Whether you are a survivor or you know someone who is fi ghting, cancer is a disease that touches us all.

Sherry Jackson, an RN on the Cape Fear Valley Pediatrics Unit, knows all too well the strength needed to battle cancer. In 2004, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. What followed were three rounds of chemotherapy that took a rough toll on her body. But Jackson knows Cape Fear Valley’s cancer patients need never fight alone. They have the support of Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation’s Friends of the Cancer Center.

“Every penny the Foundation raises goes straight to the Cancer Center to help patients that need it so badly,” she says.

The Cape Fear Valley Cancer Center and CyberKnife Treatment Center does not receive any fi nancial assistance from any national cancer support foundations. Instead, the center relies solely on donations and gifts provided to the Health Foundation’s Friends of the Cancer Center.

Friends of the Cancer Center provide hundreds of cancer patients and their families not only with emotional support and information resources, but also prescription medicine, food supplements, wigs and turbans, emergency funding for utilities and travel assistance for treatment — all at no expense for the patient.

Now in remission, Jackson serves as co-chair for the organization’s largest fundraising event, the Annual Ribbon Walk & Ride. The first Ribbon Walktook place in 2005, with 140 walkers — including Jackson —joining together to raise just over $3,000. The event has grown over the years. The 2011 walk added a riding portion for motorcycle enthusiasts. Altogether 750 participants banded together and raised more than $88,000 for local cancer patients!

On Saturday, Sept. 15, hundreds of walkers and motorcycle riders will gather together in support of Cape Fear Valley’s cancer patients and the Friends of the Cancer Center for the 7th Annual Ribbon Walk & Ride presented by HealthKeeperz.

“I am so extremely emotional and excited for this event,” says Jackson. “My goal is for the Ribbon Walk to be larger than Fayetteville’s Dogwood Festival.”

Tara Brisson Hinton, Friends of the Cancer Center Coordinator at Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation is also hoping this year’s walk will be even bigger.

“We are so excited for this year’s event as it keeps growing,” Hinton says. “We’re holding our fi rst Survivor’s Reception on Friday, Sept. 14, at SkyView on Hay to kick things off.”

The reception will be held from 7 to 9 p.m., and will offer food, music, a photo booth, silent auction and door prizes.

The Survivor’s Reception is not this year’s only change. This will be the fi rst year that walkers will not be taking on the steep hill on Hay Street into Historic Haymont. Instead, walkers will start at the Medical Arts Center and walk down Hay Street and through Linear Park (the motorcycle route will go out to River Road and back). There will be small hills and a few steps, but the climb up Hay Street will not be necessary.

The flatter walk is a benefit because for the 2012 Ribbon Walk we are calling all cancer survivors.

“I’ve walked the new route,” says Jackson. “Most of our cancer survivors can walk it because there are only three or four steps and someone will be posted there to help survivors up and down those steps.”

Walkers and riders register for $25 and receive a t-shirt, but survivors can participate for only $15 and they will receive a special “I am a Survivor” t-shirt.

Survivors who register by Wednesday, Aug. 15, will receive an invitation by mail with a ticket for them and a guest to attend the special Survivors Reception.

There will be prizes for the Ribbon Walk & Ride individual and team who raise the most money and friendly competition is strongly encouraged.

The team that raises the most money will get ownership of The Crystal Ribbon trophy with the team name engraved on it.

If you would like to join the Ribbon Walk & Ride this Sept. 15, Sherry Jackson and the Friends of the Cancer Center would love to have you. For more information, please call 615-1434 or visit www.ribbonwalkforcancer.org.

For many areas, particularly the more agrarian states, it took years to get the benefi ts of electricity. It was often a very expensive endeavor to install and many households choose to stick to the traditional ways of doing things. Since then electricity has become a necessity. Blackouts now mean the halting of all work and an extreme inconvenience to all, sometimes even resulting in fatalities. “Today, we have become accustomed to rapidly changing technology and how it affects our lives. Imagine less than a century ago, most North Carolinians lived without electricity,” David Reid, the museum (WHICH MUSEUM) administrator, said.

The new exhibit at the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex, which is a traveling exhibit from the North Carolina Museum of History, highlights the tremendous difference in pre-electric and post-electric devices. “It looks at how electricity was life altering to the people of this country and of this area. People don’t realize that less than a century ago many parts of north Carolina did not have electricity. Cities had it at the beginning of the 20th century but rural areas didn’t get it for as late as the 1940s,” Reid said.

Reid explained the exhibit as having three cases. One of them talks about the development of electricity and Edison creating the light bulb, and once he invented the light bulb how he had to create an electrical distribution to get the power across communities. Another case has electrical appliances and the tools being replaced by these electrical appliances such as clocks, toasters, fans, items like that. And the third case has to do with how all of that was promoted. How companies like General Electric advertised to try and get people to buy their products and promoted the use of electricity, unlike today where we have advertising for people to conserve electricity.

Once electricity was wide spread there was a huge surge in the invention of electrical appliances intended to make house work easier for the stay at home moms. This exhibit will show the pre-electricity devices side by side with the electrically driven ones to give their patrons a more complete understanding of how drastically life changed with the use of electricity. “What we do after people look at the items in the exhibit, is to then go over to the Poe house and think about as they walk through the house how life would change for the Poes as electricity was introduced and they started acquiring electrical appliances. Because the house dates from 1897 and we interpret it up to ww1 so that would be the time that electricity would be introduced to the house,” Reid explains.

This exhibit will be on display until Sept. 16 at the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex on the corner of Bradford and Arsenal avenues. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and on Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.ncculture.com.

Photo: The new exhibit at the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex, which is a traveling exhibit from the North Carolina Museum of History, highlights the tremendous difference in pre-electric and post-electric devices.

It’s a Palazzo! The Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local history Museum really know how to celebrate. As a part of the Fayetteville’s 250th Anniversary Celebration they have an extraordinary line up of educational activities. They have left no stone unturned. From July to October numerous activities have been planned to exhibit the wonderful and vast history of Fayetteville. From the Market House to the churches, from historic buildings to the flowing river, even to the men and women of our military who fought to uphold our freedom; the museum has it all covered in their tours and programs. The scheduled events are an eye opener to the wonderful community of Fayetteville.

There is a longing in each of us to know our history. It somehow helps us to find our place in the world. From the young child that asks “how did I get here?” and “where do babies come from?” to the adolescent that wonders if they truly matter and the young adult who is “trying to find myself,” there is a part of us that longs to know the past that produced the present. Connecting with the struggles and successes of our ancestors helps us to connect with the greatness that we each have inside us. It also helps us to imagine how our own contributions will affect society for those who will follow behind us.

Fayetteville’s history is a combination of all those who have lived and sacrifi ced long before our time. Among these great individuals are the contributions of many African-American’s. Although the month of February is often set aside to celebrate the impact and contributions these individuals have made, the Transportation and History Museum has once again taken the time to recognize their heritage on the Africa-American Heritage tour scheduled to take place on Aug. 13. According to Heidi Bleazey, museum specialist, “The city has offered numerous African-American themed tours and programs over the years and incorporated African-American heritage into many of the various themed tours and exhibits conducted through the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum. This is the fi rst one led by Charles Anderson and the fi rst one packaged in this format for the 250th Celebration.” Charles Anderson is a professor at Central Texas College on Fort Bragg.

This three hour tour will take place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., exploring the downtown area while noting the contributions of African Americans. Scheduled stops on the tour include: Brookside Cemetery, E.E. Smith’s home, the Orange Street School and the home of the Chesnutt sisters. The Chestnutt sisters were educators in Cumberland County and are the sisters of Charles Waddell Chesnutt, noted African-American author for whom the Fayetteville State University Charles W. Chesnutt Special Library & Archives is named.

More than African-American heritage, this tour is the heritage of our beloved city, the place we call home today. It was woven together by all of our ancestors. Each piece of unique history connects us all.

To find out more about this tour or other tours offered by the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local history Museum contact 433-1457, 1458, or 1944.

Photo: Charles W. Chestnutt

In 2004, the North Carolina General Assembly created the North Carolina Military Business Center — the only statewide Military Business Center in the United States. A statewide business-development component of the community college system, the NCMBC leverages military and other federal business opportunities for economic development and quality of life in North Carolina. Since opening in January 2005, NCMBC business development specialists have supported N.C. businesses in identifying, competing for and winning more than 1,230 contracts worth $2.8 to $8 billion.

Throughout the year, the NCMBC hosts multiple strategic, industry-specifi c major events to help educate N.C. companies on the upcoming trends, opportunities and current and future needs of the industry, as well as provide the opportunity to network with major defense contractors, Department of Defense buyers, government and military agencies to build teaming relationships and to learn more about defense procurement processes. Major events that have already occurred this year include the N.C. Federal Environmental Symposium (June 2012) and the N.C. Federal Advanced Technologies Symposium (July 2012).

Below are upcoming events this year:

• 11th Annual Defense and Economic Development Trade Show Hosted at Fayetteville Technical Community College since 2001, the Defense and Economic Development Trade Show is the premier defense trade show in North Carolina. Hosted by U.S. Senator Richard Burr, U.S. Senator Kay Hagan, Congressman Larry Kissell, FTCC and the NCMBC, the 11th Annual DTS will be held on Aug. 7, at FTCC’s 2201 Hull Road campus. The purpose of the DTS is to build relationships among representatives of the Congressional delegation, Department of Defense, federal agencies and numerous defense contracting fi rms, including both large and small North Carolina businesses. This event is free. For more information or to register, visit ncmbc.us/2012DefenseTradeShow.php

• 2012 North Carolina Aerospace Supplier Conference (August 13-14, High Point, N.C.) The Aerospace Suppliers Conference, cohosted by Senator Richard Burr, the NCMBC, the N.C. Aerospace Alliance and the N.C. Department of Commerce, connects aerospace suppliers and subcontractors in the state with major aircraft manufacturers and fi rst-tier subcontractors. The conference features briefi ngs by major aerospace companies about their current requirements, vendor qualifi cation processes and future opportunities; general sessions on workforce training, quality management systems and industry trends in military; commercial and general aviation; and a trade show of North Carolina aerospace companies. For more information or to register, visit ncmbc.us/2012NCAerospaceConference.php

• 2012 North Carolina Federal Construction & Infrastructure Summit (October 10-11 – Wilmington, N.C.) The FEDCON Summit will bring together more than 800 representatives of the Corps of Engineers, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, United States Coast Guard, Department of Veterans Affairs, GSA Public Buildings Service, other federal agencies and installations, general and specialty contractors, designers and construction suppliers in North Carolina. The Summit program will focus on traditional military construction, sustainment, restoration and modernization (SRM) construction and energy and other environmental construction and engineering opportunities at bases in North Carolina. The Summit will include a business expo, general and breakout sessions, and speed networking with major primes and federal agencies. For more information or to register, visit ncmbc.us/2012FEDCONSummit.php. For more information on the N.C. Military Business Center, visit ncmbc.us/index.php.

Learn more about Fayetteville Technical Community College at www.faytechcc.edu.

All Good Things Must Come to an End

This week in The Buzz we are reminded that indeed all good things must come to an end.

Downhere, a Canadian band with two lead singers, one of whom sounds so much like the late Freddy Mercury that he toured on the Queen reunion tour this summer, has announced that they will end their music ministry in January 2013.

Here is the official statement from Downhere:

Hello Friends,

It is with many memories and deep feelings that we relay to you the decision we have made over the course of the last year. January 1, 2013 will mark the end of our traveling ministry for the foreseeable future.

It has become very clear to us that this chapter of our journey, initiated by God, is drawing to a close. While we mourn the end of this season we also celebrate over a decade of ministry. It has been hard work and our families have paid a big price. The friends, songs, experiences and lives changed as a result of hearing the truth of God’s love has sustained us through many years and miles.

For those of you who know us well you know that this is not a band breakup. In fact, we are open to playing a select few shows or events in the future. After many years and miles spent together we have become a band of brothers who love each other dearly. There is not one single variable that has initiated this change; rather it would seem the same sovereign hand that has guided us together for this season is now leading us in different directions. We are grateful for the role everyone has played in our lives. Your encouragement and support over the years has carried us through thick and thin.

We have always wanted to finish well. We believe that means finishing together, as a band... and that is what we are going to do. We are working on setting up a few wrap-up shows this fall. More information will be forthcoming as things get solidified.

Downhere is ending well with their final project On The Altar of Lovewhich is available now. Find them online at www.downhere.com.

Hip-Hop is alive and well in Fayetteville, N.C. This is something I would not have believed until it was pointed out to me. So Fayetteville, please introduce yourself to Ezzie B and Doomgotbeats, collectively known as Prosthetik Intelligentz.

The group was formed back in April 2010. In that same year they released two mixed tapes that received local and international rec-ognition in the underground world of Hip-Hop. They soon adopted “journeyman-alien” Hip+Hop as an oc-casional member to the group who traveled with them on a trip around the world to help promote their music and ideas. The trip served them with invaluable inspiration for their upcoming projects. Prosthetik Intelligentz planned on working on their third mixed tape when they returned. During the process they met Raleigh-based produc-er Eric “Gravity Movement” Bannister. Quickly they all clicked together and started recording Sounds & Wonders ep.

Sounds & Wonders ep was released this past winter and contains six songs of head-bobbing smooth Hip-Hop with a message. There’s a heavy influence of New York’s ‘90s Hip-Hop scene all over the album. These guys fit right in with groups like A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, maybe even Nas in his early days on the scene.

The mood is set right from the first track for the ep which isn’t a bad thing since it’s only a six song ep. The album doesn’t drag on and get boring, instead it’s over before you know it and leaves you craving more. The beats are laid back, easy going and spacey sounding with lots of cool breaks and samples. Layered over these beautiful beats are samples from various speakers giving inspiration with Ezzie B’s intelligent lyrics showcasing his plea for people to use their minds for positive actions and his love of music.

If you’re looking for some club music about random hook ups, pushing dope and taste for extravagant clothing and cars then this is not for you. The intro track to the album, “Sunlight”, features a sample excerpt of a speech from Charlie Chaplin’s The Great Dictator where the speaker talks about a world where we all help one another and strive for the happiness and liberty for all mankind. These are the ideas and concepts you will hear on Sounds & Wonders. The lyrics are very positive while slightly touching on some of the darkness and troubles of the real world. Ezzie B has a very nice flow to his rap too which helps deliver his message, making the listeners ears willing and wanting to take in his Andre 3000 meets Pusha T flow.

Prosthetik Intelligentz is not a group to sleep on. If you’re a fan of Rap and Hip-Hop, you want this album in your collection. It’s especially exciting talent like this coming right out of Fayetteville. For more information and free music from Prosthetik Intelligentz, visit www.prosthetikintelligentz.com. The physical copy of the CD will also come with a bonus disc, The Sade Experience by Doomgotbeats. On this disc Doomgotbeats remixes classic Sade tracks in Prosthetik Intelligentz style. The project was inspired by his recent trip to Africa and the songs sound just as beautiful and classic as Sade herself.

The Fayetteville SwampDogs would like to take this opportunity to thank the greatest fans in the Coastal Plain League for another outstanding and memorable 2012 season. After the frightening concession-stand explosion before the season, fans willed the SwampDogs to success both on and off the field. The team once again led the league in attendance, as SwampDogs Nation filled J.P. Riddle Stadium on a nightly basis. Fans created a palpable excitement for each home game that yielded one of the best game-day atmospheres in the league. Fayetteville realizes that The All- American Summer of Fun would not have been possible without the loyal contingent of fans, and is ecstatic to get to work on the 2013 campaign.

The 2012 regular season will conclude tomorrow evening with Fan Appreciation Night at “The Swamp.” The final Fireworks Extravaganza of the season will follow the action, with plenty of giveaways and prizes distributed all night long. The first 500 fans through the gates will receive the latest edition of the Fun-Go Bobblehead, as the fan-favorite collectible is finally unveiled. Fan Appreciation Night is the best way that the SwampDogs know how to thank the thousands of fans that came through the gates this year; with more exciting SwampDogs baseball. It’s the final opportunity to see the best fireworks show in town, and the Dogs want every fan to be a part of it at “The Swamp.”

Fayetteville will take part in the Petitt Cup Playoffs once again this year, with playoff baseball returning to “The Swamp.” For all updated information regarding the playoffs, including tickets, log on to www.goswampdogs.com or call the business office at (910)-426-5900. Don’t miss this opportunity to see the Dogs chase down the Petitt Cup Championship in 2012.

Photo: The first 500 fans through the gates will receive the latest edition of the Fun-Go Bobblehead. 

Free Alzheimer’s Training Now Available

To Local Family Caregivers

The local Home Instead Senior Care® office is offering a unique approach to help Cumberland County and Hoke County families manage the challenges of Alzheimer’s and other dementias, diseases that eventually rob seniors of their memories and independence. Free training for families caring for these older adults is now available through online e-learning modules, available at HelpForAlzheimersFamilies.com.

The Alzheimer’s or Other Dementias CARE: Changing Aging through Research and Education Training Program offers a personal approach tohelp families care for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease at home, where 60 to 70 percent live, according to the Alzheimer’s Associatio

n. “Until there is a cure, we offer an interim solution,” said Susan Guy, owner of the local Home Instead Senior Care office.

The foundation of the Alzheimer’s CARE Training Program is an approach called “Capturing Life’s Journey®” that involves gathering stories and experiences about the senior to help caregivers provide comfort while honoring the individual’s past. Because people with Alzheimer’s disease have difficulty with short-term memory, the Capturing Life’s Journey approach taps into longterm memory.

The Home Instead Senior Care network assembled the top experts in Alzheimer’s disease to develop the CARE approach. “The training we’re offering to families is the same kind of training our professional CAREGiverss receive,” she noted.

The program for family caregivers consists of four classes: Alzheimer’s Disease or Other Dementias Overview; Capturing Life’s Journey; Techniques to Manage Behaviors; and Activities to Encourage Engagement. Also available is a free guide for those who are caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. Called Helping Families Cope, the guide includes advice to help families keep their loved ones engaged and manage behaviors.

“CARE is a wonderful hands-on approach that helps caregivers deal with the behavioral changes that too often accompany these disorders – one of the biggest stressors for caregivers,” said Dr. Jane F. Potter, chief of the Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. “There was previously no good program available using adult education techniques to provide hands-on practice in learning how best to help people who suffer from dementia. This is huge,” she added.

“The preferred environment for those with dementia is generally at home,” said Potter, who served on the expert panel to help develop content for the Alzheimer’s CARE Training Program.

And yet, families caring for seniors with Alzheimer’s at home are dealing with challenging behaviors such as anger, aggression, wandering and refusing to eat, according to research conducted for the Home Instead Senior Care network.

“That makes the Alzheimer’s Disease or Other Dementias CARE Training Program a solution for the many families in our area who are being impacted each day by devastating side effects of this disease,” Guy said.

For more information about free, on-site Family Caregiver Training, contact your local Home Instead Senior Care office at 484-7200 or for more information about the free Family Caregiver Training and other resources, visit HelpforAlzheimersFamilies.com to engage in an e-learning course.

Photo: Free training for families caring for these older adults is now available through online e-learning modules, available at HelpForAlzheimersFamilies.com. 

After these past few years of economic stress, it is no surprise that many families are strugglingwith back to school shopping. Unfortunately, some families just can’t handle the cost and children are returning to school without any of the basic necessities required for efficient learning in the schools. In an effort to combat this deficit Cumberland County Education Foundation is partnering with Cumberland County Schools and Operation Homefront to provide school supplies to the under privileged with their Stuff the Bus! drive.

With the rise of global media the news is increasingly fl ooded with cries for help from distant nations. Mailboxes are crammed full with fl iers to save starving children or donate a cow to a village, and while it is a responsibility as a global community, particularly a wealthy and relatively stable country to assist our foreign brethren as much as possible, it is feared that this wave of pleas drowns out those problems closest to home. Children in our own towns and even neighborhoods have to face every day without the necessities they require to succeed. It is hard to complete assignments without the paper to write on nor the pencil to write with, and the schools cannot provide the supplies every student requires so it is often diffi cult for students to succeed. Some of the world’s most brilliant minds came from underprivileged backgrounds, but it was because of the kind and generous people in their lives that helped them that they were able reach their fullest potential.

A donation of simple things like pencils and paper, will enable children that would otherwise struggle in school to succeed, and perhaps unlock a passion for learning. If nothing else, even if these children are not the next presidents or inventors, it will help them to improve their lives, and the lives of their children.

For many it can be a source of shame to ask for help, and to admit that they cannot provide for their own children. This drive provides the opportunity for the community to support families without questions, or shame. It is the opportunity for the community to open its arms and support its neighbors in need and to invest in its own future by ensuring that its children become well educated and productive. The donations to this cause will benefit children in Cumberland County and on Fort Bragg.

The drives will take place on Aug. 3 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Wal-mart Super Centers on Hope Mills Road, Raeford Road, Ramsey Street and Spring Lake locations. It is requested that all school supplies are newly bought and donation checks should be payable to Cumberland County Education Foundation. The most needed items are backpacks, 3-ring binders, flash drives, loose-leaf paper, composition notebooks, pocket folders, colored pencils, and pencils/mechanical pencils. Gift cards are also appreciated.

For more information, call School Social Services at 678-2621.

A sanctuary is a defined as a place of refuge from hardship; a consecrated area. When I hear the word sanctuary peace floods my mind. I am reminded of quiet Sunday evenings and lazy Saturdays at the beach. Weddings, funerals and family gatherings come to mind as well. The traditional sanctuary, within the church, has been a refuge for many. It is a place that holds memories of joy and grief, hope and despair.

On Aug. 6, the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum will host its Historic Church tour. The tour will take place from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m.; however, it sometimes extends to 12:30 p.m. The tour will visit First Presbyterian, Evans Metropolitan AME Zion, St. John’s Episcopal, Hay Street Methodist and First Baptist. Each of these downtown churches are listed on the National Register of Historical places and are rich with the cultural and religious history of Fayetteville. The cost for the tour is $3 and you must preregister by Aug. 4 in order to attend. Participants will travel by bus for the tour, and some walking is involved.

This is not your ordinary tour.

“It is more than sparkly windows and pretty structures” states Heidi Beazley, the museum specialist.

Her eyes light up as she begins to speak about the tour.

“It’s a dynamic experience, it’s more than history. The tour paints the picture of religious development in the area,” she said.

You are able to see how religion developed here in Fayetteville. Some of the churches like First Presbyterian have been around since the 1800s. Every church on the tour has something unique to offer.

“If you think you have seen it, you haven’t seen it in this way,” Beazley explained.

Although the tour is centered on the churches, the various demographics that attend add a special flare, as many of them are able to share their own experiences because they have lived in the area, and in some cases attended services there and watched the churches grow and change over the years.

Among the stops during the tour are the Market House, a site for early religious services. In times past there were no formal structures for religious services. The people would meet in the local market area. Traveling preachers would visit the area and people would gather together in the Market House to hear sermons and to worship together. Over time formal structures were built for these religious services.

The tour’s beautiful architecture, rich history lesson and dynamic fellowship truly makes it remarkable. It is so remarkable in fact, that last year’s tour had a waiting list of approximately 30 people. Currently the 2012 Historic Church tour is already half-way full.

To register contact the Fayetteville Area Transportation an Local History Museum at 325 Franklin St. in downtown Fayetteville or call (910) 433-1457,1458 or 1944. Although preregistration is required, payment is not due until the day of the tour (no large bills please). Come and explore the religious structure and history behind these awesome sanctuaries.

Photo: St. John’s Episcopal Church in downtown Fayetteville, was established in 1817. It is one of several churches in the downtown area.

WCCG 104.5 FM has always been about the listeners. In fact, the hip-hop station throws a party for its listeners every year. It started as block parties in downtown Fayetteville. For several years, that was the venue of choice — and a good way to reach the community. Once Festival Park was built, the event really took off. Mark the calendar for July 28, and come downtown to hear a great line up of hip-hop artists.

Kalim Hasan, event spokesperson and WCCG employee, has enjoyed watching the event grow.

“When we first started, we would block off the streets in front of the Market House. Then we moved the event from the block party to Festival Park. From there it has just grown,” said Hasan. “Our first year it was a complete success and it has been growing since then.Last year we had a huge audience. We had about 8,000 people come out. It has been progressively better every year. We hope to see a crowd of 10,000 or more.”

Bring the family as there will be plenty of children’s activities, a local talent showcase and national recording artists.

The list of performers is impressive. According to Hasan it is the biggest line up in the history of the event. The performers scheduled to be on stage are: KStylis, Dj Unk, V.I.C., Diamond of Crime Mobb, Princess of Crime Mobb and Love and Hip Hop Atlanta, Boobe, Lil Ru, Ricco Barrino, Rell formerly of Rocafella, Kaleena formerly of BadBoy Dirty Money, Huricane Chris, Youngest Ones, Yayo of Maybach Music, Mr. 704, Jason Jetplane, Lil Chuckie of YMCMB, Montana Da Mack, Cadillac Don, Trillville, Slick’em of Pretty Rickey, J Money, Dj Infamous and Drumma Boy.

In addition to on-stage entertainment all day, Gamin’ Ride will be on hand with all the latest video games. This is a mobile interactive entertainment unit that can accommodate several players.

“That is a really fun technology addition this year,” said Hasan. “People will be able to sample new games and titles that are out and play amongst their friends. We will have a gaming tournament. We think this is going to be huge this year.”

Carlo Spann, the local owner of Gamin’ Ride is looking forward to seeing the excitement the gaming system generates.

“It’s like nothing you’ve seen before. We have multi-player games multi-sensory games. If you are playing a football video game, we can make it so you smell the grass and feel the motion of the game. That is just a small piece of what we can do.”

With all the latest titles, an air conditioned in-door space, an expandable mobile unit, vibrating simulation seating, game scents and XBOX 360, PS3, Wii and the ultimate in high-definition gaming, Hasan is looking for this new component of the event to be a big hit.

Gamin’ Ride will be pay-to-play and each play will be limited on time so that everyone in the crowd who is interested will have a chance to participate. Visit gaminride.com to find out more about the system and what to expect at the music festival.

The event is free. Bring money to buy dinner from the food vendors though. There will be stage side seating available for $5 and VIP access, which costs $20 and includes stage side seating.

“We have the fan zone this year, which is our VIP section. All the celebrities will be signing autographs and taking pictures and stuff,” said Hasan. “Once they come off stage they will be taking pictures and signing autographs. The fan zone is for the audience where they can be close to the artists. Everything else is free.”

The gates open at 3 p.m. and the party will wind down around 11 p.m. Lawn chairs are welcome, but leave the coolers and pets at home. Visit www.wccg1045fm.com for more information.

With the 2012 season nearing its end, the Fayetteville SwampDogs are as busy as ever.

On Sunday, July 15, fans and players teamed up for the 2012 Bowl for Charity event at B&B Lanes, where proceeds went directly to the Wounded Warrior Project.

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage joined the lineup, assisting with the successful afternoon that saw countless participants win terrific prizes donated by a number of generous companies.

Fans were teamed with SwampDogs players over the course of two different sessions, as the various groups bowled. The team with the highest score at the conclusion of each session was awarded a prize, and all the money raised through registration and raffle prizes was donated to the Wounded Warrior Project.

Saturday, July 21 was yet another important day at “The Swamp,” as the Dogs’ Pancake Breakfast, Guns N Hoses softball game, and Striking Out Cancer Night all transpired over the course of the day.

The pancake breakfast gave fans a chance to eat breakfast with SwampDogs players, with all the money raised donated to the Wounded Warrior Project once again. Fans had their fill of the all-you-can-eat selection of pancakes, eggs and sausage, and spent a Saturday morning with the Dogs.

The Fayetteville Fire Department and Police Department squared off for the third annual Guns N Hoses softball game later that afternoon, as family and friends watched their loved ones compete on the playing field at J.P. Riddle Stadium, with proceeds benefi tting the two departments.

The night was capped off by the team’s sixth annual Striking Out Cancer Night, presented by Cape Fear Valley Health System. Fans bid on special pink jerseys worn by the players during the contest, as the highest bidders received the game-worn jersey, while the runner-up was provided a replica. The money raised was donated to the Cape Fear Valley Health Foundations’ Friends of the Cancer Center, as a select group of SwampDogs’ faithful were awarded a piece of team history.

With limited games remaining in the season, the SwampDogs remind fans that Fan Appreciation Night is fast approaching. The final regular season game will be followed by the final fireworks extravaganza of the summer. Fans can win giveaways and prizes all night long.

There are three games left in th season; July 25; July 31; and Aug. 2 Find out more at www.goswampdogs.com.

Photo: The SwampDogs recently hosted a bowling tournament to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. Other agencies supported by the SwampDogs include the Fayetteville Police and Fire Departments, and the Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation.

Those of us who were around in April 2011 may never forget the scenes of devastation from the tornadoes that ripped through Fayetteville and the surrounding areas. Power lines were down, businesses were torn apart and homes were destroyed in an instant. Most of us watched the news reports wondering what we could do to help.

We never know when the next disaster will affect our community, or even just a single individual. What we do know is that when disaster strikes, the American Red Cross will be there to help.

Ironically, the time to help disaster victims is now while things are calm. The Red Cross, a 97 percent volunteer-based organization, hosts three major fundraisers a year to fulfill its mission to “provide relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.” Funded primarily from individual charitable donations and campaigns such as the United Way and the Combined Federal Campaign, the Red Cross also relies heavily on these fundraisers to be prepared when disaster strikes.

On Saturday, Aug. 4, the Highlands Chapter of the American Red Cross will host its sixth annual Run for the Red in Festival Park. Activities start at 7 a.m. with a 10k race, followed by a 5K race. The event fi nishes up with a 1-Mile Fun Walk/Run at 8:30 a.m. The American Red Cross will host a variety of preparedness activities on site, so be sure to bring the whole family.

“We will have our trained staff members on site to help your family make a fi re plan, learn how to make a disaster kit and prepare for all types of emergencies,” says Executive Director Victoria Raleigh. “We will have coloring books for the kids; and a variety of educational information available free of charge.”

Cash prizes will be awarded for the top three finishers for both men and women in the 10K and 5K races. Top three medals will be awarded in both men’s and women’s groups by age group. For participants of the 1-Mile Fun Walk/Run, medals will be given to all children who participate. Strollers are welcome for this event, as it is a family event for all ages — you can walk or run! However, iPods are not allowed for the 10K or 5K races.

Don’t forget your military unit. There will be a “giant trophy” and bragging rights for the military unit with the largest number of participants.

“Last year 3rd Brigade Combat Team won, but with more than 10 battalions signed up this year they have quite a bit of competition,” said Raleigh. “If you don’t see your military unit listed on the website, simply call us and we will add it to the list.”

Packet pick-up is Aug. 3, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the American Red Cross Highlands Chapter at 807 Carol St. Packet pick-up on race day and registration starts at 5:30 a.m. in Festival Park.

Says Raleigh, “By simply lacing up your running (or walking) shoes on Aug. 4, you can give back to an organization that has touched one out of every 10 individuals in our local area.”

The first 750 registered will receive a T-shirt at packet pickup. The goal for this year is 1,000 participants. Registration for the 10K race is $30, the 5K race is $25 and registration for the 1 Mile Fun/Walk is just $5 per individual. Online registration is recommended and will close on Aug. 1. Registration on the day of the event for the 10K and 5K races will be $5 more. All military ID card holders or groups of 10 or more will receive a $5 discount off the registration fees. Be sure to call 910-867-8151 to get the discount code before you register.

For more information or to register, visit www.highlandsarc.org or call 910-867-8151.

The Amazing Spiderman (Rated PG-13) 4 Stars

I was a huge fan of Sam Raimi’s 2002 Spiderman, and admittedly skep-tical that a reboot was warranted. Yes, the third film sucked like a Hoover, but isn’t tossing The Amazing Spiderman (136 minutes) into the mix sort of like dancing on the grave of a modern classic? And do we really need to sit through yet another origin story? I know we, as a people, have increasingly shorter attention spans and can’t retain memories for more than a few minutes, but I am getting deja vu all over again. Still, I will give credit where credit is due and confess that despite some logi-cal inconsistencies, the reboot could have been a lot worse.

The film opens with little Peter Parker being delivered to Aunt May (Sally Field) and Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen) by his parents (Campbell Scott and Embeth Davidtz). Peter grows up and develops into a fine young man (Andrew Garfield), attending Midtown Science High School with Gwen Stacy (Stone) and Flash Thompson (Chris Zylka). Circumstances combine to reveal a connection between Peter’s father and Oscorp scientist Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans). Since it is so easy to get past security and sneak into top-secret corporate R&D offices, Peter joins a crowd of interns, coincidentally being led around by Gwen Stacy.

She realizes that he doesn’t belong in her group, but since her future with Oscorp means nothing compared to boys she lets him slide by. Which he does, right into a highly secured facility filled with enough chemicals and stuff to make a million WMD’s. Despite his supposed smarts, he shows no hesitation in fiddling with an experiment that he knows nothing about, which leads to a radioactive spider biting him.

That, along with Peter playing with his new spider powers, takes up about an hour of the film. Then, he rather unwisely decides to check in with Dr. Connors and provide him with some of the formulas his father had developed for cross-species genetic splicing. The two promptly begin testing a reptile-mice splice. Unbeknownst to Peter but knownst to the audience, Dr. Connors has been under pressure to make progress on his work or lose control of the project — and since Connors is missing an arm he is motivated to test the formula on himself.

It turns out to be a bad decision, since it turns him into The Lizard, and ap-parently drives him a little nuts (though maybe he was nuts to begin with, or just mad with guilt over something he did or failed to do that will be covered in future films). Meanwhile, Peter is being an angst-filled teenage boy, getting into trouble at school and disappointing his Aunt and Uncle with his self-centered behavior.

After a family fight, we get to see Uncle Ben get shot in the millionth version of the Spiderman “with great power comes great responsibility” scene. Depressed but super strong, Spiderman develops a cool new costume based on what the Olympians and Mexican wrestlers wear and sets out to find the guy that killed Uncle Ben. He quickly catches the attention of the Police Captain (a surprisingly well cast Denis Leary). Things get a bit cheesy and sentimental in the latter third of the film, but my interest was definitely piqued by the appearance of Michael Massee in an after-credits scene.

Between the two films, Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin easily outshines Ifans’ Lizard and the 2002 plot was more logical. On the other hand, watch-ing Emma Stone play Gwen Stacy (the Gwen Stacy stories were better any-way) only illustrated how out of her depth Kirsten Dunst was as Mary Jane Watson, and the new costume is way better. Fans will not be disappointed, and if nothing else, this version sets up a character arc that can sustain a trilogy.

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

A young girl was walking along a beach upon which thousands of starfi sh had washed up during a terrible storm. When she came to each starfish, she would pick it up, and throw it back into the ocean. People watched with amusement.

After some time a man approached and said, “Little girl, you can’t save all these starfish. You can’t begin to make a difference!”

The girl seemed crushed. But then she bent down, picked up another starfish, and hurled it far into the ocean. Then she looked up at the man and replied, “Well, I made a difference to that one!”

Inspired, the old man joined the little girl in throwing starfish back into the sea. Soon others joined, and the starfish were saved.

                                                              — adapted from the Star Thrower by Loren C. Eiseley

At the Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation, each of us sees ourselves, as that little girl. Each of us has become a star thrower for cancer patients, cardiac-care patients, preemie babies, those family members far from home, those struggling to rehab and regain their sense of independence and even those bereaved and left to pick up the pieces of shattered lives. Each finds inspiration in their stories. Some find their motivation in cancer survivors like Brad Lose. Others may model themselves after Lonnie Player, former foundation chair, who today still continues cardiac rehabilitation 16 years after his third heart attack and subsequent quintuple bypass.

Some may follow the lead of little Laura Bullard who sacrificed her birthday gifts in order to donate them in the form of stacks and stacks of children’s books to brighten the days for kids hospitalized at Cape Fear Valley.

Then there are the heart-warming stories like the Coopers’ preemie twins, nursed tenderly for months until they could finally come home. One local real-estate association collected teddy bears. A bowling league and a highschool volleyball team both gathered dollars and cents and pledges for those suffering with cancer and heart disease. The effort, the star throwing, goes on in both big and little ways.

All these foundation efforts and dollars cared for friends and families right here in Cumberland County. Each rescued starfi sh in his or her own way, in giving to the Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation.

Why give to the Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation? For Lonnie Player, it was more than the expert cardiologists that performed the delicate bypass surgery. The foundation supported his cardiac rehabilitation, the nutritional plans and the careful, but vital exercise regimen he received. He follows those routines even today, more than 16 years later. According to Player, these donors and volunteers “provide things that are not traditionally provided for by a medical center, that make a difference, that give our patients the fi nest medical care that we can offer.”

As a prime example, foundation gifts helped fund innovative new EKG equipment for its ambulances that provide dramatically faster cardiac emergency diagnosis and response. Now Cape Fear Valley cardiologists can monitor heart attack and stroke patients, in real time, while they are transported to the hospital. That lets our physicians treat blockages in as little as 12 minutes, once they reach the emergency department. Most hospitals struggle to provide similar treatment in about 60 minutes.

Similarly, the foundation was able to fund unique Giraffe beds for neonatal intensive care patients. Premature infants respond as though the bed is an artificial womb, keeping the baby at proper moisture levels, warm and cozy. Laurin and Beverly Cooper had their twins at just 23 weeks; the Giraffe beds cradled and comforted them for months. Says Laurin, “I honestly believe that without [the giraffe beds], I don’t think our boys would have made it.”

Just as important, are the little things these volunteers do. Brad Lose and his mother, both cancer survivors, point to the wonderful things the staff and volunteers do at the cancer center. It’s a “magical place,” says Brad. “They are the most amazing people and the work they do is unbelievable.” Their efforts cover the costs of hairpieces for those undergoing chemotherapy. Transportation to and from appointments. Free or subsidized extended stay at the Stanton Hospitality House, for out-of-town families that can’t afford it. Foundation donations even provide for a burial fund for infants when parents, already wracked with grief, don’t have money for a proper burial. Foundation volunteers are star throwers who take pressure off, who understand how little things can make it easier for patients and family, who are genuinely happy to see you, who have their own stories of pain, fear and anxiety, and yet give of themselves to donate their time and money to help patients and families here in Cumberland County.

Despite all that the foundation staff, survivors, volunteers and donors do to comfort patients and families, there always remains more to do. That’s because hospitals like Cape Fear Valley Health continue to have their budgets stretched in ways that might otherwise compromise care. Unfortunately, we can’t all be in the operating suite or direct radiation therapy or unblock a clogged artery. Together, however, we can put all our efforts, big and small, to work for our neighbors, friends and family who find themselves needing the services of Cape Fear Valley Health. There are still starfi sh to rescue. They need star throwers like you.

Photo: Individuals can make a difference.

As the Fayetteville SwampDogs enter the dog days of summer, the team has continued to flourish and find success both on and off the field. In Perfect Game USA’s most recent rankings, the SwampDogs were once again included in the top 30 summer collegiate teams in the nation.

Fayetteville has been near the top of the overall league standings for the majority of the season, and has continued to remain involved in the local community.

The team recently held its annual bowling tournament to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. The Dogs teamed up with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage to combine family fun, charitable opportunities and competitive athletics for a day of fun-filled entertainment. SwampDogs staff members, players and fans came out to B&B Lanes on Fort Bragg Road on Sunday, July 15, and hosted what proved to be a successful event for all parties involved.

Two more events will take place on Saturday, July 21, as the team’s pancake breakfast and Striking Out Cancer Night highlight an exciting Saturday at “The Swamp.” Proceeds from the breakfast will once again benefit the Wounded Warrior Project, as the event gets underway at 8 a.m. Striking Out Cancer Night, presented by Cape Fear Valley Health System, is an opportunity for fans to bid on special pink jerseys that the team will wear during Saturday night’s contest. Fans can bid online leading up to the conclusion of the game, with all of the proceeds benefitting the Friends of the Cancer Center.

Other games this week include Family Fun Night on Friday, July 20. The first 500 fans will receive the eighth edition of the Fun-Go Bobblehead. On Tuesday, July 24, fans can wear UNC gear for ticket discounts.

As always, the Miller Lite Liberty Lounge will be open with eight different beers on tap, hot dogs and hamburgers, all for one dollar each. Free popcorn, peanuts and soft drinks are also available throughout the game.

For information regarding any of the SwampDogs’ upcoming events, visit or call the business office at 426-5900 and get involved today.

Photo: On July 21 bid on a pink SwampDogs jersey and proceeds help fight cancer.

Success. It is what parents want for their children. As a society it is what the nation desperately needs from the next generation. Getting them there is the challenge, and Dr. Teresa Pinckney is facing it head on, just like she has for almost two decades. On July 27, The Mind Over Matter Youth Development Institute hosts the Back-to-School Teen Explosion conference. It’s an end-of-summer event designed not only to empower and to motivate, but also to inspire teens to succeed in the coming school year.

The conference provides critical skills needed for academic success and is supported by local businesses, community agencies and colleges. The Back-to-School Teen Explosion Conferences aims to bridge the gap between youth and local businesses. When students understand the relationship between education and success, everyone wins. Students perform well and businesses have a competent and motivated workforce.

Pinckney specializes in youth program development: transition to high school, leadership, volunteer coordination, outreach, non-profit capacity building staff training and development. “I’ve always been actively involved in the community,” said Pinckney. “The greatest joy for me is seeing students that I have worked with in the past and them telling me what they are doing to be productive citizens.”

Empowering teens to think big and realize their potential as successful young adults is a win-win for the students and the organizations that take time to come out and support them. This event provides youth with the opportunity to meet local businesses owners and local college representatives. It’s not only informational it is a way to show young people that they can achieve their dreams.

“One thing I tell the kids is that knowledge is power. If you know something no one can take that away,” said Pinckney. “I teach them that persistence is important. I want to inspire them to do the best they can do in life.”

Students who attend the conference will learn skills that will help prepare them for the rigors of the school year, understand the relationship between education and work-force development, learn about potential career opportunities, complete a career assessment, learn about what to expect from life after high school. While the topics are serious, the day promises to be fun and engaging. Attendees will participate in thought-provoking discussions and interactive workshops. Local business leaders will be on hand to share their insights and experiences regarding the value of education in the workplace. Information and exhibits will be available providing the latest information to prepare teens for entering the workforce and preparing for college.

Scheduled breakout sessions during the event include:

• “My Character Prepares Me for Employability Skills”: Creative presentation of character education and workforce skills needed for after-school/summer employment and internships

• “Why Do I have to Learn this Stuff?” School Success for the 2012-2013 school year

• “Life Beyond High School”: College and Beyond, preparing for college with a 10-year plan

• “Show me the Money”: Financial Literacy and the importance of managing finances

• “I am Overcome by Anxiety!” Strategies on how to prepare for the SAT & ACT College Entrance Exams

• “Habits of Mind”: Interactive activities designed to utilize critical thinking skills needed for school success

• “STEM Factory”: Interactive activities related to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math

There are some great resources for students to take home with them, too. Everyone will take a learning-style inventory, which is great for helping students understand the ways they earn and how to use this information to their greatest advantage. A career assessment is provided to help attendees get an idea of what job will likely be a good fit for their personality and interests. A job skills readiness manual is also included for each student. The manual, combined with the insights and advice from local businesses gives a clear picture of what employers are looking for in today’s work place. Conference attendees will also receive a 2012-2013 student planner, a T-shirt, a Teen X Success Kit and a quarterly newsletter throughout the year.

As an advocate for youth, Dr. Pinckney has spent the past 25 years working with kids through programs like the Girls Scouts, various school systems, The Junior League, United Way and Partnership for Children to name a few. Her work with youth lead Pinckney to start The Mind Over Matter Youth Development Institute as a Division of T. Pinckney & Associates. The institute serves education, nonprofit and government agencies that serve youth. The organization is committed to supporting high standards in education and agencies that provide educational services.

She’s helped her fair share of young people in her time, and has no intention of stopping anytime soon. “I’ve gotten 1,000 kids into college,” said Pinckney. “I think it’s important to empower students. It’s about opportunity … having the knowledge and being prepared.”

The program runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and includes a continental breakfast as well as lunch. Individual registration is $35 with a $5 military discount; multiple-family registration is $35 for the first child and a $10 discount for each additional child. Group registration is $20 per student with a minimum group size of eight. Call 322-6198 or visit www.mymindovermatter.com to register or find out more information.

Photo: Top right- Dr. Teresa Pinckney, a long-time advocate for youth, has a great day planned for Teen Explosion.; bottom left - Youth today face some serious challenges on the path to success. Teen Explosion helps equip them for the future.

Downtown Fayetteville has always been a place of note, but more recently it has been for the lively cultural and artistic scene. Throughout the week downtown is buzzing with events and people enjoying the individual shops and delicious restaurants, but once a month they all band together and stay open late to give the public a venue to enjoy the cities wealth of culture and art. This month on July 27, downtown Fayetteville will be open and bustling, with most shops staying open later for the event.

This month the theme for 4th Friday is Christmas in July. The local kids museum Fascinate-U has fully embraced this theme by offering families a chance to come in and make mitten ornaments for their Christmas Tree. Additionally admission is free and everything in the gift shops is 10 percent off. The museum reminds patrons that the gift shop is full of perfect stocking stuffers for children. The museum will be open for 7 - 9 p.m.

For those interested in history, particularly history pertaining to Fayetteville, the Market House and the Transportation Museum are the places to be. The Market House in the center of downtown will be open from 6 - 10 p.m. hosting an exhibit on the Downtown Revitalization in its upstairs room. The Transportation Museum at 325 Franklin St. will be open to the public with history directly pertaining to Fayetteville and its growth as a city. It will have a model train room and many artifact filled exhibits.

The art scene in Fayetteville will also be alive and on display during the 4th Friday Festivities. The Arts Council will be embracing the green movement and promoting creative recycling by opening its newest exhibit “Recycle! It’s Second Nature.” This event is being sponsored by the City of Fayetteville’s Environmental Services Department and will be on display from 7 to 9 p.m. Mary Kinney, the marketing director of the Arts Council, explains that this exhibit has been on display before and is always sponsored by the Environmental Services Department. Local artists were given a list of materials that were allowed to use, but given no other specifi cations for this exhibit.

“What’s new this year is we will also be holding a recycling fashion show,” Kinney said.

Artists in both shows are given the same list of materials and access to a local recycling center to claim materials. Artists are free to be creative with their art with what they choose to make it.

“They could use plastic, newspapers, aluminum foil, cereal boxes, junk mail, newspapers, magazines,” says Kinney listing some of the possible materials artists could use. The creativity of the area is truly on display and imagination is the only limiting factor when transforming what many would consider garbage into art. The Arts Council will also provide cash prices for those who enter; a $350 prize for the winner of the art show and for the fashion show there is $250 up for grabs. Deadlines for forms and artwork must be turned in July 20-21.

Gallery One13 will also be open later than normal for the festivities. Located on 113 Gillespie Street the gallery will be open until 9p.m. displaying art for all to enjoy.

Headquarters Library located at 300 Maiden Lane will also host activities the entire family can enjoy. From 7p.m. to 8:45p.m.the library will present a Broadway Musical Review with refreshments provided by SYSTEL. Local dancers, singers and students as well as choreographer Rhonda Brocki, accompanist Adita Harless and Dr. Gail Morfesis make up the group Gail Morfesis & Company.

Summer is going by quickly at Methodist University. The last summer term started Monday, July 9, leaving just six weeks until the start of the fall term. Faculty, staff and coaches are preparing for the coming semester, while workers are also preparing the fi nishing touches on two new buildings that will open in the fall.

Hundreds of freshman will arrive for orientation Aug. 17, but many student athletes will move onto campus before then. The Methodist University football program will bring roughly 130 new students and 100 returning students on campus Aug. 8 to begin training for the upcoming football season. They will be joined by athletic training students, who help the school’s professionally certifi ed athletic trainers support the MU teams. Students in the marching band also come on campus at the same time, to start practicing for their season.

The Methodist community knows that the start of the new school year is right around the corner when they hear the marching band practicing on Coach Sink Field or see the players running drills on the football field.

Before any students move in, the housekeeping and maintenance staffs work tirelessly to get the residence halls back in shape for the opening of the school year. Between the times that summer camps end and the fall semester starts, activity in the residence halls is a whirlwind of cleaning and polishing, making sure students’ new home away from home is ready.

Adding to the activity this summer is the soon-to-be-completed Nursing Building and the three-story sophomore residence hall. Both buildings are slated to be open for the fall semester.

One hundred lucky students will be the first residents of the new sophomore hall in the coming months. The new 27,000-square-foot residence hall is located on the perimeter of Sink Field, flanked by the Greek houses on opposite sides of the intramural fi eld. The building will top off the development around the fi eld and be a centerpiece for a new community on the MU campus.

The new hall is very different from any other residence halls on campus, and embraces a modern living/learning model that is creating a buzz in higher education. As well as lobbies on each fl oor and a snack-bar store to service residents living around or visiting Sink Field, the new building will have a functional classroom space.

The hall will have 50 two-person rooms, each with its own private bathroom. Those 100 beds will also mean the end of subsidized off-campus apartments for the many students who wanted to live on campus but just could not find a space.

Across campus, work is nearly done on the new Nursing Building. Next semester will be the first full semester of nursing classes for the Professional Nursing Studies Program. For the past two years, pre-nursing students have been taking all their core and pre-required classes.

The jewel of the new $3.2 million facility is the MU General Simulation Hospital. About half of the 10,000-square-foot facility will be designed for the hospital — designed to replicate scenarios from the fi rst moment a patient arrives to be admitted until they are discharged. The simulation hospital also includes a pharmacy, nurse’s stations, pediatric ward, critical care rooms, triage suite, and six simulated patients who range from an infant to adult, including an expectant mother.

The patients — life-sized computerized mannequins — can breathe, speak, have audible vital sounds and progress through various medical scenarios from birth to death. The patients are not the only high-tech part of the hospital, either. Throughout the hospital, 41 ceiling-mounted cameras will record the action so students can go back and observe, and ultimately improve their performance. The cameras are part of the learning space by Medical Education Technologies, Inc., which acts as the brain of the simulation.

In addition to the hospital, the new facility will have a 60-seat auditorium, classroom space, a computer lab, faculty and administrative offi ces, and a student lounge.

To learn more about Methodist University and its programs, please visit www.methodist.edu or search for “Methodist University” on Facebook.

Photo: The new nursing building at Methodist University. 

As a CPA searching more than four years for a franchise opportunity that provided business-to-business services, Jim Pittman really didn’t know much about making signs. Nor did his wife, Dellmarie, with her background in marketing and banking. Yet that little detail did not prevent them from opening a FASTSIGNS® center on Raeford Road in Fayetteville more than16 years ago. Starting with one employee, two computers that didn’t talk to one another and a small plotter, the Pittmans have successfully grown their business – and outgrown their storefront. So at a time when other businesses may be downsizing or even contemplating closing up shop, Pittman and his wife will soon put up new signage at their new and larger location, just down the street from their present center.

Pittman grew up in Goldsboro and met his wife, who was from Shallotte, at Carolina. They moved to Fayetteville in 1987, and after leaving their respective first careers, partnered in their FASTSIGNS franchise. When the center first opened, Dellmarie directed outside sales. After the birth of their third child, she decided to stay at home, but remains active in the business.

The new building is the culmination of hard work, fl exibility and, as Pittman acknowledges, meeting the customer’s needs, noting that the military, builders and real estate businesses are important FASTSIGNS clients in a very competitive business field.

“Fort Bragg keeps us busy,” said Pittman. “Why do we get so much military business? Our reputation. Customer service. We know everyone says that. We consistently get very high marks. We survey our customers by email. We send them a little three-question survey. We’ve always done that, and we get really good scores. We’ve won ‘Best of Fayetteville’ two years in a row.”

A quick visit to the website, www.fastsigns.com/243-fayetteville-nc, reveals offerings from signs and graphics to interactive and digital product solutions. But Pittman explains that FASTSIGNS is more than just a sign shop.

“We want a relationship for a long time. We’re a service provider. We’re not a sign shop. We’re a sign center. Our new tagline just came out in April. ‘More than fast. More than signs.™’”

Noting that it was not easy to find a retail building for sale, Pittman is pleased with the location.

“All of our good customers are literally right around the corner,” Pittman said. “It gives us the ability to expand into new areas. It gives us more room, more parking and easy access. Most of our business is other businesses. Visibility is important. You want your customers to be able to fi nd you.”

And the increased size of the new location will provide plenty of space for the Pittmans and their staff, which has grown to 10 full- and part-time employees.

“It’s 6,700 square feet,” said Pittman. “We’re taking 4,600 feet of it and leasing out 2,100. It’s basically twice as big as our center is now.”

The Pittmans’ success with a franchise business in which they had no previous experience or knowledge is no doubt the result of their absolute commitment to customer service and long-term relationships with clients, as well as an advantageous business environment with close ties to Fort Bragg and the military community. Would he, looking back, make such a decision again?

“Absolutely! I’d have done it quicker!”

FASTSIGNS is currently located at 2703 Raeford Rd. The new center at 2807 Raeford Rd., is expected to open its doors this summer. For more information, call (910) 678-8111 or visit their website.

Photo: Fast Signs is looking to build new relationships as the business expands.

Excitement spreads across the face of a young boy as his mother hands him a used remote-control car she found at a local yard sale. It wasn’t just any remote control car, it was identical to one he had recently lost when their home caught on fi re. The Piedmont Aeromodlers Flying Club also knows the joy of remote controls. The club builds and fl ies all types of model aircraft.

On July 28 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., you can join in the joy and wonder of flying as the Cliffdale Regional Branch, Library hosts the Radio Controlled Static Airplane Show. Radiocontrolled static airplanes are scale modeled airplanes. The aircraft are normally built by the flyer, but can be purchased and are controlled by a transmitter. Radio signals are transmitted through the controller, which the pilot operates, to a receiver inside the aircraft.

The airplane show will feature various types of model aircrafts, and showcase flying masterpieces and their builders. Some of the builders have been flying model aircraft for more than 37 years. Aircraft flown will be controlled from a small box (remote control) and vary in wing span from 24 to 120 inches. These flying wonders will delight the hearts of all ages. A flight simulator will also be at the library during the show where visitors can experience flying a simulated aircraft.

This show is just one of the exciting features that the Piedmont Aeromodlers Flying club brings to the Cumberland County area. Located off of Haywood Road, this club is a high flyer when it comes to charities and local fundraisers. They have participated in supporting the Falcon’s Children’s home, Toys for Tots and other local fundraisers. Flight instruction is also available for children at the Academy of Model Aeronautics.

Each year, three main events are held by the club. These events are: the Aerobatic Contest, the Fun Flyers and the Scale War Bird, all of which are open to the public. Novices as well as experienced model flyers are encouraged to attend. The Aerobatic contest spurs interest from Florida all the way to Pennsylvania, the Fun Flyer’s event is normally held in the spring and features larger model aircraft, and around November, the Scale War Bird event features military or war related planes. For information regarding the Flying Club, go to www. piedmontaeromodelers.com.

If you are interested in modeling airplanes, intrigued by aircraft, or simply fascinated about aeronautics, take off to the air show. The pilots who have so caringly and carefully crafted these models would be delighted to see you there. Perhaps as they share their love of fl ying and model aircrafts you would be inspired to start a modeling hobby of your own. Or perhaps you may be inspired to soar in your life, to take fl ight past the blowing winds and demands and gain control. If nothing else you will have a chance to experience some outstanding fl ying works of art.

Photo: The airplane show will feature various types of model aircrafts, and showcase flying masterpieces and their builders. 

After 25 years, the Foxy 99 Summer Jam is still going strong, with Young Jeezy as the big name this year. Featuring both big names and local musicians, the Summer Jam draws thousands of people every year, fi lling up the Crown Coliseum. This year, the artist lineup is quite impressive, featuring not only Young Jeezy but Elle Varner, Yo Gotti, Kstylis, Driicky Graham, Shaggy, Sterling Simms, Pleasure P and Joe Moses.

North Carolina native Driicky Graham of Oxford is most famous for his song “Snapbacks and Tattoos” which fi rst was aired on NYC’s Hot 97. Since then, he has worked with eOne music (formerly Koch Records) and reached No. 63 on Billboard. With his new mix-tape, Ya Gotta Start Somewhere, available for download, he has to be on cloud nine. Hosted by DJ Ill Will, the mix-tape has 15 songs by Driicky, and word on the street is that he spits like Kid Ink and is a breath of fresh air in the rap world. There is sure to be more from him in the near future with his growing fan base and new mix-tape, Ya Gotta Start Somewhere.

When Summer Jam started becoming a large attraction for hip hop and rap enthusiasts, Foxy 99 decided to pull major artists into its lineup. With past performers such as J Cole, Rick Ross and Ludacris, Foxy 99 got into a major bind last year. They weren’t able to come up with any major artists for their 25th year of Summer Jam, so they postponed it, then cancelled the whole event. Cancelling wasn’t what Foxy liked doing, but the big names were on tour and weren’t going to be available in time. With that discouraging note behind them, Foxy 99 has decided to continue its tradition of Summer Jam this year by revamping the whole concert into a bigger event than years past, their intention is to attract more people and bigger names to perform in future Summer Jams.

With Young Jeezy as the headliner, people are excited about the concert. His career started in 2001 under an independent label, he joined Boyz N Da Hood in 2005, the same year his solo major debut Lets Get It: Thug Motivation 101 was released. With several records to pull from such as The Recession, Thug Motivation 103: Hustlerz Ambition and several others, Jeezy can always surprise the audience with the songs that he chooses for the night. Thug Motivation 103: Hustlerz Ambition debuted at No. 3 on Billboard 200 in December of 2011, selling 233,000 copies in its fi rst week. Needless to say, people are pretty excited for this event.

Summer Jam 2012 will be held in the Crown Coliseum, like previous years, and it will start at 6:30 p.m. July 28. Tickets cost anywhere from $10 to $60 and can be purchased on the Crown Coliseum’s website at www.atthecrown.com, or at www.Ticketmaster.com.

A Diamond in the Park Plan

There is a real diamond in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan that has not had much discussion. That gem is the Senior Citizens’ Center listed as an addition behind the Aquatic and Therapeutic Swimming Pool in Mazarick Park.

The verbal thunder is roaring over the referendum and the tax rhetoric is deafening. And rightly so, the tax questions need to be addressed and proper concern given to the financing in this difficult economy.

But there is a time (as in the darkest moments of the Great Depression) when a vision has to be offered up — especially if it potentially knits a sense of community.

As presented, the Master Plan for Parks and Recreation does offer something for everyone — youth to seniors.

My soapbox is the senior center — and it has been my rant for more than 13 years. $500,000 in encumbered funds was set aside several years ago for the exclusive use of building a senior center. And there it sits aging, just like the population in Cumberland County.

More retirees are choosing to remain in Fayetteville, a community they have come to know, enjoy and contribute to during working careers. Many are military with a wonderful heritage to share; others are locals and the guardians of the local history and legends.

In spite of recent setbacks that challenge the quality of living in our community (i.e. the closing of the Museum of Art), the Botanical Garden, Special Operations and Cape Fear museums, our theatres, the festivals and the historic ambiance of the restaurants and boutiques on Hay St. have started to build a “destination” label for Fayetteville.

But if you take an “investment” perspective into community growth, it has to be more than attracting another DOD contractor or building another multi-family complex. High density housing, stalled traffic, fast food paradise and high local taxes are not attractions to convince many new retirees to relocate into Fayetteville and are causing other (often more affluent) residents to reconsider a move to a quieter, greener lifestyle.

The pace of our present lifestyles often give short shrift to the older residents, but step back and assess their contributions both in money and as volunteers to our charitable and cultural organizations. (It may surprise many that more than 50 percent of the national GNP is generated from volunteers). They also are the heart of the craft manufacturing in Fayetteville, turning out pottery, paintings, sculpture, quilts, jewelry — and even moonshine jelly making a collectors and tourism market that turns a few dollars in the local economy. They sing, play in bands, dance and on the stage — and that results in more coins passing palms to support struggling nonprofits and local charities. Many seniors work part-time in small businesses that cannot afford a full-time workers requiring full benefits or babysitting so children can go to work. The day of “rocking chair” senior citizens is a myth.

The question of course is “What does this have to do with the senior citizen center proposed in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan?” If the stereotype of senior citizens should be burst so should the public concept of a senior center.

Fifteen years ago I went with a Fayetteville delegation to visit the senior center in Wilmington, N.C. Certainly it had the “required” activities — exercise areas, a card room, a billiard room, classrooms with computers, craft rooms and an area just get together for a cup of coffee. But it also was a successful model for public/private investment.

The center boasts a great restaurant (private) that also serves as the community distribution point for the meals-on-wheels program (public). A large auditorium with a stage is used to produce plays written by local playwrights (private) and concerts (private/public). The main floor is used for ballroom dancing and various exhibitions. And a local entrepreneur leases space as a consignment store for the arts and crafts being made onsite.

In times of community emergencies such as hurricanes, the center serves as headquarters for emergency responders and as a shelter for Wilmington, N.C. citizens.

And if none of the above convinces you that a senior center cannot only be self-supporting but a small but mighty economic driver — residents from Oak Island, N.C., pay fees to be able to use and attend activities at the facility.

Let’s find a way to finance the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and all the wonderful ballparks, swimming pools, stadiums, skateboard parks, green space and the multiuse Senior Citizen’s Center — whether $34 annually on a $150,000 home, a small sales tax or use fees. The Center already has $500,000 in its checking account. Let’s leverage it!! We have everything to gain and a huge opportunity to lose.

Craving authentic Italian cuisine? Conveniently located near Cape Fear Valley Hospital, Little Italy is truly a gem in Fayetteville. Their motto? “Where we eat and speak Italian.” And they mean that literally — both Joe and Antonella Scibila speak fluent Italian and Sicilian. Their goal is to provide Fayetteville with a true touch of Italy right in the heart of Fayetteville.

Giuseppe “Joe” Scibila, a native of Sicily, immigrated to the United States at the age of 18. Once here, he went to work at an Italian restaurant and fell in love with the owner’s daughter, Antonella. Antonella’s family, also from Sicily, had migrated to Brooklyn, N.Y., before eventually settling in the Carolinas.

Joe and Antonella eventually married. In 1995 the young couple opened their own restaurant, Roma Pizza Cafe, in downtown Fayetteville on Person Street. After 12 fruitful years in that location, they sold the restaurant to relocate to Myrtle Beach, S.C. However, the pull of long-time customers and friends convinced them they needed to move back to the area. Says Antonella, “When you’ve been in business so long, your customers no longer are customers, they become your friends.”

With their new venture, Little Italy, they were determined to give clients authentic Italian decor. They used their own photographs of scenery from their visits to family still in Sicily, and had them enlarged into murals to give customers the feel of sitting at an outdoor Italian cafe. A charming faux Italian terra cotta roof line and baroque arches frame the full color scenic snapshots completing the look. You will truly feel like you have stepped right into an Italian forum.

As you would imagine, their extensive menu is impressively Italian. Specializing in homemade pastas and sauces, you will find classic favorites like homemade lasagna, fettuccini alfredo, ravioli and veal or eggplant parmigiana. “All ingredients are fresh and most of our produce is from locally owned farmers markets,” explains Antonella.

Feeling a bit more adventurous? Be sure to try one of the house specialties like the chicken sorrentino. A sumptuous chicken breast is layered with a thin slice of ham, eggplant and fresh mozzarella then sautéed in a delicate wine sauce with fresh mushrooms and minced onions over a bed of penne pasta.

If you don’t see a favorite on their menu, just ask. According to Antonella they can probably make it for you. They have many items for vegetarian diners, as well as an option to have gluten-free penne pasta prepared with any of their pasta sauces.

For those in your party that are not in the mood for pasta, Little Italy also serves hot and cold subs, pitas, and of course, authentic New York-style pizza.

Be sure to save room after dinner. No Italian meal is complete without an original cappuccino accompanied by a piece of genuine New York-style cheesecake, tiramisu or a fresh baked cannoli.

Little Italy can be found at 1400 Walter Reed Rd., Suite 130. The restaurant is open at 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day except Saturday when they open at 1 p.m. They also do local catering. In a hurry? You can even get your dinner to go by calling 867-8700.

Photo: Little Italy provides a great atmosphere and delicious food.

Thinking of cool ways to escape the scorching days of summer? The Fayetteville area has many museums and galleries with activities and exhibits to suit most anyone’s interests. Engage your brain, support the arts and maybe even learn a thing or two.

Museum of the Cape Fear- The Museum of the Cape Fear is located near downtown Fayetteville on Arsenal Street. Permanent exhibits include displays featuring North Carolina ranging from the Paleo-Indian period through the early 1900s.

It’s Electrifying!Opens July 14 and runs through Sept. 16. The traveling exhibit, sponsored by the North Carolina Museum of History, showcases how electricity changed lives in the early 20th century.

Also located on the property are the Poe House and Arsenal Park. The 1897 Poe House offers a peek into life in the early 20th century in the south. Tours are available and highlight women’s roles, African-American history, children’s roles and technological, economic and social changes in southern North Carolina and the country during this era.

Arsenal Park was used by the federal government to manufacture and store ordnance in the mid-1800s. It was commissioned in 1838. During the Civil War the site was used to produce rifl es and ammunition. In 1865, Arsenal Park was destroyed by Gen. William, T. Sherman and his troops as they moved to Atlanta.

Programs at the Museum include the History Ranger Program, Mommy, Me and the Museum Makes Three and 2nd Saturday Art Festivals. Find out more at museumofthecapefear.ncdcr.gov or by calling 486-1330.

The Arts Council - A strong supporter of the arts and local artists, the Arts Council Fayetteville/Cumberland County switches out exhibits monthly. Through July 21, visitors can enjoy Reflections: Empowering People with Disabilities. July 27-Aug. 18 check out Recycle! It’s Second Nature, a show that will feature work by artists of all ages who submit artwork from recycled materials. This show is sponsored by the City of Fayetteville’s Environmental Services Department. The Human Form debuts Aug. 24 and runs through Sept. 29.

The Arts Council also hosts 4th Friday each month and provides grants to local arts-related organizations and and artists in the community. Neighborhood Art Attacks are sponsored periodically by the Arts Council, as are the International Folk Festival and Dickens Holiday. Find out more about the Arts Council Fayetteville/Cumberland County at www.theartscouncil.com.

Cape Fear Studios- Located at 148 Maxwell St. in downtown Fayetteville, Cape Fear Studios is an artist cooperative featuring the works of local painters, photographers, sculptors, potters, woodworkers, glass artists and jewelers. Offering a new exhibit each month, Cape Fear Studios hosts both national and local exhibits. Stop by and maybe you will catch a local artist at work in one of the many studios.

In addition to exhibits, the gallery offers classes in several mediums including painting, drawing and stained glass. Cape Fear Studios also partners with Cape Fear Botanical Gardens on projects and classes.

Find out more about Cape Fear Studios at www.capefearstudios.com.

Gallery 208 - An intimate gallery located in the corporate offi ces of Up & Coming Weekly at 208 Rowan St., Gallery 208 features the hyper-realism works of Phillip Kidd and Rose-Ann San Martino.

Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum - From Native-American trails to steamboats and trains, explore the importance of the early trade communities of Cross Creek and Campbellton. This museum outlines the development of the plank road system that connected Fayetteville to other towns throughout North Carolina. African-American slave labor was used to build the plank roads. Formerly, the building was home to the Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley Railroad Company, which opened in Fayetteville in 1879 as a reorganization of the former Western railroad.

The museum hosts themed exhibits throughout the year and also participates in 4th Friday events and hosts the Fayetteville Farmers Market on Saturdays and Wednesdays during the harvest season.

Find out more about the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum by calling 800-255-8217 or visit ww.fcpr.us/transportation_museum.aspx.

Fascinate U - Filled with education hand-on exhibits, this kid-friendly museum offers a place for kids to grow, learn, create and play. With events like Make It Take It and Super Science Saturdays, kids can learn while participating in fun filled and interesting activities. On the first and third Saturdays of the month, the Cape Fear Railroaders hosts an open house from 12-4 p.m. The model-train exhibits include a winter wonderland and Thomas the Train.

Fascinate U is a strong supporter of 4th Friday and features a craft and free admission during 4th Friday. Find out more about Fascinate U at www.fascinate-u.com.

Airborne & Special Operations Museum - Located in the heart of downtown Fayetteville, the Airborne & Special Operations Museum offers a unique educational experience on the United States military.The museum is currently hosting The Animal Called POW: U.S. Special Forces Prisoners of the Vietcong, an exhibit that describes and shows what life was like for Special Forces and Military Assistance Command soldiers held as prisoners in South Vietnam. Tour the Forrest of Darkness, check out the inside of an indoctrination hut, examine a tiger cage (torture cell) and learn about how rescue missions are planned and conducted. The exhibit runs through January of 2013.

Permanent exhibitions at the museum cover the 1940s when the U.S. Army first tested parachute teams and concludes with airborne and special operations units of today.

The simulator adds excitement to any visit to the museum with exciting films that put the viewer at the center of the action.

N.C. Veterans Park is adjacent to ASOM and complements the museum. The park opened in 2011 and is built on the theme “Veteran’s Journey: life before, during, and after service.” The secondary theme is rebirth and healing.

The park features a 3,500 square foot visitors center that includes a Service Ribbon Wall made of fused glass that represents every service medal awarded since the Civil War. There is also a chandelier made from 33,500 dog tags.

The North Carolina Soils Wall is built with solids collected from the state’s 100 counties. Soils native to North Carolina are featured throughout the park.

Find out more about ASOM at www.asomf.org and the N.C. Veteran’s Park at www.ncveteranspark.org.

82nd Airborne Division Museum - Military enthusiasts are in for a treat at the 82nd Airborne Division Museum. The museum showcases the history and development of airborne forces. Check out the many artifacts related to all things airborne. There are several military aircraft on display as well exhibits covering World War I, World War II, post World War II, Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Grenada, Operation Golden Pheasant, Panama, Desert Shield/Storm, Hurricane Andrew, Operation Restore Democracy: Haiti, Operation Restore Hope: Cuban Refugees, Operation Joint Endeavor: Bosnia, Operation Allied Force: Kosovo, Operation Enduring Freedom: Afghanistan, Operation Iraqi Freedom: Iraq, Hurricane Katrina and Division Reorganization.

The museum collects artifacts so that future generations can understand the past and learn from it. Find out more about the museum at www.82ndairbornedivisionmuseum.com.

The JFK Special Warfare Museum- The U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Museum collects preserves, exhibits and interprets historical property used to support the training and mission of the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. It is the regimental museum for the U.S. Army Special Forces, Civil Affairs and Military Support Operations. Exhibits range from World War I displays of the Office of Strategic Servic, the original special-service force to current military operations. Find out more about the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Museum Association at www.jfkwebstore.com.

Methodist University - Housed within the William F. Bethune Center for Visual Arts, the David McCune International Art Gallery coordinates exhibitions of art by students, regional, national, and international artists, educating students and the public through a diverse representation of fine art.

The McCune Gallery is open from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. To find out more call the gallery at 425-5379.

FSU- Opening July 28 and running through Aug. 1, is the Discover Art exhibition. Aug. 4-18 the feature exhibit is High Times, Hard Times, North Carolina, curated by Soni Martin. On Aug. 16, don’t miss the lecture by Dwight Smith – Art: Abstraction, Social Change and Cultural Identity in My Postwar America. The lecture runs from 2:30-3:30 p.m. There will be a reception from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. on August 18.

FTCC - Visit www.faytechcc.edu or call 678-8400 to fi nd out more about its galleries and fi ne arts programs.

Photo: Bottom right; Cool off at some of the local museums and galleries.