Music is an integral part of Snyder Memorial Baptist Church. The music academy provides group and private music lessons, Kindermusik programs, music therapy and more. With Christmas right around the corner, the church’s adult music program is reaching out to the community again with its annual Singing Christmas Tree.

A tradition that goes back 32 years, the Snyder Singing Christmas Tree is a tradition that the community loves and looks forward to every year.

“It has really become one of the fi xtures in the Fayetteville community, like two or three other things that happen every year,” said Snyder Memorial Baptist Church Minister of Music Larry Dickens.

“We really look forward to it. We enjoy sharing with the people who come and the time that we get to share with almost 6,000 people who attend during that weekend.”

The event involves 350 people in the actual production with another 100 people who have signifi cant roles as ushers, canned-food collectors, hospitality, custodial, food service, construction workers and set builders. Although there is a lot of work and planning that goes into the Singing Christmas Tree, the performers only have two full rehearsals to pull it off, Dickens noted. They meet once for a pre-dress rehearsal, then the dress rehearsal and then on to the stage.

This years performance is titled Voices of Christmas/Legacies of Faith and it looks to be outstanding, as usual. The general gist of the performance is an attempt to contrast the contemporary voices of Christmas with the traditional legacies of faith that we think of with the Christmas story like Mary, Joseph and the shepherds.

“We are really contrasting what are the contemporary voices that we hear at Christmas? What do they say? And what were those legacies of faith voices? What do we hear from them about the Christmas story? As we look at it we realize that they had many of the same challenges that we have as contemporary people,” said Dickens.

“For example, there is a teen that has a short monologue talking about needing acceptance. There is an elderly woman who talks about loneliness, a middle-aged person who talks about how to pay the bills at Christmas and we contrast those with things like what was it like for Mary?” continued Dickens. “Did she faces challenges? Did Joseph? Did the shepherds? What were their choices? Their choice was to be faithful, to trust God.

“The lyrics from one of the 2010 Singing Christmas Tree ring especially true for many people: ‘I need a silent night, a midnight clear, a little peace right here,’” said Dickens. “But where do we fi nd these things? We fi nd these things when we return to the manger. When we look closely, listen carefully, worship fully, and follow faithfully! That’s where we’ll fi nd the hopeful Voices of Christmas. That’s where our own legacy of faith begins.”

Performance dates and times are as follows: Thursday and Friday, Dec. 2-3 from 7:30 - 9 p.m.. On Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 4-5, from 4:30 - 6 p.m. and 7:30 - 9 p.m.. Please note that it is the policy not to “hold” or “reserve” tickets. (All performances are now full. You may go to the church offi ce at 701 Westmont Dr. in Fayetteville to check if tickets have been returned). Visit www. snydermbc.com for more info.

Unless you are a movie buff or a comedy buff, you might not recognize the name Mike Epps. But when you see his face and hear his voice, you will instantly recognize Epps as one of the most popular comedians of the past few years. On Friday, Nov. 26, Epps will bring his comedy to the Crown stage.

Epps was born in 1970 in Indianapolis, Indiana, into a large family. His family encourage his comedic side and he began performing while still a teenage. Following a move to Atlanta, Ga., where he worked at the Comedy Act Theater. In 1995, he moved to New York City where he found a home on the Def Comedy Jam. During that time he also made his first big screen appearance in Van Diesel’s Strays, a film that explored relationships and drugs.

Strays was just the first of many big-screen roles Epps has tackled. He became a fan favorite from the Friday series of films, where he brought the role of Day-Day to life in Ice Cube’s Next Friday.

In 2001, Epps stepped out of the spotlight and behind the mic to bring the voice of Sonny the Bear to life in Eddie Murphy’s Dr. Dolittle 2. He also has voiced the role of Boog in Open Season 2 and Open Season 3.

2004 and 2005 were busy years for Epps, who starred in Resident Evil Apocalypse and Guess Who? with Ashton Kutcher and Bernie Mack, and the remake of The Honeymooners. In 2006, Epps hit the big screen again with a cast of stars in the fi lm The Fighting Temptations, which featured Cuba Gooding Jr. and Beyonce. In 2007, he reprised his Resident Evil role in Resident Evil: Extinction, followed up by Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins and Hancock in 2008. He also played Black Doug in The Hangover in 2009.

When Epps isn’t filming, he is touring the country and performing his comedy act, The Mike Epps On the Edge Tour to sold-out theaters and arenas across the country.

While Epps has played some diverse roles, he is quick to point out that they are merely roles and do not define who he is. When fans mistake Epps for one of his characters, he frequently makes it part of his comedy routine.

“I learned that you don’t have to be all over the place, that you can be subtle and you can say what you say,” said Epps. “The words that you put together can be just as hilarious as falling all over the place or doing something.”

Epps looks to old movies and television comedy to help develop his craft. A key inspiration was the role of Ed Norton in The Honeymooners.

“I can remember when I was a baby and my mother was there watching the show (The Honeymooners).I went and bought 100 episodes and watched them,” he said during an interview before his remake of the movie was released. “I respect it so much that the sitcom itself and Ed Norton; I’m not playing Ed Norton but my version of it, cause I’m a black man.”

“I watch old school fi lm so that I can learn so much that I just sort of miss all the new stuff,” he continued.

Epps takes his success in stride, noting, “I’m a survivor of life. I try to give the glory to God and appreciate what’s happening to me. I’m gonna have to develop myself. I’m just going to do the best that I can do, but I’m humble enough to wait and just chill. I’m having fun just working with these good people.”

Epps will be joined on stage by comedienne Sheryl Underwood. Underwood, a former member of the armed forces and has two master’s degrees frequently makes jokes about “all the creative places you can get busy on a military base.”

Underwood refers to herself as “a sexually progressive, God-fearing, black Republican,” and is best known for her stand-up, but has had some time on the big screen.

The show starts at 8 p.m., and tickets for the event range in price from $46 to $55. Tickets may be purchased at the Crown Box Office and all Ticketmaster outlets. For more information, visit www.atthecrown.com.

Once the turkey has been eaten, a few rounds of left overs have been reheated and savored and the pie plates hold nothing but crumbs, there still looms a long weekend ahead. Early on Friday morning, you might head out to the stores to partake in the great American pasttime known as Black Friday shopping, but you will want to save some of your energy for the afternoon when one of Fayetteville’s favorite holiday traditions — A Dickens Holiday returns to downtown Fayetteville.

From 1-9 p.m., Fayetteville is turned into a picture from the past, a Victorian scene full of good cheer, good times and good fun. Forget the standard 4th Friday events that usually happen this time each month, this celebration lasts through the afternoon and into the evening with events that only come once a year.

“Dickens Holiday is a Victorian-style holiday celebration that kicks off the holiday season. It is based around A Christmas Carol and the whole point that Charles Dickens was making with A Christmas Carol is that this is the time of year when you feel kindly towards your fellow man, you are warmed by your generosity to you fellow man and your good will. That is what turned Scrooge around, that spirit of a Dickens Holiday is absolutely palpable on the street during these celebrations,” explained Hank Parfitt, A Dickens Holiday spokesperson.

“It is probably one of a lot of people’s favorite holidays because you just have a wonderful sense of community and you feel good about yourself, your community and your fellow man. It really is magical. There is no other festival like it,” he continued.

Hot cider and gingerbread vendors line Hay Street offering yummy treats for just .50 cents as professional chefs assemble gingerbread masterpieces at the Rainbow Room. The competition is stiff and everyone is bringing their best decorating tricks as they compete for the $1,000 prize — and don’t forget to cast your vote for the People’s Choice Award, too.

Check out the Market House display to see the holidays portrayed Victorian style. Vintage coins, ceramics and other commemoritive pieces honoring Queen Victoria will be on display.

There will be carriage rides available from 1-9 p.m. Don’t miss the chance to savor downtown decked out in finery for the holidays. Take a ride with a group or make reservations and have the carriage all to yourself. Tickets are $15 per person, and can be purchased by calling 678-8899.

Capture the memories with a momento from Fascinate-U Children’s Museum. Kids are invited to create an original Victorian ornament from 1-7 p.m. There is always room to share with the city and hang the decoration on the community tree if your child chooses not to take his treasure home.

Photos will be available for purchase at the Arts Council. Gather the family around Father Christmas or pile into the Victorian sleigh to create a picture that you’ll cherish for years. While you are there, enjoy holiday entertainment that is sure to put you in the Christmas spirit!

If you’ve already got that spirit, why not join in the costume contest — it’s only $10 to enter and there will be cash prizes in men’s, women’s and children’s categories.

“It is important to let people know it is a fun event to watch. These costumes are very authentic. They match the time period when Dickens wrote, which is around 1830-1860. It is a quite entertaining to see what these people have designed and sewn together or assembled,” said ParfItt. “We encourage people not only to watch but to take part in the contest. There are $500 in cash prizes that we will be giving away.”

It is not too late to sign up. Just go to the Arts Council website at www. theartscouncil.com for the application and rules.

The costume contest begins with a Picadilly Promenade and a fi reside chat with Charles Dickens. The promenade is where anyone in costume can come across the stage at the beginning of the contest.

There is no judging or announcing names, it’s just a chance to show off your cool Victorian get up and to walk across the stage.

The contest starts at 6:30 p.m. and will be preceded by an appearance by Charles Dickens who will give a little back story about how he came to write A Christmas Carol and some of his other works.

“This year we’ve got a wonderful Charles Dickens,” Parfitt added. With so many events throughout the day it was hard to get Parfi tt to name just one favorite.

“There are fi ve things that make a Dickens Holiday — the carriage rides, the costumed characters from A Christmas Carol and the musicians and performers and roving carolers, the hot cider and ginger bread — without those you don’t have a Dickens Holiday,” Parfitt noted.

The other component is the procession. At 5 p.m. people gather at the Arts Council for the candlelight walk to the Market House. Queen Victoria in her carriage will be leading the procession and anyone in costume gets to go behind the carriage and everyone else behind that.

Then comes the tree lighting.

“All of the lights come on at one time — and when the lights come on the Market House bell will ring and the fireworks will burst into the night sky,” said Parfitt. “That is not the end of the event though. That is the beginning of the holiday season.”

There will be activities and entertainment well into the night with the last of the events finishing up at 9 p.m.

Find out more at www. theartscouncil.com.

The Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex will usher in another joyous holiday season with its 10th annual Holiday Jubilee on Sunday, Dec. 5 from 1-5 p.m. The event is a well-loved tradition of music, food and festivities that North Carolina residents look forward to all year.

Visitors will be awed at the beautiful and lush decorations as they tour the historic Poe House. The Poe House kitchen staff will prepare a meal on an authentic stove dating back to the 1800s, bringing delicious seasonal treats for children and adults.

Children will also enjoy taking part in the wintertime scavenger hunt or join their parents in making and taking home a traditional Victorian present.

Heidi Bleazy, education coordinator for the Cape Fear Historical Complex said, “This is such a fun time for families, scout groups, anyone welcoming the holiday season. I cannot wait to hear the wonderful music and the cooking demonstration on the 1897 wood burning stove.”

The seasonal sounds will be brought by musical guest Charles Pettee, who will delight the audience with a tasty blend of original and traditional American Folk, Bluegrass and Celtic music. Multi-talented as a singer and musically adept at banjo, harmonica, guitar and mandolin, Pettee will provide the perfect holiday sounds, while the Poe House will provide the perfect visual backdrop. Pettee will perform at 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m.

Bleazy thinks that this year will be as successful and enjoyable as in past years. “This is our 10th anniversary of having the Holiday Jubilee at the museum, and I hope to see a lot of folks come out and be a part of this great time.”

Share this event with those you cherish. There will be so much for the whole family to hear, see and do. Make this years Holiday Jubilee a part of your seasonal celebrations. The Holiday Jubilee is a free, family-friendly event for all to enjoy.

The Musuem of the Cape Fear Complex is located on Arsenal Avenue, just off Haymount Hill in Fayetteville. The historical complex is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. -5 p.m. and Sunday from 1-5 p.m., and admission is free.

For more information, visit www.musuemofthecapefear.ncdcr.gov or call Heidi Bleazy at 910 486 1330 from 1-5 p.m.

For hockey fans, this time of the year is filled with excitement. And for FireAntz hockey fans, the action might be happening on the ice, but it keeps getting hotter as they go out to support their home team.

Over the years the Fayetteville FireAntz have made a mark on the community, and their fans keep coming back year after year for good times and great hockey. This year promises to be no exception.

The Fayetteville FireAntz are hitting the ice for the 2010 season with a relatively inexperienced team; however, the community can still expect great things from its home team, according to Kevin McNaught, the president/ general manager of the organization.

“We lost some veteran players last year, so we had to make more changes than we normally would,” said McNaught. “We only have three veterans returning. We are not rebuilding, we are reloading.”

The FireAntz are currently seventh in the league with three wins and seven losses.

Jason Fleming, public relations director for the team, added, “We’ve had a lot of games on the road and that takes a toll.”

Kevin “We’ve only had two home games because of the events at the Crown forcing us to play on the road. Sunday’s win was pretty big.

New to the FireAntz this year are 10 players, seven of whom have just finished their college careers. BeefIng up the goal is Adam Avramenko, from Strathmore, Alberta.

Fleming said Avramenko is coming on strong in the goal and shows a lot of promise.

He will be joined on the ice by six new forwards: Jeff Borrows, Ryan Salvis, Kyle Warneke, NathanielBrooks, Cody Zubko and Anthony Pototschnik.

“We’ve had a lot of talented young forwards,” said Fleming. “Salvis and Zubko have really stepped up early.”

Strengthening the defensive line are: Myles Gomes, Jordan Behler and Joe DeBello. Debello, Zubko and Salvis have some pro hockey experience under their belts.

The FireAntz will look for leadership from their returning bench to whip their young team into shape.

Leading the team this year will be Craig Geerlinks, a defensive player, who was named player/assistant coach and captain for the 2010-2011 season. He is joined by forward Bobby Reed who is the alternate captain and also an assistant coach.

Fan favorite Rob Sich will also return to the lineup. Sich, whose return to the ice was in question when contract negotiations stalled this summer, is in his fourth season with the FireAntz, and has played his heart out on the ice. Named the 2009-2010 and the 2006-2007 Southern Professional Hockey League MVP, he set the SPHL record with 63 goals in a season.

Sich is in good company with teammate Chris Leveille who is returning for his second season with the team. Last year, Leveille, a forward, played in 56 games, scored 19 goals and had 65 assists. He was named to the All SPHL team.

The organization has become a member of the Fayetteville community. The action might take place on the ice, but their hearts are fi rmly in the community. Community support of the team is a partnership that has grown over the years.

“What we do is quality of life,” said McNaught. “We rely on the community to support us so much, so it is easy for us to give back with appearances and having the players in the schools where they can be role models.”

Over the past several years the FireAntz have formed lasting partnerships with community agencies like the Women’s Center and the Cape Fear Valley Blood Donor Center. The organization is also a huge supporter of the military. This week, two of those partnerships will take center ice as the FireAntz host a special military appreciation night and a Blood Donor Center night.

On Friday, Nov. 19, military groups will have the opportunity to purchase tickets for just $5 at the FireAntz offi ce as the FireAntz take on the Louisiana IceGators. On Dec. 4, the team will host military appreciation night.

On Saturday, Nov. 20, the FireAntz will play a second match against the IceGators but the spotlight will turn to the Blood Donor Center. This is the fi rst specialty jersey night of the season. The team will sport jerseys specially designed to support the Blood Donor Center. After the game you are going to want to stick around for an auction of the jerseys, with all proceeds going to the Blood Donor Center.

The following week, the FireAntz are looking forward to hosting what has become an annual event — Thanksgiving Night Hockey!

“This is only the beginning of our season,” said Fleming. “We’ve had two home games and there are 26 games left between now and March. We are really excited about the season. We have the best fan support in the league and we are really going to turn it on for our fans.”

For more information, visit www.fireantzhockey.com.

What if I told you that just outside of Fayetteville sits a beautiful, lush paradise; a place where you can escape it all for a few hours and still be home for dinner? Well, it’s true, such a place exists in the Lu-Mil Vineyard.

Starting as a tobacco mill, the Lu Mil Vineyard (a combination of the owners first names Lucille and Miller Taylor), sits on the family farm site on Suggs-Taylor Road, in Dublin, N.C., just 25 miles south of Fayetteville.

Already successful as a thriving tobacco farm, the Taylor’s decided to go in a different direction, and in the early 2000s the owners decided to test their ideas for new machinery for the growing viticulture industry. Their Muscadine vineyard was born!

With the Muscadine grapes producing well, the fi rst estate wines were produced from Lu Mil Vineyard’s 2005 Muscadine grape harvest, and in December 2005 the vineyard’s Gift Shop and Tasting Room offi cially opened to the public.

Proving popular and successful, Lu-Mil Vineyard has expanded over the years, and now also possesses several different sized venues that have provided families in and around Dublin with beautiful setting for their weddings, receptions, family reunions and more.

Also available is a large winetasting room with a gift shop and windows overlooking the 35-acre vineyard. With fishing ponds, horseshoe pits and walking trails, there is a little something for everyone to enjoy, and now that the Christmas season is almost here, Lu-Mil is pleased to bring back its holiday light show. Patrons will be able to climb aboard the plush double decker bus, take a tour of the vineyard and partake in the wonderful light show all at once.

Ron Taylor, owner of Lu-Mil Vineyard called the presentation, “An exciting holiday experience consisting of hundreds of thousands of choreographed and synchronized lights put to sound, and made to dance for several different shows.”

Surely the thought of colorful Christmas lights dancing to the sounds of the season is enough to put anyone in a joyous holiday mood. Come for just the show or stay for a while, their beautifully decorated rooms are available for rent by the day or weekend.

The holiday light show will begin Nov. 27 and will run Thursdays through Sundays at 6 p.m. Tickets are $5 or for an additional $5 you are able to partake in the Country Dinner buffet as well.

For more information, call 910- 862-1000 or visit their web page at www.lumilvineyard.com.

The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra has been bringing culture and great music to Fayetteville for more than 50 years. Not only do they perform at several venues around town, including local schools, churches, colleges and outdoor parks, they also partner with local arts and cultural venues to perform free concerts and educational events several times a year in addition to a rigorous concert season.

The 2010-2011 season is underway and on Nov. 20, the symphony is in tune to perform its second concert of the Season of Masterworks. “

The reason we chose the pieces for this program is that its theme is legends and riddles,” said Dr. Fouad Fakhouri, conductor of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra.

“The first two pieces of the program really are legendary pieces.” The first one is the “Overture to the Flying Dutchman” by Richard Wagner. Fakhouri compares this piece to a recent film that was quite popular. “It is a great overture that deals with the legend of love — the story is very similar to Pirates of the Caribbean.”

Fakhouri explained the legend behind the piece: There is a sailor who is cursed and his only way to salvation is to fi nd a woman on shore who will love him unconditionally and forever. Every seven years he comes to shore for that one chance — to try and find his love.

Next in the line up is Felix Mendelssohn’s “Violin Concerto in E Minor” which will be performed by Juliana Athayde. Athayde is currently a professor of violin at the Eastman School of Music and has an impressive list of professional accomplishments including an appointment as concertmaster of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra in 2005 at the age of 24. Prior to that, Athayde was concertmaster of the Canton and Plymouth Symphonies. She has also performed as guest concertmaster with the Houston Symphony and National Arts Center Orchestra, and has performed both nationally and internationally with the Cleveland Orchestra.

The finale of the evening is Sir Edward Elgar’s “Enigma Variations — the Riddle.”

“The reason it is labeled as such is the composer wrote this tune and he told everybody that there is something more to that tune than what is there on paper and nobody to date has been able to figure out what the riddle is behind the piece,” said Fakhouri. “It is a beautiful piece because it is a portrait of all of his friends and loved ones.”

Elgar took one theme and he has 14 variations of this theme, each one representing a person in his life. He has initials on every one of those movements and those initials are of his friends and relatives.

“One is of his wife, it is just a beautiful theme and the way he transforms this idea to every person’s character is really fascinating,” Fakhouri added “The last movement of that work is his variation — a musical self portrait — and it is such a great movement. He brings back his wife’s theme in a very delicate moment, as if to say that ‘All of the things that happened earlier in my life were great but the one constant in my life has been my wife’ and he brings that one theme to the very end in a emotional way.”

Before each performance, the maestro has an informal chat with the audience about what they will hear during the concert, what to listen for and what is significant in the pieces that will be performed. This pre-performance discussion will include Athayde.

So, while the concert starts at 7:30 p.m. at FSU’s Seabrook Auditorium, if you get there around 6:45 p.m. you’ll have a chance to learn a bit about the music and the performers.

“I think it is definitely going to be exciting and really imaginative in many ways and very diverse.” said Fakhouri. “The beauty of it is there are three different pieces, but certainly two of them have a very profound meaning behind the music.”

To find out what else the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra has in store for the rest of the year, and to purchase tickets, visit www.fayettevillesymphony.org

Most of us are familiar with Charles Dickens’ classic tale, A Christmas Carol. It’s the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a rich, yet stingy businessman who dislikes festivities and celebrations. Scrooge is well-known for his hatred for the poor as well as for the harsh way in which he treats them. In the story, Scrooge is visited by spirits who test his beliefs and eventually, Scrooge realizes that he has erred and resolves to become a compassionate, charitable man. The story has become synonymous with Christmas and has maintained its status of being a holiday staple around the globe.

The stage version of A Christmas Carol has become a local tradition as well, courtesy of the performers at the Gilbert Theater. For the fifth straight year, the Gilbert Theater has been entertaining the community with its own take on one of Dickens’ most famous works. According to founder and artistic director at Gilbert, Lynn Pryer, despite the fact that the story was published more than 150 years ago, it still resonates with readers and audiences today.

“Human nature does not change. Greed is still with us,” Pryer said, going on to say that the reason he loves theater is that, “Great stories can change people. Brilliant stories like this one have lasting power. It was on stage one month after its publication in 1843. Redemption is a tenant of all great religions.”

It is his love for the performing arts that led Pryer to open up the Gilbert Theater in the basement of his home back in 1994. Now in its location at the corner of Green and Bow streets in downtown Fayetteville, the theater is well known for both its classical and contemporary productions. Gilbert prides itself on providing performances that are both entertaining as well as socially relevant.

When asked about the challenge of keeping an annual production like A Christmas Carol fresh, Pryer noted, “Doing a play year after year requires us to improve this and that: sets, costumes, props, music, etc.”

His ultimate goal is for his audience to “sit breathless in their seat and leave changed. We ask audiences to willingly suspend their disbeliefs.”

“In a familiar story like A Christmas Carol,” he said, “our task is to use Charles Dickens’ words and breathe life into them.”

It is no wonder, then, how the motto of the Gilbert, “where story telling takes center stage” came to be.

Those who were fortunate to have caught last year’s version will be happy to learn that John Doerner will be returning in his role as the selfish businessman, Scrooge. Also returning this year are Paul Wolverton as Bob Cratchit, Cleve Davis as Jacob Marley’s ghost and Joyce Lipe as the narrator. Carrie Carroll, Crystal Abbott and Efrain Colon will portray the three spirits.

The production will run Nov. 26 - Dec. 12. Thursday and Friday shows are at 8 p.m. Saturday shows are at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday shows are at 2 p.m. only. (There will not be a show on Dec. 9). Tickets are $12 and can be purchased at the website www.gilberttheater.com or at the box office beginning Nov. 17.

The box office is open on Tuesday 5-7 p.m., Wednesdays and Saturdays from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Walk-ups are welcome but seating can’t be guaranteed. For more information, visit the website or call 910- 678-7186. The Gilbert is located on the second floor of the Fascinate U Children’s Museum and it is wheelchair accessible

A recent walk-through of the Fayetteville Museum of Art revealed empty walls with no exhibits on display. Instead, walls and floors were lined with stacks and stacks of items for sale. These artifacts, treasures and office supplies that were once used daily at the Fayetteville Museum of Art are grouped, priced and ready to make themselves useful at a different home — possibly yours.

On Saturday, Nov. 20, from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. the doors of the Fayetteville Museum of Art will be open once again. Only this time it’s not for a new exhibit, but for a tag sale. They are looking to sell most everything in the building. There will be art, art supplies, appliances, offIce supplies, office furniture, computers, electronics, tools, paint, kitchen supplies, books, cultural artifacts, educational toys and plenty of unique odds and ends.

“We really have some treasures here,” said Meredith Player Stiehl, of the Fayetteville Museum of Art Board of Trustees. “Everyone from the small business owner looking for offIce equipment and supplies to homeschoolers looking for resources, to teachers, parents, art collectors — you name it, they can find something here.”

Items are priced to sell. The museum store has Andy Warhol items that normally sell for $15 marked down to $2. Art desks that have been well used and well loved but that still have plenty of useful life left in them are going for $25. Grab a chair to go with it, they are $3 - $5.

Don’t come expecting to haggle over the price of office supplies, although there will be some wiggle room in price when it comes to the pieces of art that are being sold.

“We’ll have our curator here for the tag sale,” said Stiehl. “She will be able to answer any questions that people have about the art work we are selling.”

The offerings range in scope, size and tastes. There are a few pieces by a Disney illustrator, works by students who attended art classes at the museum and pieces that were donated over the years for safe keeping.

Although it is difficult to watch so much of their inventory go out the door, Stiehl realizes that it is for all the right reasons. The board of directors is keeping the museum’s private collection, library materials and a few other resources and plans to use them again when the museum opens its doors at some point in the future, and hopefully that will be sooner rather than later.

“We are currently waiting to hear back from a consultant about plans for the future of the museum,” Stiehl said. “We are going to store the few things we aren’t selling at the tag sale, and hopefully we will find a space that we can use to reestablish the museum and make these resources available to the public once again.”

If you are coming to the tag sale at 839 Stamper Rd., to take advantage of the great bargains, bring cash, as checks and credit cards will not be accepted. Visit www. fayettevillemuseumart.org for more information.

There is a distinct joyfulness in the watercolors and oil paintings of Joanna McKethan. Brilliant colors and highly detailed subjects exude states of grace, sensation and sentiment.

Visitors to Gallery 208 on Rowan Street, Thursday, November 18, will be able to get a preview of the exhibition Works by Joanna McKethan and meet the artist between 5:30 and 7:00 p.m. The artist will be speaking at 6:00 p.m. to give visitors to the reception insight into her journey as an artist.

McKethan resides in Dunn, North Carolina, and has a studio and business in Dunn where she has taught painting for many years. A regular visitor to Fayetteville, some of her local activities include being a juror for the Fayetteville Art Guild, studying printmaking with Silvana Foti at Methodist University and winning two Regional Artist Grants at the Arts Council of Fayetteville and Cumberland County.

I met the artist recently during her gallery talk after she had juried a competition for the Fayetteville Arts Guild. Seeing an exhibition of her work only affi rmed what I already knew of the artist from that initial meeting, she was highly trained and able to verbally discuss works of art in a critical manner.

In addition, what I see in her exhibition is a body of work that refl ects a personality that was communicated during her gallery talk — exuberance and competence.

No matter what the subject she is painting, still lifes or landscapes, there are several underlying themes in her work — one is the unfolding of beauty. McKethan calls her style “playful realism,” but I sensed much deeper meaning when I viewed her body of work. For me there is something always unfolding for us to discover among her subjects of feathers, leaves, bubbles or old letters.

In talking to McKethan, she affi rmed her intuitive approach to painting; response overrules planning. In many of her works the placement of objects unifi es the composition, all the pieces fit to make a whole that results in a type of truth for the viewer.

The abundance of beauty in McKethan’s paintings invites contemplation. We are immediately drawn to the color and the subject; the signifi cance of play, balance and harmony are spring boards to the essence of meaning in her work.

The inner harmony of McKethan’s paintings is subtle; the truth in her work is revealed by the way she has come to terms with her environment with selected interest and is presenting that discovery to us. In the process of painting, the artist has attained equilibrium with her environment, one that brings new and fresh adjustments for the viewer.

For example, a magnolia leaf in McKethan’s painting is not simply green or brown, but for McKethan is “layers of bronzed metallic colors.” McKethan stated, “I see the depth of the color, not just color in terms of brightness.”

The artist shows us a new environment from the familiar. Her objective study of the objects in her still lifes becomes an experience that moves away from the descriptive and aligns itself with interpretation — equilibrium is always present.

A well trained artist, McKethan’s experience in art spans thirty years. She studied art at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, but left the university with a BS in Philosophy. While living in Germany, McKethan undertook three years of Old Masters training in oils by a German master, Bergheim and watercolor training at the University of Munich Extension by a Polish master, Leon Jonczyk.

Some of her awards include the Salis International Award from the 59th Juried Exhibition in Boone, NC, the Silver Brush Award for the 25th Southern Watercolor Society Anniversary Exhibition in Baton Rouge, LA, two Regional Artists Grants from the Fayetteville and Cumberland County Arts Council and the Purchase Award from the Watercolor Society of North Carolina in Cary.

When not being exhibited in galleries and competitions around the country, McKethan’s paintings hang at two of her galleries, j’Originals’ Art Studio at 126 East Broad Street in Dunn and at Art on Broad Atelier at 217 East Broad in Dunn.

In the McLeod Gallery at Up & Coming Weekly, local artist A. Jones Rogers will also be having a reception of a solo exhibition of his watercolors.

A. Jones Rogers has been exhibiting his large format watercolors in Fayetteville galleries for many years, so I welcome a body of his work to be viewed at one time. Rogers is known for his close attention to detail, panoramic views of local sites and historical moments in time.

Rogers’s watercolors seem to be more about the details of a moment. In all of his work I feel as if I am in the moment of his experience. Seeing details through the eyes of the artist, I scan his watercolor surfaces as he creates form and story with particulars, information and fi ne points of color and light.

Like McKethan, Rogers has received many awards for his watercolors; one of his recent awards was a fi rst place award last year for Cargill Plant in the Fayetteville Arts Council’s Cultural Expressions competition and a first place award in this years competition at the Cape Fear Studios on Maxwell Street.

People attending the reception will be able to meet this enigmatic artist. I have seen his large scale watercolor for years in exhibitions, yet only recently met the artist. So for people familiar with the work, it is their chance to hear the artist talk about his work and his journey as an artist. For those unfamiliar with his work, it will be a perfect time to meet an accomplished local, realist artist.

The two exhibitions compliment each other. Both artists are a testimony to the types of knowledge we can experience as an artist translates and manipulates a similar medium.

The public is invited to Gallery 208 in the offi ces of Up & Coming Weekly at 208 Rowan Street, Nov. 18 at 5:30 p.m. to attend the opening of these two exhibits. Both artists will be present to talk about their work; exhibitions will remain up throughout the month of December.

The Museum of the Cape Fear is celebrating the life of Omar Ibn Said through Dec. 5 and invites you to join them as they delve into the life of this Muslim slave whose writings and works are still studied by scholars today.

The story of Omar Ibn Said is an interesting one indeed. A man of privilege, he was born in 1770 and raised in what is modern day Senegal and enjoyed a prosperous life until he was captured and sold into slavery. His family was Muslim and he was educated in the Qur’an, Islamic practices and prayers. He also learned how to read and write in Arabic and knew some math too. He considered himself a scholar, a teacher and a merchant.

By the time he came to America as a slave, Omar Ibn Said was 37 years old. He ended up in Fayetteville in 1810 after running away from a cruel master in Charleston, S.C. Of course, he was captured pretty quickly and charged with being a run away slave. While in jail, he turned to his faith and used coals from the fireplace to write prayers to Allah on the walls and ceiling of his cell. Being an educated Arab, all of his writings were in Arabic and the citizens of Fayetteville were intrigued by the markings he made in the jail.

“They weren’t familiar with the writings, but it was obvious that this was an educated man,” said Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex administrator David Reid. Omar Ibn Said was purchased by James Owen of Bladen County and went to live with the family there. “Omar was held in high esteem by the family and treated quite well.” Reid added.

Little did Omar Ibn Said, or the young town of Fayetteville, know what an impact he would have — one that would last for centuries.

Although Omar Ibn Said is not the only Muslim sold into slavery in the U.S., he is the only one known to have penned his autobiography in his native language — Arabic. In fact, his original autobiography, which was penned in 1831, is the cornerstone of the exhibit.

The manuscript consists of two parts. Omar Ibn Said begins with a chapter from the Koran, surat al-Mulk (‘dominion’ or ‘ownership’), then follows with his own narrative. Omar Ibn Said’s narrative is addressed to a “Sheikh Hunter,” who presumably asked Omar to write the narrative.

In 1836, Omar Ibn Said sent his manuscript to Lamine Kebe, a freed slave and Muslim of Futa Toro, the region Omar Ibn Said grew up in, living in New York and preparing to return to Africa. Eventually, the manuscript of the autobiography was lost. It was found in a collection in Virginia in the 1990s and sold at auction. The current owner has allowed it to be examined by scholars and displayed in museums.

Lamine Kebe passed the manuscript of the autobiography to Theodore Dwight, a founder of the American Ethnological Society professional traveler, writer and abolitionist. Dwight made it available to Alexander Cotheal, a linguist who was fluent in Arabic. Cotheal produced the first English translation of the work in 1848. A second translation was later done by Reverend Isac Beard, a founder of the Syrian Protestant Mission in Beirut (later American University Beirut).

“I think the autobiography is something he wrote in 1831,” said Reid. “It is in his handwriting, it has been missing for a while and has come to light, so it is exciting to get the attention brought to Omar. He is an interesting fi gure from our history that people aren’t aware of — I think it will generate a lot of attention and interest.

”In addition, Davidson College is loaning a copy of the Lord’s Prayer translated into Arabic by Omar Ibn Said to the Museum of the Cape Fear.

“The Owen family donated some artifacts to Davidson back in the 1870s or so,” said Reid. “They were staunch Presbyterians and knew of Davidson and trusted them to preserve it.”

The Museum of the Cape Fear is located at 801 Arsenal Ave. They are open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from 1-5 p.m. on Sundays. Call 486-1330 for more info.

When you think of theater, you don’t automatically think about Fayetteville State University. But that’s where you make a mistake.

FSU has a growing theater department that is committed to bringing a wide variety of plays to the community each year. Its most recent offering, Fences, will be on stage Nov. 18-20.

Directed by Dr. Harmon Watson, chair of the Performing and Fine Arts Department, Fences, written in 1983 is authored by African-American playwright August Wilson. Set in the 1950s, it is the sixth play in Wilson’s 10-part Pittsburgh Cycle. Like all of the Pittsburgh plays, Fences explores the evolving African-American experience and examines race relations, among other themes.

The production won a Tony Award for Best Play, Best Actor in a Play for James Earl Jones, Best Direction of a Play, as well as the Drama Desk Award, Outstanding New Play, Outstanding Actor in a Play (Jones) and Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play (Mary Alice). This year the Broadway revival of the production won Tony Awards for Best Revival Play, Best Actor in a Play for Denzel Washington and Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play for Viola Davis.

The play begins on payday, with Troy Maxson and Jim Bono drinking and talking. Troy has made a formal complaint to his bosses that only white men are permitted to drive the garbage trucks for the waste disposal company at which both men work. The two men finish their discussion of work, and Bono asks Troy about a woman, Alberta, he suspects Troy of seeing. Troy denies that he would risk losing his wife, Rose, but Bono does not give up so easily and reminds Troy that he has been seen at Alberta’s house when he said he was elsewhere.

The conversation is interrupted when Troy’s son Lyons who arrives to ask his father for money. Troy gives his son a hard time, but eventually gives him the $10 requested. Eventually, it is revealed that Troy has been having an affair with Alberta, whom the audience never sees throughout the play. Alberta gets pregnant and dies giving birth to Raynell, the daughter conceived from their affair. Troy’s wife Rose accepts the duty of being Raynell’s mother when Alberta dies in childbirth. Troy and Rose have another son, Cory, who against his father’s wishes, plays football and temporarily leaves his job during the football season. This infuriates Troy, who eventually kicks Cory out of the Maxson home. During the fi nal act of the play, Troy dies. His daughter Raynell is seen as a happy 7-year-old; his son Cory comes home from war, and initially refuses to go to his father’s funeral due to long-standing resentment. However, Rose convinces him to pay his respects to his father — the man who, though hard-headed and often poor at demonstrating affection, loved his son.

The curtain raises at the Butler Theater at 7:30 p.m.

For more information, call 672-1006 or visit the FSU Theatre website www.uncfsu.edu/theatre/fsu_drama_guild.htm. For reservations contact FSU’s Ticket Manager, Antoinette Fairley, at 672-1724.

It seems today that there is a gadget to do virtually everything for you, that all presents come with bells, whistles or … a touch screen, and homemade and handcrafted gifts are a thing of the past. In light of this, the 2010 Yule Mart seems like a piece of much needed nostalgia to a time when everything wasn’t manufactured and mass produced. Yule Mart is a showcase of local, regional, and out-of-state crafters and artists and their creations, sponsored by the Fort Bragg Officers Spouses Club. More than 70 booths will be featured, offering a wide variety of items, such as quilts, holiday decorations, jewelry, paintings, furniture, Americana crafts, and much more. They will be selling their handmade crafts and products this November 19, 20 and 21 in the Ritz Epps Gym, Fort Bragg.

“We have lots of new vendors this year, as well as some old favorites” said Yule Mart chairperson Tracy Curran. “My Sister and I is a new vendor this year. The Promise is back and they are always a big hit. The Buy n Bragg will be there again, which is our (Fort Bragg Area Spouses Club) boutique here on post — they sell Fort Bragg related items.”

Mr. and Mrs. Claus will be taking a break from their busy schedules and stopping by, with Mrs. Claus’s Bake Shop and Santa’s Workshop both in the Ritz Epps Physical Fitness Center. Donate or buy tasty treats or bring the kiddies to shop for low priced gifts for their family and friends.

“There is a new feature this year at Santa’s Secret Workshop,” said Curran. “This year we have an EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program) shopping experience, and we are very excited about that. That will be on Sunday Nov. 21 from 10-11 a.m. We are very excited about that. It will be a little less chaotic than our other shopping times.”

Mrs. Claus’s Bake Shop will be fi lled with cookies, brownies, muffi ns and breads, as well as fresh fruit and sugar free items for sale.

Of course all of the proceeds go right back into the community on and around Fort Bragg.

“We had about 3,000 shoppers last year and this year we are shooting for at least 4,000,” said Curran. “All of this goes back to our community through welfare grants to community organizations that support the military as well as on scholarships and continuing education scholarships for spouses of military members. Last year a lot of local schools both on and off post benefi tted from general welfare fund grants including the Fort Bragg animal shelter, the Armed Services YMCA, Operation Homefront N.C. and the Fisher House.”

One of my earliest memories of Christmas is sitting with my uncles, aunts and cousins at the dining room table covered with beads, string and pipe cleaners making our own ornaments. Eventually they got so popular that we began to sell them to friends and family members, as well as in our church. We enjoyed the money, but nothing could ever put a price on the bond that we created together and the delight in making something with our own hands that gave such joy to others. This year I urge everyone to step away from the gadgets and electronics, and give something made with care, and support our neighboring artists and talent.

“The mall and other retailers are standard — everybody can fi nd what you fi nd at the mall, but these are all unique hand crafted items,” said Curran. “I think the uniqueness would be the reason to come and shop at Yule Mart. The stuff you will fi nd at Yule Mart you are not going to fi nd at the mall or any other retail outlet.”

PICTURED: Shoppers enjoy regional crafters and artisans at Yule Mart.

For years the Cumberland County Public Library & Information Center has been hosting events that support literacy, but they are great supporters of arts and culture, too. Every 4th Friday you can fi nd some sort of concert, performance or exhibit at the Headquarters Library on Maiden Lane, and throughout the year there are assorted performances, events, lectures and competitions that make our community more interesting and engaging. Case in point — the upcoming 5th Annual Bohemian Music and Art Festival on Nov. 14.

The Pate Room at Headquarters Library will be transformed into a celebration of great music and art from 12 - 7 p.m. Music lovers can look forward to hearing the sounds of some of Fayetteville’s favorite performers who we fi nd all around town on a regular basis — the Chris Cox Band, Robbie Reid Band, Corky Jones, Blues Enigma, The Guruvs, Original Nature, Fat Freddy’s Cat Band, Ray King Percussions and others.

“It will be highlighting local artists and musicians,” said Cumberland County Public Library & Information Center Headquarters Branch Manager Jane Casto. “The line up has changed a little bit but they are all local. The focus, in the past, has been on blues but Claudia Schwartz is the person who put it together and I think she has tried to get a little of a mix in there. There will be some acoustic, some electric — it is more of a variety.”

Art enthusiasts will be treated to the works of painter Dorothy Finello, glass artist Shannon Davis, Kerstin Hanson and her chakra inspired jewelry, Robin Deffendall, Jeff Coleman and others.

“The artists are there all day,” said Casto. “They are there for people to browse and look — and buy. You can purchase music and art and they will give a 20 percent donation to the Friends of the Library.”

Event organizer Claudia Schwarz added that this is a great way to do some Christmas shopping for those gifts that you just won’t fi nd anywhere else.

“This is really a chance to not only support local artists and musicians by purchasing their work, but it supports the library, too, and offers a chance for unique gifts as well,” said Schwarz.

Local belly dancers, Shadows of the Fire, will round out the event with a performance late in the afternoon.

Bringing such an eclectic group together every year has become something that the event organizers really look forward to. It gives people a chance to come to the library and to do something different.

“We get a lot of regular customers and new faces, too,” said Casto. “We hope that people will come back just to see what else the library has to offer. We always have a library table of information as well, so we can promote that we have music, we have books on music, we have books on making art — so if it inspires you, you can investigate your creative side at the library.”

It is not just coming and seeing the musicians, you can come and learn more about a particular technique you’ve seen, or if you want to learn more about music or to listen to music, the folks at the library can do all that.

The event is appropriate for all ages. “Many people who attend enjoy the fact that they can come and it is not a bar, it is not in a big setting — it is more of an intimate setting where they can really listen and enjoy the music,” said Casto. “It really brings music to a very comfortable secure environment.”

To find out more, give the library a call at 483-7727.

Wiley and Wendy Hughes are the senior pastors of Mount Carmel Church and the founders of Destiny Now World Outreach located at 2569 Owen Dr. They’ve been serving full-time in the ministry for more than 20 years and have no plans to stop anytime soon, in fact they are more motivated than ever with the opening of the new worship center.

On Nov. 16, to celebrate their new house of worship, they are hosting Israel Houghton and the New Breed for a night of worship and praise and you are invited to attend.

Israel Houghton has a Christian music sound that just can’t be easily put into a category. He covers gospel, jazz, rock, reggae, pop and more. Not only does he have his own recording career, but Houghton is also the worship leader at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. He’s also served as worship leader for Promise Keepers and Champions of Christ and performed at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards.

Houghton came on the scene in 2003 when he produced an album by Michael Gungor called Bigger Than My Imagination. Christianity Today proclaimed it “one of the year’s best worship albums.”

In 2005 his work “Again I say Rejoice” from the album Live From Another Levelwon a Dove Award. “Not Forgotten” and “Turn It Around” from the album Alive in South Africa won Dove Awards for Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song in 2006 and 2007 respectively. Alive in South Africa was also honored with a Grammy Award in 2007 for Best Traditional Gospel Album.

“This is going to be a wonderful evening of worship,” said Emily Smiling of Destiny Now World Outreach. “We are an outreach church and this is a way for us to reach out to our neighborhood and our community. Our goal is to reach out and impact our neighbors, our neighborhood and our community.”

The concert starts at 7 p.m. and is sure to leaving you feeling fulfi lled and refreshed. For more info visit www.mountcarmelchurch.net.

PICTURED: Israel Houghton will perform in Fayetteville on Nov. 16 at Destiny Now World Outreach.

Early one recent Saturday morning, four teen-aged girls stretched out on the stage of the Westover High School Auditorium. In the darkened room, they chatted about every day things near and dear to the heart of teenagers: boys, football and dresses.

In the relaxed environment, they listened to their teacher/ mentor Laura Stevens talk excitedly about the upcoming Heart of Christmas Show featuring the girls — Hannah Godbold, 15; Mandy Hawley, 16; Rachel Crenshaw, 15; Katelyn Godbold, 14; and Hannah Pritchard, 12 — who are collectively know as Voices of the Heart.

“This is an incredible group of girls,” said Stevens, who has been directing the show that is slated for Saturday, Nov. 27 and Sunday, Nov. 28 at the Crown Theatre. “They’ve been performing together as a team for the past two years, and that helps make it a solid show. They sing so well together. It’s really a landmark for us this year. We have had a lot of great Voices of the Heart over the years, but this one has a particularly great harmony, and they all have equal talent. Not only are they great singers, they are also great dancers.

“Gone are the days when you could be in Voices of the Heart and only sing,” continued Stevens. “You have to be able to dance as well. We have added a lyrical dance segment in our church concerts — a praise dance. Even the stiffest churches have embraced that with open arms. That’s such a heartbeat for me. I’ve always loved that. It took a long time to get to here. To be on that stage, you have to be able to perform, to express your passion on your face. When the lights come on, these girls have it all.”

What they bring to the stage creates the Christmas magic that Fayetteville residents have come to know and love.

“It is really a Fayetteville tradition,” said Stevens. “Since the show is on stage Thanksgiving weekend, it really is the kick-off to the Christmas season. Everyone enjoys lights and trees and how Christmas-y the show is. It truly captures the magic and splendor of Christmas.”

To keep the show fresh, Stevens adds new numbers every year, although the core of the show remains intact. She said this year they are pulling out all of the stops and are adding what she hopes will be real crowd pleasers.

One big addition is the staging of a live nativity scene, complete with donkeys and sheep, as the audience exits the building. Another addition is the performance of a Rockette-style number. “To see this one, you would have to go to New York,” said Stevens. “We really have worked on the ‘wow’ factor, and promise to deliver a fast-paced, two-hour production.”

At the end of the day, Stevens acknowledges the show wouldn’t make it without the support of community sponsors. “Every year they dig deep and set a little aside for us,” she acknowledged. “It costs more than $100,000 to stage the show, and they foot the bill. We couldn’t do it without them, and Fayetteville wouldn’t have such a great show without them.”

And the community’s children’s charities and schools would not benefi t without the support of the show’s sponsors and the community. Each year the show raises funds to feed back into the community. Charities like the Child Advocacy Center, the Fayetteville Autism Society and the Friends of Children at Cape Fear Valley receive generous donations from the show. Since its inception, more than a quarter of a million dollars has been put back into the community through the Heart of Christmas Show.

The schools have also benefi ted to the tune of $100,000. Stevens noted that this year the school shows have already sold-out.

“It’s great to be able to give that money back to the classroom teacher to let them buy whatever it is they need to be successful in their classroom,” said Stevens.

She added that the Heart of Christmas Show is about making a difference. It makes a difference in the lives of all of the talented youth who participate from the Voices of the Heart members to the dancers from Linda Kinlaw’s School of Dance. It makes a difference in the community through its charitable bent. And, maybe most importantly, it makes a difference in the lives of those who attend.

Stevens explained that this year the dance school was uncertain as to their participation because their dancers were so young. A morning visit to McDonald’s changed everything.

“Michelle, who is one of the artistic directors at the school, was really not sure about bringing these young dancers to the show,” explained Stevens. “She went to McDonald’s for breakfast one morning and the lady working at the counter saw her Heart of Christmas T-shirt.”

The lady explained that she had attended the show the previous year. At the time, she was a resident in a substance abuse center for alcoholics.

“She said that after seeing the show, she got right with the Lord, got back in church and got her life back on track,” continued Stevens. “That was all Michelle needed to hear. That was her answer.”

If you want to enjoy the magic and majesty of Christmas, be sure to get your tickets. The Saturday show is at 7 p.m.; while the Sunday show is at 3 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance and can be purchased at the Crown Box Offi ce or Hawley’s Bicycle World. Tickets are $18 at the door. Tickets can also be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets; however, convenience fees will apply.

According to GlobalSecurity.org, Fort Bragg is the largest Army installation in the world by population, and is home to almost 10 percent of the Army’s active component forces. Approximately 43,000 military and 8,000 civilian personnel work at Fort Bragg.”

That’s a lot of service, sacrifi ce and selfl essness on our behalf.

Veterans Day is right around the corner, and with it comes the opportunity to say thanks and to show appreciation for those who offer up their lives and who fi ght to defend our freedom every day. On Nov. 6 Fayetteville will celebrate our heroes at the Veterans Day Parade. It starts 11 a.m. at the corner of Hay Street and Bragg Boulevard and will end at Robeson Street.

Don Talbot, the event organizer and a veteran, has been organizing this event for the past 13 years. He’s excited about the size and scope of this year’s event.

“This is a long and interesting and never boring parade of military, ex-military and loyal supporters,” said Talbot. “A typical year has anywhere from 1,000 to 1,400 people in the parade. This year because the majority of the troops are back at Fort Bragg, they are sending me an entire brigade to march in review. That’s 1,200 soldiers from the 3/73 Cavalry of the 82nd Airborne Divison. That one entry doubled the size of our parade. I would guess there are about 2,800 people in the parade this year.”

Check out America’s future leaders as the local high school ROTC units march by the grand stand. Talbot is expecting anywhere from 80 to 250 cadets. A few of the high schools will also send their drill teams to impress the crowds with their rifl e-spinning skills.

Restored military vehicles from by-gone eras will be rolling through the streets of downtown as well.

“In the past we’ve had armored personnel carriers, jeeps and trucks of various descriptions, as well as artillery pieces,” said Talbot. “We always include heritage organizations, too, such as the Arsenal Camp which is commemorating the Confederacy.

”What is a parade without a band? Look for the 82nd All American Band along with several of the local high school bands to entertain the spectators

.Talbot has arranged for a C-130 fl y-over as part of the event as well.

With the right coordination and ground control, he likes to have theplanes overhead as the Air Force is passing in review.Come and see what other groups and displays Talbot has in store.

“The whole parade is dedicated to vets and their service, so everyone in it is somehow connected to the military,” said Talbot. “The theme this year is to honor recipients of the Purple Heart Medal for combat wounds. We are asking everyone that has a Purple Heart to wear it — even if you aren’t in the parade.”

Take the opportunity to say thanks to the men and women who have proudly served our nation, and enjoy the sights and sounds of freedom.

Paranormal Activity 2 (91 minutes) is pretty freakin’ scary. It is difficult to pro-duce a film, much less a film sequel, with scary scenes that produce genuine terror rather than relying on blood, guts, and vio-lence to produce “horror.” Monsters aren’t scary, murderers aren’t scary, and special effects aren’t scary. Buckets of blood, muti-lation, torture … these elements produce revulsion, but not authentic scares.

One really great thing about the original was the slow building suspense that captured its audience. Happily, the sequel to this low-budget heart stopper is equally reliant on sudden shocks and the immediacy of the moment to captivate the audience. It is difficult to think of another movie that has affected a Fayetteville audience so much so that a theater full of people jumps as one.

From the comfort of a seat, it is easy to second guess the characters. However, it is rare, and more than a little bit fun, to hear a Fayetteville audience shout directions and warnings at the screen.

Remember Katie Featherston from the first film? Well, this film managed to blend its narrative into the story of Katie, actually providing a new perspective on the first movie. The film opens on a house around the block from the setting of the original movie. Kristi Rey is bringing her new son Hunter home. A montage of video clips builds a sense of the everyday, demonstrating that the family is young, wealthy, and happy.

Kristi is married to Dan, and in addition to Hunter they are raising Ali (Dan’s daughter with his late wife). These classic representatives of the bour-geoisie also have a live-in (?) nanny/cook/maid, Martine, as well as a German Shepard named Abby. They spend a great deal of time relaxing poolside and having Kodak moments. Everything is lovely until they arrive home one evening to discover a seeming break-in. Although nothing valuable is missing, the event unsettles the whole family and provokes Dan to install security cameras.

Martine, who is very suspicious and also very religious (but in a totally non-stereotypical way … wait, that is totally stereotypical. Nevermind) decides that the house is clouded with evil and needs a smoke cleansing. Anyway, she takes action to protect the family, but Dan doesn’t understand and decides to exercise some patriarchal authority by firing Martine. His female house-hold doesn’t use up much camera time defending Martine, but maybe that all occurred off-camera.

The security cameras begin capturing some unusual events, although noth-ing too alarming happens until the suspense has reached a screaming pitch. Subtle motions capture the eye as the security cameras switch from perspective to perspective. Ordinary explanations are found for extraordinarily weird events, but the family is the proverbial frog in the slowly heated pot of water. Finally, events occur which drive Ali to consult the Internet, since it is so full of credible information about ghosts and demons.

And that’s when things start getting interesting. The incidents become stranger and harder to ignore. Despite the discomfort of his family, Dan is really quite eager to leave his women home alone so he can go ahead and attend to imaginary errands that nevertheless sound quite urgent. Finally, even Dan Everything has an Ordinary Explanation Man is willing to call in the Scooby Gang.

This is one of those movies you definitely want to see in the theaters, and the bigger the crowd, the better.

The son of a Baptist minister, David Adkins grew up in Michigan. As a student he had a wide range of interests, participating in everything from the math club to the marching band to playing on the school’s basketball team. All of those experiences became fodder for Adkins, who the world knows as Sinbad — a comedian who began his career on Star Search, where he beat out Dennis Miller.

On Friday, Nov. 6 Sinbad will make a stop in Fayetteville to share his wit and humor at the Crown Auditorium at 7:30 p.m.

The comedian and actor was hugely popular during the ‘80s and ‘90s with his HBO comedy specials and television role on A Different World and starring in such films as Houseguest, First Kid and Jingle All the Way. Most recently, he appeared in last season’s Celebrity Apprentice with former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, Sharon Osborne, Cyndi Lauper and Darryl Strawberry, among others.

Sinbad is one of a handful of comedians who does not use profanity in his act. His lack of profanity makes his show family friendly. However, the comedian has not always been so “clean.”

Sinbad initially started out using profanity in his routine but he cleaned up his act. In January, he told the Bay State Banner, “I was dirty when I started, but then I changed it up when my father came to one of my shows, and it worked. I found out I could talk about more stuff.”

However, not using profanity did not hinder his career. In the ‘80s and ‘90s he saw his biggest success with television and movie roles and HBO specials. Although he hasn’t been seen much this decade, he’s has been touring and recently performed his Comedy Central television special “Where U Been?” at Club Nokia, which was later released on DVD to even greater success. And in December, he will perform as a special guest on the Prince Welcome 2 America tour.

Tickets for the Sinbad show are can be purchased through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com or by contacting the Crown Auditorium at 910-438-4100.

When James Black skates onto the ice at the Crown Coliseum, he will be every little girl’s dream — Prince Charming. Black, and the remainder of the Disney on Ice cast, make it their business to make dreams come to life, and the upcoming show at the Crown is no exception.

This year Feld is bringing the Princess Classic show to Fayetteville. The audience will have the opportunity to journey through the magic of some of the most beloved Disney stories visiting Ariel’s kingdom under the sea, Belle’s cursed castle the Arabian palace of Jasmine and the cold hearth that Cinderella called home.

“The Princess Classic show features seven of everyone’s favorite stories,” explained Black, a former World Champion who has appeared in the show for the past five years. “It has Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and finishes with the whole story of Cinderella. It’s got everybody’s favorite story in there.”

And while the material they have to work with is magic on its own, Black and the cast strive to bring the magic of iceskating to the show.

“Our cast represents 11 countries in the world, and we are all world-class figure skaters,” he said. “Not only are you getting to see these amazing stories come to life, you are also getting to see some amazing skating. I do several triple jumps, and you will see the same level of professional skating that you see on television right in front of you on the ice.”

Black was a member of British World Championship team for a number of years before joining Feld. He was the 1999 British Junior Men’s Champion. He won third place in the 2000 British Championships.

Black noted that his skating style is “energetic” and that he “likes to make diffi cult things look easy.

”“I really like for the audience to know that I’m having a great time out there,” he said.

“I finished my competitive career in 2004, but still wanted to skate,” he explained. “Feld’s Disney shows are the biggest ice shows in the world, so that led me straight to them.”

Black first performed in 100 Years of Magic, but then made the move to the Princess Classic show. Even though he’s been skating in the show for the past fi ve years, he added that it is always fresh.

“It doesn’t get old,” he explained. “Even though you get used to the traveling and living out of the suitcase, you are given this amazing opportunity to travel to some places that most people don’t have the opportunity to visit. We’ve played every continent except Antartica. It’s been fantastic

.”Black said one of the things that keeps the show so fresh for him is the enthusiasm of the audience.

“One of the first things people will notice if they haven’t been to a show before, is that the children come dressed as their favorite character — in this case their favorite princess,” he said. “It’s something we love to see. We also see the audience loving the show that they are seeing on the ice. You can see how they relate to it, and even in the adults you can see how they remember the story. We love to see their smiling faces, and we love noisy crowds.”

The show is two hours of spell-binding magic, with a 15 minute intermission that will allow you to catch your breath and grab some great Disney gear.

If you want to catch the magic, you’ll have several opportunities. The show starts on Thursday, Nov. 4 and runs through Sunday, Nov. 7. On Thursday the show begins at 7 p.m. You’ll have two opportunities to see the show on Friday, one at 10:30 a.m. and one at 7 p.m. Saturday’s show are at 2 and 6 p.m., and the show ends on Sunday at 2 p.m.

For tickets and more information, visit www.atthecrown.com.

If you’re from the Fayetteville area, chances are, you’ve not only heard about the infamous World’s Largest Spaghetti Dinner and Greek Pastry Sale, but you’re most likely a repeat customer. For those of you that are newer to the city, it’s a tradition that you will surely want to be a part of.

The World’s Largest Spaghetti Dinner and Greek Pastry Sale started back in 1958 by the late Pete Parrous as a way to make money for the Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church. The dinner is held the third Wednesday each November, with this marking the 52nd year that the event has been held. With more than 12,500 dinners being served, this is no small task, so more than 100 Greek families join together to put on the massive dinner.

The spaghetti is made with a secret sauce that was created by Parrous that’s been handed down four generations and only brought out for this yearly event. Plates consist of generous portions of mouth-watering spaghetti, parmesan cheese and a dinner roll. Alexandra “Sandy” Dais, who volunteers for the event, says that the dinners freeze really well.

“Just put the whole box in a ziplock and put in your freezer,” she said, adding, “Chances are, it won’t last to the freezer.”

In addition to the spaghetti, a popular highlight of the dinner is the vast variety of pastries, breads and cakes that are available for purchase. The church’s Ladies Philoptochos Society sell baklava (phyllo dough filled with honey, walnuts and pistachios), Kourabiedes (almond shortbread-like cookies), koulourakia (lightly-sweetened butter cookies) and fi nikia (honey-dipped walnut cookies. These items may be purchased individually or by the box.

Proceeds from the dinner help support several of the church’s charities like: International Orthodox Christian Charities, Salvation Army, Friends of the Children (of the Cape Fear Valley Health System), Highland’s Chapter of the American Red Cross, Cumberland County Autism Society, Panagia Prousiotissa Montastary and Easter Seals. Over the years, the dinner has supported church expansions as well as other charities, both local and national.

This year’s dinner will be held from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 17 in the Hellenic Center at the Orthodox Church, located at 614 Oakridge Ave. in Fayetteville.

Tickets are just $6 each and can be purchased in advance or at the door. Plates are available on a take-out basis only. For a list of local businesses that have tickets, to get information about special large-delivery options or for general questions, call the church offi ce at 910-484-2010.

For more than 100 years the Falcon Children’s Home has been taking in children, caring for them and providing not only for their physical needs, but for their emotional, spiritual and mental health, too. That is no small task in any day and age. Not only is the emotional task daunting, the nuts and bolts of feeding and clothing their charges can be overwhelming, too.

Hence the Harvest Train, a 61-year-old tradition that has allowed the surrounding community to bless the Falcon Children’s Home by filling in the gaps and meeting the needs of the children who reside there.

This year, the Harvest Train takes place on Nov. 23 and you are invited to attend, participate or contribute in whatever way suits you.

“It originally started back in the 1940s. They (the Falcon Children’s Home) were having a diffi cult time meeting their budget and having enough food and clothes to last throughout the year,” said Joey Leggett, Falcon Children’s Home CEO. “So the women’s ministry groups from some of the churches here in North Carolina said ‘Let’s start something called the Santa Claus Train’ — that is what it was called to start with.”

The churches came together to collect things and raise money throughout the year. They would meet up in Dunn, which is eight miles from Falcon, and then would make a caravan and drive down I-95 to the Falcon exit. The children from the home would line the street and the folks in the parade would throw them candy and then everyone went to the auditorium where the children would do a program as a way of saying thanks.

“I don’t think the home would have made it back then if it had not been for the Santa Claus Train,” said Leggett. “I feel certain they would have had to close their doors.”

Back then, there was not state funding to lean on, and the proceeds from the parade made up about three quarters of the annual budget, according to Leggett.

Today, it still makes up a little more than a quarter of the budget. Although the home currently receives funding for some of the children that reside there, they never turn a youngster away and there are several in their care who do not have state or federal fi nancial support and whose families are unable to help cover the cost of car-ing for them.

The parade doesn’t start in Dunn anymore, but at the Culbreth Memorial Church in Falcon. Folks bring their donations, be it school supplies, canned goods, cleaning supplies, paper products, toiletries or diapers and infant-care items for the babies of the resident teen mothers and walk to the children’s home (and yes, they still throw candy to the kids as the come in).

“Last year the parade was about a mile long,” said Leggett. “We’ve added a lot more to it this year, too. Pope Air Force Base will have a lot of their Airmen and equipment in the parade. It still winds up at the auditorium and then the children still do a program as a way of saying thank you to everybody.”

Leggett estimates that 90 percent of the residents at Falcon Children’s Home come from Cumberland County, and while they do get a lot of support from organizations like the Fayetteville Area Hospitality Association, there are still many needs that have to be met, and unfortunately, the funds to do that are not always readily available. That is why the Harvest Train is so important to the Falcon Children’s Home.

“We are definitely grateful for all of the support that we get from the commu-nity,” said Leggett. “We touch so many lives here. There is no greater feeling than knowing that you have touched a child’s life and been able to help them turn them-selves around and be successful.”

Supporting the Harvest Train is just one easy way to help the Falcon Children’s Home in their mission to change the lives of the future citizens, and hopefully leaders, of our community.

To find out how you can help, visit www.falconchildrenshome.com or call the home at 980-1065

While I sat watching television with my son the other day, a commercial came on about unfortunate children in another country. I proceeded to pick up my cell phone and begin to text, but my son kept watching. After it was over he, clearly af-fected, asked what we should do. I almost shrugged my shoulders until I realized that he was not only serious, but he was right. We should do something. We have so much to juggle in life that sometimes we can become unintentionally desensitized to the people around us who may be in need. We tend to forget everything except the present; the car note, the electric bill, the kids’ homework. So thankfully, organizations like World Vision still exist, and are behind wonderful programming like The Make A Difference Tour 2010 to help remind us.

World Vision is an international partnership of Christians and humanitarians on a mission to help communities worldwide to reach their full potential, tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. This year they, along with leading provider of entertainment AEG, and the top source for online Christian music Hearitfirst.com, have put together a powerful concert with some of the biggest names in Christian music to further achieve that goal.

Michael W. Smith, one of the best selling and influential Contemporary Christian artist, as well as having a great deal of popularity in the mainstream market will headline the event. The winner of three Grammy awards and 33 GMA Dove awards, Smith has been called creative and poignant and celebrates 27 years of creating worship through music.

Toby Mac has blossomed to become a stellar and award-winning musician and author. Mac has been honored with four Grammy’s and was named GMA’s Dove Award artist of the year in 2008.

Atlanta based rock band Third Day will also be in attendance. Recently in-ducted into the Georgia Hall of Fame, Third Day has been entertaining audiences of millions, which has also earned them more than 20 number one singles and several awards for songwriting.

Next we come to Max Lucado, accomplished author and minister, who has inspired many Christians, and whose upcoming book Outlive Your Life: You Were Made To Make A Difference inspired the tour. Lucado feels that this is a big step toward helping others in need. “None of us can help everyone, but all of us can help someone. And when we serve others, we serve God.” Lucado not only speaks it, but is practicing that philosophy, 100 percent of the profits from his book ben-efit children and families through World Vision and other faith-based ministries.

Just added is Christian singer songwriter Jason Gray, who has released four independent records before signing with Centricity Records in 2006. He believes in finding strength in weakness, and his music emphasizes that. Named one of the Ten Outstanding Minnesotans in 2003, Gray is quickly making a name for him-self and holds his own in this concert among his peers.

Janine Lewis, marketing and promotions manager for the Crown says “The Crown Center is thrilled to be a part of World Vision’s Make A Difference Tour 2010! This event not only features best-selling author, Max Lucado, but also Christian music artists such as Third Day, Toby Mac, and Michael W. Smith. This is a great opportunity for community members to support World Vision’s efforts in helping children. Join us at the Crown Center on Saturday, Oct. 30 for the final tour performance!”

This is the first time that all four of these artist have been brought together, and Oct. 30 is the only date that this tour will be in N.C., making this perfor-mance extra special. Tickets are on sale now through the Crown Coliseum box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster.com or order by phone at 800-745-3000. V.I.P. Seating is available and in-cludes a Q&A session with the artist, light refreshments and a copy of Max Lucado’s new book, Outlive you Life.

For tickets or more info. give the Crown a call at 438-4100.

PHOTO: Third Day will be performing at the Crown on Oct. 30. 

For the last 35 years the Givens Performing Arts Center, located on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, has brought some of the best and brightest in entertainment to southeastern North Carolina. The 2010-2011 season proves to be no exception.

On Wednesday, Oct. 29, bring your “Boogie Shoes” and “Shake Your Booty” to the disco sounds KC and the Sunshine Band. The legendary disco group kicks off the Nostalgia Concert Series as it performs at UNCP’s homecoming. With sales of more than 75 million records, nine Grammy nominations, three Grammy Awards and The American Music Award, KC and the Sunshine Band is one of the seminal forces in pop. The group pioneered an original funk style that continues to delight old fans and attract new ones into the millennium.Tickets for KC and the Sunshine Band are $40, $35, $20*/$12 child or student.

On Monday, Nov. 1, the GPAC goes blonde, when Legally Blonde The Musical stops by as part of its national tour. During its run on Broadway, Legally Blonde The Musical earned seven 2007 Tony Award nominations, 10 2007 Drama Desk Award Nominations and a 2007 Outer Critics Cir-cle Award. In addition, the show received three 2009 Touring Broadway Awards including awards for Best New Musical, Best Production Design and Best Choreography of a Touring Production.

Legally Blonde The Musical is based on the 2001 movie “Legally Blonde” starring Reese Witherspoon. Elle Woods is a bubbly, popular sorority girl who gets dumped by her Har-vard Law school boyfriend for someone more “serious.” Elle tries to win back him by entering Harvard Law School to obtain a law degree.

For tickets, call the GPAC Box Offi ce at 1.800.367.0778 or 910.521.6361 or for more infor-mation, visit the theatre website at www.uncp.edu/gpac.

Toga! Toga! Toga! What’s the fi rst thing that comes to your mind when you hear that chant? For most people, it’s John Belushi wrapped in a toga, head adorned with leaves. Or maybe hoards of drinking, screaming teens, partying like there’s no tomorrow. For others perhaps it’s helpless puppies, kittens and other animals that have been rescued and are looking for a good home.

Okay, if you’re like most people, it’s not usually the latter, but after Fri-day, Nov. 12, that may change thanks to the Fayetteville Animal Protection Society. This year for its annual fundraiser, FAPS is throwing a toga party, and its members are encouraging you to dress as your favorite character from the 1978 hit movie Animal House, in a toga, or any college gear that you may have.

FAPS is Cumberland County’s only state-licensed no kill animal shelter, and like most nonprofit operations, depends on the support of it’s community to be able to continue rescuing, sheltering and placing animals in stable, loving homes. Opened in 1982, FAPS has grown from a small shelter for a few animals into one of the most thriving, progressive shelters in North Carolina

Venturing away from the usual silent auc-tion or charity dinner, FAPS has decided to ap-peal to the young (and young at heart) this year and hopes that everyone will enjoy this venture away from the norm.

“This year the board just wanted to do something different, something to attract a younger crowd, along with our usual loyal fol-lowers.” Serriah Nicole explained.

This is Nicole’s first year on the the board of directors and the first event she has taken part in.

“We have worked really hard this year to capture the fun and excitement that was shown in (the movie) Animal House, and that you would come to expect of a toga party, all for a good cause. Jenny Beaver (of Just Jenny Events) has done a great job of helping to plan and set up our event.”

This is a unique event, as Huske Hardware has graciously agreed to close its doors to the public from 7-11 p.m. to host the event. In addition to great hors d’oeuvres, wine and beer, there will also be some great music that will put you in the mood to alligator.

The band in question is Doug Clark and the Hot Nuts, the oldest college fraternity band, and the band that was the inspiration for the toga party in Ani-mal House. The band was formed in Chapel Hill in 1955 as The Tops. Leading the band was Doug Clark, who was trying to earn money by play-ing at UNC fraternity parties and other school functions. The Tops first played for the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, and quickly drew a following throughout the Greek community.

The following year, the group broke up and founded a new group called Doug Clark’s Combo. This group continued playing the local fraternity scene. After picking up a new song called “Hot Nuts,” the group became recognized for this instant hit and the name stuck.

From the mid-’50s to today, Doug Clark and the Hot Nuts have been playing their addictive music at colleges and universities all across the United States. Their style of telling dirty jokes and singling out audience members has proven extremely successful for the band. Although the Hot Nuts have often been booked for “censored” shows, the crowd ALWAYS ends up begging for the raunchy style that has made them famous.

While you’re there be sure to check out “Where were you in 1978 when Animal House hit the big screen?”, view some of the pets that are up for adoption or even sign up to volunteer for a few hours at the shelter. The FAPS’staff is grateful for everyone who is able to give or volunteer some of their time.

Tickets are $75 and are on sale now, and can be purchased online at www.fapspet.org.