Philoxenia. It means friends of strangers. It’s a Greek word that perfectly describes the Hellenic community, specifi cally the Fayetteville Hellenic community. Just ask Kelly Papagikos. She is married to Father Papagikos, who serves the Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church on Oakridge Avenue.

“We’ve lived in many different Greek communities,” said Papgikos. “This is by far the most generous and giving church we have been a part of. The congregation is constantly working, together and as individuals, to give back to the community. They not only give financially to charitable groups and organizations, they give of their time as well and are always ready to embrace the community.”

It’s this philosophy of hospitality and kindness that drives the Greek Festival (and the church’s many other activities and events) each year. As preparations begin for the festivities, which will run from Friday Sept. 9 through Sunday, Sept. 11, there are already scores of people laboring, preparing to invite the community into their lives, their church, their culture, their hearts.

It starts on Friday with extended hours from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Along with the new hours, the activities for the day are expanded, too.

“We have opened up Friday to the community and to the schools,” said Papagikos. “Education is so important, and we continuously want to give back to them. We are having lecturers and speakers to talk about education, architecture, culture — anything that has to do with anything Greek.”

The lectures include an opportunity to visit the inside of the church and to see the impressive iconography, the symbols of faith and history that so heavily infl uence the faith of the congregation.

Schools and large groups are welcome, and can call the church offi ce at 484-8925 to make a reservation, but the public is invited as well.

Saturday and Sunday’s events will not include the educational lectures, but will still feature the church tours and, of course, the other cultural delights that Greek Fest lovers look forward to with great anticipation each year. Papagikos warned though, that there are a few key changes to the layout.

“This year, when you walk through the festival you will feel like you are walking in Athens,” she said. “There will be flower pots set up everywhere and no matter where you turn you will feell like you are in Greece for that moment.

There is going to be a lot more aesthetic beauty and culture so you feel like you are visiting Plaka — it is like the Rodeo Drive of Athens.”

There will be dancing both inside and outside this year, which is a big change, but one that the event organizers think will add to the event.

“One of the things our children look forward to the most each year is the dancing,” said Papagikos. “If you want to see what this festival means to our community, look at the faces of the children as they are dancing with and for the community.”

What is a celebration without good food and drink? Many hands are busy this year preparing the delectable offerings that can be found in the food tents. Everything from full meals to gyros, souvlaki and more will be for sale. The array of confections will surely satisfy any sweet-tooth, and inspire even the most disciplined to have a treat and enjoy the efforts of the dedicated people who prepared it.

Everything from art to jewelry to literature and clothing items will be available for sale. If you happen to make it to the cooking class on Saturday at 4 p.m., you will want to take a moment to shop in the Greek grocery store and take home a treasure or two to savor later.

A visit to the church website www.stsch.nc.goarch.org/GreekFestival will answer any questions you may have about the event.

Whether you are a veteran of previous Greek Festival or a newcomer to the event, Papagikos promises that it will be worth the trip to stop and visit.

“Plan to experience our culture with all five of your senses. When you come to the Greek Fest we want you to feel welcome,” she said. “We want you to taste. We want you to dance with us. We want you to embrace the culture as we so passionately love it. We want to share who we are with you.”

Photo: The congregation looks forward to entertaining their guests each year. This year’s festival runs Sept. 9-11 at Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church.

On Sunday, Sept. 11, millions of Americans will probably go about their daily lives. Some may stop briefl y and think about the date, others might not think about it at all. And some will stop and reflect on that fateful day 10 years ago when the world, as most Americans knew it, exploded.

For most of us, up until 9/11, bombs exploding in our streets were a foreign concept. We went about our business in a somewhat protective cocoon believing those kinds of things only happened in dusty cities in the Middle East. We watched it play out like a movie in our evening news. It was not our reality.

Some will argue that unless you were in the World Trade Center, on Flight 93 or in the Pentagon, it still isn’t our reality. But they would be wrong.

With almost crystal clarity, I can remember the moments of 9/11 and how they unfolded. I remember the curiosity most people expressed when the first plane hit the towers. Someone, it might have been me, said something about another drunk flight crew.

We shook our heads and said how awful it was for the people in the building and went back to work. I glanced up at the television in my offi ce and saw the second plane fl y into the building. And then the absolute terror of what was happening began to set in.

My friend Jane Davis, the then Womack commander’s wife, came into my offi ce, her eyes full of tears, her voice bereft of hope. My co-worker — my sister of the heart — JoAnn Hooker rocked back and forth uttering prayers for those in harm’s way.

And I watched silently as the story unfolded before us. And I felt my heart shatter.

I’m sure those same reactions were played out in offices and homes throughout our country on 9/11.

People sought solace and hope in a number of ways. Church doors were thrown open and people huddled together in prayer to try to make sense of the situation.

Many wrapped themselves in the flag and took to the streets.

Others of us stayed glued to the television, and even though we were miles away, we wept at every heartbreaking scene that fl ashed before our eyes.

Yes, we picked ourselves up and returned to our jobs on Sept. 12 — or in the case of Fort Bragg, we tried to return to our jobs but wound up spending the day on All-American. But we were not the same people we were on the morning of 9/11.

We were not innocent, and we were no longer safe.

The first time I saw a low fl ying plane near Fort Bragg, I had a panic attack.

At the first large public event I went to, I begged my husband to leave when a group of young Middle Eastern men sat behind us. I was terrified beyond reason. My husband took me by the hand and said, “We are staying. If we leave, then they’ve won.”

He was right.

And like countless other Americans, I began to lose my fear, and by staying, I made a very small, very private stand.

Those small personal stands were happening all over America. For many young people, it manifested in enlistments in the military. Others chose to go to New York and volunteer. That is what my friend Jane did. She provided medical gear to the men working at Ground Zero. As she emailed back to tell us about her work, I heard hope in her voice again.

They were small victories that helped us make sense of that day.

Now 10 years later, we are a different America. We are an America that has lived through a decade of confl ict. We have seen our husbands, sons and daughters pay the price for our freedom with their blood.

How will you remember 9/11? Will you remember the despair or the small triumphs? We are choosing the latter.

On the morning of 9/11, Stephen Siller, a New York fiReman was heading out of the city, his shift complete. When he heard about the plane hitting the tower, he tried to go back into the city, but he wound up stuck in traffi c in one of the tunnels. He grabbed his gear, all 75 pounds of it, and ran almost two-miles back to the tower. He never came out.

On the morning of Sept. 11, 2011, my family and some of our friends will be in Wilmington to participate in the Tunnel to Tower Run to commemorate the lives of the first responders like Stephen who ran into the fire while others were running out.What will you do?

Fayetteville After 5 is nearing the end of its 2011 season and “we’re going out with a bang,” says Carrie King, executive director of the Dogwood Festival.

 This 2011 concert series has been running since May and is hosting its grand finale at Festival Park on Sept. 15.

“We’re going out in big style with the Band of Oz,” says King, “that’s the one that everybody has been anticipating…they’re just a great beach band and people love them.”

The gates will open at 5 p.m., and the opening show will be 45 RPM, a regional girl band, that will take the stage around 6 p.m. After the opening band (about an hour and a half), the Band of Oz will make its way on stage and play for the remainder of the night until the event ends around 9:30 p.m.

While the Band of Oz is finishing up the concert series for 2011, Fayetteville After 5 has been an annual event for 13 years and has many years to come. The concert series is sponsored by RA Jeffery’s, the beer distributor, and is now hosted by the Dogwood Festival.

“It’s definitely an established event,” says King, “and it’s a tradition here in Fayetteville. It’s funny because when we’re setting up, we’re still dragging out trash cans and there are people waiting to get in, so we have a lot of die-hard people.”

No matter what your age, the Fayetteville after 5 concert series welcomes everyone.

“It’s a huge fellowship,” says King, “and there’s definitely a selection of ages so it’s interesting.”

Aside from the live entertainment, there will be many other activities for you and your children to enjoy, such as corn hole, prize wheels and a bean bag toss.

“We’ve also had photo booths there that were free for folks to take candid pictures, and in July, because it was so hot, we had water slides for the kids,” says King. While the event and the activities are free of cost, there will be food vendors on site with food and beverages for purchase.

Make your way to Festival Park on September 15th to relax with a cold beverage, rock out to 45 RPM and The Band of Oz, and send Fayetteville After 5 out with a bang.

Photo: The Band of Oz will end the 2011 Fayetteville After 5 season at Festival Park on Sept. 15.

School is back in session, the weather is cooling off (sort of) and the days are getting shorter. That can only mean one thing — it’s time for the Cumberland County Agricultural Fair. Opening Sept. 15 and running through Sept. 25, the fair promises a good time for everyone.

The goal of the fair is to “showcase and preserve the history and legacy of agricultural communities in Cumberland County; to celebrate the diversity of local arts and crafts; to promote a safe setting for fun, healthy family entertainment featuring music, motorsports and animals; and to encourage an environment of friendly competition for all ages.” It’s the way they do it that makes a day of strolling the midway and visiting exhibits such a great time.

First, they go big — really big. It takes several of the parking lots and four buildings at the Crown Center to hold the rides, exhibits, games and food vendors that entertain more than 45,000 visitors each year. In fact, the Cumberland County Agricultural Fair is one of the largest events hosted by the Crown each year.

The exhibits include agricultural, artistic, culinary, animal and handcraft categories. There are also educational exhibits, and of course, the rides and yummy fair food that everyone looks forward to with great anticipation. After all, what is a day at the fair without cotton candy and popcorn?T

here are also a variety of entertaining shows throughout the 10-day run. There are three 30-minute shows of Friendly Farmers Barn Yard Review each day, featuring music, magic and comedy. Also showing three times a day, don’t miss the racing pigs and the pig paddling porkers. Keeping with the cowboy theme, there will be bull riding, too

.Chainsaw artist Rick Cox will perform chainsaw art demonstrations, and don’t forget to swing by the petting zoo. Some other exhibits include a toddler driving school, farmer for a day, which will be hosted by the Cumberland County 4-H Clubs, paintball competitions, the Cape Fear Railroaders Model Train Exhibit and camel and pony rides.

On Sept. 16 and 17 don’t miss the motorcross weekend races. Practice starts at 4 p.m. and the race is at 7 p.m. Also on Sept. 17, is the Diaper Derby and Parent Olympics. The Fair Queens Pageant will be on Sept. 25 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. On Sept. 24, it’s a stomping good time at the Cumberland County Invitational Step Show, which starts at 2 p.m.

Something new in the mix this year is pink day at the fair in support of breast cancer awareness. Observed on Sept. 17, the fi rst 4,000 visitors who come to the fair will receive a pink bracelet as well as a cup that can be fi lled at the food vendors for a $1 — that is half of the regular price. In addition, $1 of all admission fees that day will be donated to the Cape Fear Valley Breast Care Center.

The fair has a new price structure that is sure to suit the community. Event organizer Hubert Bullard is excited about what it means for patrons to the fair. With the new price structure, visitors to the fair pay for admission and the price includes rides, entertainment and contests.

“Everything at the fair would be free after that, including free unlimited carnival rides. It is a bargain. Now a family can come to the fair cheaper than they can go to the movies,” said Bullard.

Buy in advance, and get an even better deal.

“It is a tremendous deal to buy tickets in advance. For the price of $10, buying in advance, the purchaser would also get $41 worth of free products at the fair,” said Bullard. “Food, soft drinks, free pony rides and things like that are the real advantage of buying in advance.” There are several locations currently selling tickets. You can find them at the Crown Center Box Office, 4-H offices, at any Short Stop in Cumberland County and online at Ticketmaster.com.

Visit www.cumberlandcountyfair.org for more information.

Photo: For the best deals, buy your tickets to the Cumberland County Agricultural Fair in advance.

Claudia Swartz is many things, but chief among them, she is a music lover, a performer and a promoter. Since 2005, she has organized the local Blues Artist Showcase. Every year, folks gather in the Pate Room at the Cumberland County Public Library & Information Center and listen to local talented artists sing the blues.

The event draws more than 450 people per performance.

This year, the headliner is national recording artist DC Collins and his band Highway 13. Collins is the brother of blues artist Mojo Collins

.Local favorite, 14 year-old Lakota John will be returning to the event to entertain the crowds.

“Lakota has been delighting the audiences with his incredible talent at the last four showscases, which are held annually,” said Swartz. “He will be joined on the stage by his father ‘Sweet Papa John’ Locklear and his 17 year-old sister Layla Rose Locklear, all incredibly gifted blues performers.”

Also performing will be the Raiford Street Band and a duo performance by Dorothy “Q” Finiello, a well-known visual artist, and her friend Ken Novak on Bass. Finiello and Novak are regular performers at the Art’s Council and Downtown Alliance’s 4th Friday celebrations.

Blues Enigma is another popular local blues band, and it features Swartz on the harmonica. Look for them at the showcase along with the Bluegrass Fever, a band with a progressive bluegrass sound. Banjoist Buck Thrailkill will be in attendance as will Fayetteville local Corky Jones and his band Mighty Blue.

The event is free and open to the public. It is appropriate for audiences of all ages. If you hear something you like, pick up a CD of your favorite performer at the event. Not only will it help the artists, but 20 percent of the proceeds will be donated to the Friends of the Library programs.

The mission of the Friends of the Library is to create awareness of the opportunities offered by the libraries of Cumberland County, focus attention on the library needs and enrich the cultural advantage available to Cumberland County citizens, increase library services and facilities and maintain an association of persons interested in books. The funds that they collect are used by the library to sponsor guest authors, provide special awards for library events, sponsor book sales, organize programs spotlighting North Carolina authors, lobby for improved library funding at the local, state and national levels and conduct fundraising activities.

This event is a fun way to enjoy the musical talents of our local musicians and support a great cause at the same time.

The eighth annual local Blues Artist Showcase is on Sunday, Sept. 18 from 1 – 6 p.m. Visit http://www.cumberland.lib.nc.us/ or call 483-7727 to fi nd out more.

Photo: The eighth annual local Blues Artist Showcase is on Sunday, Sept. 18 from 1 – 6 p.m.

Conan the Barbarian(Rated R)  Two Stars

Question: Conan, what is best in life? Answer: To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentations of their women.

If only this Conan (Jason Momoa) were as eloquent as Famous Original Conan. If only this Conan used as much baby oil to shine up his constantly ex-posed everything! Oh well. The new Conan the Barbarian (113 minutes) is not entirely without joy. What it does lack is a coherent plot, likeable char-acters, a charismatic hero and a good ending. Other than that, it’s really not terrible when compared to a truly awful film. You know, like The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, or Batman and Robin. Of course it does display a complete lack of awareness of its more sexist elements.

Um, I guess I’ll have to be the one to say it … Conan the Barbarian (1982) starring the notoriously sexist Arnold Schwarzenegger (The recent scandal? Nothing. Consider Googling this one) was actually more egalitarian than the 2011 remake. At least the original had stuntwoman Sandahl Bergman as female lead Valeria, swinging her great big sword around. All this Conan has going for gender equality is Rachel Nichols, last seen playing a sexy green alien plaything of Captain Kirk on the Star Trek reboot, seen here getting tied up a lot and occa-sionally girlfighting with Rose McGowan. Ah, Rose McGowan. You used to be cool.

The film begins with a voiceover explaining that things in Hyboria are all messed up because evil necromancers have played with death magic once too often, destroyed civilization and left behind a bunch of flea bitten barbarians to wax poetic about their big, pointy, shiny, steel, um, swords. And then, in battle, Conan is born! He clearly possesses several superior qualities, not the least of which is his superhuman constitution, evidenced by the way he does not im-mediately contract a life shortening infection from all the mud and non-sterile birthing conditions.

Fast-forward. Young Conan is rocking the unwashed dreadlock look, and his Chieftain Dad (Ron Perlman) is running around shoving eggs into everyone’s mouth. Yes, with or without context, it’s just a bizarre scene and an interest-ing parenting style. A Warlord Dude (Stephan Lang) and his witchy daughter (McGowan) show up to burn the place down. Warlord Dude and the Minions, in classic Austin Powers style, leave the mostly intact, and pretty ferocious young Conan in an overly elaborate and easily escapable situation, then wander out of the movie for the next several scenes. In a shocking twist, Conan escapes and finishes learning to fight and stuff. He hooks up with some … pirates? I think? But they’re okay pirates? Not the bad kind that viciously rob and murder peo-ple? Anyway, seeing as how I have already mentioned the sexual politics I will skip discussing the race politics of the movie. But, think about it, won’t you?

After about 20 years traveling around and asking about the man with six fingers on his right hand, Conan finally gets a lead. My name is Conan the Barbarian, you killed my father, prepare to die! He does not say it. But he does lure the Warlord Dude (Khalar Zym) into a mano-e-mano, then acts really sur-prised when the murderous untrustworthy Warlord Dude brings a witch to a swordfight. Me? I’m surprised that he only brought a witch. I was waiting for his entire army to come riding over the ridge. Especially considering the overall inef-fectiveness (in both witching and acting) of said witch.

Overall, you might want to save your money for buying the original, which may have been campier, but was also a lot more fun, AND had James Earl Jones turning into a snake!

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

My maternal grandmother died just short of 87-years-old, having lived a life devoted to her family and her community, but on her own outspoken and often original terms.

When her long-time physician, no spring chicken herself, emerged from Gobbie’s hospital room to confi rm the sad news for her assembled family and other loved ones, the doctor did not bow her head or look distressed in any way. Instead, she threw her arms into the air and pronounced, “This is the end of an era.”

That is exactly what occurred on one quiet block of one small and narrow Haymount street last month.

Times four.

Six short weeks in July and August were particularly cruel to the handful of families on the quiet street. First came the death of Dr. Weldon Jordan at 87, following in short order by Stuart Kerr at 85, Dr. Albert Stewart at 90, and, finally, last week by Rosalie Kelly at 81.

These were members of what Tom Brokaw famously named “Greatest Generation,” those who came into their own after World War II and who, in ways large and small, public and private, helped shape our community into what it is today. They were also devoted family people, parenting 18 children among them and more grandchildren than I can count on both fi ngers and toes.

How do I know all this?

These four were among my own parents’ friends and contemporaries, people I do not remember not knowing. Even more, though, for 25 years the Dicksons lived in the middle of that one block, arriving the very day the fi rst Precious Jewel toddled his fi rst steps and departing a few months before he married. When we arrived, the street was, in the words of one memorable resident, “nothing but widows, widows, widows,” all of whom have now met their Maker. Over time it morphed into a family street with 20 children living there at one time or another during our tenure, making it a wonderful and loving place to raise a family. It was a tiny community with many parts making a whole.

Now it is morphing again.

Weldon Jordan and Albert Stewart lived next door to each other, had nine sons between them, and practiced medicine together the old fashioned way. They made house calls, and countless patients were devoted to each of them for all the right reasons. Later years found Dr. Jordan in his garden sharing his knowledge and his produce with our Precious Jewels and the children of their generation. Dr. Stewart was likely in his woodworking shop, creating exquisite handmade furniture that would be the pride of anyone’s home. The description “a kindly Southern gentleman” fit both to a T.

Stuart Kerr and Rosalie Kelly lived next door to each other at the other end of the street.

Stuart Kerr died last month in the house in which she grew up, with a lifetime of quiet and voluntary community work and philanthropy in between, most notably with the Cumberland Community Foundation and the Salvation Army, although her fingerprints are on many local institutions. She was quick-witted and loved to travel, and the street’s Precious Jewels often walked with her as she strolled a succession of dogs.

Rosalie Kelly, whose family has been in Fayetteville since before there was a Fayetteville, became the public face of historic preservation in our community. At a time when our community was trying to find its way after a polarizing time in American history, Rosalie Kelly would not let us forget that we are a community of great history ourselves and that our buildings are a crucial part of that and must be preserved. Woe to anyone who dared utter otherwise and especially to anyone ignorant enough to use that awful invented word that is a cross between Fayetteville and Vietnam. Rosalie Kelly would have your head on a silver platter. She was a warm and charming person, bestowing the word “precious” on all whom she loved.

As I sat at the last of the services for these four remarkable Fayettevillians, I was sad yet again for the loss to their families, their friends, our community, and, frankly, to me. And, even though there was nothing to see, I had a clear sense of a changing of the guard — a passing of the baton — or, as my grandmother’s doctor put it, “the end of an era.”

The Greatest Generation is exiting, and my generation, the Baby Boomers, is up next.

These four individuals, living on one block in the middle of Haymount, set the bar very high.

I had planned on August being my favorite month this year. How could it not be — the month started with seven-days at the beach, the middle of the month brought the youngest Burton’s birthday and we were to end the month with a roadtrip to Baltimore to watch our beloved New York Yankees in a double header against the Orioles.

Unfortunately, things don’t always turn out as planned.

Oh, I went to the beach, and the fi rst four days were all that I had hoped for. I spent most of those days with my toes in the sand or in the water; not a telephone or computer in sight. I did plow through a number of books — about 10 — and basked in the joy of doing nothing but being with my family.

Day five altered things dramatically. I decided to spend the day on the water with my husband and son on the boat — they had been fi shing most of the week on the Intracoastal Waterway. The morning was beautiful — not a cloud in the sky. It was shaping up to be a perfect day until a big yacht with an irresponsible driver put a dent into it.

Suffice it to say, we ended the day in an urgent care, and for about eight weeks, I am sporting a hot-pink cast as a result of a broken right wrist.

I’ve learned a lot about how the body adapts when you lose the use of a limb. I am now a pretty quick one-hand typist. I can write with my left hand. It’s not pretty, but it gets the job done.I’ve also learned to depend a little more on other people — something I’m not very good at. In leaning a little on others, I’ve been blessed to see the remarkable kindness in those I know — and complete strangers, too.

And while this break is causing me some challenges, it is only temporary. That is not the case with many in our society who have lost limbs in war. Their challenges are immense and they are long-lasting. Thinking of them helps me put my frustrations in perspective.

The week of the youngest Burtons’ birthday was challenging. I spent the week at Camp Mackall watching the immense organization of the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School optimize to run efficiently. The whole command was charged with finding ways to do things more efficiently and to put people and resources where they would provide the most bang for the buck. This was led from the bottom up. The staff got together and found ways to do things better.

Wouldn’t it be great if they did that in Washington? Let’s just say they brought in common sense people like you and me and actually listened to what we said. I’m pretty sure I could fi nd several trillon in savings, and no one would even feel the loss.

Couldn’t you?

Earlier this week, quite a few of us got our first taste of an earthquake. Most of us didn’t like it. I watched as west coast citizens mocked the response to the earthquake by their east coast neighbors. What is commonplace to them isn’t quite so common here. Let’s see them stand up to a Carolina summer and then see who complains.

As school began on Thursday, I wonder if our county’s teachers saw the earthquake and the approaching storms as omens of the year to come. I wish them smooth sailing.

As I write this column, I should be packing for my roadtrip. Instead, I’m watching the news like countless others along the east coast wondering what damage Irene will really bring.

In the interest of safety, we have elected not to go to Baltimore for the ballgame. Even though we are diehard Yankee fans, it’s just not worth putting ourselves in harm’s way.

We will lose some money by not going, but it’s a pittance compared to what the overall loss will be once Irene stomps up the coast. Experts are expecting great losses to property and are expecting losses in lives as well. Hopefully, people will take the warnings to heart and seek shelter in a safe place. But as we have seen in past storms, there will be those who don’t listen, and who will pay the price.

As for the Burtons, we plan to ride out this rainy, windy weekend in the comfort of our home.

It’s been a wild, wild month — September is looking pretty good.

As much a part of our country’s history and quest for freedom as our founding fathers, Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette, fought as a major-general in the Continental Army under George Washington. So significant was his contribution to the revolution, that in 1783, our fair city took his name, becoming Fayetteville. On Saturday, Sept. 10, the Lafayette Society of Fayetteville is honoring our city’s namesake with the fourth annual Lafayette Celebration. The day is packed with fun-filled events and activities that offer something for everyone.

“Lafayette played a very signifi cant part in American history,” said Hank Parfi tt, president of the Lafayette Society. “Without his help, America may not have won the Revolutionary War. He was very open minded and willing to consider that perhaps the best way to fight in America is not the same as the best way to win a war in Europe. That helped signifi cantly.”

Start the day off right at the Lafayette French Toast Breakfast Fundraiser for the Child Advocacy Center at Horne’s Café. The breakfast includes coffee, bacon or sausage and, of course, French toast. The cost is $7, and for every plate sold, Horne’s Cafe´ will donate $2 to the Child Advocacy Center. Advance tickets are available at Horne’s Café as well as the Child Advocacy Center on Ray Avenue. Tickets will also be available at the door the day of the event.

At 9 a.m., there is a guided tour of the Lafayette Trail, which is one of the Cultural Heritage Driving Trails sponsored by the Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. 

The trail begins at the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry Headquarters and Museum on Burgess Street. It covers the route that Lafayette travelled through Fayetteville when he visited the city in 1825. The tour also includes coffee, a screening of Vivé Lafayette and ends with a luncheon at the Market House. Tickets are $30 a person and registration is required. Call 678-8899 to find out more

.If the tour does not interest you, the Lafayette Rotary Club is having a 10K, 5K and one-mile, fun run/walk. Registration starts at 8 a.m. at Fayetteville Technical Community College at the corner of Hull Road and FTCC Access Road. Pre-register before Sept. 4 and pay just $20. Funds raised will be used to buy dictionaries for Cumberland County school children. Register at www.active.com or by calling 850-8813.

The All American Fencing Academy is hosting the Lafayette Open Fencing Tournament from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at their fencing studio at 207 B Donaldson St. The Lafayette Open is sanctioned by the North Carolina division of the United States Fencing Association. The public is invited to come and watch. It’s free.

At 9:30 a.m., don’t miss the Lafayette Parade of Pooches. Bring your favorite French breed canine friend to the corner of Anderson and Hay Streets for a fashion show. Be sure they are wearing a French or Revolutionary War costume so Fido can compete for prizes. Register in advance by calling the Dogwood Festival at 323-1934, or pick up a registration form at the Child Advocacy Center or Horne’s Café. On-site registration will also be available on the day of the event. The cost is $5 to participate and the proceeds will benefi t the Child Advocacy Center.

Downtown Alliance merchants are celebrating with a sidewalk sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Shoppers will find great deals on a variety of items

Also from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Museum of the Cape Fear is having Festival of Yesteryear. The festival celebrates Colonial and Revolutionary War history. It features military re-enactors, and several child-friendly activities, like interactive toys and games, a doll-making project, a tricorner hat project and more. There will be professional story tellers telling tales centered around colonial North Carolina. Find out more at www.museumofthecapefear.gov or by calling 437-2603.

At noon, head to Cross Creek Park for a Party in the Park hosted by the Lafayette Society, the Fayetteville Area Transportation Museum and Morgan Stanley-Smith Barney. There will be barbecue, cake, ice cream, music and good fun. Look for games, face painting, bounce houses and more. The party lasts until 5 p.m. Admission is free, but the barbecue will cost you $7 a plate. Barbecue tickets may be purchased at City Center Gallery & Books or by calling 678-8899 or on site the day of the event. Proceeds from the sale of the barbecue will be used to help purchase historical markers for Fayetteville’s first Revolutionary War Park.

“Something we are excited to add this year is the trolley service we will have running between the Museum of the Cape Fear and Cross Creek Park,” said Parfi tt. “People can go to the Festival of Yesteryear and then ride down to the party in the park and enjoy a late lunch or an early dinner.”

End the day with a French wine and cheese tasting at the Fresh Café on Hay Street. The event will feature regional wines and cheeses from France. Tickets cost $15 a piece. The wine and cheese tasting runs from 3 to 9 p.m.

Find out more about this fun-filled day at www.lafayette250.com

Did you know that Charlemagne, a.k.a. Charles the Great, was not only ruler of the Roman Empire for 47 years, but he was also an avid gardener? So much so, that included in his royal edicts is the Capitulare des Villes, a list of plants to be grown on his royal estates. It included floral plants like lilies and roses, which are both beautiful and have medicinal purposes. Plants like savory, dill, fennel, rosemary, mint, lemon balm, thyme, lavender, rue, borage, basil, costmary and chervil were also on the list. One can only imagine the pleasure with which he anticipated the harvest season.

From fresh fruits and veggies to aromatic flowers and herbs, it is harvest time. On Saturday, Sept. 10, the Cape Fear Botanical Garden is offering a class on herbal kitchen wreaths. From 10 a.m. to noon, come and enjoy the creative process, learn a thing or two and leave with your own, custom designed wreath.

Herbs from the Heritage Garden, on the Cape Fear Botanical Garden property will be harvested and used to make the wreaths. Once the herbs dry, the wreaths provide an aromatic decoration as well as delicious seasonings for your meals.

If this workshop sparks an interest for you, check out Katherine K. Schlosser’s book The Herb Society of America’s Essential Guide to Growing and Cooking With Herbs in the gift shop. It covers everything from growing herbs to how to use them and cook with them, and includes plenty of delicious recipes that you can use with your new wreath.

There are also some fun facts in the book as well, things like “the classic definition of an herb is any plant used for flavoring, food, fragrance or medicine that is without a woody stem and that dies to the ground after flowering. This seemingly neat and tidy definition does not take into account some plants that are quite commonly known and used as herbs yet have woody stems and do not die back — for instance, rosemary, sage and lavender as well as some trees.”

According to Schlosser, “At the National Herb Garden, the definition offered by Henry Beston in Herbs and Earth (1935) governs plant selections: ‘In its essential spirit, in its proper garden meaning an herb is a garden plant which has been cherished for itself and for a use and has not come down to us as a purely decorative thing.’”

The workshop costs $25 for nonmembers and $20 for members. The price includes garden admission. In fact attendees are encouraged to stay and enjoy the garden after class. Preregistration is required before Sept. 6. Call 486-0221 to find out more.

Photo: On Tuesday, Sept. 6, Cape Fear Botanical Gardens will host a workshop on how to make herbal kitchen wreaths.

The best thing about a charity golf tournament is that you can still be a community hero even if you hit a shank from every hole. If you’ve evolved out of the shank, the 1st Annual Chipping for Charity Golf Tournament may turn you into a community hero with a million dollars or a new BMW.

Chipping for Charity benefits the Team Daniel Foundation and the Karen Chandler Trust. The tournament begins at 9:30 a.m. with a shotgun start on Friday, Sept. 16 at the Gates Four Golf and Country Club. Entry fees are $75 per player and $300 per four-man team. Fees include an 18-hole round of golf, cart fees, event T-shirt and lunch. Sammio’s Italian Restaurant and The Wine Café are sponsoring the 19th hole.

Golfers may register at Sammio’s Italian Restaurant at 3057 North Main St., in Hope Mills, starting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 15. In addition to registration, golfers can bid in the silent auction.

“We’re auctioning off a cruise, four spots for a shot at a million dollars for a hole in one, three slots for a $2,500 putting contest and four spots for a hole in one for the BMW car,” said Dr. John Tinsley, Chipping for Charity organizer. Bids will be open through the end of the tournament. Golfers may also register at 8:30 a.m. the day of the tournament or by mailing in the registration form found on the Chipping for Charity Facebook event page.

The Karen Chandler Trust is named for a local musician who lost her battle with breast cancer in 1999. Before her death, fellow musicians held a benefit to help Chandler meet her fi nancial needs. The trust was established after Chandler’s death to help others in our community deal with the financial burden of living with cancer.

“For example, if a person needs chemotherapy and they have to go out of town for treatment, the trust will help supplement the family so they can go with their family member. They fill a lot of gaps where families can fall through the cracks when insurance doesn’t pay for everything,” said Tinsley.

Team Daniel Foundation was established in 2008 to educate families and the community about resources and services available to individuals with developmental disabilities.

Tinsley explains, “Not all families are aware, exactly, of what the government helps pay for and Team Daniel helps families fi nd those funds and budget for their needs.”

John and Denise Mercado, founders of Team Daniel Foundation, have personal experience navigating the maze within which support services can be hidden. Their son, Danny, contracted spinal meningitis as an infant, which caused multiple developmental disabilities. The Mercados use their experience and knowledge to advocate for families across North Carolina.

For more information on Chipping for Charity, please contact Team Daniel Foundation at golf@teamdaniel.info or 800.991.6421.

Photo: Chipping for Charity benefits the Team Daniel Foundation and the Karen Chandler Trust.

Take a journey back in time to the colonial period on Sept. 10 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m, with the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex as it hosts this year’s Festival of Yesteryear.

“Museums educate and preserve the past. This means making sure it’s been handed down so that each new generation learns about the colonial period and the beginnings of this country,” says Leisa Greathouse, the museum’s curator of education.

This is precisely what the Festival of Yesteryear accomplishes with its 18th century impersonators; colonial past times and live shows that represent the lifestyle of this era.

“There are a variety of things going on,” said Greathouse. “The re-enactors will consist of people representing Scottish Highlanders, who fought mostly on the side of the loyalist, and people who dress up and represent the Patriots. There will also be some British employed Hessians.”

The impersonators will entertain with small-arms demonstrations, and will talk about the signifi cance of their flintlock muskets and their uniforms.

Aside from the re-enactors, there will be a variety of hands-on activities for children in what is called “Apprentice Alley.” These activities will consist of making tri-corner and mop caps, coloring Betsy Ross flags, doll making and creating rebus puzzles.

“These were typical past-times for Colonial men and women,” explained Greathouse.

As visitors participate in these hands-on activities they will be given Colonial script that can be spent at the Museum Mercantile for a souvenir.

“It’s kind of like Monopoly money because it’s pretend,” said the curator, “but it’s just to get an idea of thinking about how 200 years ago people had shillings and pounds when we were still an English colony.”

While the Colonial script and admission to the festival are free, there will be food vendors on site that will have drinks and snacks available for purchase.

At 12 p.m. there will be a live Punch and Judy puppet show performed by local puppeteer, Frank Byrne, and the stage event will be storytelling by Ron and Brooks Gulledge. The festival will also feature stocks, which served as a form of punishment. This will not only demonstrate what it felt like to go through this at the time, but it will also serve as a great photo-op for visitors.

While the Festival of Yesteryear takes place on the grounds of Arsenal Park, the Lafayette Celebration will also be held on the same day at Festival Park. The two committees have gone in together to provide visitors with a trolley that will take them back and forth from one park to the next throughout the day.

“We hope people will take advantage of that,” said Greathouse, “and come prepared to spend a whole day in the greater downtown area and enjoy these Colonial themed programs.”

For more information, call the museum at (910) 486-1330 or visit the website at www.museumofthecapefear.ncdcr.gov.

Photo; Visitors to the Museum of the Cape Fear will be asked to step back to a simpler time and enjoy entertainment like a puppet show during the Festival of Yesteryear.

I grew up in East Tennessee. It is a beautiful place and a draw for motorcyclists. It has recently become famous for the Snake. The Snake’s heart is located in Shady Valley in the northeast portion of the state. It is where US 421 and Highway 61 cross. There is only a, intersection there, and no red light. There are three stores there with one that is dominantly marketing to motorcyclists. It will be easy to find because it has a sign and just about any given time motorcyclists can be found taking a break on the property.

The Snake consist of the 489 curves in 12 miles. Highway 61 goes east and west from Elizabethton, Tenn. to Damascus, Va. US 421 goes from Boone, N.C. through Mountain City, Tenn. towards Bristol, Tenn. Everyone seems to find some part of the road they enjoy for their riding style.

The road itself is a well maintained surface. There is some loose gravel from unpaved roads that connect to the highway. This is a commercial-vehicle road so it is possible to go around a corner and find an 18-wheeler hogging the entire road. There is little room for error. You will have mountain on one side and a drop on the other. There are guard rails in some parts, but to a motorcyclist they only serve to be a vegamatic. Keep focused because the drops can be straight down, some 150 feet.

The highway is heavily patrolled by the Tennessee Highway Patrol. I was there this weekend and counted three in a very short time.

The road from Mountain City to Shady Valley is the curviest. The average posted speed is 20 mph. To me this is the best part of the ride because I like sharp curves going uphill. The most scenic part is the ride from Shady Valley to Damascas. Along the way is Back Bone Rock, a beautiful area in the Cherokee National Forest and a good place to stop and enjoy the mystic peacefulness on a hot summer day. In the town of Damascas you will find a lot of little shops, restaurants and coffee shops. You will see many hiker shops there because the Appalachian Trail passes through.

From Shady Valley north towards Bristol is South Holston Lake. Not far after the lake the road turns into a four lane highway without much scenery.

However, it is beautiful if you cut off and go over to the South Holston Dam.

Built in 1950, you will find a spectacular view as you drive across the 1,600 foot top and look down 285 feet into the South Fork Holston River.

From Shady Valley west towards Elizabethton is a nice curvy road over Iron Mountain.

If you are looking for a quick hike you can visit the Appalachian Trail or Blue Hole, a very nice little swimming hole with water falls. To find it, just come off the Snake until you see the brown sign on the road which will have you turn up towards Holston Mountain. About a mile up you will find a gravel parking lot. It is less than a mile to the beautiful waterfall and nice swimming hole.

If you are traveling on a Saturday night then visit downtown Elizabethton. There you will find four blocks of classic cars. You will not be disappointed.

There is plenty of nice riding in this area, so go out there and ride!

If there is a topic that you would like to discuss, please send your comments and suggestions to motorcycle4fun@aol.com. RIDE SAFE!

Photo: The Snake consist of the 489 curves in 12 miles. Highway 61 goes east and west from Elizabethton, Tenn. to Damascus Va. US 421 goes from Boone N.C. through Mountain City Tenn. towards Bristol Tenn.

30 Minutes or Less  (Rated R) Two Stars

In or out of 30 Minutes or Less, (83 minutes) Jesse Eisenberg really is just a complete and utter waste of space. I am well aware that hewas in Zombieland (the first collaboration between this actor and director). He gets absolutely no geek credit for that one. It was not cool because he was in it, it was cool in spite of the fact that he was in it. He is obnoxious, arrogant and pathetic in even his smallest of roles. In fact, whatever small success he enjoyed in The Social Network was primarily due to the fact that it did not require him to act much at all. He only had to act smart. Because he is not smart. He is stupid.

Speaking of stupid people being stupid, whose bright idea was it to write a movie based on an incident in which an actual person actually died in a pretty horrifying way and then claim that the movie, which was obviously based on this event, was not, in fact, based on this event? I’d call that a Jesse Eisenberg level of stupid.

Nick (Eisenberg) is a pointless character. Even though most pizza places have long since discontinued their 30 minutes or less policy due to legal liability issues from all the school children who were run over, he is still following the 30 minutes or less policy. Because he can’t find a better job, and the high point of his day is speeding through intersections and missing his delivery deadlines. That may not sound like much, but it does allow him the satisfaction of tricking pre-teens into paying for pizza they should be getting for free.

Other than that, he doesn’t do a whole lot. He hangs out with his good buddy Chet (Aziz Ansari), at least until he finds out that Chet caused his parents’ di-vorce and Chet finds out about Nick’s secret crush on Chet’s twin sister (Dilshad Vadsaria). The timing of their big friendship-ending fight seems a little off, and it is never really clarified how two guys who seem to pretty much hate each other have managed to stay friends for so long. Not that either one of them really sells the hating. And as much as I enjoy Ansari in his nicely delimited role on Parks and Rec, he is not the break-out star that everyone wants him to be. He always plays the same character, and while he might be a bright spot in this film, that’s mostly because this film isn’t all that great.

Toss into this mix Dwayne (Danny McBride) and Travis (Nick Swardson! Someone I actually like!). Dwayne is an amalgamation of several kinds of entitled jerk — the kind that is always unwilling to work an actual job, but totally willing to whine about how the people he is sponging off of won’t let him spread his wings and fly. Danny McBride seems to be under the impression that this is a totally original character. He also seems to think he is really, really, funny. He is wrong on both counts.

Dwayne sees his father (Fred Ward) as the engineer of all his troubles, so he plots with a stripper (Bianca Kajlich) to hire an assassin (Michael Pena). The two halves of the movie finally meet in the middle. Dwayne needs money to pay the assassin, and Travis is an explosives expert (Of course. Of course he is.). So they plan to get a pizza delivery guy, strap a bomb to him, and threaten him with a fiery death so he will rob a bank to get them the assassin’s fee.

Poor dumb Nick is that pizza delivery boy. He manages to make up with Chet, and they embark on a crime spree. Things get steadily more complicated, and ev-eryone on the screen ends up yelling at everyone else. Note to the Director: People yelling at me is not funny and does not make me laugh. Also, Jesse Eisenberg is stupid and you should stop putting him in your movies.

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

Two of five seniors who live alone (44 percent) have at least four warning signs of poor nutritional health such as eating alone, taking multiple medications and illness, according to research conducted for the Home Instead Senior Care® network.

The following, from the Home Instead Senor Care network and Sandy Markwood, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a), are warning indicators that a senior could be in trouble.

• The loneliness. More than three-fourths (76 per-cent) of seniors who live alone eat alone most of the time, according to Home Instead Senior Care network research. Suggestion: Try to make sure your older loved one has companionship at home or in a congre-gate meal site.

• The multiple meds. Nearly three-fourths (71 percent) of seniors take three or more different medications a day, according to research. Suggestion: Talk to your senior’s health care team about how medications might be impacting your older adult’s appetite and discuss with them what to do about it.

• The lack of healthy staples. For a number of reasons, important staples for a good diet are not always found in a senior’s kitchen. Suggestion: Talk with your older loved one about their favorite recipes — or yours — that incorporate healthy products.

• The illness. Many older adults are struggling with health conditions that impact eating. Suggestion: Discovering favorite recipes from the recipe box and making mealtime a social event may help

.• The physical problems. A fourth of seniors who live alone (25 percent) can’t always get to the grocery store any more, nor can they shop or cook for themselves. Suggestion: Tap into neighbors and compassionate friends. Call your local Area Agency on Aging Office or Home Instead Senior Care.

• That smelly fridge. Check out expiration dates of food in the refrigerator when you’re visiting a loved one. Have you noticed an increase in spoiled food? Suggestion: Package food in small portions and label in big letters with the date.

• The suspicious grocery list. If you go to the store for Mom, and the list is mostly sweets, then she may be headed in the wrong direction with her diet. Suggestion: Help her put together a grocery list, reminding her of all the wonderful foods she used to cook for you.

• Those important details. When you’re visiting a senior, check out things like skin tone — it should be healthy looking and well-hydrated — as well as any weight fluctuations. Suggestion: A visit to the doctor can help ensure your senior is healthy

.• The empty cupboard. An emergency could trap a loved one home for days. Suggestion: Prepare by stocking back-up food, water and high-nutrition products such as Ensure® in case a trip to the store isn’t possible.

• The support. Isolation is one of the biggest threats to an older adult. Suggestion: Encourage your loved one to invite friends to dinner. If you can’t be there, develop a schedule of friends and neighbors who can stop by for lunch or dinner. Or call your local Home Instead Senior Care office for assistance.

For more information about the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, go to www.n4a.org. Learn about the Home Instead Senior Care network’s Craving Companionship program at www.mealsandcompanionship.com or contact your local office at (910) 484-7200 or visit their website at: www.homeinstead.com/647.

Photo: Two of five seniors who live alone (44 percent) have at least four warning signs of poor nutritional health.

Some call it a Bridge Program; others call it an Advanced Placement Option. Whatever the name, here’s a great opportunity for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) to continue their nursing educa-tion to become Registered Nurses with an associ-ate’s degree. Why would LPNs want to continue their nursing education? There are a number of reasons. With many changes in the health care industry, today’s nurses are caring for patients in a more complex, technologically advanced medi-cal environment. The job market for LPNs and the opportunity for advancement are limited. Nursing homes, doctor’s offices, clinics and limited hospital opportunities are available for the LPN entering the nursing profession today. An LPN can advance to the next level of nursing professionalism by be-coming a registered nurse.

FTCC has had an advanced placement option for many years. However, the program has been revamped with the implementation of the new curriculum implemented by all North Carolina community colleges. FTCC implemented its new curriculum in the fall of 2010. The revamped Advanced Placement Option will be offered for the first time in the summer semester of 2012. The program will continue to be three semesters in length. Students entering the new program, however, will be a separate cohort from the students already in the program. They will enroll in three nursing courses: Nursing 214 Transition Concepts, Nursing 221 LPN to ADN Concepts I and Nursing 223 LPN to ADN Concepts II. The unique feature of the new program is that it is mostly online with evening clinical options. The online offering will make the program more conveniently accessible for the LPN who works while enrolled in the program.

Applicants wanting to apply to the program must have at least 3,600 hours of work experience as an LPN. Applicants must also have completed all the prerequisites for the nursing program including chemistry, biology and Algebra I and take the TEAS test V. The applicant must also meet all college admission requirements. Applicants should apply by the Jan. 30 deadline for all health programs and must have completed all co-requisites up to the point of entry into the nursing program. This would include ACA, English 111, Psychology 150 and 241, and Biology 168 and 169. The student may be enrolled in the computer course required for the program during the summer starting the program. It is anticipated that there will be many applicants seeking admission during the first ad-mission cycle, so applicants will do well to position themselves competitively prior to the admissions process by completing all co-requisites. Applicants will be ranked according to grade point average and number of courses completed. The Biology 168 and 169 courses must be completed within the past five years and the computer class must be completed within the past seven years. Seating for the first class is limited to 20 students. The nursing faculty members at FTCC are excited about the opportunity to make this goal more achievable for LPNs who are in-terested in advancing their careers in nursing to the next level. Let us help you make that important career advancement!

Find out more at www.faytechcc.edu.

Photo: With many changes in the health care industry, today’s nurses are caring for patients in a more complex, technologically advanced medical environment. 

Bears, Dogs and Peta, Oh My!

Cumberland County may need a wizard of sorts to help them out of this Jambbas Ranch situation. Make no mistake about it, this publication is all about supporting our gentle giant friend, Ben the Bear. Unfortunately, for many people out-of-sight is out-of-mind when it comes to Ben and we haven’t heard much about the plight of our furry friend until recently.

With the recent run of record-breaking temperatures, Ben has been front and center in the minds of those of us who sympathize with his plight. Imagine the sweltering heat Ben must be enduring in his cramped and confi ned quarters at Jambbas Ranch as the wheels of justice slowly turn.

At least Ben is a loner and not running amuck in our community being hunted down by bounty hunters like the dozens of wild dogs we have in the county. Their antics are creating chaos, frightening residents and posing the health risk of possible rabies exposure. For this problem, the city and county have acted and reacted responsibly. No doubt, wild dogs running in packs pose a threat to the health and safety of our residents. I would dispute anyone who thought or spoke otherwise.

Even the PETA people.

However, Ben the Bear poses no such threats. He is just trying to live out his life with a little dignity and humanity. Even innocent young children who visit Jambbas Ranch can sense the hint of animal cruelty and inhumanity. I’m not an attorney, but I do know this: “Where there is smoke, there is fi re.”

It doesn’t make any difference whether you like PETA or not, they are going all the way in defense of Ben the Bear. Except now it will be with a twist. You see, overshadowing Ben the Bear’s horrid and cramped living conditions at Jambbas Ranch, are the allegations by PETA that Cumberland County Attorney Rick Moorefield intentionally failed to enforce the county’s ban on captive exotic animals. And, they plan to fi le a complaint with North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper’s office asking for investigation and enforcement — including the removal of Cumberland County Attorney Rick Moorefi eld.

According to the charges, in addition to Ben the Bear, Jambbas Ranch allegedly incarcerates many other wild and exotic animals like foxes, raccoons and alligators. However, the other charges we feel are more disturbing: Moorefi eld’s failure to comply with North Carolina Public Records Law and a charge that he lied and misled Cumberland County Commissioners, offi cials and even the media. Jambbas Ranch, and its owner James Bass, could skirt liability of the charges that were already pending against him.

Who would have thought that changing a law “after the fact” would have been objectionable or inappropriate? Perhaps our legal system will sort it all out for us. However, I do know this: For this situation to have happened at all, poor judgment was exercised by many. Unfortunately, this wink-wink, nod-nod policy adjustment is going to cost Cumberland County taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars, win or lose.

So, at this point, what difference will it make?

Can you imagine what the county could have done with that kind of money? Worse, is the thought that the hard cost to Cumberland County taxpayers to defend the allegations against Moorefield (which is actually an indictment against our county leadership) will pale in comparison to the loss and cost in terms of our damaged reputation and community standing in the eyes of other North Carolina communities and the nation. And, again, I have to ask, for what? Principle. Principle? Really? Oh, what a shame.

We have allowed one person, James Bass, with one business, Jambbas Ranch, to put our county in this lose-lose position where we have to defend ourselves for doing something that may have been technically legal but inappropriate. We should be smarter than this. If not in the past then surely, and hopefully, in the future.

Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly. Go Ben!

Tweets from the Past

My grandmother died many years ago, and as is the usual course of such things, it fell to my father and his sister to clean out her large, rambling Greek revival house on Green Street in downtown Fayetteville. The house was complete with a barn behind it — yes, a dilapidated but very real barn. Both buildings were chock-a-block full of furniture, generations of other belongings and rife with memories for Daddy and Aunt Mimi who grew up there.

I was 15 at the time and have very little recollection of their shared task except that some of my grandmother’s possessions were duly absorbed into our household. Two of those were large, battered steamer trucks which landed in a storage room behind our garage. They resided there until the day, years later, when my sister and I got curious enough to wonder what was inside them since we never heard of our grandmother steaming anywhere.

Postcards.

Thousands upon thousands of postcards.

Each bore a stamp that had been hand-cancelled. Each was hand-addressed to someone, most often my grandmother or her sister, and each had a short handwritten message. “Best to Uncle Charles.” “Fine weather for the last three days.” “Love to all.” “Cousin Lucy’s baby arrived Monday — a lovely daughter.” Some came from people we had heard of, some from others we had not, and some were simply unsigned. Apparently my grandmother knew who sent them anyway.

The flip side of the postcards had photographs or drawings of the places from which they came and, occasionally, just some image that must have seemed appealing at the time. They came from all over, places far away and, remarkably, very near

.It seemed to my sister and me that if someone “motored,” as they said in those days, from here to Raeford, he sent a postcard to commemoratethe trip.

We spent happy hours going through our grandmother’s mail, which she had obviously treasured enough to save, and trying to fi gure out who had generated all these postcards.

You can imagine, then, my recent delight when I literally happened upon a little paperback entitled Fayetteville and Fort Bragg in Vintage Postcards on the discount shelf at Sam’s Club, of all places. It was published a decade ago by the Cumberland County Historical Society with an introduction by local historian Roy Parker, whose own collected postcards grace many of the pages.

The book is a look back at our community in days past and it is a treasure.

In postcards, we see the Cape Fear River in the various and damaging floods we no longer have to endure. We see some local buildings that looked much the same a century ago as they do today — the Market House, downtown churches, and a bit later, the Veteran’s Hospital. Other images are startling — a group of local citizens lounging and socializing on Hay Street on a parade day in 1911. The men wear white suits and the women are protected by parasols, and not the little ones that come in fruity drinks. The wheels of a car are decorated to look like clock faces, an early version of rims, I suppose.

There are pictures of Highsmith and Pittman Hospitals, where many local Baby Boomers arrived on the scene. We see soldiers and their barracks during World War II and Jeeps being readied for air drops into Korea. We see restaurants like Steve’s Place, established by Greek immigrants who made Fayetteville their home, and lodging establishments like the Prince Charles before the stucco fell off. We see the sports teams from the long-gone Donaldson Military Academy and the still with us Orange Street School which will celebrate its centennial anniversary in 2015.

For anyone who has been in our community for a while, this little book is a veritable blast from the past.

It got me to pondering as well that we human beings have always wanted to communicate with each other, and that postcards were once a popular way to do just that.

Before we had mail, though, we wrote and drew on the walls of our cave abodes. We yodeled. We sent smoke signals and dispatched carrier pigeons. We left twigs as directions for those coming behind. In short, we have always found ways to keep in touch.

My grandmother’s postcard collection was certainly evidence of that but it was more as well. It gives us a glimpse of life in one southern family in the early days of the 20th century, and the Historical Society’s postcard book shows us our own unique community in earlier moments of time.

Postcards were to my grandmother’s generation what Facebook postings, texts, and the like are to many of us today.

Just think of them as Tweets from the mists of history.

Photo: It seemed to my sister and me that if someone “motored,” as they said in those days, from here to Raeford, he sent a postcard to commemorate the trip.

Over the past 60 years, the role of women in our society has changed dramatically. Many women have traded in their ironing boards for seats in the board room. With that shift, women have taken on a new role in the global community.

According to an article in Forbes, women now control more than half of the private wealth in the U.S. and make 80 percent of all purchases. Boston College’s Center on Wealth and Philanthropy has found that women will inherit 70 percent of the $41 trillion in intergenerational wealth transfer expected over the next 40 years. In addition to controlling wealth and consumer activity, women tend to donate more of their wealth than men do. A Barclay’s Wealth study titled Tomorrow’s Philanthropist, released in July 2009, showed that women in the U.S. give an average of 3.5 percent of their wealth to charity, while men give an average of 1.8 percent.

But before you get excited and start thinking these women have the money to give away, it’s important to note that who is giving is also changing.

Private foundations and public charities dedicated to fundraising by and for women and girls have grown at a faster rate than giving by the overall foundation community. A report conducted by the Foundation Center and Women’s Funding Network found that from 2004-2006, giving by women’s funds grew 24 percent. The study found that charitable giving by women, directly or through women’s funds, focuses on improving the quality of life and opportunity for girls and women. It also suggests a growing interest in philanthropic models that allowdonors to leverage and pool their charitable dollars in order to achieve maximum impact.

That idea has been firmly embraced in Cumberland County by the women who make up the Women’s Giving Circle of Cumberland County. Operating as a contibuting agency of the Cumberland Community Foundation, the organization seeks to:

• Empower women givers of all ages and backgrounds.

• Educate donors on women’s issues in our community.

• Impact substantial, positive change for women and children throughout Cumberland County by pooling fi nancial resources.

The circle is “committed to educating its members on pressing social issues affecting women and children in Cumberland County.”

This is how it works: Each member of the circle contributes a $550 annual gift; $400 is immediately placed in the grant-making fund; $100 is placed in the endowment; and $50 is added to the program and operating expense fund. To ensure the continuity of the circle, members are asked to pledge an annual commitment of $550 for three years.

Additionally, the circle also hosts some fundraising events. On Thursday, Sept. 8, the circle will host a Power of the Purse Luncheon featuring University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Head Basketball Coach Roy Williams. Tickets to the event, which will be held at 11:30 a.m. at the Snyder Memorial Baptist Church Fellowship Hall are $75. To reserve a seat for the luncheon, please send a check to WGCCC, P. O. Box 2345, Fayetteville, N.C. 28302, payable to the Women’s Giving Circle of Cumberland County. Reservations will be accepted through Aug. 31 or until sold out. For questions about reservations, please call 910-818-3840.

As our hot, hot summer is winding down to a close, everyone is looking for a way to capture some final quality summer time with friends and family. Luckily, we have, right here in Cumberland County, one of the finest black-water rivers with plenty of opportunities for every age.The Cape Fear River is the only river in North Carolina that flows directly into the ocean. Running from just past Greensboro, its 202 miles flow to the Atlantic Ocean at Cape Fear, from which it draws its name.

The Cape Fear River is a black-water river, a deep slow moving channel that moves through swamps and wetlands. The decaying vegetation stains the water, giving it a color that resembles tea. While the river is acidic in nature, it is safe for fishing and boating.

There are many ways to enjoy the Cape Fear River by boat. If you have your own equipment, you can access the river at the N.C. Wildlife Ramp at the junction of U.S. 301 & Old N.C. 87, or at the ramp at Riverside Sports Center for a $5 fee. For more information, call 910-483-1649.

If you need to rent equipment, Cape Fear River Adventures out of Lillington has a variety of packages from a leisurely paddle for a few hours to Two Day Extreme Adventure excursions. Located on the banks of the Hwy. 421/401 bridge, Cape Fear River Adventures can help you plan a canoeing or kayaking package that will meet the skill level of all your participants. Visit www.capefearadventures.com for more information or call 910-891-9348.

Would you rather hike or stroll? The Cape Fear River Trail adjacent to the river in Fayetteville is a 10-foot wide path that winds through beautiful wildlife for 4.2 miles. It offers spectacular views of the river with several bridges, including one covered bridge, and is open to walkers, joggers and bicyclists. The trail is open 365 days a year from 8 a.m. to dusk. The trail is not a loop, however, so a plan should be made to have transportation wherever you plan to finish your trip. Parking lots are available at Jordan Soccer Complex on one end and Clark Park at the other end. Visit the Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Rec website at www.fcpr.us for more information.

Seniors don’t need to be left out of action. At Clark Park, interpretive golf carts tours are available for individuals or groups of up to fi ve people for seniors and persons of limited physical ability. While reservations are required, the tours are free. Call 910-433-1579 for more information.

Looking for more of an educational opportunity? Located adjacent to the Cape Fear River at 631 Sherman Drive in Fayetteville, Clark Park offers an amazing variety of programs for just about every age and interest. Visit www.fcpr.us and click on Parks, then J. Bayard Clark Park for the complete list of opportunities available.

Is fishing more your thing? The Cape Fear River provides good fishing for largemouth bass, sunfish, catfish and American and hickory shad. Caution should be exercised consuming fish caught, however, due to high levels of mercury.

Not really interested in breaking a sweat? Freddie Mims with Cape Fear River Boat Cruises offers river cruises from two-hour day cruises to overnight excursions to Wilmington. Mims operates out of Fayetteville at Campbellton Landing. Find Cape Fear River Boat Cruises on Facebook for pricing and contact information.

If you’d just like to sit and enjoy a good meal overlooking the river, Campbellton Landing offers restaurants and shopping with a variety of venues. Named after the first settlement to the Fayetteville area, Campbellton Landing is located at 1130 Person Street on the east bank of the Cape Fear River.

Whatever your interest or skill, there are plenty of opportunities to capture the last few opportunities for summer fun on the Cape Fear River before we bid this season a final adieu.

Photo: The Cape Fear River is the only river in North Carolina that fl ows directly into the ocean. 

Long before supermarkets and grocery stores, people had to identify food by more than the price tag above them. Medicine was a similar story; there was no pharmacy or hospital, only the products of a clever forager.

If you’ve ever wanted to explore old-fashioned cures handed down over generations, you can join a hike at Lake Rim Park on Aug. 30, which will teach you how to identify and collect the many medicinal and edible plants native to North Carolina.

This class is not a directory on what plants you should go out into your backyard and chew on, but rather an informative class on the history of the past medical uses of different plants in North Carolina.

“I don’t want people to go out and say ‘Ranger Mike told me to use this for this, I’m going to try it,’” Mike Moralise, the Park Ranger who is leading the expedition explained. It is purely for the sake of knowledge not practicality.

The hike will take place along the mile-long border trail that winds through typical North Carolina wetlands all the way to Bones Creek. It is located in Lake Rim Park where all facilities are generally open to the public.

“It’s an outdoor program, a hike that takes us about a mile down our border trail. It is to teach people about the uses for plants people have had mainly in the past, Native American, colonial and some modern medicinal uses,” said Moralise.

“We have more than 230 plants I’ve identifi ed in the park and a lot of them have had uses prescribed to them at some point in the past. I wouldn’t recommend people to try these things or use them, it’s just an educational class to teach people how they’ve been used in the past,” he continued.

“People used to chew dogwood branches as a precursor to modern tooth brushes. They chewed the ends of the branches and used it to clean their teeth especially in the 1800s and the Civil War era,” he noted.

“Some of them are being researched by doctors and physicians now, but a lot of them, its older historical uses during Native American and Colonial times, and a lot of the reason for that is that they’ve been disproven,” he said. “Before the advent of medical centers and hospitals, people had to rely on the plants and animals around them to get their food and medicines. Some were based on trial and error and some did show to be useful, but a lot of it was just folklore and beliefs. Perhaps someone took it at sometime and they got better, so people just assumed that it was the plant when they may have been getting better on their own,” he concluded.

This is a free activity and registration deadline is Aug. 29. The hike begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 10 a.m., and will follow the Border Trail. All ages are welcome, but it is geared more for adults. Lake Rim Park is located at 2214 Tar Kiln Dr. For more information, call the Lake Rim Park center at 424-6134.

Photo: If you’ve ever wanted to explore old-fashioned cures handed down over generations, you can join a hike at Lake Rim Park on Aug. 30.

With the year-round schools already in full swing and the traditional 10-month schools about to start, back to school season is here. There are lunches to pack, homework to check, scads of paperwork to fi ll out and the school buses are back on the road.

While the students are hard at work getting back into the groove, the Cumberland County School System has some interesting things in the works that are aimed at making life better for everyone. With everything from a new early-college program to improved technology and getting ready for a new curriculum next year, there is a lot going into making sure Cumberland County students are well prepared for the future.

Dr. Theresa Perry, assistant superintendent for communications of Cumberland County Schools, is excited about what this school year holds, for both students and teachers.

Cumberland County Schools Superintendant Dr. Frank Till is wasting no time in fostering camaraderie and making sure that this year’s faculty and staff are on the same page. He spent time this summer speaking with each principal to determine their plan for success this coming year, and now he is reaching out to the entire system to bring them together as the school year gets rolling. It starts with a big event at the Crown covering a variety of topics that will affect the school system this year, according to Perry.

One of the many things that parents and students (and teachers too) can look forward to this year is the new wireless capabilities in the buildings.

“The Race to the Top grant has allowed us an opportunity to initiate wireless capabilities in our buildings and provide access to laptops for teachers and students,” said Perry. “It will give teachers an opportunity to expand teaching tools for students and give students hands-on opportunities with technology. It is going to be fantastic for both teachers and students.”

While Cumberland County has gotten pretty creative in reaching out to meet the needs of its older students with things like the Schools of Choice programs, the Fuller Performance Learning Center and Cross Creek Early College High School, it is adding yet another program. The Cumberland International Early College High School opened this year. Currently housed at E.E. Smith High School, it is slated to move to Fayetteville State University Campus next year, according to Perry.

“The focus for this particular college was an initiative of Lt. Gov. (Walter)Dalton. It has a focus on international diplomacy, culture and language,” said Perry. “It is a very different focus in terms of preparing students internationally.”

Arabic, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese are being offered as language choices.

Next year, North Carolina joins the Common Core Standards Initiative, along with all but five states in the lower 48. The curriculum will be changing for the better.

At www.corestandards.org/about-the-standards, the program is described as a state-led effort coordinated by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Offi cers (CCSSO). The standards were developed in collaboration with teachers, school administrators, and experts, to provide a clear and consistent framework to prepare our children for college and the workforce.

“We will implement that curriculum next school year, so we will spend this school year really training teachers,” said Perry. “The beauty of it is that it very much streamlines the curriculum and allows teachers to go deeper with fewer goals and objectives there instead of having numerous goals and objectives. It really streamlines it so teachers can go deeper but in fewer areas. I think it will be a verygood opportunity for teachers to really make students have a deep understanding of the content area, particularly for students in our community who are transient and often move to other states during their educational careers that there can be some continuity as they do. That is very exciting.”

To find out more about what is going on in Cumberland County Schools visit www.ccs.k12.nc.us.

Photo: With everything from a new early-college program to improved technology and getting ready for a new curriculum next year, there is a lot going into making sure Cumberland County students are well prepared for the future.

In the words of Pearl S. Buck, child advocate and founder of Pearl S. Buck International, “If our American way of life fails the child, it fails us all.”

Yet there always seem to be children and families falling through one crack or another. On Friday, Sept. 30, Fayetteville Area Hospitality Association and Up & Coming Weekly are hosting the 10th Annual Charity Golf Tournament at Kings Grant Golf and Country Club, benefitting, you guessed it, our community’s greatest asset, its children.

In the past, the Fayetteville Area Hospitality Association has sponsored this event, but this year, Up & Coming Weekly has joined the team.

“It was suggested that we partner up and put our two forces together and make it an even bigger and better tournament than ever,” said FAHA Vice President Ramona Moore. “Putting two groups together, we are looking for it to be twice as successful.”

In prior years, this tournament has raised between $5,000 and $13,000 dollars. This year organizers are hoping to raise even more.

The proceeds will be split between Falcon Children’s Home and Kidsville News! of Cumberland County

.Falcon Children’s Home is located just a few exits up I-95 heading toward Raleigh. They’ve been in the business of caring for children for more than 100 years, and they don’t take their responsibilities to the youths who come into their care lightly.

As a ministry of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, Falcon Children’s Home builds their programs on biblical principles and seeks to provide for the mind, body, spirit and soul of their charges. The institution is unashamedly a Christian organization and seeks to instill Godly values in children, but also to set a good expample in leading an upright life.

Thelegacy can be found on its Facebook page, where former residents reconnect and share their memories of being at Falcon Children’s Home.

Some of the programs that are offered at Falcon Children’s Home include, pathways to independent living, preparation for independent living, on campus individual and family counseling, a campus chaplain, recreation and activities, several resource programs and after school academic enrichment.

Find out more about the Falcon Children’s Home and the many ways to help and support them at www.falconchildrenshome.com.

Kidsville News! of Cumberland County has a totally different, but equally important mission in shaping the lives of the next generation: instilling a love of reading. If you have a student or know a student in the Cumberland County School system that is in fifth grade or below, you may have seen the colorful publication come home in your student’s back pack. The newspapers can also be found at your local Cumberland County Library. Kidsville News! of Cumberland County is a monthly publication with fun, relevant and educational articles for children, teachers and parents.

Of course, it is colorful, interesting and engaging on every level, so that children stay interested and motivated to learn. Some of the features every month include Kidsville Connections which covers history topics, Wildville which highlights a different animal every month, What it’s Like to Be, which highlights a different career each month, while All about Art talks about art, music and theater. There are also sections about sports, cooking, local events, safety and more. The puzzles and games are a great together-time activity to promote critical thinking skills and bonding time, too

.Truman the dragon is the Kidsville News! mascot. He’s a great example of working hard and living a healthy, honest life.

“Kidsville News! is excited to be a part of the FAHA Golf Tournament this year. Their support will help us continue to provide Kidsville News! to every elementary-aged child in Cumberland County, free of charge,” said Joy Crowe, editor of Kidsville News! “It is a valuable resource for teachers and elementary students in our community, offering a fun, informative, educational resource.”

Find out more about Kidsville News! of Cumberland County and Truman and what they are up to at www.kidsvillenews.com/cumberland.E

ven though the golf tournament is still a few weeks a way, that leaves plenty of time to build a team, or become a sponsor. Four-some entries are $275 and single entries are $75. Hole sponsorships are $100, and a beverage cart sponsorship can be had for $300. There will be prizes for the fi rst, second and third place teams as well as for the longest drive, closest to the pin and a hole-in-one prize.

Call Ramona Moore at 487-1400 to find out more.

Photo: On Friday, Sept. 30, Fayetteville Hospitality Association and Up & Coming Weekly are hosting the 10th Annual Charity Golf Tournament at Kings Grant Golf and Country Club, benefi tting, you guessed it, our community’s greatest asset, its children. 

Rise of the Planet of the Apes(Rated PG-13)  5 Stars

There was a real risk for the Rise of the Planet of the Apes (105 minutes) to become a cheesy knock-off worse than the ill-conceived 2001 Tim Burton remake of Planet of the Apes. Luckily, Director Rupert Wyatt and writing team Amanda Silver and Rick Jaffa do an utterly superb job of cre-ating a legitimate prequel that simply begs to become a tril-ogy. The best part? The way people in the audience clap and shout at all the good bits and callbacks to the original film!

The worst part? Well, it’s hard to notice because every-thing happening is so awesome. But take a minute to think about the basic plot. A scientist working with potentially bil-lion dollar formulas takes home an ape in California WHERE THEY ARE BANNED AS PETS and nobody blinks an eye? Not even the jerky neighbor who clearly has a problem with the Chimpanzee? Not the smoking-hot ape refuge veterinarian who clearly understands how dangerous apes can get? And when the authorities are called in, he doesn’t get arrested or worry about paying a fine? I guess James Franco gave Hot Vet and Animal Control the puppy dog eyes and grin, and they let him walk.

This may have been an editorial choice, since bringing in that sort of subplot would distract from the main action, while taking too much time to explore the ramifications of the law would kill the pace. Like Mulder and Scully’s relationship, just assume it’s all happening off-screen … it’s happening, it’s distracting and so the audience doesn’t need to see it. Now we can all look forward to the deleted scenes on the super-mega DVD/Blu-Ray.

Will Rodman (Franco) is trying to cure Alzheimer’s by playing God with Chimpanzee’s and his father (John Lithgow). The chimp in question, Bright-Eyes (after Heston’s character in the original) goes a little nuts and wreaks havoc all over the expensive testing facility. This shuts down the testing, and results in a baby chimp heading home with Rodman. His father names the chimp Caesar (Andy Serkis).

It is interesting to contrast the handler’s at the testing facility with the handlers who appear later in the primate refuge; while the former are clearly professional and view the apes as worthy of decent treatment, they do tend to treat them like unreasoning animals. This is, of course, much better than the latter handlers, who treat the apes as undeserving of even a modicum of compassion. I suspect that both are fairly accurate depictions of the day to day life of the average laboratory animal. Humans are jerks sometimes.

With the addition of an adorably brilliant ape to the household, Rodman has a convenient way to pick up chicks. He meets Caroline Aranha (Frieda Pinto) when Caesar is injured by jerky neighbor, and in between helpful time advances they apparently move in together despite her opinions about his attempt to domesticate a chimpanzee, and without him explaining to her his life’s work and how it changed the chimp. Like, way to warn your new girlfriend about the way you play God, Will Rodman! And way to hold on to those vaguely formed ideas about how dangerous apes can be, Hot Vet!

Inevitably, jerky neighbor gets into a fight with Caesar, who is then shipped to the aforementioned primate refuge run by John and Dodge Landon (Brian Cox and Tom Felton. Perhaps Brian can explain to Tom the dangers of typecasting?).

Reacting in a fairly reasonably fashion, Caesar becomes depressed, stages a coup d’cage, and then foments revolution against his human masters. Really amazing film, letter perfect CGI, and competing with Source Code and Insidious for the best movie I have seen all summer.

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

Driving south on Lake Logan Road, in the Pigeon River Valley and the shadow of Cold Mountain, headed towards Inman’s Chapel the other day, I could not help wondering whether or not the Inman in Charles Frazier’s Cold Mountain was a real person.

The dedication of a highway marker at Inman’s Chapel that day gave me some idea that somebody named Inman was impor-tant enough to have a chapel named after him.

As I neared the chapel, I passed Inman Branch Road and then Frazier Road. Good evidence that Inmans and Fraziers lived close by — and that they were real.

Other Cold Mountain readers and moviegoers may also wonder about the lead character, W.P. Inman, that strong-willed, determined, and principled North Carolina Civil War soldier and his odyssey from battlefield, to a hospital, and a long walk across the state towards his mountain home.

But was he a real person?

Charles Frazier insists that his Inman was a fictional char-acter. But he concedes that family stories about his great-great-grandfather and his ancestor’s brothers inspired the novel.

At the highway marker ceremony, I met two Inman family historians, Cheryl Inman Haney and Phyllis Inman Barnett. Both have written books about the Inman family. I learned from their books that W.P. Inman was indeed a real per-son. Like the fictional Inman, he fought in the “Battle of the Crater,” was wound-ed, deserted from a hospital in Raleigh, and made his way back to his mountains.

According to the family historians, in December 1864, the real William Pinkney Inman went to Tennessee, where he signed an oath of allegiance to the United States. On his way back home, he was killed by the Home Guard at a place called Big Stomp.

Someone complained to Charles Frazier that the title of his book should have been Big Stomp, not Cold Mountain.

The family histories report that a few months before his death, W.P. Inman and Margaret Henson had a daughter, Willie Ida Inman. She grew up, married, and had five children and a host of descen-dants. Thus, the real W.P. Inman’s descendants are scatted across North Carolina and the rest of the world.

W.P. Inman and five of his brothers went to war. Only two survived.

Although W.P. Inman is, thanks to Charles Frazier’s book, by far the best known of the brothers, the attention at the dedica-tion of the historic marker at the chapel was focused on his oldest brother,

James Anderson Inman.James Anderson and two other Inman brothers were cap-tured early in the war and sent to a prison at Camp Douglas in Chicago. Conditions were harsh. Although James Anderson sur-vived, the other brothers died in prison.

When he returned to the Pigeon River Valley, James Anderson became a minister in the Universalist church. Universalism was a form of Christianity that emphasized a God of mercy, rejecting the idea that God would condemn any soul to an eternity of suffering in Hell. This and other liberal Universalist beliefs were foreign to the fire and brimstone image of the Bible Belt and conservative mountain religion.

Like Cold Mountain’s fictional Inman, James Anderson Inman was ready to stand up against cultural norms if he did not think they were right. Over time he built a loyal congregation, had the chapel constructed, and won the respect of the people of the valley. His successor in the pulpit, a woman named Hannah Powell, carried on and expanded programs of education and social service that people in the valley still remember.

Inman’s Chapel no longer hosts an active congregation, but it can still inspire and remind us that there was indeed a very real Inman.

In fact, more than one.