There’s a lot going on in Cumberland County these days. 2010 was a busy year and 2011 and beyond looks to hold some interesting twists and turns as well.

Outgoing Chairman of the Board of Commissioners Billy R. King and incoming chairman Kenneth Edge share their thoughts on where we’ve been and where we are headed.

UCW: What was the county’s biggest accomplishment this past year?

King: Overall, the last 12 months have been successful. First of all, we were able to reduce the property tax rate to the revenue neutral rate of 74 cents per $100 valuation. We encountered some bumps in the road, but we faced them head on and overcame them. One of those bumps was the state mandate to take over child support enforcement in the county, which we did by creating a new separate county Child Support Department that now employs more than 60 people.

UCW: What do you see as the biggest challenge(s) facing the county in 2011 and how are you planning on dealing with them?

Edge: We are facing tremendously challenging times as a country, state and county. The biggest challenge facing the county in 2011 is the unknown of what the state legislature will do about its budget. As the state cuts its budget, we may face additional mandates and have to take on increased services. We are better off than many other counties and have weathered the recession through responsible governance and careful planning, which we will continue to do in 2011.

UCW: What can county residents look forward to in the next fi ve years from the Cumberland County government?

Edge: In January, the commissioners and management will begin a strategic planning process to look at our mission and vision statements, and to establish priorities for 2011 and future years. Challenges will continue and opportunities will always exist as the year progresses and the years pass. Decisions must be made on what is affordable and sustainable with our revenue resources.

UCW: There has been a lot of buzz about BRAC coming to the area. How do you see that impacting the community and services that the county offers?

Edge: The impact of BRAC will include an increased tax base, more jobs resulting in more traffi c on our roads, and the possible need for more schools.

 UCW: Are we ready?

Edge: We really won’t know until the bulk of the new residents begin arriving. Only then will we know school enrollment and if we need additional facilities.

UCW: Are there any issues that still need to be worked out and what are they?

 Edge: Transportation through Spring Lake is an issue facing the state and the Department of Transportation.

2010 has been a year of change for the City of Fayetteville. And while those changes might not be that apparent to most people, they are going to become very apparent in the coming weeks and months.

Fayetteville Mayor Tony Chavonne recently took some time to reflect back on the achievements of 2010.

“In general we turned a big corner in 2010,” said Chavonne. “A lot of things we had in place started to pay dividends, and city residents started to see a difference.”

At the top of Chavonne’s list was the double digit decrease in crime in the city. He noted that the city police force had long been working to turn the tide on crime, and in 2010 it paid off.

“We made a lot of changes to be a more attractive community,” explained Chavonne. “And that has also paid off.”

He noted that in the past year the city has seen a rise in jobs and the per capita income of its residents. In fact, Fayetteville garnered the second highest increase in the country.

“These are some of the indicators that we have seen that show some of the changes we’ve made to be a more attractive, clean, peaceful city are working,” he said.

Chavonne added that while many people are looking to the future to see the impact of the Base Realignment and Closure move of U.S. Forces Command and the U.S. Reserve Command to Fort Bragg, the impact is already being felt.

“People are confused about BRAC,” said Chavonne. “We are seeing impacts now. We have had multiple ribbon cuttings for military contractors and we have seen new businesses opening because of the move. Next summer, the fl ag will be planted in the ground, but we are already benefitting from BRAC.”

Key in that benefit is the number of higher paying jobs that are coming to the community. “Whether people move here from Atlanta or the jobs are hired in our community, those jobs are still going to be filled, and their impact is going to be felt here.”

One of the city’s biggest strides forward was the passage of the Uniformed Development Ordinance, or UDO, that has been in the works for at least two years.

“This has been a two and a half year project to raise the standard for what our city looks like,” said Chavonne. “People came together and recognized that we were in a unique situation and that we had one shot to do this right.”

He noted that some incremental changes are being made now through the UDO, such as the addition of sidewalks in all new communities and the provision for more green and open spaces. The ordinance also addresses signage and other aesthetic qualities surrounding development.

“As we continue to raise the bar, we are going to see returns on those kinds of investments,” he said.

One of the big successes of 2010, was the funding for the completion of the I-295 loop from Ramsey Street to All American.

“That was huge for us,” said Chavonne. “We also gained our first 4-star hotel and convention center that is under construction now.”

In 2011 Fayetteville residents will have a lot to look forward to. Early in the year residents will begin moving into renovated and new homes in the Hope 6 development area.

In downtown, construction on the parking deck will begin and end in 2011, which will make parking easier for downtown visitors.

Veterans Park is also slated for completion on July 4. Chavonne believes that the park, and the increased tourist traffic it brings to the community, will have an aesthetic and an economic impact on the community.

He added that even though Fayetteville was not as affected by the economy as other counties, the city could see problems coming from a decrease in state funding due to budget shortfalls. “We are very cautious about that area right now,” said Chavonne. “I would say that is our biggest area of concern.”

And, if you haven’t sat in traffic lately, you should know that traffIc is also a big area of concern. “The city growth, and continued growth, will result in longer lines, so we are definitely going to be pushing for highway funding in 2011,” said Chavonne. “All of this is just part of the growing pains that we knew we could expect. We have to keep pushing the ball on some of the other traffic corridors like All American, Raeford Road and Ramsey Street.”

 The Next Three Days (Rated PG-13)  4 stars

The Next Three Days (122 minutes) is actually a remake of a French movie, which totally makes sense after seeing it. Director Paul Haggis manages to capture something not quite American, although most of the famed French subtly is missing. The plot, as presented, is fairly direct.

Lara Brennan (Elizabeth Banks) looks good as a blonde. In the opening scenes she manages to project a general irritation common to the privileged pampered higher-ups when they are faced with completely inferior examples of whatever it is they think they are. It turns out that her general irritation is focused on her sister-in-law Erit (Moran Atias) for having opinions that she does not agree with. Her defensiveness apparently stems from a fight with her own female higher-up earlier that day, and the argument currently ruining a pleasant meal involves the opinion that women should not work for women, but that any other combination is OK.

Not to sell out my feminist roots, but I have heard endless horror stories about psychofemme bosses crapping on their employees AND I have experiences that involve subordinate women smiling to my face to distract me from the knife they are sliding into my spine. But let’s keep our perspectives … a bad boss is a bad boss, and that has nothing to do with gender. A lousy employee is a lousy employee, whether they’re working for a man or a woman. And since sucking at your job seems to occur regardless of how many X chromosomes you carry, Erit can be safely ignored. The fact that Lara needs to argue with someone who she doesn’t like, respect, or need to see more than occasionally says more about her own self-righteousness than it does about anything else. It also serves as a pretty character-establishing opening scene, since she goes from nearly punching her sister-in-law to a little after dinner make-out time in her husband’s ridiculously tiny front seat.

Anyway, the next day Lara and her husband John (Russell Crowe) are enjoying a leisurely upper-middle-class breakfast. They are doing that thing where parents take a picture at the same time every day so they can digitalize the image and have 10 years of growth distilled into one minute of footage that illustrates how your kids looked before, and after, they started to hate you.

It turns out they didn’t need nearly that much footage. Luke (Ty Simpkins) is seconds away from severe maladjustment and the loss of a happy childhood, since once the police break in and arrest mommy for murder they might as well buy the kid a stripper pole so he can start practicing for when he hits18.

Thankfully, we do not have to sit through a big complicated trial scene. All the evidence points towards Lara’s guilt until even her lawyer (Daniel Stern) isn’t willing to pursue appeals. Lara takes the news hard, which sets John off on a Quixotic journey to learn how to make a bump key, break into and out of a Pittsburgh jail, create a scrapbook/ escape plan on his office wall, liquidate his assets, get fake identification, destroy a meth lab, and ruin his child’s chances for a life that even slightly approaches normal. Also, Liam Neeson shows up! Wouldn’t it suck if it turned out Lara was guilty all along?

Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) has long recognized the importance of its military partners. Knowing that the military has well-trained and highly skilled individuals, FTCC is seeking to provide opportunities for those people to maximize their training and experience and translate that into degrees and civilian credentials that will benefit them in the future. With that in mind, FTCC has an opportunity for military medics to earn a diploma in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and become eligible to take both state- and national- certification exams to become a paramedic.

Prior to enrolling in EMS courses, candidates must complete all health program entrance requirements and pre-requisites and be admitted to the health-program. Students must also present documentation of military medic and EMT-Basic status. After review of their credentials, candidates may be awarded transfer credit, where applicable, or be given credit for prior learning through successful completion of proficiency testing. Courses for which credit is not awarded will be scheduled at FTCC or online and include general education courses, such as college student success, expository writing, computer basics, and basic anatomy and physiology as well as EMS courses. EMS courses include classroom instruction, practical laboratory sessions, hospital clinical experiences, and field internships with agencies. When a candidate is successful in obtaining the projected maximum amount of credit for transfer courses and prior learning, approximately 22 credit hours of EMS courses will remain to be taken at FTCC. Employment opportunities include ambulance services, fire and rescue agencies, air-medical services, specialty areas of hospitals, industry, educational institutions, and governmental agencies.

For more information, please contact Rick Criste, Department Chair, at crister@faytechcc.edu or (910) 678-8515 or Mitzi Johnson, Dean of Health Programs, at johnsoma@faytechcc.edu or (910) 678-8372.

Photo: FTCC offers training and educational opportunities to military medics.

Just before Christmas, my son and I are plagued with the same dilemma that I’m sure a lot of other families are faced with. We pride ourselves on taking care to protect our Earth and the environment at large. We recycle, drink from refi llable water bottles and walk instead of drive whenever we can.

Despite all of our “green going” efforts however, we still cannot pull ourselves away from buying and dragging home a real Christmas tree ... every year. We love the smell of fresh pine throughout our home, love the beautiful lush leaves that hold ornaments handed down throughout the years, the glow of the colored lights greeting you as you open the door. We buy these beautiful little saps with ever increasing guilt that once the New Year is upon us, we will have no choice but to discard it.

A burly trash man will carelessly toss it into a garbage truck and haul it to the city dump, where it will sit forlorn, knowing that its best days are behind it. My son and I have active imaginations.

So this year, I was thrilled to hear about the “Grinding of the Greens” a Christmas tree recycling program run jointly by the PWC, Progress Energy, the City of Fayetteville and the Cape Fear Botanical Garden.

Every January since 1994, these companies have gotten together in an effort to encourage NC residents to recycle their live Christmas trees. Employees from each organization come together after Christmas and grind the trees into mulch for use at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden off of Hwy 301 N.

PWC acts as the coordinating agency in the effort, coordinating the marketing and operations of the event. Because of these efforts, each year thousands of trees have been put to good use at the garden rather than being sent to local landfi lls. (Wheew!)

Beginning Christmas Day through January 7th, area residents are invited to drop their live Christmas trees off at the designated grinding area at Cape Fear Botanical Garden. The grinding event typically lasts about one hour, with most trees ground by 9 a.m.

“Grinding of the Greens is a neat event that ensures people’s “recycled” Christmas trees are put to good use in the Garden,” said Carol Fleitz, Director of Horticulture and Facilities. “We use the material as mulch, which seals in moisture and provides nutrients to the Garden’s plants.”

The health of our area’s plants and trees has been the focus of the Cape Fear Botanical Garden staff since 1989, when a few Fayetteville gardening enthusiasts shared a grand vision. They believed our community should — and could — have a botanical garden of its own. Led by community members Bruce Williams, Martha Duell and Roger Mercer, these enthusiasts came together and established the Friends of the Botanical Garden. The Garden was conceived at Martha Duell’s kitchen table, in the print of Roger Mercer’s gardening column, and with the cajoling, laughing, and crying of dozens of committed supporters and volunteers.

Cape Fear Botanical Garden serves this region as a center for: Enrichment, inspiration and enjoyment of nature; The collection, culture and aesthetic display of plants; Encouragement of environmental stewardship; Conservation, education and research; The preservation of our agricultural heritage; And engagement and involvement of the community.

Go and visit them this holiday season or anytime, Monday through Saturday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. Their general admission is $6.00 (Military and AAA receive a $1 discount) Children ages 6-12: $1, Children 5 and under: free. For more information, be sure to visit www.capefearbg.org or the PWC’s website www.faypwc.com

Photo: Mulch from recycled trees is used to better the community.

In all the hustle and bustle of the holidays it’s easy to yearn for simpler times when the gifts and decorations were more homemade and handmade than commercial. While the celebrations of the early 1900s in North Carolina were elaborate, they were less manufactured than what is common today. Through Jan. 9, the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex is showcasing winter themed decorations of silver and white, Victorian-style, at the Poe House.

Just like in times past when families worked hard to make their home a special place for the holidays, the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex has decked not just the halls, but every room in this Victorian era home for the holidays.

Based on articles and decorating ideas from early 1900s’ issues of Ladies’ Home Journal, the Christmas tree in the Poe House is adorned in garlands of silver paper chains, lace hearts, silver pinecones, icicles and other decorations.

A hundred years ago in southern North Carolina, families used what was available to them to decorate their homes. They did this by bringing in a lot of the local foliage that they could find out doors. Things like pine branches, holly, magnolia, ivy, mistletoe and nandina were used to make wreaths, swags and other festive decorations. The Poe House follows suit and has wreaths on the windows and pine swags on the porch railings — and that is just the beginning.

Inside, look for holly and poinsettias along with red ribbons and magnolia blossoms as part of the home’s decor for the Christmas season.

“This is something that so many people just love coming to the house and seeing,” said Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex 1897 Poe House Education Coordinator, Heidi Bleazey. “The Christmas decorations really add to the grandeur of the house. This really is the best time of year to come and visit the Poe house, if you’ve never been before.”

It’s taken about a decade, but the staff has the decorating process down to a science. “During the early years, there was a lot of grueling research,” said Bleazey. “And then we had to translate that into what we could reasonably find and do to replicate the decorations of that era.”

Now it takes about five hours for four or five staffers to put the home together, and every year, even though it is tough work, the results are just stunning.

The historical complex is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free.

For more information, call (910) 486-1330 or visit www.museumofthecapefear.ncdcr.gov. Tours are offered on the hour Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.

Photo: Visitors enjoy Christmas decorations at the Poe House.

Sometimes there are really great things hiding in plain view: The Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) Continuing Education program is one of them. The program provides classes in several areas — whether you are looking to get a GED, brush up on technical skills, take a safety course or learn how to reupholster furniture, there is pretty much something for everyone.

Whether it’s an individual looking to improve or acquire basic skills or a certifi cate or license, or a business seeking to train employees or to grow the business through the small business center, chances are, an answer can be found at FTCC.

“We are trying to serve the needs of the community whether it is job training for adult high school programs or vocational programs that people enjoy taking or one of the many things in between,” said Dr. Joe Mullis, associate vice president of continuing education at Fayetteville Technical Community College. “That is our focus, to try and provide a wide range of courses that people can take to improve their lives, whether it be for a GED or trying to get job training and job skills or their personal enrichment.”

Starting with the Basics

FTCC Continuing Education provides education to build a strong foundation for basic skills and is divided into several parts:

• The Adult Basic Education program is designed for adults who are weak in reading, writing, speaking, problem solving or computation. Adults seeking a high school diploma have access to the Adult High School Diploma Program.

• The Basic Skills Education Program is offered on Fort Bragg to soldiers to promote retention, increase reenlistment options and improve job performance.

• English as a second language, family literacy classes and General Education Development (GED) classes are offered as well.

Moving up and Moving on

With a solid educational foundation, students have access to classes that are related to workforce preparedness.

• The Human Resource Development Program trains unemployed and underemployed persons by providing classes aimed at educating students in job seeking skills, job search techniques and job retention and advancement strategies.

• Workforce Basic Skills classes play right into getting people matched up with companies that need high quality workers. This program is about improving skills that will lead to enhanced competitiveness for business and industry.

When it comes to learning basic skills, most anyone with a desire to learn can find a home at FTCC. The institution provides distance learning and has a wealth of information that students can access when they need it — and FTCC is looking to take these opportunities into the community.

“We are looking to expand as far as location — we want to be in even more locations throughout the county,” Mullis said. “As technology changes and people need different types of training, we try to provide that to them as effi ciently as we can with things like online classes and other technology-based training. We try to do this with as many of our programs as we can.”

No place to study? No problem

• The basic skills resource center/open lab offers individualized instruction and study opportunities, including employment readiness and advancement training. Computer-assisted instruction, along with a variety of other materials, allows students to learn at their own pace to reach their goals.

• The workforce preparedness center serves adults who are looking to reenter the workforce and need a place to prepare for employment tests and improve their reading, writing or other skills. It also offers free, self-paced computer-assisted instruction to students enrolled in the workforce center.

Business Resources

FTCC not only helps individuals, but it offers a lot to the business community as well. The Customized Training Program supports the economic development efforts of the State of North Carolina by providing education and training opportunities for eligible businesses and industries.

The Industry Services area of Continuing Education supports local industry by customizing educational programs and training courses for employees. The staff is available to assess, design and implement appropriate courses to meet the needs of industry.

Small businesses can also benefit from the Small Business Center. The goal of this program is to increase the success rate of small businesses in Cumberland County and surrounding communities by assisting prospective and established small business persons to reach their full potential by utilizing all resources available to the Network. The center offers free and confi dential business counseling, free seminars and workshops, the N.C. Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning program and an extensive resource library of business planning tools, business books and pamphlets.

“We are trying to do a lot of small business center programs and get out into the community so people can have the opportunity to learn to work with the government or to start a small business,” said Mullis. “These courses are free also. We want to teach people who are interested in how to start a small business or to help them learn how to win government contracts.”

Certification

If the basics are already covered and what’s really needed is a professional certifi cate to update some skills (for individuals or businesses) FTCC can help here, too.

• Individuals can benefi t from a myriad of courses and classes that involve everything for emergency and protective services training. This program includes training for fi re, rescue, EMS, CNA and law enforcement. The courses are offered on campus and at other local facilities like local fi re departments, schools and churches. Many of these classes are offered to the public, but there are a few that are limited to in-service training.

• Occupational extension education offers courses in aviation, business, computer education, general contractor’s license preparation, vocational shop and general interest programs (including such courses as bartending, travel agent, and effective teaching training). These courses are designed to provide training to upgrade a person’s skills or qualifi cations and assist in preparing an individual for a new career.

• If you are new to the job market or looking to refocus your career, check out the JobsNOW Program. It consists of short-term courses and is designed to help in getting some occupational training that can lead to better job opportunities. These courses take six months, at the most — often times much less — and are designed to help folks who have lost their jobs return to the workforce quickly. They include not only technical training but also touch on things like understanding company culture, meeting deadlines and learning to work well with others. The courses offered are certified nursing assistant I, Geriatric Aide, Introduction to HVAC, Introduction to Plumbing, Medical Offi ce Essentials I and II, Phlebotomy and Solar Panel Installation.

Even with all the specialized programs, there are several other classes offered ranging from property management to becoming a notary public or a bank teller, how to use quick books, stress management and more.

Mullis sees growth is a few areas and is working to make sure FTCC stays ahead of the curve in providing training.

“One of the big growth areas we see is in technology as well as the green industry,” Mullis said. “We want to help businesses with that and also train individuals who will be able to work in those fi elds. We see those as having huge growth in the future not only here but around the country.”

Relaxation

Speaking of stress management, many of FTCC’s continuing education classes are the kind that will help you unwind. Always wanted to take up painting? There is a class for you, be it oils, pastels or watercolor. Looking to busy your hands? Try the pottery, matting and framing, basketry or even one of the cooking classes. Energy to burn? Try Hip-hop, Latin or Salsa Zumba classes. Gardening, home improvement, financial planning, creative writing, foreign language and motorcycle safety classes are also offered at FTCC along with music lessons, quilting, crocheting, sewing and more.

Whether you are looking for a new skill, trying to polish your existing repertoire or are just looking to take on a new hobby, FTCC is a great place to start. Check them out at www.faytechcc.edu/ con_ed or pick up one of the course catalogs at the Continuing Education building on the FTCC campus.

Those living in small apartments or the big city could use some gadget-friendly help asthey go about their day.

Smarter Sound: Have a quieter commute or just tune out the neighbors with PhiatonNoise Cancelling Earphones PS 20 NC. The in-ear headset has noise blockingtechnology that maximizes the quality of music from their MP3 players whileminimizing outside interference. The lightweight earphones use one AAA battery andcome with inline volume control and a choice of silicone earbuds. (www.phiaton.com)

Stay Connected: A recent National Health Interview Survey showed that nearly twothirdsof adults who shared an apartment or house with unrelated roommates reportedhaving only mobile phones, making that group the most likely to be completelywireless and struggling withdroppedor missed calls.To help with cell phone signal issues, the roommatefriendly zBoost-METRO Cell Phone Signal Booster, fromWi-Ex, works with multiple users and multiple carrierssimultaneously. Its antenna mounts to a window and comeswith everything they need to cover 1,500 square feet.

Gadget Grands Keep the grandparents up to speed with easy-to-use technologythat keeps them connected to the family.

Picture This: Upgrade their family photo collection with a Bluetooth Enabled DigitalPicture Frame from Portable USA.It has a 10.4-inch LCD display with 640 x 480 resolution. You can upload new pictures from your phone. In addition to showing pictures, it will play video, music and text. It has a USB connector and 2 memory card slots in addition to 256MB of internalmemory, and comes with two wood frames.(www.amazon.com)

Get Face Time: If their computer doesn’t have a built-in video camera, the compactMicrosoft LifeCam VX-500 is ideal. It has a 1.3 megapixel sensor that shoots VGAvideo and captures twice as much light as other devices, for a much clearer picture. Ithas a flexible base that lets them adjust the angle, and a built-in mic. It’s optimized forWindows Live Messenger, but also works with Skype, AIM and Yahoo Messenger. Itcomes in three fun colors. (www.store.microsoft.com)

On-the-Go JoesTravel junkies and vacationing families need gadgets that will stand up to the rigors ofbeing on the road.

Extreme Video: Whether it’s on a bicycle’s handlebars or strapped to a surfboard,the ATC9K All-TerrainVideo Camera fromOregon Scientificcan take a hit. It’sa durable, shockresistantunit thatcaptures 5-megapixelstills as well as 1080pHD video. It alsohas a G-Sensor thattracks measurementsfor speed, hang time,angle of movement and other motion stats, and a laser pointer that lets them linethe camera up with whatever they want to shoot. (www2.oregonscientific.com)

Waterproof Reading: Keep their Kindle dry with the M-Edge GuardianWaterproof Case. It will float on the water’s surface for hands-free reading. Itscustom-molded interior and mounting pads give cushioned support, and it also hasflexible sealed cutouts so they can access the controls. As an extra security measure,there’s a ring at the bottom of the case so it can be strapped to a lanyard or belt.(www.medgestore.com)

iWorkers The number of people working from their homes seems to grow every day. Get youriWorker set up right with these gadgets.

Consistent Coverage: Cell phones are essential communication tools for teleworkers,and when they don’t get signal, it makes work even more work. The zBoost-SOHODual Band Cell Phone Signal Booster supports multiple phones simultaneously andgives them the coverage they need to work through the whole house (up to 3,500 sqft; including aircards, EDGE and 3G Technology). (www.wi-ex.com)

Charge It: Keep all the essential office gadgets charged up with Energizer’sInductive Charging Station. With two large inductive charging zones that don’trequire locking the device into a parti cular position, your iWorker can just settheir phone (and two other devices) down and it will get charged up. It has a USBport to allow users to charge additional devices such as cameras or GPS units.(www.target.com)

Custom Caffeine: No office would be complete without a coffeemaker. TheAeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker from Aerobie lets anyone brew Americanstyle or Espresso style coffees for use in lattes or cappuccinos. It has a totalimmersionsystem that mixes water and grounds at a moderate temper ature, thengentle air pressure pushes the mix into a micro-filter, resulting in a smooth, richbrew in just 30 seconds. Visit www.aerobie.com to find a retailer near you.

Ryan P. Kishbaugh was the kind of person that gave his all ineverything he did. He was warm, kindhearted and put the needsof others before himself. Even when diagnosed with Hodgkin’sLymphoma at the age of 17, he was determined to squeeze the mostout of whatever amount of time he had left, and make the most out ofevery opportunity.

“Never step away from life” was his motto. And with that in mind,he made his remaining fivemonths count. He continuedto help and think of othersuntil the end.

Perhaps it is in that samespirit that every year morethan 400 people participatein Ryan’s Reindeer Run, a 5Krace held in his memory.

Kishbaugh’s mother,Roberta Humphries, firstgot the idea for the raceafter seeing a ReindeerRun in Charleston, S.C.,and inspiration struck. Theinitial year’s run saw about200 participants, but now,five years later, the numberhas grown to more than 400. All of theserunners, both people who knew Kishbaughand those who have just heard of his braveryand kindness, get together every year to raisemoney for those fighting Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is cancer originating from white blood cells, calledlymphocytes, and is described by the spread of disease from one lymph nodegroup to another. The disease occurrence shows in two peaks, in early adulthood,around ages 15-35, and again in those over 55 years of age, and survival rates varydepending on age and the treatments administered.

Kishbaugh was always exceptionally smart and compassionate. Accordingto those who knew him best, he always worried about the welfare of his friends,neighbors and anyone else with whom he came in contact with. Even while inchemotherapy, he was concerned with the smaller children who were being treatedand how they were fairing. He was an amazing athlete and participated in soccer andbasketball on the varsity level. He was also a dedicated volunteer and won the 2001Governor’s Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service.

Donning red reindeer ears and jogging gear, participants will line up at theMedical Arts Building on Robeson Street Dec. 18 at 8:30 a.m., pumped up andready to race for a good cause. Humphries is so grateful and astounded at the turnout every year.

“I’m truly amazed at the amount of people who take time out of their busy lives,especially during this time of year to participate. I never expected such a response,and I am very appreciative,” she said.

Among the runners will be many of Ryan’s childhood and high school friends,including Wyatt Jenkins, who has been “An instrumental part of putting together thisyear’s run, pitching in wherever he is needed,” said Humphries.

“This run is not only a good opportunity to raise money for a good cause, butalso for these kids who grew up together, and who knew and loved Ryan, to gettogether and stay in touch,” she continued.

The run has six different age divisions ranging from 13 to 60 plus, and prizes arepresented to the top overall male and female runners, the top three family fi nishersand best costumed runners. There will also be a trophy presented to the groupwith the most number of participants. All participants under the age of 13 receive afiisher’s award, as well as the top three pet finishers and their owners. The fee forindividual runners or walkers is $25, with family entries being $75, which includesfour T-shirts. Online registration ends on Dec. 16 at 9 p.m. there is also same dayregistration and pick up at the race site on Saturday beginning at 7 a.m.

The proceeds from the run go to the Ryan P. Kishbaugh Memorial Fund, Makea Wish Foundation of Eastern North Carolina and the Friends of the Cancer Centerat Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.

For those not familiar with Ryan’s story, you can read more about it in the bookhe wrote while he was in the hospital, Run Because You Can. It seems somehowfi tting that his family chose a run to honor his memory, and in his own words, heencourages the community to participate:

“So do me a favor, whatever you’re doing today, just go out andrun. Somewhere, anywhere, just run because you can.”-Ryan P. Kishbaugh

With Christmas right around the corner, it seems safe to assume that many ayoung mind is focused on Santa Claus and what goodies he may be bringing onDec. 25. Everyone is on their best behavior, minding their manners and helpfulas ever, building their case for a spot on the “Nice” list.

On Saturday, Dec. 18, Fascinate-UChildren’s Museum is hostingBreakfast With Santa Claus. It’s onemore chance to share the magic of theseason with your favorite little one. It isa tradition that the museum has been apart of for the past eight or nine years,according to Fascinate-U Children’sMuseum Marketing and DevelopmentDirector Emily Polley, and somethingthat local children look forward to withanticipation. An opportunity to scoresome face time with Santa doesn’tcome around all that often, after all.

“There are several families inthe community that have made this afamily tradition,” said Polley. “Theystart when their children are just babiesand come. Mom and Dad eat breakfastwith Santa and they have a family picture made. It is really adorable.”

Other families come and bring Grandma and Grandpa with them and makeit a special day for more than just mom and dad and junior. Families are seatedtogether and can enjoy the menu of eggs, bacon, sausage and a full pancake barthat includes toppings like gummy bears, sprinkles and whipped cream. This alltakes place upstairs in the Gilbert Theater, which is decked out in holiday stylefor their production of A Christmas Carol, adding to the feeling of Christmascheer.

Breakfast is served between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m., which gives everyone anhour to come in and take their time eating. After fi lling their tummies, the littleones get to have their picture taken with Santa.

“It is so sweet to see the toddlers come in all dressed up in their argylesweaters and fancy little dresses,”said Polley. “They are so cute and soexcited to see Santa that some of themare literally shaking with anticipation.Seeing their excitement really is myfavorite part of this event.”

Every year a craft is included inthe price of the ticket. Of course it isdifferent every time, and Polley saysthat this year the theme is mittens.Stay and play in the museumafterwards and burn off that yummybreakfast.

“We’ll stay until everyone haseaten, every picture with Santa hasbeen taken and every craft has beencompleted,” Polley said. “We want tomake this event as special as possiblefor the little ones.”

Polley noted that the museum is open to the public at 10 a.m., just like anyother Saturday.Reservations are required and they fi ll up fast. It costs $10for members and $12 for nonmembers.

To make a reservationor for more info, call Fascinate-U Children’s Museum at 829-9171 or visit ww.fascinate-u.com/events.php.

SKYLINE (Rated PG-13) 3 Stars

Todd and Amy hated it. Shane loved it. You know what? I found Skyline (92 minutes) utterly delightful. It was easily the best B-movie I’ve seen since The Mist (the first movie I ever reviewed, for those of you keeping a file). Ok, the film had its flaws. The acting was ludicrous. The characters were next to unlikable. The dialogue was sexist, outdated, and uninteresting. The “aliens” resembled rubber leftovers from a bad Godzilla costume. Nevertheless, for a cheaply made independent science fiction movie it was absolute perfection!

Jarrod (Eric Balfour, AKA toe sucker from Six Feet Under) and Elaine (Scottie Thompson) are awakened under mysterious circumstances. This teaser leads into a flashback that provides some backstory on the couple. The first important thing we find out is that Jarrod is a real square-jawed hero type. He is a polite and well-bred young artist, sensitive to the needs of others and aware of the myriad obligations that friendship entails. Other than that he is kind of an immature jerk, but take the bad with the good. Elaine is a bit of a cardboard cutout, but she is super pretty and reminds me of Milla Jovovich, so she can stay.

The couple has flown into Los Angeles to celebrate best friend Terry’s (Donald Faison, AKA Murray from Clueless) birthday. They enjoy the party despite some awkward moments between Terry’s girlfriend Candice (Brittany Daniel, AKA Jessica Wakefield from Sweet Valley High) and Terry’s “confidential secretary” (Crystal Reed).

Finally, we get back to the scene that started it all, and we find out that an invasive light is compelling people to do stupid things while creating a totally gnarly black vine tattoo thing on whatever part of their bodies it touches. The men-folk head out to investigate (naturally), where they get to scream and run and bear witness to all the messed up alien stuff that the FX boys could put together on short notice.

Eventually they smarten up and retreat to their penthouse sanctuary. Of course, they immediately retreat to an inner room, fill up the bathtub and sinks with water, and ration supplies while developing a brilliant plan to evade and escape. HAHAHA. That so didn’t happen, because the characters are way dumber than the average bear! The twits decide to leave the relative safety of the condo and drive to the nearby marina, which works out as well as you imagine, considering the brain trust behind the plan.

On their way back into sanctuary they hook up with random concierge Oliver (David Zayas AKA Batista from Dexter). Oliver tries to bring the machismo, but his clearly superior skills are sucked into the massive black hole of idiocy created by two incompetents trying to out-stupid each other. That’s when the smoking, drinking, and fighting starts. Enter the Air Force! Surely they will save the day!

Nope. It’s just not that kind of movie. Instead of the Air Force saving the day, they up the ante by causing even more destruction, which is as awesome as it sounds. It is clear that the body count is going to mount up since there are way too many characters for the audience to develop a real emotional connection. In short order, alien pods, tankers, floaters, and matrix-style technosquids start sucking up delicious brains and coating captured humans with some righteous oily black slime.

So, overall I was laughing hysterically through most of the movie. There are a ton of plot holes, the narrative timeline is all screwed up, and the movie is filled with B-list “actors” elevated to relevancy by the presence of one David Zayas, who has some pretty good work under his belt. In other words, you need to see this immediately.

Take the timeless enchantment of your favorite Disney characters, combine it with awe-inspiring acts of professional illusionists, and you’ve entered the delightful realm of Disney Live! presents Mickey’s Magic Show. Young and old are invited to “Come be part of the magic!” on Friday, Dec.10, for two shows at 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. at the Crown Coliseum.

“Mickey’s Magic Show is what I like to consider an adventure into a world where anything is possible,” said Brad Ross, illusionist and host of the show. Ross recently received the International Magicians Society Merlin Award for Best International Family Entertainer 2010, considered the Oscar for the magic industry. He shares the stage with Master Magician Mickey Mouse.

“It’s an opportunity for folks to come out and experience the Disney Magic in a whole new way. This is the fi rst time that Disney has ever created a Disney magic show. It combines the classic magic from the movies that kids and their parents will recognize. We have the dancing brooms from Fantasia, the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland and movies like that, but the unique thing about the show is that it will bond real magic tricks and illusions with those scenes from those movies, and that’s coupled with the world-class illusions that I’ll be presenting, and again, it’s going to give folks a whole new way to experience the Disney Magic.”

First launched in 2006, the show involved tremendous time and preparation, bringing together key elements like lighting designers, choreographers, directors, illusion consultants and more for rehearsals.

“The preparation involved many, many months ahead of that in terms of the production team getting together to create the show, cast the show, design the costumes and sets, the magic, of course, so it is quite a lengthy process to create a show like this,” Ross said. “But the show is now in its fi fth consecutive year. We’ve been privileged to take this show all over the world, and it’s just been a wonderful experience.”

Ross’s primary role is the master illusionist, and through that role, he hosts the show, portraying the “big brother” to all the kids in the audience.

“I am the tour guide, let’s say, to guide everyone on this journey into magic. Throughout that process, I’m constantly interacting with the audience. I run dialogue with them throughout the entire show, and I also bring kids up on stage to participate in the magic and help me out with some of these illusions. And of course I’m performing the magic alongside Mickey and Goofy and all the Disney characters because everyone is actually doing magic in this show, which creates a unique experience.”

Audience members can expect to see many familiar Disney characters on stage, including Donald Duck and Alice, as well as the re-creation of favorite movie scenes, like the transformation of Cinderella’s rags into a beautiful ball gown by her Fairy Godmother, right before their very eyes. Ross, who became intrigued by magic at a very young age when his mother hired a magician for his fi fth birthday party, notes a particularly special illusion in Mickey’s Magic Show.

“One of my favorite illusions in the show is when I levitate Princess Jasmine from the movie Aladdin. It’s a beautiful illusion. It’s just breathtaking, and it’s defi nitely a crowd pleaser wherever we travel with the show, no matter what country we’re in, no matter what language we’re performing the show in. Everyone needs to come out to the show to experience the magic.”

Great seats for Disney Live! presents Mickey’s Magic Show are still available, according to Rik Knopp, director of Marketing and Sales at the Crown Center. Tickets range from $17 to $37, plus fees. For information or to purchase tickets, call (910) 438-4100 or visit www.crowncoliseum.com.

If you haven’t made it to this year’s rendition of The Nutcracker Ballet, there is still time. The North Carolina State Ballet is performing at the Crown Coliseum Complex on Dec. 11 and 12. It’s the 33rd consecutive year of The Nutcracker performing in Fayetteville and will feature a cast of more than 60 dancers and actors.

The story is the same beloved tale of Clara and the enchanted Nutcracker that she receives from her godfather, Her Drosslemeyer. Clara experiences the horrible Mouse King, and travels with the romantic Nutcracker Prince to the Land of Snow and Kingdom of Sweets.

International guest artists Gabor Kapin and Alicia Fabry will perform. Kapin dances Cavalier to Fabry’s Sugar Plum Fairies.

Kapin also performs as the Nutcracker Prince with Anne Talkington and April Glasper as Clara. Little Clara is danced by Brooke Bielecki, Victoria Spence and Charlie Holly.

Glasper also dances the Jewel in ‘Waltz of the Flowers’ and alternates the “Snow Queen” with Destiny Johnson. Daniel Moore plays “Drosslemeyer,” the Magician.

“We have an outstanding cast and wonderful, international guest performers,” said Charlotte Blume, the president of the North Carolina State Ballet and director of the two act, three scene production. “Most of the dancers in our production are not new to the performance, many of them have been dancing in it for years and have grown up into their parts — they may start out as a mouse and move up from there as the years pass.”

A lot of hard work has gone into this production. In fact, Blume says that it seems that as soon as the production ends, it feels like they start right into working on next year’s performance.

Auditions are held around labor day and from early fall until the performance, the dancers are working to learn their parts so they can bring joy to the audience when the holidays roll around.

The scenery has been updated for a few of the acts, adding freshness and new fl avor to the production. North Carolina School of the Arts graduate Jennifer O’Kelly of O’Kelly Design Studios designed the backdrop for Act I.

Local artist Cindy Slappey and her former art student Caroline Geiger designed and painted a backdrop for Act II. It shows the entrance to the Land of Sweets and the Castle of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

“There are so many reasons that people come to see The Nutcracker,” said Blume. “It may be that it is a family tradition, or that they know people in the cast, or that they are looking for an opportunity to see a high quality performance of The Nutcracker at a reasonable price. Regardless of the reason, this is an outstanding production that the entire family will enjoy.”

Purchase tickets at the Crown Center box offi ce and at www.ticketmaster.com. General seating costs $16. Military personnel receive a discounted price of $12 at the Crown Center Box Offi ce with a military ID.

The curtain rises at 3 p.m. for all shows, Visit www. ncstateballet.com for more information.

Photo: Daniel Moore as Drosslemeyer.

Every year my son and I bundle up, fill our thermoses with hot chocolate and head down to the Christmas parade that runs through the center of our city. It is as much a part of our holiday tradition as tree trimming or getting together with family. Just the sight of the large colorful floats, marching bands and of course, Santa Claus, lets you know that the holiday season is upon us.

However, this will be our first year attending a parade in Fayetteville, and we are excited to see what is in store for us. The grand marshall of this year’s parade is Boomerang Cartoon Networks Scooby Doo, who is appearing courtesy of Channel 14 Carolina News. Scooby won’t be joined by the rest of his gang, but he will be joined by 10 Cumberland County bands, homemade and commercial floats and more than 90 entries. Oganizers believe this year’s parade is sure to be stellar.

For more than 20 years the parade has been put together by the members of the Fayetteville Rotary Club, a group of men that was formed to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards and help promote goodwill and peace in the world. In 1999, once they discovered there was to be no Christmas procession that year, they decided to band together with two other local Rotary Clubs to take on this excellent community service project. The members organized every detail of the parade themselves, proving that they live by their motto, “Service before self.” With the first year’s parade planner called away, Johnson Chestnut and Matthew Smith stepped up agreeing to cochair, and have been in charge ever since.

Smith says this year’s parade is “A parade for the children of Cumberland County to not only observe and enjoy, but also participate in. We have invited one child from each of the Cumberland County schools to ride in one of the Rotary floats in the Christmas parade. It gives them an opportunity that they may never have again in a lifetime.”

Many local businesses are pitching in and lending their support to make this parade a spectacular one as well, including Taco Bell, Long John Silvers and Time Warner Cable.

“This will be the 11th year that we have put this parade on, and we have been both overwhelmed and touched by the response from our sponsors,” said Smith.

The procession will begin at 11 a.m and will start at Person Street, go to the Market House, then Hay Street and end at the Amtrak Station. If by chance you cannot make it downtown to see the parade in person, don’t fret, it will be televised on Channel 14 (although it will be time delayed and won’t be aired until 6 p.m. Saturday) and will be available On Demand the following week.

Come out and and catch the holiday spirit at this year’s 2010 Rotary Parade — and don’t forget your hot chocolate!

Don't miss the Christmas Parade on Dec. 11.

The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra (FSO) Holiday Spectacular Concert promises to be a “spectacular” event. With music, dancing, food and Santa Claus, the concert will have something for the whole family. The program will be held Saturday, Dec. 11 at 7:30 p.m. at Reeves Auditorium on the campus of Methodist University. Conducting the program is FSO Music Director Fouad Fakhouri.

The concert will feature all holiday music including songs from “The Nutcracker,” “Greensleeves,” “Sleigh Ride,” “Christmas Festival,” and “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” which is the favorite of FSO Executive Director Mark Savage.

Soprano Erin Matson will perform a solo. Matson teaches at Fayetteville Academy. In addition, Savage and Dr. Don Parker of Fayetteville State University will perform “The Typewriter” written by Leroy Anderson using an actual typewriter.

“It’s a LC Smith Manual Typewriter” says Savage “I bought it at an antique store in Memphis, Tenn.”

Savage has performed the song several times and you can catch a few of his performances on YouTube.

And what is a holiday concert without Santa Claus? Savage says Santa will greet guests as they arrive at the auditorium and sit next to people in the audience. Santa may even conduct a song if the audience agrees to it.

There will be dancing at the concert as well. Denise Strother and Roland Bersh III will dance to “Skaters Waltz.” Strother and Bersh, along with dancers from Roland’s Dance Studio, will dance to “Blue Danube.”

With a packed performance schedule, Savage says planning for the concert began in December 2009.

“It’s a big project” he said. “We wanted to have a lot of fun this year”

Tickets for the Holiday Spectacular Concertcan be purchased from the FSO office, at www.fayettevillesymphony.org, or at Reeves Auditorium the evening of the concert. Ticket prices start at $8 for students, $20 for military and seniors, and $25 for adults. Call the symphony offi ce at 433-4690 for more information.

Photo: Fayetteville FSO.

Sometimes it is hard to know how to thank a veteran — someone who has served on your behalf, and quite possibly faced and endured things that some would prefer not to acknowledge or even consider. What about the fallen and their families? How can we honor them and the sacrifi ces that they have made?

So maybe this isn’t the easiest of topics to be reading during the holiday season. It’s relevant though. At noon, on Dec. 11, the Dogwood Chapter of Gold Star Mothers along with the local HOG chapter, the 82nd Airborne Foundation, the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, Rolling Thunder and Patriot Guard Riders are gathering to take part in the Wreaths Across America Campaign at Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery in Spring Lake.

Wreaths Across America started in 1992 when Morrill Worcester of Worcester Wreath sponsored the Arlington Wreath Project by donating 5,000 Christmas wreaths to Arlington Cemetery. Since then, the project has grown as thousands of requests poured in from around the country from people wanting to emulate the project.

The second Saturday in December, at noon each year, Wreaths Across America places a wreath on the graves of veterans in cemeteries large and small across the nation. This year there are more than 400 ceremonies that will take place simulataneously with approximately 500 wreaths to be placed locally.

“What we are trying to do here is to show these families that the sacrifi ces that they and their loved ones made have not been forgotten,” said Steve Adam, Cape Fear HOG spokesman. “It is a way to honor those who gave the last full measure of devotion and to show that we are grateful for their sacrifice.”

There will be a short ceremony, with Brig. Gen. Edward M. Reeder Jr., Commanding General, U.S. Army Special Forces Command, speaking.

Seven wreaths, representing each of the armed services and the veterans who have served in them will be placed at the base of the fl ag. Gold Star mothers and perhaps a few Gold Star wives will be among the fi rst to lay wreaths on the graves.

Musical tributes will be a part of the ceremony as well with a bugler playing “Taps” and a rendition of “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes.

“It’s a very sobering and moving experience. Have you ever heard “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes?” said Adam. “It’ll bring the toughest of men to tears.”

While the time for fundraising and accepting wreath donations has past for this particular event, the public is welcomed and encouraged to attend. There are plenty of wreaths to be placed and this is also an opportunity to show respect and gratitude to the fallen, Adam said.

“This is not a fundraiser,” said Adam. “People need to know that there is no money being made here. This is a group of grateful citizens, honoring our fallen soldiers.”

To find out more or to make a contribution to Wreaths Across America, visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.

For questions about the Sandhills State Veteran’s Cemetery, call 207-483-2039 or e-mail lorietex@aol.com.

Twenty years ago when Holden Hansen came up with the idea to stage The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, he had no idea it would become a Fayetteville holiday tradition. But, in keeping with the enduring story that is told in the play, the annual production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (BCPE) has made its way into the hearts of the literally hundreds of area children who have performed in the show, and it has helped to form who they have become today.

On Dec. 9, the show will open for its 20th season, and Up & Coming Weekly thought there could be no better time to celebrate the show, its casts and the warmth it brings to our holiday season.

“I often joke with Bo (Thorp) that if I had known the play would have ran this long I would have made her sign a contract so I would get residuals,” said Hansen during a recent telephone interview.

Hansen, a professor of theater at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, was very involved in children’s theater in the late ‘80s. When Thorp approached him about doing a Christmas performance, he immediately thought about the BCPE.

“I had directed the play in Waterloo, Iowa, for a children’s theater back in 1983,” he said. “It’s just a brilliant play for anybody who has a program that involves kids on stage. In fact, I think the reason it is brilliant is that art imitates life — it’s a play about putting on a play with children. All the kids don’t have to act — they just have to be themselves. It’s very truthful in that sense.

Hansen said that children involved in theater learn a lot of the social skills they need in life.

“They learn deadlines, organization, how to work together. I think they learn things about themselves, and they learn how to communicate,” he said. “These are the kinds of things that any human being needs to learn to succeed. I find the same thing to be true of college students. Quite a number of my students have explained to me that they have this confidence to function in the world that they didn’t have before they were involved in the theater.”

As to why the play has become interwoven in Fayetteville’s holiday fabric, Hansen noted, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a great story. It touches a chord in people. We often look at the less fortunate as a pariah in our society, so we love to watch these Herdmans succeed. We see their humanity when Imojean sort of becomes enrapt in the beauty of the Christmas story. It just resonates through the theatre. It coincides with the spirit of Christmas — it’s all about love isn’t it?”

Jenny Beaver was just 12-years-old when she fi rst performed in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. She was cast as the first “Beth” in the play, and kept that role for the following four years.

“We rehearsed in some old building downtown that didn’t have any heat,” Beaver recalled. “I remember thinking I was really big time, because I was rehearsing for this play in that old building.”

That was just one of many shows Beaver would perform in at the CFRT, but looking back, it still holds a very special place in her heart.

“Since I’ve moved back home, I’ve seen it about three times. My sister, Laura, who was also in the show, has never seen it since she stopped being in the play. I hold “Beth” close to my heart, and she holds Gladys close to hers. We talked and she said she just couldn’t watch anyone else being Gladys because she loved it so much,” said Beaver.

For Beaver, seeing the show brings back the memories of lessons learned on the stage and friendships made. “Growing up in the theatre taught me that not everybody in the world is like me. Because we grow up in the same neighborhoods and go to the same schools, we form our cliques. Theater opened a door to a whole new group of people for me — people I probably wouldn’t have been friends with.”

She noted that while each director and each cast tries to make its mark on the show, it actually changes little. “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is just perfect.

The story is so straight to the point. I don’t think you have to add any updates; they just distract from the story.” The story she’s referencing, for those who have not seen the show yet, is that of the Herdmans. They are the meanest kids in town. When they get a chance to takeover the church Christmas play, they do it with a vengeance. While many sat back and waited for the play to fl op, it actually turned out to be... well, you know.

“Beth’s final speech always makes me cry, and I love when Imojean looks at the baby and she actually understands ‘Unto you a child is born,’” continued Beaver. “I love it when Beth talks about how the Herdmans changed because of the play. Because it gives you a chance to see that people are good — you just have to give them a chance to be good.”

Broadway performer Grady Bowman, who was in the first two BCPEs, looks back at the show fondly.

“I played Claude Herdman my first year and Charlie the second year,” said Bowman, who is currently performing in Billy Elliot on Broadway. “As a kid, getting up with the other kids to do something we all loved was great.”

Then, it was just something to do around the holidays, but after seeing the play a couple of years ago, Bowman has a different perspective on it.

“I really didn’t get the impact of the show until a couple of years ago when I was home and I went to see it,” he said. “I looked at it as an outsider and was just overwhelmed by the meaning and the story.”

He recalled that the excitement that Hansen brought to the production resonated through the cast. “Because he was so excited to do the play, it made us as excited and made us want to do what he wanted us to do,” he said. “Really the CFRT, and plays like the BCPE, are the basis for what I am doing today.”

Tommy Walsh, 17, and currently playing Ralph in the production, has been in the BCPE for eight years. The show helped launch his CFRT career, where he has performed in more than 10 shows and participates in the Performance Troop.

“I love being on stage, being goofy and wacky, expressing my thoughts on stage and watching the audience react to it,” said Walsh. “Being in the theater has taught me to express myself better and be myself — there’s no judging, you can just be who you are.”

Laurel Flom, 15, who is playing Beth in the current production, concurs with Walsh. “This is my sixth year doing BCPE. Each year is different, the people are who make the show. It’s really fun going to rehearsals. It’s a very open atmosphere. Everybody accepts everybody else. Being in theater has made me a more wellrounded person. It opens you up to a lot of situations and people.

“You make a lot of different kinds of friendships with a lot of different people. They are the people you have fun with. They accept you. You don’t have to worry about holding back, you can dance like a fool and everybody will join you.”

For John Burton, now 10, his first exposure to the BCPE was when he was just 4-years-old. The normally active toddler sat silent and still throughout the play. As he exited the theater with his mom and dad, he said, “I want to be a Herdman.”

“I just loved that play,” he said. “I thought it looked like so much fun, and the people who were in it looked like they were having fun. So every year after we would see it, I would ask to try out. Last year, I was a shepherd and it was everything I thought it would be. This year, I’m Claude Herdman. I want to be in the play as long as they will let me.”

The BCPE opens on Thursday, Dec. 9 and runs through Sunday, Dec. 19. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for children. For tickets and more information, visit www.cfrt.org.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and one of the most enchanting, too, as homes and entire neighborhoods deck the halls with holiday decorations and light displays. And who doesn’t like to ooh and ah at the magical twinkling exhibits while driving by? This year, take a greener, more healthful and family-friendly approach to viewing the sights and sounds of the Christmas season. Attend Christmas in the Park, December 8-22 from 6-9 p.m. at Arnette Park, 2165 Wilmington Highway, Exit 100 off Highway 87 in Fayetteville. Admission is $2 per person.

“This is the first year that Christmas in the Park, sponsored by the Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation, is being held,” said Erica J. Brady, special events coordinator. “Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation has considered doing this event for many years and this year decided to move forward with it to give the citizens of Fayetteville and Cumberland County an opportunity to view Christmas lights without having to travel to neighboring counties.”

But this special holiday event is not your usual pack-the-car-full-of-folksand- slowly-snake-through-displays-of-pretty-lights affair. Christmas in the Park is filled with activities for everyone in the family.

“We’ll open up that Wednesday night,” said Brady. “The $2 fee will be collected as you enter the park, and then you’ll just spread out to one of our parking lots and go over to the half-mile paved walking trail, which is a new addition at Arnette Park, and at your own leisurely pace, just walk around. Out in the center of the trail we will have our main attraction piece of the display, a 30- foot, three-color Christmas tree. It will be lit with green, white and red lights. We’re still in the planning stages, but our plan right now is to put six, 16-foot trees around that tree, and then 12, six-foot trees around those. Those trees will be programmed. We’ll have a cycle of songs playing, and these lights will be dancing to that music. In addition to that main focal point, we’ll of course have lights all around the trail.”

No family fun Christmas activity is complete without a visit from jolly old St. Nick, and he’s booked a special engagementat the park.

“We’ll have Santa with us each night, and for $5, you’ll be able to take a photo with Santa, which will be put in a commemorative frame and given to you right there on-site. We’ll also have arts and crafts, a couple of food vendors, and we’ll be showing a variety of short cartoon movies by the picnic shelter each night as well. We will have a fire pit for roasting marhsmallows on-site too. Our plan right now is to have live entertainment on the weekends. Participants are encouraged to bring a blanket to sit on to enjoy the entertainment.”

Although the program begins on Wednesday, Dec. 8, the grand opening is on Friday, Dec. 10 beginning at 6 p.m., and will include a welcome from local dignitaries, special entertainment from Voices of the Heart, a grand entrance by Santa in some outlandish way and the lighting of the central Christmas display.

In addition to pictures with Santa, visitors may also buy a commemorative ornament.

Only cash is accepted for all purchases, and animals other than service animals are not permitted.

This year, start a new holiday tradition to observe the beauty of the season –– slow down and take a walk in the park. For more information on Christmas in the Park, visit www.fcpr.us or call 910.433.1547. For inclement weather, call 910.306.7325.

Being fit and staying healthy is not always as convenient as we’d like it to be — Dr. Janine Lowe knows how important it is though and that is why she has organized the Hip Hop, Holiness, Hope and Preventive Health Fair. It’s an event that will not only provide free screening for various medical conditions, it is also going to be a day of great fun.

“I’ve been blessed enough to have people in my life with generous hearts who enjoy helping others, so it was not too hard to put this together,” said Lowe. “We are going to have several different kinds of screening available for the people who attend the fair,” which is on Dec. 6 at the John D. Fuller, SR. Recreational Center at 6627 Old Bunce Rd. There will be screenings and information about blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, mammography, information on pap smears, colon cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, childhood safety and immunizations.

Lowe is certain that the entertainment and free concert will make everyone’s trip worth while.

Long time fitness and aerobics instructor and author of Fit for the King: God’s Plan for Weight Loss and Total Health, Lt. Col. Thomas Hundley will be making a presentation as will Dr. Rani G. Whitfield — Tha Hip Hop Doc.

Whitfield is a family physician and an author known for his appearances on CNN, BET’s 106th and Park series, iVillage and other national talk and news shows. In 2008, Dr. Whitfi eld released Tha’ Hip Hop Doc Presents: State of Emergency, a health/education music CD, and the comic book series Tha Hip Hop Doc Presents: The Legion of Health, as vehicles to encourage young people to adopt good health habits. He is also the founder of the nonprofit Hip Hop Healthy Coalition that promotes healthy living platforms to youth groups throughout the world.

The event will run from 4-8 p.m. Come ready to move, be entertained and to learn a few things too! To find out more about the fair visit www. allthingsencouraging.com

While Hope Mills has been growing like nobody’s business, they’ve still got small town charm. On Saturday, Dec. 4, an entire day of activities has been planned for the community.

The fun starts with breakfast with Santa from 8:30 - 11 a.m. He’ll be at the Hope Mills Recreation Center at 5766 Rockfi sh Rd. ready to share his morning with all the good little boys and girls out there.

“We’ll be serving pancakes and the kids will have a choice between sausage or bacon and we’ll also have orange juice,” said Kenny Bullock event coordinator. “And the kids will have a chance to talk with Santa and spend some time with him.”

Limited space means that preregistration is required, but the $5 fee is payable at the door. Be sure to register by Nov. 29, by calling 424- 4500 In the spirit of the season the recreation center is requesting donations of canned and nonperishable foods to benefi t the Lam’s House in Hope Mills.

Later in the day, at 3 p.m. is the Hope Mills Christmas parade. It starts at the Hope Mills Recreation Center and will end at Hope Mills Middle School.

“We’ve got the traditional beauty queens who will be riding in the parade, and several school bands including Southview and Jack Britt among some other — we are hoping to include E.E. Smith High School too,” said Bullock. “One of our most interesting parade entries so far is First Baptist Church. They are going to bring shopping carts and walk with them in the parade to collect canned goods which will be given to the Alms House. We are encouraging anyone who comes to the parade to bring a canned good or nonperishable food item. It is the season of giving after all and like I was taught when I was a young boy, it really is better to give than to receive.”

Items collected will be distributed to families in need and used to feed the local homeless population.

Rounding out the day of festivities and good will is the 35th Annual Festival of Lights at Hope Mills Lake Park on Main Street. It starts at 5:30 p.m. and promises to be a fun evening of Christmas music, fellowship and memory making. There will be hay rides, the lighting of the town Christmas Tree, the town star and the yule log.

“We’ll be handing out cookies and hot chocolate while supplies last,” said Bullock. “And Santa and Mrs. Clause will be coming to make their rounds and they’ll be handing out cookies to the children. The little ones will have a chance to make their Christmas wishes known to Santa that evening too. It will be a really enjoyable event.”

For more information about any of these events please call 424-4500 or 426-4107.

While Hope Mills has been growing like nobody’s business, they’ve still got small town charm. On Saturday, Dec. 4, an entire day of activities has been planned for the community.

The fun starts with breakfast with Santa from 8:30 - 11 a.m. He’ll be at the Hope Mills Recreation Center at 5766 Rockfi sh Rd. ready to share his morning with all the good little boys and girls out there.

“We’ll be serving pancakes and the kids will have a choice between sausage or bacon and we’ll also have orange juice,” said Kenny Bullock event coordinator. “And the kids will have a chance to talk with Santa and spend some time with him.”

Limited space means that preregistration is required, but the $5 fee is payable at the door. Be sure to register by Nov. 29, by calling 424- 4500 In the spirit of the season the recreation center is requesting donations of canned and nonperishable foods to benefi t the Lam’s House in Hope Mills.

Later in the day, at 3 p.m. is the Hope Mills Christmas parade. It starts at the Hope Mills Recreation Center and will end at Hope Mills Middle School.

“We’ve got the traditional beauty queens who will be riding in the parade, and several school bands including Southview and Jack Britt among some other — we are hoping to include E.E. Smith High School too,” said Bullock. “One of our most interesting parade entries so far is First Baptist Church. They are going to bring shopping carts and walk with them in the parade to collect canned goods which will be given to the Alms House. We are encouraging anyone who comes to the parade to bring a canned good or nonperishable food item. It is the season of giving after all and like I was taught when I was a young boy, it really is better to give than to receive.”

Items collected will be distributed to families in need and used to feed the local homeless population.

Rounding out the day of festivities and good will is the 35th Annual Festival of Lights at Hope Mills Lake Park on Main Street. It starts at 5:30 p.m. and promises to be a fun evening of Christmas music, fellowship and memory making. There will be hay rides, the lighting of the town Christmas Tree, the town star and the yule log.

“We’ll be handing out cookies and hot chocolate while supplies last,” said Bullock. “And Santa and Mrs. Clause will be coming to make their rounds and they’ll be handing out cookies to the children. The little ones will have a chance to make their Christmas wishes known to Santa that evening too. It will be a really enjoyable event.”

For more information about any of these events please call 424-4500 or 426-4107.

The Sanford Pottery Festival draws thousands of people to its annual event in May. This festival has come to be known as not only the largest, but one of the fi nest exhibits of North Carolina pottery and will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2011. This year, organizers have expanded to hold another festival at the most wonderful time of the year — now! The First Annual Christmas Show and Wine Tasting Event is slated for Saturday, Dec. 4, and Sunday Dec. 5 at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center in Sanford. This new winter event will give shoppers the opportunity to buy pottery pieces to dress up the holiday table, and the show is designed to provide thousands of gift ideas in the $10-$20 range, and all are unique North Carolina products.

North Carolinians take great pride in the rich pottery tradition of our state. The show will include an excellent selection of “art pottery” pieces, such as Raku, but the majority of pottery featured will be pieces that are made to be used.

“The First Annual Christmas Show is a scaled down version of the Sanford Pottery Festival and will feature 45 oversized booths for potters. Booths will also include a small number of other traditional arts and crafts, but most will be potters,” according to organizer Don Hudson. “A wide range of price points will be offered, and there will be a large selection of less expensive pottery suitable for Christmas gifts.”

The First Annual Christmas Show will also have a wine-tasting event, featuring eight North Carolina wineries offering samples and wines available for purchase by the glass, bottle or case. For an additional $5, shoppers (age 21 and over) can take a break from pottery and enjoy the wine tasting, which will include European varieties of wines made right here in North Carolina. There will also be a large selection of wines made from Muscadine and Scuppernong grapes.

“These wines offer a different experience. Some will hate the difference. Many will love it,” explained Hudson. “What I know is that such wines have 10 times the antioxidants of regular wine, which is itself very heart healthy!”

For newcomers to the area that may not be familiar with Sanford, don’t let that hold you back. Sanford is an easy 34-mile drive from Fayetteville, right up Highway 87. The Wicker Center is located at 1801 Nash St. and features plenty of free parking. There’s really no excuse not to venture up to Sanford and partake in the First Annual Christmas Show. Anyone who shows a military ID, retired or active duty, will get into the festival for free, with one adult guest. Children under 16 are free anyway, so this is a very family friendly event.

The Sanford Pottery Festival’s First Annual Christmas Show will be held Saturday, Dec. 4 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday, Dec. 5, from noon to 5 p.m. Admission to the pottery festival is $5, or $10 for both the pottery festival and wine-tasting event. For more information, visit www.sanfordpottery.org.

As November begins to unwind, the sanctuary of Green Springs Baptist Church is transformed by the construction of a Christmas tree that spans more than 20 feet into the air. Soaring to the ceiling, the tree is lovingly adorned with greenery, lights and ribbons by the church members, and for one weekend only, it will come to life as the Green Springs Music Ministry presents A Baby Changes Everything during its annual singing Christmas tree.

The church has been hosting the event for almost 15 years, and Charles Stevens, who along with his wife Laura, serve as the music ministers, doesn’t see it stopping any time soon.

“It really has become a Christmas tradition for us,” said Stevens. “We spend about four days putting the tree up, and we spend about four months rehearsing for the event.”

Stevens said the music for this year’s event is very moving.

“The basis of the performance is the song ‘A Baby Changes Everything.’ Just like that baby changes the life of his mother, he also changes the lives of men and women throughout the world,” said Stevens.

The choir will be joined by the children’s choir, the Joy Singers, the Green Springs Trio and a men’s ensemble.

“This event truly brings all of the church together,” he said.

While there is no admission fee, the church asks those who are able to bring a canned food item for donation to the Gray’s Creek Christian Center.

“We know there are so many in need at this time of year, and this is a way to help them,” continued Stevens. “But if you can’t bring anything, come anyway.”

Refreshments will be served after each peformance and the public is invited to attend.

Shows are Friday, Dec. 3, Saturday, Dec. 4 and Sunday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m.

Green Springs Baptist Church is located at 1095 E. Green Springs Rd., just off Highway 301 South. For more information, call 425-8602 or visit the website at www.greenspringsbaptistchurch.com.

If you’ve never had the pleasure of visiting a downtown loft, the candlelight loft tour is a can’t miss event. Not only are the homes quirky and interesting, they are decorated in Christmas splendor and ready to impress. Have you ever wondered what the space is like above the Cameo Theatre, or what about that space above McDuff’s Tea Room? Who spends their evenings looking down from the balcony over Bob & Sheree’s Beer & Wine shop? Well, now is your chance to find out.

This year, as in years past, several of downtown’s residents are throwing open their doors and inviting the public into their homes to share their way of life and give us a peek at the historical abodes above the shops.

Make your way downtown on Dec. 12 for this once-a-year peek into the downtown lofts.

“The tour will have 10 or so homes and is self guided so you can set your own pace,” said Chris Villa, Downtown Alliance spokesperson.

“There is always something new and different to see — and then we have some regular properties on the tour that everyone looks forward to seeing. This year we hope to have a few lofts that have not been on the the tour in a while.”

Villa didn’t mention any names but, the spaces are so varied and individualized, that every year is a treat — and a bit of a surprise.

Buy a ticket, ($10 in advance through the Downtown Alliance, Rude Awakening and City Center Gallery and Books and $13 on the day of the event) grab a map and wristband and begin your downtown adventure.

Tours will run from 5-8 p.m. For tickets and more info., call 222-3382. Be sure to stop at the Downtown Alliance office on Hay Street before you start out. Tour volunteers won’t let you into the buildings without a wristband and the Downtown Alliance is the only place to get one.

The Cumberland Oratorio Singers will perform George Frideric Handel’s Messiah during a free concert scheduled Dec. 4 beginning at 4 p.m. at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.

Michael Martin, director of Choral Activities and Music Education at Methodist University and COS artistic director, leads and conducts the 18-year-old group of approximately 60 singers.

This holiday tradition is scheduled a little earlier than it has been in past years, but the format is still the same. It’s called a Christmas concert, but the group is really trying to represents more of a holiday theme. There is a spiritual, a Hanukkah piece and we have some seasonal pieces associated with the holidays.

“It is the opening for us, of the Christmas season,” said Cumberland Oratorio Singers President Mary Potter. “In fact, this year we are doing it a week earlier than we normally do. We’ll be right ups there at the beginning of the season to sing.”

If you are new in town or if this will be your first time to view the walk-in Messiah here in Fayetteville, this is how it works. Walk-in means that the Cumberland Oratorio Singers are performing the piece, but they welcome anyone to join them — for that song.

“We have a few traditional Christmas and Hanakkuh songs to sing before we sing the Messiah. The songs we do in the beginning celebrate everyone’s holidays,” said Potter. “But when it comes time to sing the Messiah we welcome anyone to come join us up front — or to sing in their own seats, should they bring their own scores as we dont’ have any score to give them.”

There will be a practice at 10 a.m. on Dec. 4, if you are planning to participate and want to practice with the- COS for that part of it.

Adding some holiday splendor to an already impressive performance, the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra is providing the instrumental music.

“It really is a community effort to put this on,” said Potter. “The church and the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra and the singers who com to join us — it is fun and it kicks off the season. It stars things off right the holidays and boosts everyone’s morale.”

This long-standing tradition usually packs the house, so Potter suggests coming early to get a good seat (or any seat really). While there are usually extra chairs in the back, the modest space is usually standing-room only.

“My favorite thing about this is that it is for the community,” said Potter. “Anyone can come and join us — it is an open call. Come sing with us — that to me is more of a community feeling that we are offering to our Fayetteville brothers and sisters, that we are asking them to come join us for this yearly performance. That, to me, is what community is about.

Whether you are joining the walk-in or enjoying the performance from the pew, you can find out more at www.cumberlandoratoriosingers. org