Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) provides education and workforce training to Cumberland County residents. In 2004, FTCC opened a campus in the town of Spring Lake to better serve the growing educational needs of the Spring Lake area and Fort Bragg. The warm and inviting atmosphere of the Spring Lake Campus leads to a calm environment, which allows the students to relax and learn in a peaceful setting.

Located adjacent to Fort Bragg and Pope Army Air Field, the campus has a significant enrollment of military dependents, veterans and active military personnel. The Spring Lake Campus serves approximately 4,000 students each year, about 35 percent of whom are military dependents, active duty military, reservists or veterans.

The Spring Lake Campus continues to grow in its role as a strong community partner and good neighbor in the greater Spring Lake and Fort Bragg area by offering a number of pro-grams, hosting community events and expanding its program offerings to address emerging needs. The campus offers a num-ber of curriculum and continuing education programs including Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET), Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Registered Medical Assistant (RMA), phle-botomy certification online courses, adult basic education and GED, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and various college-transfer opportunities. Plans are underway to expand its program offerings by adding a social-media program and Homeland Security/Emergency Management and Defense Analysis and Global Securities Studies Programs.

Some of the resources that are available at the campus include an “I Persist, I Achieve, I Study, I Succeed” (I-PASS) Center, Spring Lake Campus Library Resource Center (located inside the Spring Lake Branch of the Cumberland County Public Library) and a physical fitness center. Plans are underway to add a walking/jogging trail and an athletic field for classes in flag football, volleyball, jog-ging and walking.

Since its opening in 2004, the Spring Lake Campus has seen dramatic changes in the surrounding community. A new apartment complex, Village by the Lake, has been constructed directly across the street from campus. A number of new busi-nesses have set up shop in the town of Spring Lake as it is evolving into a regional commercial hub that serves northwestern Cumberland County and southwestern Harnett County. In the past few years, the town’s commercial development has soared into the millions of dollars, thereby creating hundreds of jobs and increas-ing the town’s tax base. To help develop a vision for the town’s future growth and development, the Spring Lake Campus served as the site for first “Spring Lake Community Summit.” The theme of the summit was “Connect, Create, and Collaborate.” The town leaders invited representatives from various national, state, county and local government offices, as well as leaders from FTCC and Fort Bragg, to serve as panelists.

FTCC recognizes that it must take a collaborative approach with the school system and the community to ensure that stu-dents are prepared for post-secondary education. To that end, the Spring Lake Campus sponsors the children of Koala Day Care Center, located just behind the campus, for Harvest Fest/Halloween and Christmas events. For Harvest Fest/Halloween, the children are treated with a story time presented by the staff as well as bags of treats with candy and FTCC information. At Christmas, a special visit from Santa is enjoyed by all who attend.

The campus is also developing the Spring Lake Campus Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Summer Academy in col-laboration with Fayetteville area schools, military groups and the non-profit organi-zation, Project L.I.F.T (Lift Initiative for Teens). The STEM Summer Academy is a five-week program that provides 3,000 hours of student-centered learning oppor-tunities for 30 middle and high school students in Spring Lake. Scholarships will be provided to most families to cover part of the $100 enrollment fee. Instruction will provide age- and grade-appropriate hands-on activities in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and computer sciences. To support the program, retired veterans, educators, active-duty military and military spouses will volunteer to serve as teachers, guest speakers and mentors.

Through activities such as these, the Spring Lake Campus of Fayetteville Technical Community College is proving to be a good neighbor and community partner.

The American Diabetes Association tells us that there are nearly 26 million Americans living with diabetes and there are another 79 million at risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes.

Every 17 seconds, someone is diagnosed with diabetes. This disease kills more people each year than breast cancer and AIDS combined. Recent estimates project that as many as 1 in 3 American adults will have diabetes in 2050 unless steps are taken to stop diabetes.

Melissa Brady, health education coordinator for Better Health of Cumberland County, is familiar with these numbers. She works every day to help educate the public about diabetes and to teach people with diabetes how to live with and manage it.

Better Health offers classes and events year round, but because November is American Diabetes Month, there is a lot more going on in the way of education and activities to raise awareness

.“Let’s face it, we know how to eat right, we just choose not to,” said Brady.

And those small choices made each day over time can lead to serious complications.

She adds. “There are many, many people in Cumberland County who have diabetes and even more with prediabetes. We are here to educate them and give them tools and resources to better manage their health.”

There are still a couple weeks left in November and Better Health, sponsored by United Way, is using them to the fullest to promote, well, better health. There is an Oral Health and Diabetes clinic scheduled from 8 a.m.to 12 p.m. on Nov. 22 and a cooking class on Nov. 28 at 8:30 a.m. These clinics are all in addition to the regularly scheduled diabetes-related events that are ongoing throughout the year.

Brady also noted that this is the perfect time to register for the next “Take Charge of Diabetes” class, which will be held in January. This is a seven-week comprehensive diabetes management course. While the class is free, students who are able are asked to contribute a donation to “pay it forward” for the next class. Preregistration is required.

In addition to the events above, Better Health sponsors ongoing and continuous classes and clinics related to diabetes management:

• Diabetes clinics are held on Tuesdays from 8 to 11:30 a.m. at the Better Health Office. Individual glucometer instruction is available.

• Diabetes clinics are held on Thursdays 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Better Health Offi ce• Exercise classes for people with diabetes are on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 to 10:30 a.m. for experienced students; 11 a.m. for beginners. All classes are offered at the Better Health Offi ce. Exercise regimens include yoga, aerobics, chair-yoga and chair-aerobics. Blood glucose testing is required pre and post class. Supplies are provided.

• Diabetes Clinic is on a walk-in basis at Gray’s Creek Recreation Center on Wednesday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Individual education is available at the clinic.

• Eat Smart, Move More Healthy Lifestyle Series can be scheduled at your church or civic group at your request. Call 483-7534 to plan an event.

For more information, visit the Better Health website at www.betterhealthcc.org or give them a call at 483-7534.

For many of our neighbors, the traditional sign of the holiday season approaching is the raising of the Christmas tree. Some have tabletop trees, others have the eight-footers and still others, like Snyder Memorial Baptist Church, put up a tree in extraordinary fashion.

The 33rd Annual Fayetteville Singing Christmas Tree rings inthe Advent season with six performances starting Thursday, Dec. 1 and running through Sunday, Dec. 4.

The singing Christmas tree consists of a 40-foot tall structure of lights and ribbon that showcases a 90-voice adult choir, 100-voice youth choir and 35-voice children’s choir directed by Dr. Larry Dickens, minister of music at Snyder Memorial Baptist Church.

“All of the music is live. The singers and musicians are local people in our community who you work with and go to school with. It’s a grassroots effort,” said Dickens.

Also performing at the Singing Christmas Tree is the Steps of Faith interpretive dance team, a 20-member contemporary praise team and band, two handbell choirs and a 40-member orchestra. A 57-Rank Schantz pipe organ and Steinway Grand piano accompany the performers.

Snyder Baptist leaders consider Fayetteville’s Singing Christmas Tree a gift to the community. Tickets are free to the public and go very quickly. Snyder Baptist welcomes more than 5,000 people every year for the Singing Christmas Tree.

Dickens said, “It’s not as much about entertainment as it is about worshipping with the entire community. I think people want something to celebrate. This is a way for them to mark the season as something different in their lives, a different time of year. The first song in part two is called “The Yearning.” I think there is a yearning for spirituality during the Advent season that draws them here.”

This is Dickens’ 13th production of the Singing Christmas Tree. Part of the appeal, he says, is the uniqueness of the event.

“The music is very diverse. There are a couple of classical pieces, contemporary praise and worship, black gospel and tradition carols. There is a little bit of everything,” he said.

Snyder Baptist is also conducting a food drive during each performance. Concert goers are asked to bring canned goods for local food pantries. And while you are warming your heart by contributing to the food drive and warming your soul with Christmas music, there will be hot cocoa and cider on hand to warm your belly.

Evening performances start at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday afternoon performances begin at 4:30 p.m. Attendees are asked to arrive 20 minutes before performances. For more information or to order tickets, please contact Snyder Memorial Baptist Church at 910.484.3191 or www.snydermbc.com.

Photo: The 33rd Annual Fayetteville Singing Christmas Tree will be on stage at Snyder Memorial Baptist Church from Dec. 1-4.

If the idea of joining the maddening crowds at the mall and super stores on Black Friday does not appeal to you, why don’t you take a step back to a kinder, gentler time and join the peaceful crowd downtown for the celebration of A Dickens Holiday.

A Dickens Holiday, a Fayetteville tradition started by the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County, has evolved over the years to a partnership between the Arts Council and the Downtown Alliance. Each year, the two organizations pull out all of the stops to create a fun, family atmosphere that reminds visitors of a simpler time when celebrating Christmas meant family and neighbors. It was a time of tradition — not a time of commercialism.

On Friday, Nov. 25, from 1-9 p.m. Fayetteville’s downtown will turn back the clock and the city’s Victorian history will come to life (and there will be a touch of commercialism for those of you who still have some Christmas shopping to do!).

Mary Kinney, of the Arts Council noted, “We are planning to have some of the things people look forward to year after year — the traditional parts of the event. There will be characters from A Chistmas Carol roaming the streets, and you can still get your photo made with Father Christmas at the Arts Council, but there will be some new events and things going on to entertain visitors.”

There is a whole host of events going on throughout the day including:

• Hot cider and gingerbread will help keep you warm throughout the day. Buy some on every block of Hay Street. 50¢ each.

• Preserve a lifetime memory with a picture of you and your loved ones with Father Christmas and an authentic Victorian sleigh at the Arts Council building. $6 per print (or $15 for 3 prints).

• Amazing holiday entertainment all day at the Arts Council building along Hay Street.

• See what students have created in a Scholastic Gingerbread Competition. Cheer on your favorite high school team in the H&H Homes Scholastic Gingerbread Competition, starting at 1 p.m. at the Rainbow Room. Cookie decorating workshop for kids 12 and under for $1 per cookie from 1-5 p.m. Come back after the fireworks to see which school won the $500 first-place prize and to vote for the People’s Choice Award until 9 p.m.

• Victorian Carriage Rides, 1-9 p.m. Enjoy the sights and sounds of a Dickens downtown on a big decorated horse-drawn hitch wagon. Only $10 for adults, $5 for children. Tickets on sale at 222 Hay St. beginning at noon on the day of the event. Come early — they sell out fast!

• Queen Victoria Carriage Rides, 1-9 p.m. Enjoy a longer, more personal tour of historic downtown Fayetteville in this intimate setting. Tours leave from the Fayetteville Area Transportation Museum, at Franklin and Maxwell streets. $15 per person. Advance ticket purchase recommended by calling 678-8899.

• This Victorian Life display on the second floor of the Market House from 1-9 p.m., sponsored by the Transportation & Local History Museum. See how the Victorians celebrated the holidays. Don’t miss the display of coins, ceramic plates and other commemorative pieces created to honor her, during Queen Victoria’s reign.

• Candlelight Procession and Tree Lighting Ceremony. Gather in front of the Arts Council building for the 5:30 p.m. candlelight procession to the Market House. Pick up a free candle at selected merchants, or in front of the Arts Council building (while supplies last). Join thousands of townspeople for Fayetteville’s largest candlelight procession to the Market House, followed by fireworks!

• Victorian Costume Contest. Put together a Victorian outfi t from the simple suggestions offered at www.theartscouncil.com, and participate in the contest, which starts at 7 p.m. Contestants model authentic Victorian costumes from the Dickens era. Call 678-8899 for more details and to register.

In addition to the many activities, visitors will also have the opportunity to participate in some retail therapy. “You will have the opportunity to shop,” said Kinney. “There are many fine merchants in downtown Fayetteville, but we also add arts and crafts vendors all along Hay Street on this special day. They will sell handcrafted items, which are perfect for Christmas gifts.”

There are a number of holiday performances including magicians, bands and carolers.

“It’s a good mix of performances at the Arts Council, and also roaming the streets,” said Kinney. “A lot of people are really looking forward to Phoebe Hall, who is going to be dressed as Mother Goose and will do story telling.”

For more information on A Dickens Holiday or to get hints on how to dress in Victorian style, visit www.theartscouncil.com.

When President Barack Obama urged Americans to go out into their communities and help theirneighbors, Bishop Larry Wright heeded the call. The result is the 2nd Annual Homeless & Hunger Stand Down on Friday, Nov. 18 at V.F.W. Post 6018 at 116 Chance St. from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. The H & H Stand Down is the largest one-day community event to focus on feeding the hungry in Fayetteville. In 2010, 1,300 residents were served. Event organizers hope to feed more than 1,500 this year.

Wright, the president of the Fayetteville-Cumberland Ministerial Council and the chair for the 2011 H & H Stand Down Committee, worked with Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeast North Carolina, Heal the Land Outreach Ministries, Walmart, 107.7 FM, The Salvation Army and the United Way of Cumberland County to make the event a reality. Wright modeled the H & H Stand Down after Feed Fayetteville, a local organization that feeds the homeless and hungry. He then added local organizations to bring information and resources to people working to rebuld their lives.

The meal is just part of the bigger purpose that Wright hopes to bring to homeless residents.

“We not only want to feed people, but to give them information and build an ongoing relationship with them. They are in need, they’re homeless, they’re struggling. We want to help them build a better quality of life,” he said.

Participants will go through a round robin of organization booths providing information on prescription assistance, medical and dental assistance, housing, identification services, job placement, educational opportunities and VA assistance. After completing the round robin, residents are invited to the free lunch.

Community members are needed to fill a variety of volunteer positions including serving on the lunch line, distributing clothing and coats, helping with parking, security and event set-up and take down. There is also a food drive on to replenish the shelves of Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeast North Carolina. If you can’t volunteer on the day of the event, you can still help by donating blankets, rain coats, umbrellas, sleeping bags, gloves and hygiene items to Second Harvest Food Bank at 406 Deep Creek Rd. Donations will be distributed to residents at the H & H Stand Down.

Wright hopes the Fayetteville business community will get behind the H & H Stand Down. Corporate sponsorships are available. Continuing community support will help the event grow throughout the years. He intends to expand the event to fill the Crown Coliseum one day. Wright took President Obama’s call to action to heart.

“We are one another’s neighbors and we’re here to inspire and serve. We are an All-American city. Working together, we can always achieve more,” he said.

For more information on the 2011 Homeless & Hunger Stand Down, please contact Bishop Larry Wright at 910-568-4276 or Crystal Moore-McNair, Community Impact Director for United Way of Cumberland County at 910-366-4725.

It’s time to get that little black dress out of the closet and get ready for a night on the town! (Guys, you can forgo the dress and stick with a nice suit or tux.) One of Fayetteville’s premiere events is coming up, and with a limited number of tickets available for purchase, if you wait until the last minute to get yours, well, let’s just say, you might be waiting for next year’s event.

If the question marks are still circling your cranium, then you’ve not figured it out. Give up? The Cape Fear Division of the March of Dimes is hosting its annual Signature Chefs Auction.

The auction is truly one of the area’s most exciting annual fundraisers and not just because it’s an excuse to get dressed up. Think about it. Some of the city’s most talented chefs are brought together under one roof for just a few hours. If you’re one of the lucky ones who snags a ticket in time, you will get to enjoy some of the most delectable dishes the area has to offer.

When asked to describe the event, Catherine Heindselman, division director for the Cape Fear March of Dimes, said, “It features the skills and creativity of some of the finest local chefs and hottest restaurants … guests sample tastings of the signature dishes.”

She also added that along with the food tasting, there will be a silent auction offering packages containing “everything you need to host a holiday party in your home, showcase your business, have a night on the town or pamper yourself with the fi nest in relaxation and luxury.”

This year’s participating restaurants are: Black Water Grille, Hilltop House Restaurant, Highland Country Club, Morgan’s Chop House, Pierro’s Italian Bistro, ScrubOaks Restaurant, Sherefe Mediterranean Grill and Steve The Southern Gourmet.

Beer and wine will be provided by Healy Wholesale, while coffee will be courtesy of the folks at Rude Awakening. An evening like this is not complete without music, so get ready to be thoroughly entertained by national jazz recording artist Reggie Codrington.

The Signature Chefs Auction will be held on Nov. 20 at the Hotel Bordeaux & Conference Center from 5:30 to 8:45 p.m. Lorna Ricotta of Ethos Creative Group is this year’s chairwoman. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Cape Fear Neonatology Service and New Century Bank are corporate sponsors. Tickets are $75 each or $125 per couple. Tables with reserved seating for eight are available for $750. Remember, there are a very limited number of tickets available so to get yours, contact Heindselman at 483-3691 or online at cheindselman@matchofdimes.com.

The 2011 Signature Chefs Auction Ambassador is Jackson Brooks, the son of Jennifer & Tim Brooks. Jackson, born at 25 weeks gestational age, weighed just slightly more than 2 lbs as a newborn. As a result, he spent nearly three months in the NICU at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. He received treatments developed through March of Dimes funding.

Preventing birth defects and infant mortality is the key focus of the March of Dimes. The Cape Fear Division is headquartered in Fayetteville and includes the counties of Cumberland, Robeson, Scotland, Sampson, Lee, Moore, Hoke and Harnett. So, plan to come out and support a fantastic cause, come hungry and make sure that little black dress (or suit) has plenty of breathing room.

Photo: The Cape Fear Division of the March of Dimes is hosting its annual Signature Chefs Auction on Nov. 20. 

DISPATCHES FROM VENUS AND MARS

Sexual harassment in the American workplace continues to be a mysterious issue that torments men and women at all ends of the social, professional and political spectrums.

Republican Presidential hopeful Herman Cain and his expanding circle of accusers are but the latest to duke this troubling issue out on a very public stage, and there are countless people who struggle with it in tortured privacy. Occasionally, it is obvious that a wrong — maybe even an actual assault — has occurred, but many times the issue boils down to this.

What the heck is sexual harassment?

My first and only up close and personal encounter with what might be termed sexual harassment took place in the hallway of the office of my second employer.

I was freshly out of college, thrilled to be working in a well-respected company and eager to learn and to succeed in my chosen industry.

My-entry level position required that I go with my immediate boss to the private office of the big boss for a regularly scheduled meeting. The big boss was a man of significant achievements and is still remembered as a pioneer in his industry. He evoked respect and sometimes fear in those who worked with, and certainly in those who worked for, him.

At the time I arrived at his legendary business, he was relinquishing the reins to younger family members, although he did appear in his office every day from about 10 to 2, accompanied by his wife/secretary who watched him like a hawk. He was probably 85 or older, which seemed impossibly ancient from my early 20-something vantage point.

One day as I followed my immediate boss down the hallway for this regular meeting, I felt a solid pinch to my posterior and turned around to see the big boss, a now-tiny old fellow shrunken to be shorter than I, grinning up at me like an imp with his eyes all a-twinkle. Somehow, he had momentarily escaped the eagled-eyed wife who obviously had his number and was pleased as punch to be loose in the hall!

To say I was fl abbergasted hardly describes my reaction.

I was speechless with shock and riveted to that spot in the hallway. I am still surprised when I think of this little incident today.

But what really happened?

Was this inappropriate behavior by the biggest boss of all to a very junior member of his staff? You betcha!

Was this sexual harassment? Did I feel I was being asked to do something I did not want to do or that my job was being threatened?

I do not mean to make light of sexual harassment in the workplace. It is a real phenomenon that causes untold distress and damages careers on all sides. The problem is that it is just so dif cult to define, much less to prove.

Using the little example from the mists of my own career, what were the big boss’s intentions? Did he think he was acting inappropriately? Did he intend for me to feel threatened by that pinch? Was this a pattern of behavior or was it a one-time impulse by a man heading into his sunset who just happened to feel frisky one day when opportunity walked down the hall?

And how did I react? Was I frightened? Did I fear a repeat or that this incident might haunt my career with his company and possibly beyond?

What if I had called the incident sexual harassment and made an issue of it?

To my knowledge, no one saw this happen, even though I did tell my immediate boss about it and we had a good chuckle over the notion of the big boss’s “escape” from the Mrs. There were no bruises, so how could I have proven that the incident ever occurred?

The big boss, a well known and well-respected man, could have simply denied that pinch and dismissed my allegations as not only false but mercenary.

That is the underlying problem with charges of sexual harassment.

Like art, sexual harassment is in the eye of the beholder.

Maybe the big boss did intend something nefarious and I did not understand, or maybe I should have felt more threatened than I did even if he did not intend anything more than actually occurred.

Moreover, not only may the parties involved perceive the situation differently, but even when both know that something quite untoward has occurred, it is virtually impossible to prove one way or the other. Short of an actual witness, a recording or a smoking gun of a blue dress with DNA on it, sexual harassment is too often reduced to a case of “he said, she said.”

All of which brings us back to Herman Cain and the women who allege he sexually harassed them. I suspect that as in most such cases, we will never know what happened between Cain and any of them.

Voters considering supporting Cain will simply have to use their own best judgment.

Photo: Like art, sexual harassment is often in the eye of the beholder. What happened and who did what to who often is hard to prove and harder still to understand.

Established in 1946, the Hamont Grill and Steakhouse, is not only Fayetteville’s oldest family-owned restaurant to stay in the same location, but it has also been a prominent business that has attracted people from all over the world.

“There’s not a politician in North Carolina or the United States that has come to Fayetteville without visiting here. Generals, presidents, congressmen, you name it,” says Pete Skenteris, former owner of the restaurant.

Skenteris was the owner of the Hamont Grill and Steakhouse for 55 years and has recently turned over the business to his two sons, Dino and Jimmy.

“I’m supposed to be retired, but I’m still here,” says Skenteris, who comes in on Tuesday and Saturday mornings to help out at the restaurant.

Skenteris spent his younger years in Greece and moved to Fayetteville in 1951, when he was just 10 years old.

“When I came from Greece as a young kid, we had to work to survive. We didn’t speak much English; we didn’t know much of anything. So while I was going to school I started working in a kitchen washing dishes,” says Skenteris.

When he finished high school in 1956 he went over to a tiny restaurant that was formerly known as Steve’s Grill to work full time. Steve and Skenteris became partners of Steve’s Grill in 1960 and when Steve died in 1967, Skenteris bought the building with the intention of expanding the restaurant.

“There were five businesses in the building,” says Skenteris, “Part of it was the restaurant, part of it was First Citizens Bank, part of it was the Haymont Shoe Shop, my kitchen was Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, and the front part of it was the Haymount Barber Shop.”

After purchasing the building, Skenteris told the other four businesses that they had to move out. The First Citizens Bank moved two blocks down, the barber shop moved across the street, and the shoe shop moved to Raeford Road.

“So they all stayed close by,” says Skenteris.

After expanding, renaming and running the restaurant for 55 years, Skenteris decided to retire and hand the business over to his sons.

“When I retired I told them if they want the place they can have it or I’d sublease it,” says Skenteris, “they said they wanted it. They are staying here. I told them they have to take care of the business and take care of the customers like I have been doing for 50 years, and they’re doing a good job…they’re doing well.”

Jimmy Skenteris, Pete’s son and present owner of the restaurant, says that business has been good considering the economy.

“I’m enjoying it,” says Jimmy, “I remember being 5 years old running around the restaurant. I’ve always liked the restaurant business.”

While the Hamont Grill and Steakhouse is under new management, it has also recently had the interior renovated in order to accommodate customers and keep it up to date.

“Of course this place has been here since 1946, and we have to bring it up-to-date so we put in new booths, new tables, new fl oors, new ceilings, new fans and handicapped bathrooms,” says Skenteris, “As we’re getting older a lot of my friends and customers who have been eating with me for the past 50-60 years are having problems getting around and a lot of them have walkers and wheelchairs. It was time to bring it up to date to help our customers and our business.”

Falcon Children’s Home has dedicated more than 100 years to helping kids. In fact, the majority of their charges are from Cumberland County. Caring for children can be an overwhelming and exhausting task. Providing for numerous children, who come from difficult circumstances is another business entirely. The logistics, resources and energy required all multiply — never mind the emotional investment, determination and compassion that goes into it. Even in the best of times, it can be tough making ends meet, but that’s not anything new.

Harvest Train is a 62-year-old tradition that provides the community with an opportunity to make a difference in kids lives by fi lling in the gaps and meeting the needs of the children who reside there by donating things like school supplies, toiletries and cleaning products.

This year, Harvest Train is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 22 in the town of Falcon. It starts with a parade at 8:30 a.m. and ends with a program titled A Place Called There at the J.A. Culbreth Memorial Auditorium at 10:30 a.m. Lunch will be served on campus immediately following the program.

Harvest Train is a tradition that reaches back to the 1940s when Falcon Children’s Home was struggling to make ends meet. The local women’s ministry groups from several churches started the “Santa Clause Train.”

The churches rallied and collected items and raised money throughout the year. When it came time for the parade, they met up in Dunn and would make a caravan and drive down I-95 to the Falcon exit. Children from the home watched and waited for the caravan to drive down the streets of Falcon. People in the parade would throw candy to the kids and made the entire event quite festive. After the parade, the children would perform in the auditorium as a way to say thank-you to their benefactors.

The parade doesn’t start in Dunn anymore, but the parade is something the children look forward to with great anticipation and the supplies are still very much appreciated by the students and the staff.

If you can’t make it to the event but would still like to help or make a donation, visit www.falconchildrenshome.com or give them a call at 980-1065.

Photo: Some of Falcon Children’s Home’s earliest charges.

Heroes Homecoming Coverage a Hit

Mr. Bowman,

First, after all these years of knowing you, it is nice to be able to say to fellow Vietnam Veteran, WELCOME HOME!!! It has amazed me how many there are of us and we had no idea.

Just read my latest issue of Up & Coming Weekly datedNovember 2-8. Thank you for your publication’s coverage of the upcoming Heroes Homecoming. As a member of the Heroes Homecoming Executive Committee and a Vietnam veteran, it is wonderful that you and others have done great things to help tell the story. What a great series of happenings for veterans, but especially Vietnam Veterans.

Looking forward to seeing you at some of the events. I plan on extending my hand to you and personally telling you WELCOME HOME!!! It will be my honor to do so.

Doug Nunnally, Fayetteville

Readers Respond to Occupy Wall Street

Mr. Bowman,

I have enjoyed your editorials with the conservative slant for some time now, and this week was no exception as you exposed the irony in the latest group of protesters on Wall Street.

You referenced entrepreneurs in Fayetteville and I wanted to add a name to your list...Hall Powers. He has been involved in multiple adventures in capitalism including the restaurant Powercard that has been widely successful throughout Cumberland County these past 10 years as a fundraiser for local schools, clubs and the hospital.

However his latest venture you may not be aware of: the purchase and remodeling of the Technimark Bdlg. next to the vacated Black & Decker plant on 301S. He purchased it for $1.9 million and completely renovated it from within to build both a new school — Freedom Christian Academy — but also a community center which houses four basketball courts, or nine volleyball courts, plus a nautilus center and a coffee shop. The school opened on this new campus three weeks ago and the gyms, which will be open in November, will house JO volleyball practices and tournaments, AAU basketball and its tournaments, plus indoor soccer, wrestling, etc. No longer will our local teams have to travel to Charlotte to play competitive ball.

Both Mr. Powers, the founder, and the architects were in agreement that the motif of the physical plant should highlight the manufacturing community with its retro design. The building also honors American Exceptionalism “our grand experiment” with its giant murals/paintings, founding father quotes and etched glass Preamble in the huge front lobby. It is a must-see.

You sound like the kind of man who takes objection to the re-writing of American History... if so please stop by for a tour on Veterans Day.

Joan Dayton, Fayetteville

Mr. Bowman,

You ask in the title of your article, “Where is the Logic in Occupying Wall Street?” My answer to that would be with a few more questions: What was the logic behind Ghandi marching with hundreds, if not thousands, of his country’s people to the sea to make their own salt when the English Viceroy denied them of the spice? What was the logic behind sit-ins, bus boycotts, and other protests of the 1950s and 1960s? Very simply... it’s grassroots efforts that mark the path of improvement. Those things you mention in your article about getting an education, fi nding a job, even when there are so few to be had, are the things that result when a free and self-governed nation find an outlet for their voices. Especially for the generation your article is targeting.

Leisa Greathouse, Fayetteville

In Time (Rated PG-13)  2 Stars

I love a good science-fiction movie. Let me know if you hear about one coming out soon, because this one sucked. The major flaws include stupid dialogue, bad acting, characters with poorly realized motivations, and a series of thinly veiled references to class inequality. While writer/director Andrew Niccol has a few wins to brag about (The Truman Show, Gattaca), he really should hide In Time (109 minutes) at the bottom of his resume

.In a future sort of inspired by Logan’s Run and sort of ripped off from a Harlan Ellison short story (one of his better ones, in my opinion), people stop aging at the of age of 25, when a one-year clock starts counting down, and unless you earn more time, you die. Following your untimely death, you leave a fabulous looking corpse in the suspiciously clean ghetto streets, which then ap-parently disappear via some super-efficient yet completely unex-plained futuristic corpse-disappearing mechanism.

Each “Time Class” lives in a different “Time Zone.” The poor, including working class hero Will Salas (Justin Timberlake), work each day to earn enough money to pay the bills and earn a few more hours of life. The inhabitants of the lower-class “Time Zone” basically run around with a day or so left on their clocks, which makes me wonder what happens if somebody gets sick. Perhaps the Hippocratic Oath is under general suspension? Or have they found the cure for the common cold and wiped out all disability and disease? Maybe doctors only work for the rich? There are burning administrative questions going unanswered here!

While wandering around aimlessly, instead of working overtime for extra life, Salas runs into a 100-year-old man. Which really isn’t that old compared to characters introduced later in the film, but we are clearly supposed to be blown away by his Vampire Lestat-style boredom with immortality. The old man does the equivalent of flashing a roll of hundreds on a street with a lot of abandoned cars and shady guys, consequently attracting the attention of Fortis (Alex Pettyfer).

Apparently, Fortis is a mobster who spends his time stealing the time other people have earned and leaving them for dead. It seems like a major flaw in the system that stealing time is as simple as grabbing someone’s wrist. How could anyone sleep at night? If they got robbed they would totally wake up dead. Also, it must cost much less in time currency than it would cost in dollars to buy an international plane tick-et, since Fortis has a pretty random British accent. And several scenes establish that the mega-rich live wrapped in bubbles, and don’t take even the slightest risk of an accident cutting their lives short, so do people even fly commercial anymore?

So many questions, and we’re not even that far into the movie. Did I mention that movie-killer Olivia Wilde has a prominent role as well? As does Amanda Seyfried, playing the Patty Hearst of the movie, Sylvia Weis (So Niccol apparently ripped of the 1987 classic Dragnet as well).

See, when Salas ventures into the time-rich side of town he meets up with spoiled Weis and her daddy (Vincent Kartheiser). He kidnaps her and they find true love. It’s just like Bonnie and Clyde!

One wonders what Cillian Murphy was doing in this subpar, lackluster mess of a film. He really should have read the script, realized his character made next to no sense, and opted out. Overall, as much as the set tries to be retro-futuristic the film has a very sterile look. It was hard to sit through without laughing, and many of the lines were unintentionally hilarious. The movie could have been so good … but there was so much left unexplored.

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

The 2011-2012 version of the Fayetteville FireAntz can be summed up in one word — bigger. The Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) enters it’s second decade with more teams, more speed and more opponents.

Kevin MacNaught, team president and general manager, says many factors are responsible for these changes. Several other leagues at higher levels have seen a reduc-tion in the number of teams in their leagues which has increased the talent pool look-ing to play professional hockey. The SPHL has also matured as a league and college and junior players see the SPHL as a viable option to continue their playing careers and try to move to the next level.

Sean Gillam, the new head coach, is in his first year in the league, but he has been watching the league for a while and has seen it improve each year. He has seen many players, whom he watched for years as their careers progressed, make it to the SPHL. Five to 10 years ago, players who were capable of playing at a higher level were hesi-tant to come to the SPHL and play for fear they would not be taken seriously at those higher levels. Gillam says that is not the case anymore. Players now feel the SPHL may be their best chance to get noticed and “get their shot” at moving to the next level.

Many players on the roster this year have come from the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) and Central Hockey League (CHL) training camps. In fact, several were on rosters in the ECHL or the CHL last year.

Training camp was a little more complex this year as the CHL camps opened the same week the SPHL camps opened. The filter-down of players starts with the National Hockey League (NHL). After the NHL camps break they move players to the American Hockey League (AHL). Then the AHL move play-ers to the ECHL, who in turn start releasing players. It’s at this time that the SPHL and the CHL start hearing from agents, coaches and free-agents. Coaches then have to move fast to secure the best players available.

Gillam, who was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings and went through three NHL training camps, has been there and under-stands how the process works. Having played three years in the AHL and then playing and coaching in the ECHL and CHL has given Coach Gillam many connec-tions. Gillam has worked to assemble a big, hungry team of rookies and experienced players to create an exciting team for the Fayetteville FireAntz and the community.

After three weekends, the FireAntz are hovering around the 500 mark but Gillam said he did not come to Fayetteville to be “average.” He said his team is still coming together with a radically changed roster this year, but expects things to change by Thanksgiving.

The FireAntz have been on the road since the Oct. 29, but return to the Crown Coliseum for a home stand on Nov. 18 and 19. The FireAntz will then have their traditional home game on Thanksgiving, Nov. 24, complete with turkey bowling and all of the entertaining trimmings the FireAntz provide for their home games.

Group tickets for all the home games are available by calling the FrieAntz office at 321-0123 and as always kids tickets are just $5 dollars.

Photo: Many players on the roster this year have come from the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) and Central Hockey League (CHL) training camps.

In our Oct. 12-18 issue, Up & Coming Weekly ran a syndicated article by Earthtalk from the editors of Environmental Magazine about some of the environmental and health risks associated with tat-toos. A few hours after the issue hit the streets we heard from local tattoo studios asking for an opportunity to set the record straight. A digital copy of the article can be found at www.epageflip.net/issue/44467 on page 18.

Adrian, Charlie and Hadley, tattoo artists at Divine Line Studios, Mark, owner and tattoo artist at Sky Dragon Tattoos and Piercings and “E,” owner and tattoo artist at Cherry Blossom Studios Custom Tattooing and Art Gallery all weighed in to defend the tattoo industry and educate the uninformed about their work.

Just like any industry, there are highly trained professionals who take their work and their art very seriously, and there are posers out to make a quick buck with no regard to standards, best practices and the laws that regulate the industry or the health and safety of their customers. Anyone thinking about get-ting a tattoo should do extensive research before getting inked, and they all warned against the dangers involved in going to an untrained, unknowledgeable, unlicensed “scratcher” tattooing out of their home.

The Earthtalk article stated “If the tattoo parlor’s needles and equipment aren’t properly sterilized in an autoclave between customers, you could be exposing yourself to hepatitis B or C, tuberculosis, mycrobacterium, syphilis, malaria, HIV or even leprosy.”

Charlie and Hadley both pointed out that this is true, which is all the more rea-son to research a potential tattoo artist, their studio and their practices before baring your skin.

“Any idiot can buy a kit online and start jacking up his friends the next day with no idea about cross contamination or the risk of infection,” said “E,” owner of Cherry Blossom Studios Custom Tattooing and Art Gallery.

Many of the problems tattoo customers face are self-inflicted. “In order for a tattoo to heal properly it is really important to follow the instructions your tattoo artist gives you,” said Mark. “You’d be surprised how many people will get a tat-too and the very next day go water skiing or something crazy, not clean it and then wonder why it is infected and try to blame the artist.”

Earthtalk claims that “…some red inks used for permanent tat-toos contain mercury.” Artists from all three studios refute this claim saying that they know of no professional ink maker or line of ink con-taining any mercury in any of the colors. In fact, there are ink compa-nies that specialize making purely plant-based inks. Adrian was quick to point out that just like the kits that can be found online, there are probably dangerous inks available, but no artist who cares about his work or his customers would even consider using them. “

A reputable artists will always use the safest, best-quality inks and tools available no matter what the cost,” noted “E”.

Finding someone to do a name tattoo for $20 might sound like a reasonable deal, but for an artist using top-quality inks, and proper tools and sterilization practices, it costs about $50 just to set up their station — before they’ve even touched their customer or talked about size and style of the tattoo.

The artists at all three studios maintain that no self-respecting artist worth their salt would give a tattoo without making sure the customer is comfortable with their processes and practices. They stressed over and over how important it is to commu-nicate with the artist and not to move forward without feeling comfortable.

For someone looking to get inked, whether it is your first piece or one of many, here are some guidelines from the tattoo artists featured in this article for finding a good artist and protecting yourself.

• Check with the health department about the shop’s licensure and health record.

• Ask to see the spore report for the studio’s autoclave. In N.C. autoclaves are required to be spore tested every 30 days.

• Ask to see the equipment. Many places use disposal needles and other equipment. Ask to see the packs of needles and make sure they are not expired.

• Ask the artist about the process. What do they use to clean the skin before the procedure? What brand of inks do they use? Then go home and research the ink company.

• What are the aftercare procedures?

• Does the tattoo parlor look clean?

• Does the tattoo artist have dirty fingernails? Look sober?

Please Take My Seat

Let’s just admit it.

The South is hot right now. Hotter than a firecracker. The joint is jumping. The place to be seen, and — forgive me all you grammarians out there — “where it’s at!”

The talking heads tell us that for political year 2012, North Carolina is the new Ohio, and we are indeed seeing President Obama and his surrogates dropping in to visit with increasing regularity. As soon as the Republicans settle on their nominee, we can expect to see him or her with equal frequency.

Ordinary tourists turn up as well, sunning themselves on our beaches, and snapping photos of our colorful mountain leaves. I have even heard “bless your heart” come out of the mouth of a distinctly non-Southern network television anchor. Our foods are hot as well, with pimento cheese shedding its humble origins and popping up on trendy big city menus across the country. A recent issue of the New Yorker magazine, a high-tone publication usually chronicling all things New York, sports a lengthy piece on a Charleston chef whose mission is to revive traditional Southern cooking as it was at its peak by recreating its original ingredients in their organic, pre-industrialized agriculture forms.

Yum! I can hardly wait for that effort to succeed.

It seems that everyone wants a little piece of us in whatever form they can get it. At least one point of Southern pride seems to be slipping, though, which both alarms and saddens me.

America’s “old grey lady,” The New York Times, ran a story by Kim Severson recently with the disheartening headline, “A Last Bastion of Civility, the South, Sees Manners Decline.”

My maternal grandmother, a steel magnolia born, raised and laid to rest in Kinston, N.C., held that manners are the “glue” that holds us together. If pressed, she would say that manners are what keep us from killing each other. My own experience has taught me the truth of her wisdom. Manners are the tool that can keep families from exploding into open warfare, give friends the opportunity to love the best of each other and overlook the rest, and, until recent years, allow politicians to debate each other by day and dine together by night. Manners are a vehicle to show respect to other people.

Southern children are often taught to say “Yes, sir” and “Yes, ma’am,” but manners are more than just going through the mechanics of polite behavior. They are practiced to make other people feel comfortable, and what could be kinder and more courteous than that?

Former President George H. W. Bush, or President Bush the First, is often said to have perfect manners, which he displayed when a White House dinner guest made what could have been an embarrassing social gaff. The guest, obviously unfamiliar with the formal custom of using fi ngerbowls, picked his up and drank from it. The President, who knew very well about fi ngerbowls, did not miss a beat in making his guest comfortable. He picked up his fi ngerbowl and sipped from it as well.

The NYT’s article says the South, long viewed as the nation’s most polite and gracious corner, is slipping in the manners department.

Most of us have seen an example of this.

My most recent one was a perfectly normal-looking woman motorist who apparently took issue with some aspect of my driving and angrily poked a finger at me — a finger which was defi nitely not a thumbs up “atta girl” for my skills behind the wheel. I cannot imagine anyone doing this to my grandmother.

I see men who no longer stand when a woman enters the room and able-bodied people of all ages who do not yield their seats to the elderly, the handicapped or someone unusually burdened. The NYT quotes an Alabama second-grade teacher who bemoans the current low level of manners and says parents who have moved South from somewhere else instruct her not to teach their children to say “ma’am” and “sir.” “Too demeaning, they say.” It also details an Atlanta lawsuit involving two men who declined to give up their seats at the bar to two women.

Oh, well.

If we are honest, though, we have to concede that manners can be used to “keep people in their place” — not necessarily a good thing.

That being said, I buy my grandmother’s argument about the “glue.” Manners do grease the skids of human interactions. They do make us comfortable with each other and help turn some us from mere acquaintances and business connections into fast friends.

They are part of our Southern charm and part of what endears us and our region to people from all over the nation and the world. These people come to our community with the military, and they are coming to our state next year for the National Democratic Convention. The world’s spotlight will be trained on us, and it is our best interest for the South to shine in every way.

As one Southerner optimistically told the NYT, “It’ll be all sweet tea and hush puppies.”

Yes, ma’am, I certainly hope so.

Photo: President George H.W. Bush is said to have perfect manners, the kind that allow politicians to debate each other by day and still dine togther by night.

The Heart of Christmas Show has grown quite a bit since its inception in 1999. Anyone who spends more than a minute with Laura Stevens, the director, can tell you that she is passionate about this show in the same way that mothers are passionate about their newborn babies. She looks forward to the performances with the magical anticipation of a 6-year-old waiting for Santa to come down the chimney.

This year’s performances are on Saturday, Nov. 26 at 7 p.m. and Sunday Nov. 27 at 3 p.m., and Stevens is giddy with excitement about it.

“There are just so many wonderful elements to the show,” said Stevens. “Every year I look forward to fi nding new ways to make it even better.”

That’s a tall order since there are so many people in the community who tell Stevens about their favorite segments and plead with her to keep them in the line-up. Still, she’s always searching for the next skit, the next number, the next dance that will take the show to a higher level of glamorous excellence — because for her it is about more than putting on a great performance.

“The show is absolutely about giving the audience something to remember and putting them in the Christmas spirit,” said Stevens. “But it is also about all the hard work and dedication that the performers put into it. These kids and their families eat, sleep and breathe this show for several months each year and seeing the smiles on their faces and the joy in their eyes when the audience applauds at the end of each number is incredible. They work so hard to be able to deliver an amazing performance for the audience.”

The performers, who are all between the ages of 6 and 19, work hard to deliver perfect performances, and Stevens works just as hard to make sure that each and every segment touches the audience in some way, whether it means laughing out loud, bringing them to tears or evoking reverent silence.

Voices of the Heart, an all-girl, teen Christian vocal group is a huge part of the performance every year. This year Katelyn Godbold, Hannah Godbold, Mandi Hawley, Rachel Crenshaw and Hannah Pritchard bring the group to new heights.

“Each year Voices of the Heart is amazing,” said Stevens. “This year’s group is just phenomenal. It is like having five Mariah Careys up on the stage when they perform. Part of what makes this show so incredible is that the performers are all children and young adults. The fact that they deliver such a high-quality performance every year really says something about their talent and dedication.”

The show starts off each year with a fun and light-hearted look at Christmas through the eyes of children. It explores the joy and sense of anticipation that makes the Christmas season such a magical time for the young-at-heart.

The second half of the show is more about the Christmas story and the birth of Jesus. It’s a testament to the talented performers that the audience is left in awe-struck silence following the manger scene.

The performers are clearly dedicated to the show, and it has paid off as year after year people come form further and further away just to see The Heart of Christmas Show.

“We’ve had people tell us that they’ve come from Florida to see the show and that they look forward to the trip up here to experience it every year. Other people have said that our show is as good as anything they’ve seen in Branson, Mo.” said Stevens. “Last year I met a lady who told me that this is the show that puts her in the Christmas spirit. She leaves the show and goes right home to bake Christmas cookies.”

And it all started as a way to bring something more to the community. From the very fi rst performance, Stevens has made sure that all proceeds from the ticket sales are put right back into the community. Generous sponsors cover the costs of production each year, providing an opportunity to help Fayetteville’s youngest and most vulnerable citizens, its children. So far, more than $300,000 dollars has been donated to Friends of Children, The Child Advocacy Program, the Autism Society and Falcon’s Children’s Home.

Stevens is quick to thank the long list of sponsors who make it all possible. “The support we have from the local business community is amazing, but as much as we appreciate the support they give us, what means the most is when I see our sponsors bringing their friends and families to the show every year.”

Tickets are available now and can be purchased at Hawley’s Bicycle World, The Crown Center box office, by calling 978-1118 and at ticketmaster outlets. Adults and Children tickets are $12.00 in advance, $18.00 at the door. Group rates $10.00 per ticket are available for groups of 15 or more.

Photo top right: The talented teens in Voices of the Heart are one of the reasons the show is so successful each year. The girls are joined by other performers and dancers to make the show a hit.

Like the original Grand Ol’ Opry house, to quote the late great singer, John Hartford, another piece of America has done gone on. The atomic wizards at the Pantex Nuclear Bomb Emporium in Texas recently dismantled the last B53 nuclear bomb. It is no more. It is deceased, like the dead parrot in the Monty Python sketch. The B53 was a bomb that Dr. Strangelove would have coveted and cherished. How should we love the B53? Let us count the ways. It was a Prince among nuclear weapons. A consummation devoutly to be wished. It was the Clint Eastwood of atomic death and destruction. The B53 was the biggest, baddest, bomb on the block. It was America’s largest nuke. Nobody dissed the B53. Our big bomb was born in 1962 weighing in at a svelte 10,000 pounds and was about the size of a mini-van or one half of Donald Trump’s ego.

The B53 could do it all. It was 600 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Imported to a target by a B-52 bomber, the B53 was designed to blow up stuff buried way under ground. Recall the Russki’s Doom’s Day device in Dr. Strangelove. The only way to survive the Doom’s Day device was go live way underground. The elite government leaders and particularly attractive and fertile women were to go down into mine shafts for several centuries to live, work and procreate until it was safe to come out. The B53 could have been used to blast the Russkis deep in their mine shafts leaving only Americans surviving in our red, white and blue mine shafts. Using the B53, we could have won a nuclear war, if winning is defi ned as wiping out the rest of the world. Our American government leaders would emerge from the depths of the Earth to once again reign supreme.

Deceased at the tender age of 49, the B53 bomb was loved by atomic apocalypse enthusiasts everywhere. Having outlived its creators, the B53 died after being dismantled while surrounded by its new friends and paid caretakers. The original wizards who invented the B53 had long since retired or died. They weren’t available to tell us which plugs to pull. The instruction book that came with the B53 when it was a brand new bouncing baby bomb had been misplaced over the years. The engineers who took it apart had to fi gure out ways to euthanize the B53 without setting it off and causing a really large glowing hole in the Texas desert.

Coincidentally, a number of States are currently considering laws to establish that life begins at the moment of conception. At the other end of the spectrum of life and death, the Pantex plant had to decide when a B53 bomb is offi cially dead. The B53 bomb was declared dead after the removal of the 300 pounds of high explosives embracing the uranium pit which is the nuclear explosive material. The uranium pit is then stored for that sunny day when once again America will need to resurrect the world’s biggest nuclear weapon. The B53 died without ever getting to kill millions of people. Shiva and General Curtis LeMay would be so disappointed. It is the end of an era.

Speaking of the end of an era, where were you when you heard the riveting news that Kim Kardashian was divorcing NBA player Kris Humphries? Their marriage lasted only 72 days. Their divorce news is a moment that was seared in America’s collective psyche like the Kennedy assassination or the day that Herman Cain introduced Plan 999 from Outer Space.

No one saw a divorce coming between Kim and Kris. This marriage would last forever, or at least 73 days. Kim explained that sometimes, things just don’t work out. Maybe the alliteration of their fi rst names was too much to bear. Maybe it was after the $18 million check cleared they received for the publication rights to their wedding orgy of good taste that they suddenly realized they had made a terrible matrimonial mistake. Somehow these kids are going to have to pick up their lives and start all over with nothing but an $18 million payment for a sham wedding to grubstake them in their attempt to live a quiet simple life. Kim explained they were still the best of friends but that she wanted to be able to spend more time with her cats.

Maybe we should have suspected the marriage might not last when the media reported that the wedding punch was made out of Prime Evil brand embalming fl uid. Let us bid a fond farewell to the B53, Kim and Kris. We hardly knew ye.

A state-of-the-art cold kitchen is the newest addition to the Culinary Arts Department at Fayetteville Technical Community College. The most recent expansion to the facilities was designed to provide a kitchen with temperature and humidity control features. The cold kitchen was completed in October, creating additional space for Culinary training which consists of three kitchens and a dining room.

Humidity and temperature control are critical in a bake shop when preparing sugar and chocolate work. Students are instructed in the preparation, construction, and assembly of confectionary show pieces and dessert items. Show pieces are decorative competition entries made from various confections and must be completely edible. If the temperature and humidity are not perfect when preparing and holding these show pieces and dessert items, they will become sticky and eventually melt, losing their shape and form in the process. Imagine a wilting fl ower and the slow demise of the fl ower on a hot humid day. This is exactly what happens to chocolate and sugar pieces that have been properly prepared, but not kept at the proper temperature and humidity in the preparation and holding process. Having a cold kitchen also allows longer working time with chocolate and confection mediums. This will give students a better opportunity to understand and utilize the scientifi c reactions that are occurring while tempering chocolate and pulling or blowing sugar.

The temperature of the cold kitchen will be kept at 62 degrees Fahrenheit and will be set at approximately 10% humidity or below when working with most pastry and confection products. This environment is impossible to maintain in a typical hot kitchen, particularly in the south. Most of North Carolina is considered to have a humid subtropical climate with a relative humidity anywhere between 48% and 95% depending on the time of year and the region. The cold kitchen will allow the instructors to control factors that will allow successful student training. The students will actually be able to prepare, handle, assemble, and display their sugar and chocolate show pieces with success due to temperature and humidity control feature in the cold kitchen.

In addition to your typical bake shop equipment, the department purchased a commercial dough-sheeter for the cold kitchen. Culinary students will work with various types of dough including sugar dough, gingerbread, and laminated dough like croissants and danish that must be rolled out into a uniform thickness. This piece of equipment will allow students to quickly prepare large quantities of dough products precisely in a uniform thickness ranging from 5 inches to 1/16 of an inch. In addition, the machine can be used to prepare rolled fondant for covering decorated cakes and as preparation for gum paste fl owers to adorn wedding cakes.

Currently, the Culinary Arts department offers a Baking Certifi cate as an offspring to its Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts parent program. The Baking Certificate can typically be completed in two semesters. Students graduating with a Baking Certificate are trained to master the preparation of quick breads, cakes, lean and rich bread dough, pies, tarts, sweet sauces, meringues, basic sugar centerpieces, chocolate tempering, basic molded, dipped and formed chocolate truffles along with basic chocolate and marzipan modeling skills. Students are also able to decorate and assemble multi-layered cakes using buttercream, royal icing, fondant, marzipan and gum paste decorations. Any student who completes the Baking Certificate at FTCC would be a huge asset to any master chocolatier, pastry chef or baker.

We are hopeful that the Culinary Program’s cold kitchen will be a stepping stone to offering a Baking and Pastry Arts Associate Degree option sometime in the near future. This would require the addition of course work in the areas of artisan bread, chocolate artistry, European cakes and tortes, advanced cake decorating and design, and bakery startup and management.

For more information about the Culinary Arts degree or certificate programs including the Baking, Garde Manger and Demi-Chef Certificates, please contact Kay Gilbert at 678-8295.

Photo: Elizabeth Culbreath, Tracey Deskin and Michael Schafhausen are Culinary students making pastillage, a sugar dough made of sugar, gelatin and white vinegar and formed into a sugar ceramic. These decorative pieces and can be painted, glazed and air brushed.

The holidays are approaching and it’s about that time to go on your annual Christmas shopping spree. While Santa Claus is coming to town, so is the 21st annual Yule Mart on Friday, November 18th through Sunday, November 20th. Come to the Fort Bragg club and visit some local and regional vendors, browse the homemade goods andcrafts, and check some presents off that long Christmas list.

Yule Mart is a non-profit organization that was put together by Fort Bragg’s Officers’ Spouses’ Club and has been the club’s biggest fundraiser throughout the years. “It’s our thing; it brings back a lot of money that we can put back into the Fort Bragg community,” says Missy Ehrenbeit, the Officers’ Spouses’ Club’s Publicity Chairperson, “It helps raise money for scholarships for people on Fort Bragg,as well.”

“There’s going to be local and regional vendors and everything is going to be hand crafted,” saysEhrenbeit “so the booths that will be there will actually have the person that makes the stuff.” Yule Mart will consist of about 70 different vendors that will feature everything from Americana décor to holiday decorations to homemade breads and granola. “There will be a lot of different things,” says Ehrenbeit, “We’ll have stained glass, a lot of jewelry; there will be a lady that makes bags out of ACU’s and old uniforms, and a lady that makes wreaths.”

Aside from the craft show, some other activities that will be going on are a Secret Santa Shop that is done by the 82nd airborne. Here the kids can purchase presents for their parents and get them wrapped there so that the parents don’t know what the kids bought them for Christmas. Some other features of Yule Mart will be pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus’ Bake Shop, “but the biggest thing there is going to be the vendors,” says Ehrenbeit.

On Friday, the craft show will open at 10 a.m. and run through 7 p.m. that night. Saturday the mart will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. As far as admission goes, there are daily passes and weekend passes that are available for purchase. The daily pass is $5 per person, while the weekend pass is $8 per person and children ages 10 and under are free. Get in the Christmas spirit this year at Yule Mart. “It’s a wonderful event,” says Ehrenbeit, “We encourage all to come and check it out and help give back to the community.”

Serving over 12,000 dinner guests might intimidate some folks, but not those behind the 53rd Annual “World’s Largest Spaghetti Dinner and Greek Pastry Sale.” The event takes place on Wednesday, Nov. 16, from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. at the Hellenic Center of Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 614 Oakridge Ave. in Fayetteville. The cost for each meal is $6, and tickets may be purchased at the door.

Last year, volunteers at the annual charity event served about 12,500 dinners.

“It’s hard to pinpoint exactly the number, but for the past three years, it’s been around the same number said Tony Kotsopoulos, chairman of the event for over 20 years. His late father-in-law, Pete Parrous, started the project for the community as a fundraiser to build the church.

And just how long might one spend in the kitchen preparing 12,000-plus meals?

“It takes four days,” Kotsopoulos said. “Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, we do the food preparation, and Wednesday, we put it together.”

The “we” to whom Kotsopoulos refers is a small army of dinner veterans and volunteers who prepare 4000 pounds of dry pasta, which become about 10,000 pounds cooked, and about 1000 gallons of meat sauce, a highly guarded secret recipe of all-natural ingredients used only for the dinner.

“For the preparation of the spaghetti, we have about 20 people that will be hired under my supervision, and they’ve been working with me for many years,” said Kotsopoulos. “They all have other jobs, and they come and work for three days and we put it together, and then volunteers in the Greek community work for days getting all the other stuff ready – opening things, boxing up the cheeses, breads and other stuff.”

The meals include spaghetti and sauce, cheese –– and napkins –– and are available for takeout only.

“Although some people do sit down,” Kotsopoulos said, “mostly they take out. It has become a tradition now – businesses and homes – everyone is looking forward to it.”

If a business or other group purchases more than a few meals, volunteers have a system in place to facilitate a speedy pickup.

“If you have more than 10 or 15 meals, we have people who direct you to the proper place where they quickly put them together,” said Kotsopoulos. “We have refi ned that process now, so the wait is very minimal, and any wait is only between the hours of 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Before and after that time, it’s not that much of a wait.”

In addition to the impressive pasta and sauce, dessert is also not to be missed. A variety of delicious Greek pastries and desserts freshly prepared by volunteers will be available for purchase, including the always-popular baklava; kataifi , a sweet honey dessert made with angel hair pastry and honey; and sugar cookies.

Proceeds from the annual dinner event go to charities, including the Red Cross, the Autism Society and the International Christian Charities, and Kotsopoulos admits his amazement at the community’s support.

“We appreciate their support year after year. The most amazing thing to me is not the work that we do, but when I go outside the back door of the kitchen, and I peek and I see people from all over Fayetteville come to the Greek church to get or one or two or five or 10 or 50 plates of spaghetti — to me that’s amazing. It tells me that they don’t just come for the spaghetti.”

For more information, call the Hellenic Center at 484-8925, or visit the church’s website, www.stsch.nc.goarch.org.

Chasing the American Dream

It is rare, in fact, I can’t recall when I have ever responded to an opinion put forth by a columnist in our paper. I have published many things that I disagree with to the very core of my being — things that make my skin crawl — and made no response. But last week’s editorial by Sharon Valentine, along with the local news, moved me out of my bed at 11 p.m. (even though I get up at 4 a.m.) to respond.

Occupy Wall Street is not a movement that will create reform. Occupy Wall Street is nothing more than a distraction from the real problems that face our economy, our nation and our society as a whole. It is a sound bite for the media. In short, Occupy Wall Street (Raleigh and Fayetteville) is a tempest in a tea pot with people who seemingly have nothing better to do.

I would suggest that if these folks really want to make a difference in our economic free fall, they get out of their chairs, put down their picket signs, pack up their $200 tents, put down their $4 lattes and get a freaking job.

Yes, I said it: GET A JOB.

And before you all run to your computers to say there are not any jobs — yes there are. They may not be what you want, but they will start to pay the bills. There are a number of people who feel that certain jobs are beneath them. Guess what? When you’ve got no money, your extended unemployment has run out and the rent is due, nothing is beneath you.

I have been poor. And I don’t like it. So I did what I had to do to change my situation. I have been a hostess at restaurants, tended bar, turned socks, lifeguarded, worked in a deli, a daycare and at a newspaper that expected me to work 80 hours a week for less than most people make on unemployment. (Oh, and I always paid for my own insurance.) I can honestly say, with no exaggeration, that since I have been 19-years-old I have worked no less than two jobs at any given time. I now have three.

Do I have to? Nope. Do I do it because I want what is best for my family. You bet. So I have little patience or time to listen to people who complain about not being able to get $50,000 a year jobs. Work two jobs, work three jobs if that’s what it takes to meet your economic expectations. Do what you have to do to be successful.

When my husband and I bought our fi rst house, we paid $83,000 for it. We didn’t go out and buy a $300,000 house we couldn’t afford. That, Ms. Valentine, is why the housing market crashed — people reached beyond their means to buy what they thought they deserved, not what they could afford.

I keep hearing about the 99 percent and the 1 percent. Would it surprise you to know that if you earn more than $150,000 in a household of two working people, you are knocking on the door of what our tax system and our current administration calls wealthy?

Is it somewhat disconcerting to anyone that you are actually penalized for working hard, for chasing the American Dream? I know at tax time it’s pretty darn disconcerting for me.

I grew up in a one-income family. My father was in the military, and despite what you hear to the contrary, the salaries for enlisted soldiers are not that great. No one in Congress who keeps saying the military is overpaid, would work the hours, face the hardships or give up their plush lives in DC to spend one minute on a forward-operating base.

I forgot to mention that my father had five children. My mother was a stay-at-home mom. We didn’t have fancy cars, clothes or homes, but we always had enough. They always managed to make it work. In short, we lived within our means.

My grandfather, who lived through World Wars I and II and the Great Depression, raised 15 children. They didn’t always have everything they wanted either, but they had what they needed. I can assure you, they didn’t have $200 tents, and they didn’t stand around on street corners all day long whining about what they didn’t have. They worked. They worked long hours in the fi elds on the farm, the saw mill and in the house.

And at the end of the day, I will always remember what my grandfather said about the hard times, the good times, and what he would probably have said about Occupy Wall Street.

“Smart people don’t starve — they just work harder.”

Get a clue. The American Dream isn’t dead. What is dead is the desire of many to pursue it.

Bikers For Bikers Foundation (BFBF) is a nonprofit organization founded to help injured/sick bikers and needy children. Motorcyclists across America are known for hosting charitable benefits for people in need, supporting the families of fallen service members, doing toy runs for less fortunate children at Christmas, gathering food and coats for the homeless during the months before the bitter cold sets in, supporting breast-cancer campaigns, and doing poker run benefits for emergency situations when people have fallen ill or lost homes to fires and disasters. However, when was the last time you heard of a “biker” asking for help? It doesn’t happen very often.

In 2010 there were more than 10 million registered motorcycles in America. With an average of approximately 100,000 accidents recorded year-ly, there are approximately 90,000 injured, and 5,000 killed yearly accord-ing to the U.S. Department of Transportation statistics from 2000 to 2010. Motorcyclists are strong and often too proud to ask for help, but the numbers are staggering.

When Mickey, founder of BFBF and a North Carolinian, went down some years ago and broke an ankle he couldn’t get any help because he was “a biker.” He had kids to feed and clothe and basic bills like everyone else. He vowed that someday he would change that. After researching some of the larg-est charitable organizations in America, he was shocked by the percentages taken by large charities and how little of it actually goes to help those in need. Even more alarming was the fact that several of those charities have CEOs whose salaries are nearing the million dollar mark. The average is more than 50 percent and in some charities up to 99 percent of the money given actually goes to pay salaries, marketing expenses, buy office supplies and purchase and maintain corporate jets.

Bikers For Bikers Foundation is not a “big charity” or a household name — yet. It was started by a man who had a vision and one year of pocket-change. It is still a small, but rapidly growing organization with the goal of being known by every biker in America while keeping the operating cost to a minimum, so the money goes to help those in need instead of lin-ing the pockets of CEOs or employees. To date, everyone who works with the foundation volunteers, including the founder. The foundation is head-quartered in Cumberland County, and has members in 46 states, and state captains, who help raise funds in four states. BFBF is not affiliated in any way with Biker For Bikers, incorporated out of Texas, nor is it a club. The organization shares no one’s information.

If you ride, or have loved ones or friends who ride, this is one nonprofit you should take the time to visit their web-site, www.bikersforbikersfoundation.com, and show support for their cause.

The Big Year  (Rated R)  Four Stars

The Big Year (100 minutes) is surprisingly restrained, consid-ering both Jack Black and Owen Wilson have starring roles. Not only is the picture fairly low-key, it also manages to avoid any ob-vious audience manipulation. Considering that David Frankel also directed the emotional cannonball that was Marley and Me, we can all be grateful The Big Year didn’t involve a lot of dead birds and crying children. I mean, dead birds do appear, but early in the film before the audience gets emotionally invested in them, so it’s okay.

Weirdly, writer Howard Franklin, who adapted the Mark Obmascik birding (never bird-watching!) novel, not only wrote what is arguably the best Bill Murray vehicle ever (The Man Who Knew Too Little), but also scripted The Name of The Rose AND Romancing the Stone, which is a weird resume if I ever saw it.

The film introduces us to the world of competitive bird-ing, peopled with obsessives who are nonetheless also trusting fools. Example: In attempting to achieve the North American Bird Watching Record for most birds seen during a big year (or something … I’m not clear on the actual title), it is sufficient to report seeing or hearing the birds … photographic evidence is not required. Since achieving this record apparently elevates winners to superstar status, worshipped by teenage boys everywhere they go, it seems like there should be safeguards in place to prevent heading over to the zoo and claiming those birds for one’s list. But maybe I’m just a cynic.

In any case, it seems pretty obvious that the title is for a rich man to win. Who else would have the time and money to travel around the United States averaging more than two unique bird sightings a year? Of course, that means in addition to the independently wealthy Bostick (Wilson) and the desperate-to-retire Preissler (Steve Martin) we get the adorable underdog Brad Harris (Black). I am instantly reminded of the good stormchaser/bad stormchaser dichotomy set up in Twister, where any hobbyist with money is automatically evil, while the scruffy underfunded little guys are always good (see also Dodgeball and Rocky IV).

Brad is divorced, and his daddy (Brian Dennehy) is surprisingly unsupportive of him taking a year off to run through his meager savings. Bostick, the current big year record-holder, is married — and his wife is surprisingly unsupportive of his plans to fly around the U.S. for a year and look at birds. Preissler, in the midst of phased retire-ment, has a supportive wife (JoBeth Williams) but unsup-portive coworkers, who keep interrupting his big year to trick him back into the highly lucrative job that he loves.

The three meet several times before the plot really gets going, and there are several plot points set up, only to be dropped without resolution. For example, it is implied several times that Bostick might have cheated, but it is left for the au-dience to decide one way or the other. Maybe failing to spell out every little detail is not such a bad thing. However, since the idea was not introduced in a subtle way, the viewer waits for a dénouement that never comes.

Rounding out the cast is Rashida Jones, playing a love in-terest shoehorned in to the story. As is typical for Hollywood, the film is essentially about male bonding and men finding themselves … women are only bystanders.

Finally, for those of you dying to know, the criteria for The Big Year shown in the film limits the birders to the American Birding Association area, which excludes Hawaii. Approximately 925 bird species have been seen in the United State and Canada, and the winning number in the film is more than 700 bird species seen in a single year.

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

Military Service and Social Security

Fayetteville is in the midst of its 10-day Heroes Homecoming celebration. Many special events have been planned to recognize Vietnam veterans for the sacrifices they made so many years ago. Thanks to the people of Fayetteville for recognizing the need and doing something to show American soldiers our appreciation.

As a public service to the seniors and veterans of our com-munity, we are printing the following article from the Social Security Commission.

Each year, on Nov. 11, America observes Veterans Day and honors the men and women who have served in our nation’s Armed Forces. Many Vietnam-era veterans are now nearing retirement age or are already there. It is important that they — and other American service personnel — know just what retirement benefits they can count on from Social Security as they make their future financial plans.

Like most of the civilian workforce, all current military personnel pay Social Security taxes and earn Social Security coverage. Earnings for active-duty military service or active-duty training have been covered under Social Security since 1957.

In addition, earnings for inactive duty service in the reserves (such as weekend drills) have had Social Security coverage since 1988.In addition to regular military pay, Social Security adds special-earnings credits to an individual’s Social Security record when he or she serves in the military. The extra earnings are for periods of active duty or active-duty training. If, for example, a person served in the military between 1957 and 1977, he or she has been credited with $300 in additional earnings for each calendar quarter in which active-duty basic pay was earned. These extra earnings may help someone qualify for Social Security or increase the amount of the Social Security benefit.

The number of credits an individual needs to qualify for Social Security depends on his or her age and the type of benefit. Any future Social Security benefit payment depends on a person’s earnings, averaged over a working lifetime. Generally, the higher a person’s earnings, the higher his or her Social Security benefit will be.

Remember that Social Security is more than retirement. If a worker becomes disabled before reaching retirement age, he or she may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits. A disabled worker’s spouse and dependent children also may be eligible for benefits. If a worker dies, the widow or widower and dependent children may be eligible for Social Security survivor’s benefits.

If you, or someone you know, were wounded while on active duty in the military, find out more about what Social Security can do by visiting our website designed specifically for wounded warriors: www.socialsecurity.gov/wound-edwarriors. At that website you will find answers to a number of commonly asked questions, as well as other useful information about disability benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Veterans and others who are within 10 years of retirement age should begin planning for retirement. A good place to start is with Social Security’s Retirement Estimator at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator.

For more information, you can read the fact sheet, Military Service and Social Security, which is available at www.socialsecu-rity.gov/pubs/10017.html.

For more information call 484-7200 or visit www.homeinstead.com/647.

Hockey in Fayetteville, N.C. is more than just a stick to a puck, it is wholesome family entertainment that has captured the attention of Fayetteville and surrounding com-munities for the past 10 years.

For 10 years, the Fayetteville FireAntz have obtained an unbeliev-able fan base, of whose loyalty and dedication have elevated the organi-zation to what it is today. With more than 7,000 fans in attendance during the 2011-2012 Opening Weekend alone, which took place on Friday, Oct. 21 and Saturday, Oct. 22 at the Crown Coliseum, the FireAntz seem to be headed in the direction of continued success.

Although the 2011-2012 sea-son has seemingly launched with a BANG, there is still plenty of time to catch a FireAntz home game in the near future. With the return of five players, the FireAntz are set to play back-to-back home games against the Louisiana Ice Gators on Friday, Nov. 18 and Saturday, Nov. 19 beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Crown Coliseum. And, if you happen to find yourself searching for something to do with the family after enjoying a hearty Thanksgiving spread, the FireAntz will host the Augusta RiverHawks on Thanksgiving night at 7:30 p.m. For a complete listing of Fayetteville FireAntz home games, visit www.fireant-zhockey.com.

As for the dynamic of the FireAntz team, this season proves to be one of transformation. With a new head coach, a revamped logo, and 11 new player additions, the Fayetteville FireAntz have proven that change is for the better. Head Coach, Sean Gillam, expects players to work hard and remain disciplined, while also remaining dedicated to the organization and sport. Leading the team in those expectations are the recently announced team captains: Chris Leville, center, who is one of five returning roster players this season, along with alternate captain Bobby Reed, forward, and alternate captain Matt Smyth, a defense player.

Aside from the ice, the Fayetteville FireAntz organization has made quite an impression within the local community. Whether through corporate part-nerships or non-profit participation, the FireAntz have gained notoriety on many levels. For instance, the FireAntz have formed lasting partnerships with community agencies such as Friends of Children and the Cape Fear Valley Blood Donor Center. During the Oct. 21 opening night game, the FireAntz donated over $1,000 to the Breast Cancer Center of Cape Fear Valley and last week’s Oct. 29 specialty Military Night was dedicated to local mili-tary personnel. The FireAntz will host a second specialty Military Night on Saturday, Feb. 4.

President and General Manager of the Fayetteville FireAntz, Kevin McNaught, refers to the organizations commitment to the community as, “quality of life.” He states, “We rely on the community to support us, so it is easy for us to give back with appearances and having the players in schools where they can be role models.”

The Fayetteville FireAntz also joins in the community in hosting children’s birthday parties, hail and garewells, and company outings and get-togethers. For more information, please contact the Fayetteville FireAntz front office at: 321-0123.

Come and experience change, fun, and Fayetteville FireAntz hockey, “Where Fire and Ice Unite!”

Photo: With a new head coach, a revamped logo, and 11 new player additions, the Fayetteville FireAntz have proven that change is for the better.

Like many of the readers of Up & Coming Weekly, I am not a native of Fayetteville, or even North Carolina. I was born and raised in Arkansas, so before my move, my only familiarity with Fayetteville was of the Arkansas variety. Eighteen months ago that changed when I was offered a job right here in America’s hometown. As expected, I was excited about the pros-pect of a fresh beginning, but daunted by the reality of not knowing a soul within 500 miles. As many of us under-stand, moving to an unfamiliar place is frightening. Fortunately, after a couple of weeks in town, I was invited to attend the weekly Kiwanis lunch. At this lunch I happened to sit with Kristie Meave and T.J. Jenkins, both members of Fayetteville Young Professionals (FYP).

Kristie and T.J. told me all about the events and opportunities offered by FYP. Needless to say I was very intrigued. I had discovered that Fayetteville is a very dynamic community, but it can be difficult for a young professional to meet people in their age group with similar interests. I decided FYP was worth checking out, so I attended one of their monthly Lunch & Learns. Honestly, I do not remember the guest speaker or the topic, but I do remember the people I met and how welcome I felt. In fact, I met a few of my good buddies that day. After that Lunch & Learn I knew I wanted to get involved with FYP. I began attending as many events as I could, because I realized FYP is not another boring networking organization. It is a dynamic and interesting way to make some great friends who just happen to be great business contacts as well.

Since becoming a member of FYP I have had a change of jobs. In my initial move to Fayetteville, I was coming to work for a community bank. I was excited to be a part of that organization, and am proud of my time there. However, through my contacts in FYP, I was approached about an opportunity at another institution. After some careful consideration, I decided it would be more ben-eficial to my career to pursue the new opportunity, an opportunity that came to me because of FYP! The individual, who asked me to consider the position, and would be integral in the hiring decision, is an FYP member. Had I ignored Kristie Meave’s invitation to check out FYP, I would have never known about this opportunity, and I certainly would not have been asked to apply.

After realizing what FYP had done for me, I made the decision to help them by joining the Professional Development Committee. There are several commit-tees which all FYP members have a chance to be a part of, including member-ship, social, and marketing committees. Each committee plays an integral role in our group and allows members to help lead events that fulfill their personal and professional interests. For me, Professional Development was a good fit. Through that committee we have hosted some great speakers and roundtable discussions in our monthly Lunch & Learns. I am proud of the work our various committees have done for FYP. This is why I was happy to accept the role of Professional Development Committee Chair and a place on our executive committee for our current membership year. All of this has taken place in 18 months.

I am telling you my story because, without FYP, my Fayetteville experience would have been much different. FYP provided many opportunities for me that I did not know existed. I eventually would have made some contacts, and certainly would have made some friends; however, FYP made this a much simpler process.

If you are curious about FYP, please look us up online at www.fayyp.org and come join us at our next event! To make life a little simpler, I have included a few of our upcoming activities. However, we are always adding new Meet-Ups and events, so keep checking our online schedule and look us up on facebook for updated news.

FYP’s Up coming events:

Wednesday Wake Up — Every Wednesday from 7 a.m.-9:30 a.m. at Haymont Grill.

December 15 — FYP Christmas Party at Itz Entertainment City.

Photo: FYP provided many opportunities for me that I did not know existed.