at www.aththecrown.com or call 438-4100.

Photo: Kool and the Gang is set to perform at the Crown on Feb. 23.

With the celebration of Black History Month throughout February, Professor Charles Anderson of Methodist University will share the contributions of African-Americans throughout Fayetteville’s history on Feb. 23, at 2 p.m. at the Museum of the Cape Fear. Professor Anderson is an adjunct faculty member at Methodist University and was an adjunct faculty member on the Fort Bragg campus of Central Texas College.

“The history of the African-American in Fayetteville begins in 1754 when the fi rst black was recorded on the tax rolls. Over the last 250 years, the African-American has been essential in weaving the fabric of Fayetteville,” said Anderson.

The presentation will highlight E.E. Smith, Charles Chesnutt and Lewis Leary among others. E.E. Smith was born into slavery in 1852. He availed himself of educational opportunities and was able to study in public schools and eventually became a teacher at the age of 22. He graduated from Shaw University in 1878 and was licensed to preach. In 1883, at the age of 36 he became the principal of the State Colored Normal School in Fayetteville. He was also Secretary to the State Colored Baptist Convention, commissioned as a Major in the North Carolina Guard and in 1888 he was appointed United States Minister and Consul-General to Liberia. He was a multi-talented man who excelled in all aspects of life.

“The adage of ‘a thousand mile journey begins with a single step’ is apropos. From being sold in the marketplace to occupying the White House indicates the strides African-Americans have made. My vision is we get away from color and get to people. A contribution to the well-being of mankind is colorless,” said Anderson.

Charles Chestnutt is best known for his novels and short stories exploring the myriad issues of racial identity in the post-Civil War South. His parents, both “free persons of color,” were from Fayetteville and moved to Ohio. He had white ancestry and was able to “pass” but elected not to. When Chestnutt was 9-years-old, the family moved back to Fayetteville and at 13 he became a pupil-teacher at the Howard School. He subsequently became an assistant principal at what was to become Fayetteville State University. He was a prolifi c writer whose books focused on the post Civil War South. He was a realist, and on occasion he challenged the status quo. While well-respected by his literary peers, novels he had penned failed to generate sales. In 1901, he became more politically active and joined the newly founded National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and became one of the 20th century’s most prominent activists and social commentators.

“We have made strides but there is a distance to go. I fi rmly believe we are slowly but steadily moving towards ‘we the people.’ Moving towards Dr. King’s hope that ‘no longer will a man be judged by the color of his skin.’ Moving towards Rodney King’s plea of ‘Why can’t we get along?’ In history, there is an underlying message of hope and that is what I wish to share,” Anderson explained.

Lewis Leary was born in Fayetteville, N.C. in 1835. He lived a short but full life. At the age of 22, he moved to Oberlin, Ohio, and married. He became involved in the abolitionist movement the next year and eventually joined John Brown’s ill-fated attack on the Federal Arsenal in Harpers Ferry, W.V. He was shot and survived long enough to get a message to his wife, who did not know he was participating in the raid. Leary passed away at the age of 24. He was a man of deep principle and hope.

“There are many others of note who are part of the African-American history in Fayetteville. Isaac Hammond was a member of the Light Infantry in the Revolutionary War. Henry Evans was the pastor of the fi rst black church in the area. Many of the stones, bricks and mortar in the Market House were laid by a black master brick mason. Fayetteville has a rich history and I am excited about the direction we as a city have and where we as a people are headed,” said Anderson.

For more information, please visit www.nccultervents.com or call 910-486-1330.

Photo: Charles Chesnutt

What Is Hiding in Your Closet?

What is hiding in your closet … not to mention your attic, your basement and your garage? How about your desk drawers?

The Dickson house has no attic. The basement has been turned into a bedroom; the garage is full of sports equipment — fishing gear, waders and a jumbo canoe along with my assortment of gardening supplies, implements and birdseed. Closets are full of clothes, most of which are seldom worn and which someone, usually moi, threatens to clean out and give away. The desks are stuffed with important papers — insurance information, passports, tax returns and the like.

Some families, though, actually have interesting items in their storage.

A childhood friend recently told me about Civil War-era family letters detailing daily life during those agonizing years as well as accounts of the bodies of soldiers lying when they fell on her family’s Alabama land. The letters are written on wallpaper, apparently the only medium available, and stowed in envelopes folded from the same.

My friend and many others like her are just the folks the Museum of the Cape Fear is hoping to meet.

The Civil War unfolded and played out on southern soil, including our own here in the Fayetteville community. North Carolina suffered more casualties than any other state. These historical realities mean that many southern families have kept Civil War-era documents and photographs, handing them down reverently through subsequent generations.

The Museum of the Cape Fear, which is part of the North Carolina Museum of History, wants to know about these photos and documents — letters, diaries, entire books even. More than that, it wants copies of them to preserve for posterity in our state’s archives, and it is making it easy for those who have these materials to share them with the rest of us.

On Saturday, March 9, professionals from the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources will be on hand at the museum to scan such family documents and pictures digitally or to photograph them. This is an opportunity to make sure that individual family histories as revealed in writing and in picture — records of people and events which shaped our state’s larger history — are both known and preserved. The documentation effort is also part of the planning for a proposed statewide North Carolina Civil War Center, which would be built near the current Museum of the Cape Fear adjacent to the grounds of the historic Fayetteville Arsenal. Says Cape Fear Historical Complex Foundation President Tad Prewitt, “We are excited about this program as we believe the documents and photographs people have could potentially unlock some exciting stories that might become part of the story we will tell with the new, proposed history center.”

Interest in the Civil War and its aftermath is high as our nation commemorates the 150th anniversary of this wrenching conflict. It is also high in our own community, which endured a visit from Union General William Tecumseh Sherman, his more than 60,000 troops and 25,000 camp followers for several long days in March of 1865. It is stunning to contemplate what that invasion of humanity must have been like for the maybe 6,000 Fayetteville residents, 2,000 of whom worked at the doomed arsenal. Sherman came to our city solely to destroy that arsenal, which he did with efficiency and dispatch. Visitors today can walk along the stones of its foundations, but that is about it. Sherman executed his job well in the waning days of the Civil War.

The scanning project is a pilot for a larger program, which museum leaders hope to rollout region-wide later in 2013 and statewide in 2014 to gather as much historical material in private hands as possible.

A word about what the scanning project is not.

It is not an opportunity for Civil War documents and photos to be appraised or sold. Your family treasures will simply be copied and put into our state’s archives and returned to you. They must be original and the property of those bringing them in to be scanned. Oversized or fragile documents or items such as multi-page documents may have to be transported to Raleigh for scanning.

Many people in our community and beyond have stories of Civil War-era heroism, suffering, tragedy and healing that resonate through their family histories, and they are also part of North Carolina’s history.

We can share these with each other and the rest of the state on March 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Museum of the Cape Fear on Bradford Avenue, just off Hay Street.

I hope to see you there, even though the Department of Cultural Resources has expressed no interest in a photo of the Dickson’s large red canoe.

For the past nine years GOTDAD Inc., has sponsored the Black History 4ever Quiz Bowl and African Americans in the Military Appreciation Day. This year the celebration falls on Feb. 23, with several events scheduled throughout the day.

The fun starts at 9 a.m. with the Black History 4ever Quiz Bowl. Age categories are 8-9 years old; 10-12 years old; 13-15 years old and 16-18 years old. There is a study guide as well as registration information available at www.blackhistory4ever.com. The questions are in True/False, multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank formats. Students answer the questions independently and earn points for each correctanswer. The event is free to participants and lunch is provided to the contestants. There is a study guide available for each of the age groups. Not only does the guide provide an itinerary of events for the day, it has the information that is required to compete in the quiz bowl.

The study guides contain an alphabetical list of people and important places and events covering everything from Charles Sifford, to Shirley Chisholm to Zulu Nation, theTuskegee Airmen and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In addition, contestants are tested on military ranks of the U.S. Army, government, business and economic terms and definitions. The older contestants are responsible for knowing similar information but at a more advanced level as well as African American college life information like the names of different fraternities and more.

Also starting at 9 a.m. is a health fair that is open to the public. There will be educational information and vendors at the fair. Both the Black History Quiz Bowl and the Health Fair are scheduled to take place at The John D. Fuller Recreational Center.

Don’t miss the African Americans in the Military Appreciation Day Program at noon. This event honors local Fort Bragg active veteran African Americans. Wounded Warriors of all races are also honored at this event.

The activities end with a “Ride to Freedom” convoy from The John D. Fuller Recreational Center to the North Carolina Veterans Park and the Airborne and Special Operations Museum. At the park and museum there will be tours, storytelling, and the opportunity to meet veterans from the community.

GOTDAD is a group of fathers — both military and civilian; married and divorced — who recognize the importance of leading a balanced life. They understand the challenges of managing both family life and work even when work sometimes included deployments and hectic schedules. GOTDAD is an acronym for Giving Opportunities Through Dedication and Devotion.

Living up to their mission of finding balance in life, GOTDAD members believes that keeping families safe is a priority and provides anti-abduction and rape prevention classes to women and children. The name of the program is called Flight or Fight.

Find out more at www.BlackHistory4ever.com or www.gotdad.org.

Contemporary approaches to painting and sculpture are often far removed from the traditional approach toreproduce a still life or landscape in paint, to model a portrait in clay. Artists since the early 20th century have explored the boundaries of what a painting and sculpture is and the possibilities of what they can become.

The exhibit, Contemporary Ideas in Art at Rosenthal Gallery, on the campus of Fayetteville State University, is an opportunity for visitors to see the range of what artists are investigating as worthy of a painting and sculpture. It is an opportunity for visitors to the gallery to experi-ence the pleasure of witnessing and understand-ing new approaches to art.

Liselott Johnsson, an artist from Madison, Ga., is exhibiting a painting titled “It is Not Dead, Just Stunned.” The size of the painting, an installa-tion, is 12 feet by 13 feet; the work demands at-tention and reflection from visitors to the gallery. In the work, the artist has stacked, on the floor, a large number of abstract geometric paintings — each different, precise, hard edged. Johnsson’s work exemplifies the dramatic shifts in meaning, which have taken place in the last 60 years in the medium of painting.

To understand one of the many new direc-tions of painting, Johnsson’s artist statement directs us towards her intent: “Intrigued by the formal boundaries of painting as they relate to objects and architecture, I use materials, space, color and geometry to study the qualities of these limits … By integrating painting with architectural space; I negate a fixed view of the work.”

The paintings by local artist Aaron Wallace are created by applying spray insulation foam on canvas before he applies his layers of paint. Visitors may be stunned into sensing a painting can be gooey and puffy, playful and tactile. A painting can be about contradictions and teeter between something industrial and a delicate sensitivity at the same moment. A painting can be something you may want to scoop up like ice cream and eat!

Robert Bern, an artist from Santa Fe, N. M., is exhibiting a sculpture titled “In America.” Looking up at the 12-foot-tall table, one can see the tabletop has a trap door that has fallen open. The words cut into the sides of the edges of the tabletop indicate a hopeful futility for many who try to break through the glass ceiling. The text reads: “In America the doorway to success is within reach for those who work hard and believe”.

Another exceptional local artist, Marcela Casals, is exhibiting three sculptures. The most popular seems to be her dramatic 12-foot-tall sculpture suspended from the ceiling; as if floating, the weight and beauty of chiffon material exude through hollow ceramic tubes. White on white, gravity and material give way to what is expressed in the title “Gift” (Earth Bones Series).

Other artists in the exhibit include painter James Biederman from New York City, pho-tographer Jeff Brown from Upper Darby, Pa., painter Dana Pasila from Provincetown, Mass., and Diane Wiencke from Peaks Island, Maine.

Until the closing of the exhibit on Feb. 27, visitors to Rosenthal Gallery will have the opportunity to explore the complexities of contemporary art, experience a new full range of meanings and ways of ex-pressing meaning being explored by the artists in Contemporary Ideas in Art. For information call Dwight Smith at 672-1795.

Photo: Contemporary Ideas in Art is on display through Feb. 27 at Fayetteville State University’s Rosenthal Gallery.

Music Makes a Difference

Listening to a good song can help turn an okay day, or even a not-so-good day, into a great day. The key is finding a song that we can really relate to. This week we’re going to look at the story behind a few new songs out on Christian radio. Hopefully you’ll find one or two that relate to you right where you are.

“Strangely Dim” - Francesca Battistelli

When talking about “Strangely Dim” Battistelli wants it known that the song was inspired by her dad. She shares, “He’s in a place in his life where he is just waiting on God for a lot of things. We’ve all been there to some extent. I’ve found in my life that if I’m looking down at the things I can’t control and the things that stress me out, I can get discouraged. Just like the old hymn said, if I turn my eyes on Jesus, that’s where hope is, that’s where clarity is, and that’s where he is. No matter where you are, if you focus on Him, the things of this earth will pass away.”

“Kings & Queens” – Audio Adrenaline

Written by Juan Otero and Kevin Max, the title track from their upcoming release personifies everything Audio’s Haitian project Hands & Feet represents as an organization. “We shot the music video in Haiti at our homes in the village of Cyvadier with all these beautiful Haitian children,” Will McGinniss says. “It’s so amazing to think of how God surrounds these children, the vastness of their potential and how he’s writing this huge story in their lives. They are God’s little ones, and they will impact their culture from the inside out with God’s love. We tried to capture that idea in the vastness of the landscape, the ocean and the cliffs, the greenest greens and in purple the color of God’s majesty.”

“You’ll Find Your Way” – Andrew Peterson

This song is based on Jeremiah 6:16:

This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls...”

As Peterson was thinking about his 12-year-old son Asher, with everything that was in store for him, his heart began to melt. He was wishing he could protect him from the darkness in the world. Knowing he can’t, Peterson still hopes that Asher “will remember that church matters, and the gospel is true, and that there’s a God that’s the source of everything beautiful… and that he’ll have a place that he will return to. And it’s the old roads that lead you home.” Some thoughts on a few new Christian songs from the artists who wrote them.

Photo: Francesca Battistelli

The Fayetteville FireAntz, through 40 of 56 games played, had a tremendously successful season, so far. They boast the Southern Professional Hockey League’s leading scorer, Josh McQuade (34 goals and 26 assists), as well as one of the elite goaltenders in the league, Marco Emond, who has been among the goaltending leaders all season. Add the fact that they have the top-scoring offense and one of the best defensive units, things have looked good this season.

The FireAntz also have had the luxury of remaining relatively healthy throughout the season, only losing a handful of man-games due to injury. Additionally, due to the fact that they’ve been amongst the league leaders in the standings all season, their roster has remained mostly intact. They’ve had players called up to higher leagues who have returned, and some who have stayed but Head Coach Mark DeSantis did such a good job assembling the roster, from day one, that they haven’t had to cut a single player.

The FireAntz, collectively, have a much bigger goal in my mind, however, than success in the regular season. With only 16 games remaining, seven at home, the playoffs are right around the proverbial corner and that is where the FireAntz are placing their focus.

“We are just trying to win each and every game.” Defenseman Kyle Frieday said, “Obviously, we are trying to stay healthy but we just want to keep rolling into the playoffs.”

The FireAntz, in their 11-year existence, have won one SPHL Championship, in 2006-07. They are looking to repeat that feat this season.

“We are playing hard every shift, every night.” Forward John Clewlow added, “We are trying to play our best hockey as we get to the playoffs.”

With the FireAntz only four points out of first place, they are trying to capture home-ice advantage for the playoffs. Each round of the playoffs contains an odd number of games and the higher seed will host the deciding game of the series, should it go that far.

There are only seven home games remaining for the FireAntz this season. Come out and support your Fayetteville FireAntz as they look to capture another SPHL Championship. For more information about tickets go to the FireAntz Web site at www.fireantzhockey.com.

Photo: The FireAntz are playing hard to make it to the playoffs.

Since 1957, a small club in Los Angeles has been rocking the music world. The Troubador has welcomed and launched the careers of musicians like Bob Dylan, Elton John, the Eagles, Neil Young, James Taylor, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, The Knack, Guns and Roses and Pearl Jam. It’s stage is legendary, a place where the dreamers, the poets, the singers and musicians go hoping for a chance to make it big. A lot of them do.

You might ask what The Troubador has to do with Fayetteville, N.C., and the answer is simple. Fayetteville is also a place where dreamers, poets, singer and musicians are looking for their big break. And for a lucky few that search starts on the wooden fl oor of Huske Hardware House.

Since 2011, Huske has played host to a singer/songwriter competition that brings some of the areas brightest and best to downtown to share their talent and their souls. Held each Wednesday night, the competition has grown with each iteration, and this year it’s gone over the top. The first iteration, was put together in the hopes that it would draw area performers. The idea was brought to Huske owner Josh Collins by Greg Biltz, a musician and emcee of the event, who saw the need for such a venue in the community. Over the years, the competition has brought hundreds of talented writers/performers to the Huske stage, many of who have gone on to bigger and better things. Biltz thinks this year will be no different.

“Nobody does it any better,” said Biltz, prior to the second night of the competition, “not in Raleigh, not in Wilmington. This is where it’s happening.”

From its small beginnings (Collins put up a $2,000 cash award), the competition has bloomed and taken on a life of its own. This year, Huske has teamed up with PCG Nashville, a Nashville-based development company, to give performers a leg up in the industry. PCG Institute is an innovative artist development company dedicated to addressing the unique needs of the recording artist. The artists and managers at the institute take what they call a “customized scientifi c approach to development, producing balance in all areas of the artist’s mind, body and spirit.” They look beyond the music and ensure that aspiring musicians have “the skills, knowledge and strategic planning needed to achieve success in the music business.”

The addition of PCG Nashville to the competition has resulted in changes in the way the competition is judged and the way songwriters enter. There are now two categories for contestants to enter. The fi rst is for performers between the ages of 12 and 30. Performers who enter in that category will compete to win a $15,000, six-month scholarship to the PCG facility in Nashville. Those over 30, will compete for a $3,000 cash prize. Collins explained that the addition of the scholarship category will allow young artists to gain the experience and shaping needed to really succeed in the industry. Collins’ daughter, Summer, is currently enrolled in PCG, and is learning a lot about the industry and is making the necessary contacts to move forward with her career.

The finales of this year’s event will be judged by Bernard Porter, who is the president of PCG. With more than 25 years in the industry, Porter is recognized nationwide for his skills in artist development, and in fact, was instrumental in signing Jason Aldean to Broken Bow Records. Collins believes having someone of Porter’s standing in the industry involved in the competition will bring more attention to the performers who are competing.

As in year’s past, performers have the opportunity to sing two songs. The fi rst song can be a cover, but the second song must be an original. Each week, the top two performers will move forward in the competition, with everything coming down to the fi nale in late March. Sign-ups for the event begin at 7 p.m. each Wednesday night, with the showcase beginning at 8 p.m. For updates on the competition, visit Huske Hardware House on Facebook and check out information about the competitors in upcoming editions of Up & Coming Weekly, one of the sponsors of the competition.

Photo: Nathan Fair at the grand finale of the 2011 competition.

MOVIE 43 (RATED R) 3 Stars

Way back in 1977, a little anthology movie called Kentucky Fried Movie hit the scene and appealed to the 12-year-old boy living in all our hearts. It featured such classic skits as “Catholic High School Girls in Trouble” and “A Fistful of Yen.” Anthology movies are more likely to go direct-to-video, but for one brief shining moment in 1977 this tasteless little gem won the hearts and minds of the people.

If you have fond memories of Kentucky Fried Movie, or your sense of humor is that of a 12-year-old boy, you’ll probably love Movie 43(90 minutes). It is completely and utterly without redemption, hitting all the envelope-pushing buttons imaginable. Now, I admit I wasn’t totally in love with it but I am willing to bet there are a ton of people who will snort soda out their noses at least once or twice during the movie.

In total, the American release includes 14 skits, each with its own director and writers (too many to list here). “The Pitch” is the book-end skit that ties everything together, with a guy named Charlie Wessler (Dennis Quaid) pitching a variety of offensive plots to a movie executive named Griffen Schraeder (Greg Kinnear).

First up is “The Catch,” with Kate Winslet on a blind date with Hugh Jackman. She is enchanted by his every word and gesture until she fig-ures out why he is still single. It is a pretty disgusting joke that might work in a five-minute-long SNL sketch, but was already done to much better effect on the “Freak Strike” episode of South Park.

Next, “Homeschooled” features Liev Schreiber and Naomi Watts trying to carry a sketch while Jeremy Allen White does his best to suck the life from it. All in all, one of the weaker entries, and the one that follows isn’t much better. Anna Faris is a coprophiliac and Chris Pratt is her reluctant partner. They are married in real life, but have zero chemistry onscreen.

Next, Kieran Culkin plays opposite Emma Stone in a wanna-be Lynchian piece, “Veronica,” that was at its funniest when the actors were making the least amount of sense. Trying to tie it together with a classic romantic ending detracted from all the beautiful absurdity.

“iBabe” goes for cheap laughs (in a movie admittedly full of them). I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say it was sexist on purpose, but poor directing took away the satire and flattened any social commentary into pancakes. “Superhero Speed Dating,” featuring Kristen Bell, Jason Sudeikis and Justin Long, was probably my favorite entry. It wasn’t that great, but superheroes trying to live real lives are always good for a laugh and I really like Kristen Bell.

The skits got weaker as the film progressed, although “Middle-School Date” was good enough that I wouldn’t object to seeing Elizabeth Banks direct a feature film. Objectively speaking, Terrence Howard in “Victory’s Glory,” was the sharpest tool in the shed, but it went on a bit too long. Just when it seemed the movie was over, a final skit aired, “Beezel.” If you leave when the first set of credits roll you won’t miss much.

Overall, with so many big name stars this is worth checking out, even if it has been called the worse movie of the decade. Yes, it is not great — but that is because the writers held back. They danced along the edges of taboo, but never quite manage to hit the nerves they’re aiming for. Perhaps if they had left in the skit featuring the necrophiliac morgue attendant, we would have seen the magical moment of complete repulsion that would have redeemed the whole thing. Maybe if the skits had been tied together (as they were in the British release) by the three teenagers searching for a film so of-fensive it would end civilization, more Americans would like it. But then again, perhaps not.

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

For many in our community, it seems as though the search for a great job will never end. While thissituation may in large part be the re-sult of a slow-moving economy, it may also be that many simply do not know exactly what they want as a profession/career and may not know how to get there.

Fayetteville Technical Community College offers many solutions to this occupational dilemma, with opportuni-ties available to anyone interested in improving their oc-cupation or wishing to simply start over and pursue a new career path. A new program offered by FTCC’s Continuing Education division is the Natural Hair Care Professional program. Whether you desire a career change or you are currently working in this field and would like to continue and seek your licensure, FTCC has a perfect solution for you!

Natural hair care is a growing business because many people have begun moving away from chemical use on hair and are wearing hair naturally, in the form of twisting, wrapping, ex-tending or locking. The North Carolina Board of Cosmetology is the governing board of Natural Hair Care specialists, and as a result of rise in this business, the board is requiring that all specialists currently practicing in the field and all operating natural hair care shops become licensed. Individuals who began practicing before July 1, 2010 can submit proof to the board that the natural hair care specialist was actively engaged in the practice of natural hair care prior to July 1, 2010. They must also pass a practical and written exami-nation conducted by the board and pay the required fee to be issued a license without having to go to school for the 300-hour Natural Hair Care curricu-lum. However, specialists who began practicing after July 1, 2010, will be required to attend a 300-hour training course before they can sit for the state board’s examination.

The Natural Hair Care Professional program at FTCC has been built around the high standards of the N.C. Board of Cosmetology for those entering or currently practicing in the field. Each aspect of this program has been carefully planned, from those representing the very best of instructors to areas represent-ing top-notch facilities. A major benefit through this program is that it is offered to the community at an affordable cost. FTCC offers support and encouragement to individuals in the community who want to improve their lives through edu-cation that will result in a positive, rewarding career path. Students in the Natural Hair Care Professional program will not only gain a full understanding of the Natural Hair Care profession, but also the knowledge needed to successfully pass the state board exam. Major topics covered in the class will include safety and sanitation, business ethics, manage-ment styles and the most current styles and techniques of natural hair. Students who complete the program at FTCC will gain a strong knowledge and understanding of how to run a successful Natural Hair Care business.

Are you are interested in a career that will allow you to utilize your creative abilities and comfortably support your family financially? Would you like to become licensed and increase your chances for success in this field? Do you need a career that will be flexible with your busy schedule? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then don’t delay, call us today! To learn more about FTCC’s Natural Hair Care Professional program or how to register, please call Kim Allen at (910) 678-0033 or e-mail to allenk@faytechcc.edu. Contact us today and let us help you be on your way to a new career!

Photo: Natural hair care is a growing business because many people have begun mov-ing away from chemical use on hair

For the past 14 years the Home Builders Association of Fayetteville has hosted the Carolina Home Show every spring. Vendors and experts in all things home-related gather at the Crown ready to assist in making every house a home and every home a more personal and distinct place. This year the event takes place Feb. 23-24, and there are some exciting changes that are designed to make the show even better.

“We are not charging admission this year, we think it is better for our vendors and will attract more people,” said Kevin Shore, event chairman. “We always have about 3,000 people show up but the vendors have always said ‘Let’s not charge admission and see who else will come,’ so we are giving it a try this year.”

Home Builders Association Executive Officer Natalie Fryer added that, “This year we really tried to pull in the real-estate community. There will be real-estate agents there that can answer questions about home buying and selling. We also have some builders in the show.”

So whether you are looking to buy, sell, build, update or improve a home, there will be experts at the Crown ready to answer questions and share their expertise.

While many areas of the country have not hosted home shows this year because of the economy and the national dip in home prices, Shore noted that this is not the case in Fayetteville.

“It is amazing to me how this community always pulls together and continues to put on great events for Fayetteville and the surrounding area. We pull people from Wilmington, Raleigh, Southern Pines and even South Carolina. We get a lot of people coming from outside this area, which is exciting,” said Shore.

No matter what a person has in mind — from indulging in the latest technologies and trends in home design to getting ideas for how to organize a room — there is no project, idea or budget too big or too small. This event has something everyone can use.

“If you think you have seen it before, you should still plan to come, every year there is something new,” said Shore. “It is good to see what you can do to your home and get ideas about what you can do to make your house a home. We have such a variety of vendors from bath renovation specialists to masons to handymen and home improvement businesses to carpenters. There will be vendors who can take you from start to finish and do an entire project or even build a house for you to people who can show you how to do things yourself and give you the tools and ideas you need to be successful in your project.”

In addition to great vendors, the weekend is packed with informative talks and presentations.

“These are local people who are experts in their fi elds, and they will be speaking on a variety of topics,” said Fryer.

Saturday’s topics include “Potted Plants: Problems and Joys” by Roger Mercer; “Yes! You Can Buy a House” by Steve Cohen; “Yes, You Can Get Money to Buy a House” by Kevin Rodriguez; “The Finishing Touch Your Home May Be Missing” by CJ Malson; “Stage, Show, Sold!” by Jay Dowdy; “Plan. Plant. Protect.” By George Quigley; “Staging Your Home to Sell” by Lorna Ricotta; “You Can Build Wealth by Investing in Real Estate” by Zan Monroe; “Year Round Color for Your Yard” by Charles Allen; and “Organizing Your House to Function” by Lorna Ricotta. Sunday, the topics scheduled are: “Plants in Pots: Problems and Joys” by Roger Mercer; “Buying a Home is Easier Than You Think” by Doug Nunnally; “Build Wealth by Investing in Real Estate” by Zan Monroe; ”Why Shade Matters” by Charles Allen; “Staging to Sell and Beyond” by Donna Clayton-Lloyd; “How to Get Money for the Home You Want to Buy” by Melody Spaulding; and “Grow What You Eat” by George Quigley.

Besides all the vendors, the products, the experts and the education, many of the vendors are offering raffles and giveaways at their booths. All in all, the presenting sponsors, First Alliance Mortgage and Carolina Mortgage, along with Shore and Fryer are expecting a big crowd and a top-notch event.

“What I have enjoyed about being a part of this is the amount of local vendors that are willing to come together in one venue to promote their trade,” said Shore. “There are a lot of proud vendors and tradesmen in our area. If you think you have seen it all before, come anyway. There is always some new technology, idea or trend that comes from home ownership and renovation. It is good to see what you can do to your home and get ideas about what you can do to make your house a home.”

The show lasts from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23, and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 24. It’s free. Find out more about the Carolina Home Show at www.carolinahomeandgardenshow.com

Step aboard the bus at the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum and immerse yourself in the rich history and cultural diversity for which Fayetteville is known as you tour the downtown area and learn of the signifi cant contributions of African Americans to our community.

Led by Professor Charles Anderson of Methodist University, the African-American Heritage Tour on Thursday, Feb. 21, leaves the museum at 325 Franklin St. in Downtown at 9 a.m. for a three-hour trip that visits historic sites dating from Revolutionary times to the 20th century.

“One of the things that is great about these tours,” said Museum Specialist Heidi Bleazey, “is that they bring together a collection of the Fayetteville public and take them on this eye-opening look at the Downtown landscape. They take another look at the buildings they pass by day-in-and-day-out as they’re roaming around Downtown Fayetteville and see it in a new light. It’s fun and exciting. Professor Anderson is a wonderful tour guide and has a knack of bringing information and making it digestible and fun and interesting to a wide range of audiences.”

The tour will visit a number of sites in the Downtown area, including cemeteries, churches and the outsides of historic homes.

“We’ll go to Brookside Cemetery,” Bleazey said, “where a number of Fayetteville’s prominent and famous citizens are buried. Some of the sites we are physically unable to go into, such as the home of the Chesnutt sisters. Anne Chesnutt is one of the sisters after whom a local middle school is named. Her brother Charles Chesnutt was the well-known African-American author. We’ll go by that home as well as the home of E. E. Smith to take a look at the outside. One of the things that last year’s tour really fostered was a lot of interest in E. E. Smith’s home in terms of renovation. It inspired a group that were on the tour to try and push toward getting a working group to the E. E. Smith home to fi x it up.”

While participants will not be able tour the inside of the homes, other sites will encourage a little exploration.

“We will actually be able to go inside the Evans Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church and see the grave of Henry Evans, as well as Saint Joseph’s Episcopal Church, which has a wonderful Tiffany stained-glass window,” said Bleazey. “There are some very historic churches in our community. A historically black church, First Baptist Church, was located on the site where the Transportation Museum is currently.

“In keeping with that Downtown landscape, we’ll be stopping at Cool Springs Street at the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry (F.I.L.I.) Parade Ground to visit the grave of Isaac Hammond, a Revolutionary War soldier and fi fer for the F.I.L.I. who is buried there. Another key site that we’ll go into is the Market House to see a permanent exhibit on the history of the State House and Market House. We’ll see some very old maps and information panels that trace the history of that site from 1788 up through the 20th century.”

Bleazey noted that African-American businesses also contributed much to the Downtown community.

“As we drive through the Downtown area, all the principal streets in the area that radiate off of the Market House had African-American businesses within them, Gillespie Street being a good example, so we’ll be mentioning some of the prominent businesses that were there as we drive around. We’ll be going to Fayetteville State University to see the gates. It’s going to be the most fun history lesson you have ever had!

“We actually have a couple of tours that generate a waiting list, so we do another tour. Fayetteville is certainly interested in history and African-American heritage, and we’ll offer this tour as many times as the public wishes to see these sites and know all about them. There is just such a rich history of African Americans in our community. This tour, focused on the downtown area geographically, will help tell both a local and broader story of African Americans in our city.”

Space is limited for the event, which costs $3 per person payable at the beginning of the tour. Preregistration is required, and participants are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes for moderate walking.

For more information or to preregister, please call (910) 433-1457, 433-1458 or 433-1944.

Photo: Evans Metropolitan AME Zion Church.