The 6th Annual Indian Festival will take place on Saturday, April 17 at the Crown Arena from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. This fun filled day is for thelocal community to enjoy various activities while learning about the Indian culture.

“We want to feature our Indian culture and give the local community a glimpse of our Indian performing arts and cuisine,” said Sumedha Dalvi, chairperson of the India Festival. “Our focus is mostly on entertainment and food.”

Entertainment will be featured all day long on the stage.

“The big feature this year is our fashion show,” said Dalvi. “We are going to do three different kinds of fashion shows.”

Dalvi added that the three fashion shows will feature teenagers, children 12 and under and adults showcasing Indian fashions.

Three different vendors will showcase Indian food.

“The vendors will feature food from different regions of India,” said Dalvi. “It is very flavorful food that is spicy or mild.”

Dalvi added that there will be a drink booth and an authentic Indian ice cream booth.

“This is the first year we are bringing in an ice cream booth,” said Dalvi.

Other booths will feature Henna tattoos, arts and crafts creations, Indian clothing and jewelry. There will be a Kid’s Corner that will consist of games and snacks. Various artists, from Raleigh and Cary, will sing and play instruments.

“We will also have some classical Indian dances,” said Dalvi. “Later on in the day we will have open fl oor folk dancing.”

The Indian culture is rich, diverse and unique in its own way. The family component is about joy, love and sharing. Manners and ways of communicating with one another are important components of the Indian culture. The Indian culture treats guests as if they are a part of the family by serving and taking care of them. Respecting one another and helping one another are key components. The children are taught to help one another in need and through cooperation better living subsequently makes this world a better place. Respecting elders is a major component of the culture.

Proceeds from the event are donated to various local charities during the time of the Maharaja Banquet in the fall. The organization has donated more than $80,000 to various charities such as The Wounded Warriors, The Falcon Children’s Home, The Cumberland County Education Foundation and many more local organizations.

“This is our way of giving back to the local community that has embraced us and made us feel at home,” said Dalvi. “We call this home now.”

Ticket cost is $2 and the event is free for children age 4 and under. For more information call 824-0095.

It takes a special kind of person to leave the security of what they know and what they are comfortable with and set off for foreign lands. But that is just what Mary D. Kavanwal did.

On April 13, at 7 p.m., Kavanwal will be guest speaker at the Headquarters branch. As noted on the Cumberland County Public Library & Information Center Web site, after living and working in Saudi Arabia, Kavanwal came face-to-face with the hidden culture and the self-proclaimed righteousness that leads to impulsive and violent aggression toward others. She is convinced that even though the world may want to believe otherwise, a dangerous threat continues to be fostered within infl uential circles inside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Her story provides a detailed look into a culture that many Americans don’t — or possibly don’t want to — understand. What she writes is engaging, frightening, frustrating and enlightening. As interesting as her experience was in Saudi Arabia, how she got there is a story in itself as well.

After working as an on call nurse for several years, Kavanwal tired of waiting for a permanent position to open up and she became a travel nurse. Then, answering an ad in a nursing magazine, she committed to a job in the Saudi Kingdom. Discounting scary stories and warnings from friends and family, she made her way to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to work in the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center for two years.

In a case of truth being stranger than fIction, Kavanwal found drama and adventure practically the moment that she stepped off the airplane. Not one to be scared off by the arrest and imprisonment of her roommate, or living in a culture that considers women lesser beings than their male counterparts, she stayed in country. As the twin towers fell on 9/11, Kavanwal experienced odd reactions from her host countrymen.

In her two books, Surreal in Saudi and the sequel Awry in Arabia, Kavanwal shares her insights and adventures in this land that is so different from the country and culture so many of us know and love.

“Her story is fascinating and probably unlike any we have heard of from a woman, who spent time working in Saudi Arabia,” said Kellie

Tomita, marketing and communications manager at the library. “I hope many people will attend this program because I think it will provide an insight into the Arab culture that we would otherwise not be able to have.”

The event is free and open to the public. For more information visit http://www.cumberland.lib.nc.us or call the Headquarters Library at 483-7727. For more information on the author and her writings visit her Web site at www.insidesaudi.com/author.html.

For several generations, Charlie Brown and his buddies have been a part of everyday life. They are in the funnies every day, Linus and the Great Pumpkin entertain us each October and A Charlie Brown Christmas is a must see every December. The rest of the year we follow Snoopy’s adventures as the Red Baron, Lucy’s crush on the musically talented but emotionally indifferent Schroeder, wait with baited breath for Lucy’s pearls of wisdom from her psychiatrists booth and collectively hold our breath as we wait to see if Lucy snatches the football away from Charlie Brown as he tries to kick it and will he ever get up the nerve to talk to the little redheaded girl that he loves so much?

While Charles Schulz passed away years ago, Charlie Brown and company can still be found in the daily and Sunday funnies with their timeless humor and always fresh take on life. The gang has been on stage and television in different capacities since 1967 and are still going strong.

April 15-17 guest Director Elysa Lenzcyk is bringing You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown to Fayetteville State University. No stranger to the production of great theater and big shows in small spaces, Lenzcyk is the stage manager at another local favorite theatrical venue, Fayetteville’s own Gilbert Theater.

The piece will be choreographed by Avis Hatcher-Puzzo, and musical direction will be provided by Howard Kim. The play tells the story of an average day in the life of Charlie Brown and his friends. It takes place when most of the characters are 5- or 6-years-old (although the cast is adults).

“The music is fun. The story is fun,” said Director of Theater and Associate Professor at Fayetteville State University Phoebe Hall. “It’s little people responding as little adults to strange situations.”

The cast is made up of several current and former Fayetteville State University students. Schroeder is played by FSU alum Bruce Cook, Clayton Ridley is Charlie Brown and Linus is played by Amos Smith. Whitney Manns portrays Sally, while Corey Livingstone rounds out the group as Lucy.

Hall encourages parents to include their children in this very special theatrical adventure.

“I’m sure they will enjoy it. There will be something for everybody.”T

he show starts at 7:30 p.m. each evening at Butler Theatre on the FSU campus. For more info visit www.uncfsu.edu/theatre/comingattractions.htm.

Last year, the Fayetteville Wine Society wowed the community with a unique event. This year, the signature garden party is back and better than ever, as the Fayetteville Wine Society hosts the 2nd Annual Gathering in the Garden on Saturday April 17 on the Estate of Fox Hollow.

According to organizers, this year more than 500 people are expected to attend the signature event. They’ll gather to taste the award winning wines and sample some of the fi nest food Fayetteville has to offer, all cooked up by local restaurant owners. A few folks may choose to smoke a smooth cigar while they stroll through the gardens of the French-inspried chateau, and many will dance the night away to the sounds of Mr. Coffee and the Creamers. But at the heart of the event is giving. This year, the Fayetteville Wine Society is donating all proceeds to the USO of North Carolina, Fort Bragg.

Last year, the organization raised more than $11,000 at the event to benefi t the Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund, and they expect to raise even more this year. The United Service Organizations (USO) of North Carolina is a non-profi t organization that relies on the generosity of individuals and corporate sponsors to provide vital services and programs to more than 220,000 active duty, National Guard and Reserve forces, military retirees and family members living in or traveling throughout North Carolina. Fayetteville played a signifi cant role in the history of the USO: The community was the site for the fi rst ever government built USO club which opened on November 28, 1941.While the benefi t will be about giving back, those in attendance will get a lot for the price of the ticket. In addition to the great wines available for tasting, which will begin with a champagne opening, there will also be the aforementioned great food and music. The society has pulled together a number of the area’s top restaurants to provide the food for the event. Participating restaurants include: Luigi’s, Chris’s Open Hearth Steak House, Morgan’s Chop House, Elliott’s on Linden and The Great Harvest Bread Company.

Mr. Coffee and The Creamers is North Carolina’s premier Motown Soul and R&B ensemble. Featuring an incredibly diverse array of musicians whose backgrounds include everything from punk to funk, hip-hop to jazz, the Creamers bring a unique energy to these classic songs while remaining true to the spirit and soul of the music. Because they play such timeless, well-known music, it is initially easy to write them off as foolish or just plain crazy, but one listen and you’ll agree that it’s undeniably fun. Simply put, it’s hard not to move your feet when the Creamers are on stage.

The Fayetteville Wine Society is a nonprofi t, members-only group that is dedicated to promoting the appreciation of wine through education.

Tickets for the event are available at Luigi’s Restaurant, Grapes & Hops and Valley Auto World, BMW. Tickets are $75 per person. For more information, visit the organization’s Web site at www.fayettevillewinesociety.com/charity_wine_tasting.

Fayetteville City Councilman and Chairman of Fayetteville Beautiful Bobby Hurst talks a lot of trash.

He can tell you to the number the tons of trash that local residents have cleaned up along our city’s streets over the past three years. That would be 62. He can tell you the number of miles — 257 — the volunteers (that would be 5,116) have walked in their endeavour to make our city more beautiful.

Hurst knows these numbers because making Fayetteville a cleaner and more attractive community is something of a passion of his. And on Saturday, April 17, he’s asking local residents to share that passion and join him for the 6th Annual Citywide Cleanup.

The event kicks-off with a rally at 9 a.m. at the entrance to the Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway on Ramsey Street.

“It’s going to be a great day,” said Hurst. “We hope to draw even more volunteers in and clean even more of our city up.”

On average, more than 1,000 citizens participate in the annual cleanup. For Hurst, that speaks volumes about the community’s stance on litter. “If volunteers do the cleanup, then they take ownership of our community and they have more of a desire to keep it clean. Studies have shown when that happens in a community, as it has and is happening in Fayetteville, then suddenly there is a lot less litter. If we can get more citizens to care about the environment, then they will take care of it.”

Hurst’s message has gotten through in a big way to the community and local leaders. On April 12, the city will be designated an affi liate of Keep America Beautiful. The national organization has 1,200 affi liates nationwide. The Fayetteville Beautiful Committee’s association with Keep America Beautiful will open doors for grants and other educational opportunities concerning litter abatement for the community.

“They have a wonderful education program that will work great with our community’s children,” said Hurst. “They have also created a measurement tool that is essential to identify and understand the extent of the litter problems in Fayetteville. The Litter Index will be our way to focus causes and solutions to areas throughout the city.”

Unlike the majority of affi liates, the Fayetteville program will be manned entirely by volunteers. Hurst noted that statistically for every volunteer hour put into a community, tax payers save $20.25 per hour. If you consider that 1,000 volunteers will be on the job for more than three hours on April 17, the community is getting quite a deal.

“This year, for the fi rst time, the parks and recreation department is mapping out where our volunteers will work,” said Hurst. “So in thisway, we are getting some support from the local governments.”

Hurst said that volunteers are still needed, and can register to participate by calling Lynne Huges at 433-1587. He said volunteers come from all walks of life and may come in a large group, like a church group, or in family units.He is excited that this year participation in the cleanup is endorsed by the Cumberland County Schools. “Dr. Frank Till is very supportive of the project and is encouraging schools to participate,” said Hurst. “So I think we will dopretty well with our volunteers.

For more information, visit the Web site at www.fayettevillebeautiful.com.

Rock Shop owner Shawn Adkins has always been about the music scene. In fact, before he opened the Rock Shop he was throwing hugeparties in his yard — complete with an outdoor stage — and showcasing local bands from there. One day, a friend put an idea into his head.

“Dave Johnson of Huske Hardware at the time said ‘Hey, if you owned a bar you would do re-ally well.’ So I said ‘When do you want to go in 50/50 on it? Let’s do it!” and the next day we were look-ing at the old John Jays building.”

About six months later Adkins bought him out and has been the sole proprietor ever since. That was in December 2006.

Since then, the Rock Shop has flourished and become an integral part of the Fayetteville music scene, hosting local talent and winning several people’s choice awards, including Up & Coming Weekly’s Best of Fayetteville awards in 11 categories including Best Live Music Venue and Best Live Music Club.

In just a little more than three years the Rock Shop has out-grown its Eastern Boulevard. location and is looking to relocate and upgrade to its new home. On April 2, just across the street from its current home, The Rock Shop will open the doors at 128 S. King St., in the former Kings Billiards building.

With two bars, a full kitchen and two stages, Adkins in anticipating a lot of activity and good times for both customers and performers.

“We’ll be open everyday,” said Adkins. “We’ve got six pool tables... all the art that was in The Rock Shop will be here and we have new artists com-ing in to do murals. We’re gonna do all kinds of stuff from country to rock to plays to wrestling — it is going to be sort of like an event center.”

Adkins is anticipating more national bands on the playlist in addition to the local talent that he currently books. A strong supporter of home-grown talent, he is seeking to fill a gap in the Fayetteville music scene, and believes that now is the time to do it.

“All my friends had to go out of town to see their favorite bands. Now I get a chance to bring it in,” said Adkins, noting that supporting area musi-cians is still a priority as well. “I’ll never not have local bands. The local bands are very important to me. I’ve always been about the music scene. I don’t plan on selling out. I think they deserve a place they can have a lot more fun, buf-fer crowds, play with the nationals they want.”

Opening night will feature The Fifth,Nephilym, Rookie of the Year, Dark Water Rising, Sir Ben Marx, Paddy & Bill and Playing With Guns. Adkins is ready to show his customers a good time and is anticipating a big crowd.

“These are really good local bands,” Adkins said. “There are a lot of people who are ready for this.”

You can find more info at http://www.facebook.com/therock-shoplive or http://www.myspace.com/therockshoplive.

With The Big Read now in full swing, we hope you have already attended one of Cumberland County Public Library and Information Center’s special events associated with this year’s novel The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers.

One reason The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter was chosen is because McCullers fi nished writing it while living here at Cool Springs Tavern on North Cool Springs Street. But, what happened after she departed from Fayetteville to New York City?

As the keynote speaker for The Big Read on April 6 at 7 p.m. in the Pate Room of Headquarters Library, author of February House, Sherill Tippins will tell us about that fascinating time.

Tippins first learned about that part of McCullers’s life while volunteering for a program that delivered meals to the elderly and homebound in her Brooklyn, N.Y., neighborhood.

According to the publisher of February House, Tippins was intrigued when one of those neighbors began telling her about the “extraordinary experiment in communal living — involving a British poet, a southern novelist, one of the world’s great opera composers, and a celebrated stripper — that had taken place 60 years earlier just a few blocks from her home.”

From those stories, Tippins began collecting facts and anecdotes about that shared life of W.H. Auden, McCullers, Jan and Paul Bowles and Gypsy Rose Lee.

With her work complete, February House was published in 2005 and chosen as a Best Book of the Year by the San Francisco Chronicle.

For more information about Tippins’s visit and other The Big Read programs, go to www.Cumberland.lib.nc.us where you can download a Schedule of Events or stop by your nearest library location.

The Big Read Programming Notes

Programming takes place throughout April and includes a recycled art show and contest, movies, Depression Era kitchen gardens, activities for children and more! Admission to all programs is free.

Our community partners include: Cumberland County Schools, Charles W. Chesnutt Library, Fayetteville State University; Davis Memorial Library, Methodist University, Fayetteville Technical Community College, Fort Bragg John L. Throckmorton Library and the Museum of the Cape Fear.

Cumberland County’s The Big Read is sponsored by The Friends of the Library, The Fayetteville Observer, Up & Coming Weekly, The Drive 96.5 FM and KISS 107.7 FM.

The Big Readis an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The NEA presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest.

Take out your old, broken or mismatched jewelry, those buttons, patches or paint you no longer use and create something for theCumberland County Public Library’s Recycled Art Contest.

“The sky is the limit, pretty much!” said Jennifer Carrico, who is in charge of the contest.

This is the fi rst time the Cumberland County Public Library has held a Recycled Art Contest and participants are encouraged to use items from around their own homes that may have otherwise been thrown away. One participant is making a quilt from recycled materials.

Participants are encouraged to keep the size of their artwork within an 18 by 24 inch perimeter, but if you want to make something larger, Carrico can work something out. If your artwork is supposed to hang or needs to be propped up by an easel Carrico will also assist you with that. Her phone number at the library is 910-864-3800, extension 235.

Contestants’ artwork will be on display from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 17, with judging and awards at 3 p.m. There will be staff members on duty during the display and signs will be up to ensure the artwork is not damaged.

The contest is split into five age groups and each will receive prizes for first place and honorable mention. The groups are divided into 8 years-old and younger, 9-12 years-old, 13-18 years-old, and 18-years-old and up. There will also be a “group” category where two or more members can enter the contest together. Entry forms along with artwork must be submitted to the Headquarters Library, at 300 Maiden Lane, during the hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, April 16. Artwork should be taken into the Pate Room of the library, which is immediately to the left of the front door. For an entry form visit the Web site at www.cumberland.lib.nc.us/PDF/RecycledArtShow.pdf .

Artists may include written pieces about their artwork, but it must be 150 words or less. Artwork will not be sold during the show and artists will be responsible for picking up their work by Monday, April 19. Any unclaimed work will be thrown away.

Guest judges will be brought in from the community, but no fi nal decisions on them have been made at this point.

Carrico cautions contestants to work with what they know how to use, read warning labels, and if unsure contestants can stop by the library for assistance.

“I love it and I’m very excited about it!” said Carrico.

This contest is centered around the Big Read, which features The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter was written in 1940, and is set in a small Georgia mill town during the Great Depression. The idea of recycling items for the art contest came from this book

.For more information go to the library Web site at www.cumberland.lib.nc.us .

Reduce, reuse, recycle. It’s a phrase that has been around for awhile and a concept that promotes good stewardship and wise use of resources. Whether or not one follows this advice and to what degree is pretty much up to the individual. For folks who are looking to live healthier, more earth-friendly lives though, there is quite a bit going on in the community that supports this greener way of life.

In 2008 Fayetteville began its curbside pick up recycling program to much fanfare. It was a long time coming and the community embraced it.

“It started off with a bang,” said Gerry Dietzen, City of Fayetteville environmental services engineer. “People accepted it very well. I believe we have a very high participation rate in Fayetteville compared with other cities — somewhere in the neighborhood of 70 percent.”

This program brought in about 9,000 tons of recyclable materials in the fi rst year. There are no numbers for the current year, but support for the program remains strong.

Since then, the city has taken on servicing the many recycle drop-off centers through out the city. This used to be the responsibility of contractors, but once the city took over, Dietzen maintains that stations are not left to the point of overfi lling like they were before.

All of the city’s buildings recycle now as well, to include the many recreation centers and athletic fi elds, police and fi re stations, and the administrative buildings.

Once the waste is picked up for recycling, it is processed locally which is a boon for the community in the form of local jobs.

“The MRF (Material Recovery Facility) in town came on line in November of ‘08,” said Dietzen. “It is doing very well. I think that our curbside recycling program may have infl uenced Hope Mills and some other smaller communities around, and I think a lot of them now bring their materials here (to the MRF) for processing and that is good for our economy.”

The community also benefi ts because there is less waste being put into the local landfi lls. When matter is added to the piles of garbage, it gets buried and is in an anaerobic state. That produces methane gas, which is just one more pollutant added to the air.

“I think the biggest benefi t that comes from this is that we are reducing the amount of waste in the landfi lls,” said Dietzen. “This material is no longer decomposing and creating methane gas, and we are certainly benefi tting from that in more way than one — cleaner, healthier air to breath and that kind of thing.”

According to Buildings.com, on a national scale, total building-related construction and demolition (C&D) waste is estimated to be 135.5 million tons — a fi gure that represents, at 30 percent, the largest single source in the waste stream. The average new construction project yields 3.9 pounds of waste per square foot of building area. Example: A 50,000-square-foot building = 97.5 tons of waste. The average building demolition yields 155 pounds of waste per square foot. Example: A 50,000-square-foot building = 3,875 tons of waste. With all the growth and construction going on locally, we’ve got our share of opportunities for construction waste.

Enter the Restore Warehouse. Located at 205 Forsyth St., this business prides itself on helping neighborhoods, the environment, homeowners and builders alike. Their mission is to promote affordable housing in the Fayetteville area by providing inexpensive building materials to local businesses and homeowners while supporting conservation of the environment and by funding the programs of Fayetteville Urban Ministry and Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity.

They take in donations of new and sellable, used building materials and sell them for 50 - 75 percent off the retail price. You never know what you may fi nd, cabinets, fl oors, and possibly even the kitchen sink. They also accept monetary donations, and volunteers are welcome too.

The Restore Warehouse is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information give them a call at 321-0780 or visit http://www.restorefaync.org.

Somewhere, in a daydream-fi lled science class way back when, we learned that carnivores eat meat, herbivores dine primarily on plants and omnivores munch on both.

But a relatively new critter has linked up with the food chain: the locavore.

The WHAT? The locavore. The term, according to Wikipedia, was coined in 2005 by Jessica Prentice, professional chef, author and founding member of Three Stone Hearth, a community-supported kitchen in Berkeley, Calif., and selected by the New Oxford American Dictionary as its word of the year in 2007. A locavore is “a person who seeks out locally produced food,” and their numbers are growing every day as people choose to consume seasonal foods that they either raise themselves or that are produced within a radius of 50 to 150 miles of their abode.

But why? Sounds like a lot of extra effort when we have supermarkets fi lled with a seemingly unending variety of food available year round. Shoot, we can get blueberries, peaches, watermelon, apples — almost anything — in the dead of winter. Why wait until they’re “in season”?

Locavores offer many reasons for their food-source preference. Local food travels less and has a smaller carbon footprint. Buying local means money stays in the local economy. Locally produced food is fresher and riper –– farmers don’t have to pick it early, so it won’t be damaged in transit, and the nutritional value is greater. And choosing local food allows you to meet some of the folks that grow your food and share their stories. Still others are concerned about food safety. But tops among reasons for joining the locavore movement are that local food tastes better –– can the taste of a peach allowed to ripen on display even touch the juicy sweetness of one picked at its peak just a few hours before one bites into it? And supporting local farmers and ranchers helps them to stay open and preserve undeveloped land, all vanishing resources in a world of increasing big-corporation farming.

Residents of Cumberland County are fortunate to enjoy several opportunities to join the ranks of local “foodies.” For those willing to get a little dirty, backyard gardens may bless them with more tomatoes than they and their neighbors can eat. And those without access to a yard can grow their own food while building community at the Fayetteville Community Garden, located in the Old Wilmington Road community at the corner of Vanstory and Mann Streets in downtown Fayetteville. A project of the Sandhills Area Land Trust (SALT) and a member of the American Community Garden Association, the garden celebrated its grand opening last spring.

“It took us five years to get a tomato plant in the ground,” said Candace Williams, executive director of SALT. “This was one of the SALT projects to save urban agricultural lands, and we’re the only land trust to accomplish this goal. We’re on the cutting edge, and we’ve been recognized nationally –– one of our garden interns was featured on the cover of the National Land Trust Alliance publication, Saving Land, last fall.”

Once a vacant lot with beautiful old pecan trees, the garden’s fi ve acres, historically used by African-American farmers, are owned by the city and are the centerpiece of an area slated for redevelopment under a Hope VI grant.

“The Fayetteville Community Garden was the brainchild of Candace,” said Nancy Talton, SALT contracts and grants administrator. “She had experience establishing some of the fi rst community gardens in Boston. SALT partnered with the city, public works and other various community organizations to come up with a vision of what they wanted the garden to be. That’s the key to our success. We haven’t spent a dime on the gardens. Everything has been donated. PWC put in the water. The community leaders all came together.” Landscape architect Jeffrey Blake donated the design, which will ultimately include a community pavilion, gardener’s sheds, playgrounds, rain garden, fl ower and woodland garden, fruit trees and orchards, raised cultivated planters, arbors and trellises.

“There will be 100 available garden plots. We rent them on an annual basis for $25. It’s open year round during the daylight hours. Everything is organic. They’ve got a compost pile going. The fi rst potting shed is complete, and it’s really cute. The plots are all raised beds, about 20 x 20 feet. Water is available to each plot, and the gardeners share the cost of the water. It’s just been wonderful.”

Presently 70 plots are complete, and work has started on the gazebo. For more information, contact Candace Williams at (910) 483-9028 or visit http://acga.localharvest.org/garden/M2116 on the Web.

Those who don’t wish to play in the dirt and grow their own food may still reap the benefi ts of locally produced food at the Fayetteville Farmers Market. Starting with four or fi ve vendors three years ago on Wednesdays only, the open-air market in historic downtown Fayetteville has grown to 14 or 15, “the most we’ve ever had,” said Melissa Rodriguez of the Farmers Market. In addition to Wednesdays from 3 to 7 p.m. in the overfl ow back parking lot behind the AIT and old Prince Charles Hotel on Maiden Lane, the market is now open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Cumberland County Parking Lot off Gillespie Street in front of the courthouse.

“We’ve seen quite an increase in people coming and vendors applying,” Rodriguez said. “We take applications once a year. Our requirement is that vendors have to grow their product within a 50-mile radius of Fayetteville. Vend0rs may now bring 25 percent of their products from other farms, but it still has to be local and labeled. We are about 50/50 organic, and most farmers practice minimum spraying.”

The market runs all summer and will open on Saturday, April 10.

“This year, we’re coordinating our kickoff with the Sustainable Sandhills’ Urban Farm Tour,” said Rodriguez. “We’ll have special guests, including the Cumberland County Beekeepers and George Quigley, a master gardener who will give talks on gardening and address questions. We’re planning other events throughout the season, such as contests for basket giveaways and a tomato-tasting day, to help us get the word out.” For more information, visit www.thefayettevillefarmersmarket.com, email info@thefayettevillefarmersmarket.com or call (910) 964-8559.

Joseph and Vicky Allen own Carolina Grown, Inc., “a food cooperative connecting average consumers with farmers throughout North Carolina.” After enrolling, co-op members select a flexible subscription level based on a point/box size system instead of a flat fee per box, and weekly, monthly or yearly billing. Sunday through Tuesday, members may choose the products they want from a menu that features grass-fed beef; pasture-raised pork, duck, rabbit and chicken; organic produce; local sustainable produce; cage-free chicken and duck eggs; fresh herbs; goat cheese products and dairy products. They may use all or some of their points, and any remaining points are rolled over for use the next week. On Saturday, Carolina Grown delivers a box of products grown or made in North Carolina right to the member’s door!

“Everything is from North Carolina,” said Allen. “We actually became accepted as part of the Goodness Grows in North Carolina program two weeks ago.”

Allen explained that the point system allows members to customize their purchases.

“We label the products so people know from whom it comes. Eventually each farmer will have his or her own page on the Web site. People know exactly what they are getting. They pick favorites based on personal taste.”

The fastest-growing coop in North Carolina, Carolina Grown has more than 200 members. Orders are double checked as they are put together, and Allen will refund points before selling bad products. “We have excellent quality control.” Allen said. “We let the farmers set their own prices. We deliver 52 weeks a year, and we’re looking for new farmers.”

When asked where he got the idea for Carolina Grown, Allen replied that he had seen the movie, Food, Inc. “Afterwards, I didn’t want to buy at the grocery store.” Part of Carolina Grown’s mission, in addition to providing healthy food from North Carolina, is to “help sustain local farms and the local economy.”

“I grew up on a farm. I don’t want to see them all auctioned off and turned into subdivisions.”

For more information or to enroll, visit www.carolinagrown.org, email sales@carolinagrown.org or call (919) 720-9484.

The Cumberland County Center of the N.C. Cooperative Extension offers instructions on how to preserve backyard or market bounty so you can enjoy it all year long. Depending on the food, one can dehydrate, freeze or can items for longterm storage. Candy Underwood, extension agent for Family and Consumer Sciences, sees a real increase in the number of people who want to “put up” their own food.

“People are getting back to growing their own food for safety reasons in the food supply and because it just tastes better,” said Underwood. “We’re offering a canning class for the pressure canner on June 17 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. We will process green beans. People can bring in two pounds of green beans, and they will leave with a quart jar of canned beans.”

The class is limited to 10 people and costs $5. The canning jar and lid are provided, as are handouts on canning.

The Cumberland County Center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, visit http://cumberland.ces.ncsu.edu/ or call (910) 321-6860.

Whatever the reason –– a healthful diet, concern for the environment, supporting local and sustainable small farms, avoiding food-borne diseases, saving money in a challenging economy or because food acquired locally simply tastes better –– the locavore movement is gaining momentum, providing nourishment not only for the body, but also for our communities.

Sustainability is the capacity to endure. In ecology the word describes how biological systems remain diverse and productive over time. For humans it is the potential for longterm maintenance of well-being, which in turn depends on the well-being of the natural world and the responsible use of natural resources. — Wikipedia

For many, mixing ecology and the corporate world is a foreign idea. Production numbers and sales figures don’t always flow seamlessly into resource conservation and air quality at first glance — but maybe it should. At least that is the thinking behind the first annual Green Business Conference hosted by the Fayetteville State University Center for Entrepreneurship, Sustainable Sandhills and the Fayetteville- Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce on March 31.

The day is going to be packed with interesting lectures and discussions covering topics like green consumer products, green jobs and green economy, what federal, state and local governments are doing with available funds, community sustainability, green construction and public/private partnership in making green economy.

There will be subject-matter experts from the local, state and national level.

“It is really a broad scope from the national and multinational corporate perspective like Wal Mart all the way down to a local electric membership co-op,” said Sustainable Sandhills Executive Director Jon Parsons. “What I’ll be talking about is some of the efforts of local government — specifically Fayetteville and the Cumberland County schools. They have got some great green programs underway. We are trying to give it broad brush strokes so there is a little something for everybody in the conference.”

With the economy like it is, Parsons is aware that many businesses are just looking to make it through the recession and going green may not be the first thing on their to do list. It is certainly not always obvious that going green can save money if you just look at the short term adding of costs, but Parsons contends that in the long run it is important for long term profitability and competitiveness.

“Greening your business really is important and I think the fact that we’ve got multinational corporations like Wal mart and Herman Miller — these are companies that are certainly profitable — speaks volumes. Let’s just be honest Wal mart is a very controversial company to have at a sustainable conference,” said Parsons. “They do have a story to tell — as do the other companies — for local businesses that might not have that perspective. I think that is what is important about the conference.”

On a smaller scale, there is also a lot going on at the state-level through the stimulus funding. Larry Shirley who is the Director of the Green Economy in the North Carolina Department of Commerce has a lot to do with how the stimulus funding comes down into the local community to grow the green economy. It is a natural tie to this green business theme.

“Larry is working closely with Sustainable Sandhills in a couple of sessions at the conference,” said Parsons. “The sessions the I am in involved in are on more of a community scale. Larry will be talking in our sessions about state funding and how that comes down and we have a speaker from Bladen County because agriculture is the biggest business sector in the state. Agricultural sustainability is a big topic. We also have a speaker from Lumbee River Co- Op because there is a lot of focus in the funding about green energy. He will be presenting a pilot project that they are working on — a smart grid project.”

The event starts at 8 a.m. and lasts until 4 p.m. Contact the Chamber of Commerce at 484-4242 ext 233 for more information or to register.

For the fourth consecutive year the Cumberland County Public Library and Information Center is rallying the folks ofCumberland County for a month long celebration of reading, history and community with The Big Read. There will be book clubs, readings, exhibits, performances and more — and all centered around The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers.

“The big read was created about fi ve years ago by the National Endowment for the Arts to encourage literary activity and to get Americans reading classics again,” said Marketing & Communications Division Manager Kellie Tomita, and also noted that the library system has written a grant for the previous four years that has funded part of The Big Read throughout the community. “This year we selected The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers because of her local ties to Fayetteville and because she is a southern writer,” she added.

McCullers fi nished writing the novel while she lived in Cool Springs Tavern in downtown Fayetteville. She was born in Columbus, Ga., and wanted to be a classical musician growing up. Because she was sickly, McCullers gave that up to become a writer. She married a man who was leaving the military at Ft. Benning and they moved to Fayetteville where he worked in the credit industry. They were here a short time while she fi nished writing the novel and then they moved to New York.

The program kicks off at 4th Friday on March 26 with a special event at Headquarters Library. Violinist Laurel Wachtler and Cellist Zack May will perform from 7-9 p.m.

“We’ll kick it off with the classical music that was either mentioned by one of the characters in the book or was one of Carson McCullers favorite compositions,” said Tomita. “That should be really interesting. We will also be giving away some novels, too.”

This family-friendly, free and month -ong event has more than 60 activities planned that reach every age group. “One of the really positive things about the big read is that it brings the community together,” said Tomita. “The whole aim of The Big Read is even if you are not one to sit down and read an entire book, you can still be exposed to the literature and part of American history through other parts of this program.”

Book club kits are available for check out at any of the Cumberland County Libraries. Each kit includes a bag, 10 copies of The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, bookmarks, a readers guide and a schedule of events for The Big Read. The kits are designed to make it easy to put together a book club of your own, whether it is at work, church or in your neighborhood.

Because the book is set in a small town in Georgia in the 1930s, there is plenty of opportunity to explore the depression era in the south, and several of The Big Read events do just that.

“One thing I would really recommend is going to the Museum of the Cape Fear to see the exhibit that they are going to put together. It is called Connecting to Carson McCullers,” said Tomita. “They went to Columbus, Ga., and got artifcts and personal effects of hers. It will also look at the history of the south during the depression era — that will be one of the highlights.” The exhibit will also include a presentation called Segregation: Life Experiences on March 27. The focus will be growing up in “Jim Crow North Carolina.”

A master gardener will explain how to start your own vegatable garden in a presentation called “Depression-era Kitchen Gardens” that will take place several times through out the month and at various library locations. Tomita pointed out that this is a particularly timely topic with people trying to save money and eat more fresh, healthy foods these days.

Other events include a walking tour of downtown Fayetteville with local historian Bruce Dawes on April 18. It is about 3-miles long and will include businesses and buildings of the 1930s that McCullers may have visited while living here in 1938 and 1939.

On April 19, there will be a tour of Cool Springs Tavern where part of The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter was penned, with a librarian-led book discussion to follow.

Ft. Bragg is involved in The Big Read as well. Throckmorton Library is hosting a month long display called Fort Bragg: The Depression Years. It opens on March 26. On Wed. March 31, the Cliffdale Regional Branch is hosting a presentation on Fort Bragg and the Army, circa 1930s. It starts at 7 p.m. Throckmorton Library on Ft. Bragg is hosting a presentation on Evans Metropolitan Church on April 14 where the audience will learn about this sanctuary of hope on Cool Springs St. Teens and kids events include a trash fashion show, a 1930s soiree, depression era game and afternoon tea.

The Cape Fear Regional Theatre has staged another Carson McCullers’ classic The Member of the Wedding, which will give the audience a view of the lifestyle and the environment that permeated small southern towns during that time period.

“It is exciting to see the community come together — we have all walks of life involved in this. Everyone from gardeners to our county commissioner, they are all on board for this,” said Tomita. “It is something the community can rally around and focus on — one book, one topic. You may not be interested so much in reading specifi cally, but you might be interested in history so we have programs about the history of Fayetteville and Hope Mills. There are so many different aspects to literature that we hope to get everyone involved.”

Visit www.cumberlandlib.nc.us for a complete list of activities and opportunities. The Web site will be updated throughout the month so if you have any questions about The Big Read or events associated with it, McKnight recommends that you check there fi rst or call any of the local library branches.

Our children are the future and it is our duty to love, educate and protect them. During April, which is Child Abuse Prevention Month, we pay special attention to the problem of child abuse.

Child abuse and neglect reports rose 32 percent during the second half of 2009 in Cumberland County. During a six-month period in 2009, the county Department of Social Services logged reports of 3,647 children who may have been abused or neglected.

Cumberland County Schools, The Child Advocacy Center, the Cumberland County Department of Social Services, Cumberland County Family Court, Cumberland County Partnership for Children, Fort Bragg Army Community Services, Fort Bragg Schools and the Cumberland County Guardian Ad Litem Program are hosting a Break the Chain of Child Abuse ceremony on Thursday, March 25 from 9-10 a.m. at the Crown Coliseum Agri-Expo Center.

“The purpose of this event is to bring together community stakeholders with a passion for decreasing child maltreatment rates in Cumberland County,” said Pamela Story, Cumberland County Schools’ social work coordinator.

The itinerary includes a skit performed by students from the Fuller Performance Learning Center and Judge Elizabeth Keever will read Mayor Tony Chavonne’s proclamation. The culminating activity involves Senator Margaret Dickson leading the students in breaking the chain that symbolizes the need to prevent child abuse in our city.

There will also be displays and opportunities for the students to have their picture taken with local dignitaries. Champion for Children awards will be presented to the professional, volunteer and agency/ group who have gone beyond the call of duty to reduce child abuse in our community. Nominations were provided through community referrals.

“Maltreatment can be physical abuse, sexual abuse and neglect,” said Story. “If anyone suspects a child is being abused or neglected please call Child Protective Services at 677-2450.”

Story added that this event promises to be bigger than ever and every Cumberland County school will be represented.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact your child’s school social worker, guidance counselor or Story at 678-2621.

You have but to drive through the quiet roads leading into Southern Pines, N.C., to know that you are entering horse country. The well-tended farms, populated with prime horsefl esh, hearken back to another time, a more genteel time.

It is in this environment that The Stoneybrook Steeplechase was initiated in Southern Pines by Michael G. Walsh in 1949. The race, which saw riders competing across a well-manicured course with numerous obstacles, was held annually in the spring until 1996, with attendance nearing 20,000. After a short hiatus, the race resumed as an annual spring event at the Carolina Horse Park in Raeford in 2001. On Saturday, April 3, the tradition will continue as throngs gather for the 59th running of this definitive southern spring ritual.

“It is a true spring tradition in North Carolina,” said Abby Schlicht, the Stoneybrook sales manager. “It is an all day event and there is a big range of people who attend — from people who have been going since the old Stoneybrook races to younger groups who are just getting interested in the races and who enjoy tailgating.”

Whether they are coming for love of the sport, tradition or for fun, Stoneybrook promises to bring all three together for an unforgettable event.

“It’s kind of a big party all day long,” said Schlicht, noting that some people honor the event’s traditions and wear great hats and dress up, while others come more casually.

“We are really working to make it a family event,” she added, noting that a children’s activity area will be set up for this year’s event.

“We are also going to have a party tent with live music all day,” she said. “That will continue on into the evening.”

Of course, the party actually starts earlier in the week at the Casablanca Casino Gala, which will be held at the Members Club at Pinehurst Resort. The semi-formal event is a high-stakes evening of glamour and dancing, all to benefi t the Foundation of FirstHealth Cancer CARE Fund and the Carolina Horse Park Foundation.

The evening will include cocktails in “Rick’s Bar,” followed by dinner, dancing and gaming, which includes blackjack, poker, craps and roulette. But don’t worry, it’s all in fun. The highlight of the evening will be a silent auction featuring fabulous vacation getaways including a Cayman Islands condo on a private beach, a home in Twin Rivers, Montana (a true fl y-fi shing mecca), a condo in Beaver Creek, Colo., and an ocean-view home on Bald Head Island, N.C.

Tickets to the event are $150 per person, and can be purchased from the Carolina Horse Park.

Tickets for the race are going fast. Schlicht said, “To date we are a little bit ahead of last year’s sales as far as tickets go, and we’ve sold a lot of tailgate spaces and gala tickets.”

For many in the area, the tailgating is the big draw. Yes, it is a lot like going to a football game, people bring out their grills and picnic baskets, but instead of being in a parking lot, they are right on the rail, where they can see the race while they socialize.

Spaces are still available and can be purchased through the horse park’s Web site at www. carolinahorsepark.com/stoneybrook/ticket-sales. There are many different levels of ticket pricing, along with corporate party tents as well.

It is one of the social events of the year,” said Schlicht. “You don’t want to miss it.”

This is the time of year for change. It’s almost springtime; the grass is getting greener, the days are lasting longer andlife seems to be swirling about everywhere.

This is the time of year when people start venturing out again, because the evening air is warm and inviting. It’s the perfect time to head downtown to Hay Street for Fayetteville’s 4th Fridays.

The Arts Council of Fayetteville has been hosting this celebration of the arts and downtown for quite some time now. Each year seems to get better and better, with more venues and exhibits to experience than the year before. They’re planning on continuing that trend in 2010, with new opportunities at the Arts Council starting on March 26.

If you haven’t been to a 4th Friday celebration, you’re truly missing out on the beautiful and eclectic culture that exists in Fayetteville. There are men and women here from all over the world, and their crafts and talents shine brightly downtown during these exhibitions. As you mingle around, you’re sure to find something that catches your eye, your ear or even your taste buds.

By featuring art in all forms, 4th Fridays offer something for everyone. You’ll come across things like ceramic art pieces by local artist Warner Hyde at Cape Fear Studios, and beautiful beadwork done by Ann Flaherty, at Strung Out on Beads. Catch a demonstration on the making of hammered silver jewelry with Up & Coming Weekly’s own Stephanie Crider at Belle Curve. And don’t miss out on the 10th Annual Cumberland County Schools High School Juried Art Exhibition at the Arts Council.

Once you’re eyes have been filled with the artistry of craft, let your ears be entranced by the liveliness of music. You can feel the soul of Fayetteville as you pass by street performers with tambourines and guitars. You can choose to join in as the crowd sways and dances, or just stop and enjoy the sounds. You might be surprised to find that many venues feature live music on 4th Fridays. Listen to the beats of the Raiford Street Band as they perform at Horne’s Deli Café, or relax with the sophistication of a violin and cello, as Laurel Wachtler and Zack Mae kick off the annual Big Read at the Cumberland County Headquarters Library. March is Women’s History Month, so this 4th Friday City Center Gallery and Books will feature books and art by women. You can groove to live music here as well.

4th Fridays’ celebration of art and downtown can be enjoyed by the entire family. Kids can even get crafty by decorating Easter eggs a little early this year at Fascinate-U Children’s Museum.

Admission is free to all of the 4th Friday venues, and the festivities last from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. As the night comes to a close, don’t leave your taste buds in the dust. Grab a chocolaty delight from one of the bakeries to take home with you, or a warm vanilla latte from Rude Awakenings coffee shop before you head to the car. If you have time, you might want to sit on Pierro’s patio and sip a glass of vino, while Frank Sinatra tunes play in the background, or grab a pint of Filthy Kilt Scotch Ale with your friends at Huske Hardware House. Mark your calendars, because this month’s Fourth Friday is just around the corner. Come and experience Fayetteville like you never have before, as downtown comes to life on March 26.

For more information, visit www. theartscouncil.com.

“We’re off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz …” The children’s novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was originally published in 1900. It made its way to the stage in a matter of a year or so and was made in to the much loved movie, The Wizard of Oz in 1939.

Now this American favorite is making its way to Fayetteville as NETworks presents “The greatest family musical of all time, The Wizard of Oz” on March 23 at the Crown Theatre. The show prides itself on great special effects including the infamous tornado that carries Dorothy from herKansashome and over the rainbow to the magical, mystical Land of Oz where she encounters munchkins, fl ying monkeys, and befriends the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man and the Scarecrow.

Directed by Nigel West and choreographed by Leigh Constantine, the production is art deco through and through, right down to the Technicolor backdrop and elegant costumes designed by Tim McQuillen-Wright.

In an exciting twist, NETworks invited local children to be part of the cast and 12 Fayetteville youngsters will perform as munchkins in the musical, singing memorable and much loved songs like “Ding Dong the Witch is Dead.”

Students from the World of Dance Studio will have the opportunity to gain real-life touring theatre experience. They will discover what it’s like to be part of a professional company, learn choreography by Leigh Constantine and be outfi tted in the costume designs of Tim McQuillen-Wright. Children involved in the production include: Maddie Green, Jacquelyn McGaha, Meghan Flynn, Haley Raper, Elise Mahon, Logan Hallas, Savannah Hicks, Lauren Geske, Tatgiuana Parker, Ella Lewis, Johslynn Ebidag and Nia Manning.

According to a March 2009 review of this production in The New York Times “Though the tornado scene is pretty good, and the Wicked Witch fi reballs are startling, the high point of the stage version of The Wizard of Oz at the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden is unexpected. It’s “The Jitterbug,” a colorful, somewhat hallucinogenic dance number in which Dorothy and friends are bitten by bugs that make them dance till they drop (allowing fl ying monkeys to carry them away). The abundance of stage gimmickry is another thing that by sheer contrast makes “The Jitterbug” the play’s best moment. The number has no tricks, just the old-fashioned ingredients: colorful costumes (by Tim McQuillen-Wright), witty choreography (Leigh Constantine) and cool lighting (Bob Bonniol). Works every time.”

The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at www.Ticketmaster.com or by calling 438-4100.

In today’s society, a lot of the etiquette seen in the Victorian era has been lost and people have strayed from the ideals accepted in that time.

The Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex hopes to remind today’s society of those ideals by holding a Women’s History Month Garden Tea Party at the 1897 Poe House on Saturday, March 20, the fi rst day of Spring.

The party will last from 2 to 4 p.m. and men and women of all ages are invited. The Poe house is located at the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex at 801 Arsenal Ave. in Fayetteville.

“We’re super excited about this event!” said Heidi Bleazey, 1897 Poe House education coordinator.

This is the first time the tea party is held in conjunction with Women’s History Month and the tea party will focus on that.

Guests are encouraged to dress in Victorian-era clothing, but it is not required. You can bring a garden hat, a simple blouse with lace or a floral-patterned scarf to add a bit of history to your tea. Guests should also bring their own tea cup and saucer to enjoy hot or iced tea along with scones, jams, cucumber sandwiches and other sweets. Historical recipes will also be available to guests. If you do not have a tea cup and saucer both are available in the Cape Fear Museum’s gift shop or you can bring your own mug.

Carol Fleitz, director of horticulture and facilities at the Cape Fear Botanical Gardens, is the guest speaker. She will talk about the different varieties of roses, planting, preparation and care for them. Bleazey will also talk about Victorian etiquette including the social customs and practices that strictly defi ned that era.

Bleazy hopes that guests bringing their own tea cup and saucer will help them sit up a little straighter and act a bit more proper in the 1897 Poe House setting. Bleazy said the tea party is perfect for any mother and daughter pair, Girl Scout or Red Hat Society, though men are invited, too.

Bleazy feels that this tea and garden party came at an excellent time with the fi rst day of Spring and the release of Alice in Wonderland, a movie which has a tea party in it.

In case of rain the tea party will be moved inside to the Museum of the Cape Fear. The Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex is located on the corner of Bradford and Arsenal avenues in Fayetteville. 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.

Tickets are $5 and can be paid by cash or check to the Cape Fear Museum. Space is limited and tickets will be sold on a fi rst come, first served basis. Tickets that have not been sold prior to the party will be available at the door.

For more information call 910-486-1330 or visit www.museumofthecapefear.ncdcr.gov.

Along the heels of Salvador Dali’s Illustrations of Dante’s Inferno and coinciding perfectly with Tim Burton’s production of Alice in Wonderland, the Fayetteville Museum of Art presents Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland illustrated by Salvador Dali.

Along with the exhibition, the museum has several exciting themed events through out the next several weeks. A boon for the community, the museum staff found this treasure quite by accident, and right here in town, through a private collector.

“We stumbled upon it when we were doing research about his (Dali’s) illustrations of the Divine Comedy,” said Michele Horn, Fayetteville Museum of Art assistant director/curator. “It was certainly interesting and intriguing because the Alice in Wonderland movie was about to premier in theaters. When we were down at the Dali exhibit and were working with collectors, there were a couple of works of Dali’s on loan from some private collections here in Fayetteville. It was brought to our attention that a private collector actually owned Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland illustrated by Salvador Dali.”

In keeping with the offbeat nature of both Dali and Alice in Wonderland, the pieces are unframed.

“We are working on creating a method of displaying it so that the work is protected and it is easily viewed by visitors,” said Horn. “But it is gorgeous.”

With 13 pieces, this exhibit is much smaller than the previous Dali showcase.

“It is hard to compete with 100 works,” said Horn. “There are certainly not as many images to see but there are so many layers in this work that you can spend much more time looking at different symbols that Dali used in the work. There is this image of Alice throughout the collection. In each work she is depicted in a silhouette form and she is always holding a jump rope. It is very interesting.”

March 26 and 27, Barnes & Noble is partnering with the museum in hosting a book fair at the Glensford Drive store. Look for characters in costume, art activities and events for the kids and story time all centered around the Wonderland experience.

April 17 at the Fayetteville Museum of Art, on Stamper Road, there will be a Down the Rabbit Hole Event — family style — from 2-5 p.m. Along with face painting and art activities for the kids, Alice and friends will be on hand hosting a tea party. Participants are encouraged to come in costume and be a part of the festivities. Tickets are $10 per child.

Later that evening, from 8-11 p.m. an adult soiree will unfold on the museum grounds. For $45 guests can relive the adventures of their youth with the Wonderland theme.

“Adults have fond childhood memories, Alice in Wonderland was a part of their youth and certainly now looking through the eyes of Tim Burton and Johnny Depp it is bringing that childhood memory back to life,” said Horn. “We have talked to so many folks who are excited about getting dressed up for the event. Having an adult soiree in addition to the the Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland illustrated by Salvador Dali, we are also going to have a special exhibit that will open during the adult soiree.”

A group of local artists that call themselves the Outsider Artists are putting together an exhibit that follows this theme of Alice in Wonderland. Area artists in this group will put on an exhibit that evening for folks to see their interpretation of Carrol’s work.

Visitors will see what inspiration the artists gleaned from illustrating or just taking from the subject matter already on display and applying it to their own body of work. Pieces will be shown in various mediums — some are painters, some are photographers, some are mixed-medium professionals and some are sculptors, so there will be a lot of variety.

For more information about any of these events, visit www.fayettevillemuseumart.org or give them a call at 485-5121.

March is turning out to be a month that reminds me time and time again that not only is life short and fl eeting, it can change in an instant. What seems our reality — even our destiny — one moment can be something entirely different in the blink of an eye, perhaps because of some decision or action on our part, but then again, perhaps not.

So far this month, I have attended a bridal shower where the bride, already an enthusiastic and accomplished cook, was almost buried in kitchen gadgets and a baby shower, where the expectant mother received all things blue for her fi rst child which modern technology has revealed will be a son. Both these young women are excited and full of hope for their futures.

Our bride, as do many young women in this military community, came to our country to be with her beau and will marry him in only a few weeks. Her family will come from thousands of miles away, and when the festivities are complete, she and her new husband will settle into married life. For her, it will also be a permanent settling into life in a country far away from her native land and far away from the people and places she knew and loved as she grew up.

Our mother-to-be is thrilled that she and her husband are about to become parents, as are both of their families. What I did not really understand when I fi rst became a mother, and what she may not yet thoroughly grasp, is that being a parent is forever. It is a job, a responsibility, and a labor of sheer love that changes but will continue as long as one draws breath and beyond. My parents have been gone for many years, but I still hear their words in my head and ask myself what they would think about something going on in my life or in the larger world.

Marriages and babies are life-changing, of course, but March has also brought changes as life ends. So far this month, I have been stunned by three passings. One was a friend of long standing with whom I recently made a lunch date for early April. Days later, she was dead, under circumstances no one understands and which have yet to be resolved. I believe there will be answers to the questions surrounding her death, but she is gone nevertheless, leaving her family and friends with a sense of loss and bewilderment and of a life cut short.

The others were acquaintances who died in a car accident on a sunny weekday morning as they went about their daily routines, in the same way you and I drive to our offi ces, to school and run our regular errands. Again, there is the sense of lives ended before they were fi nished.

I cannot help but remember one of the pivotal experiences of my motherhood, the day one of my precious jewel’s arm was pinned under another mother’s car pool vehicle, which had been struck and overturned on the way home from an ordinary school program. His arm was badly injured, but blessedly he recovered.

In the 20 years since that accident, the thought that comes to me time and time again is how very different our lives would have been had it been his head under that van instead of his arm.

I am reminded of the school of 17th century English poetry taught to college English majors, exemplifi ed by the likes of Robert Herrick and Andrew Marvel. Taking a cue from ancient poets, they encourage their readers to “seize the day,” carpe diem in Latin, lest life pass you by before you have a chance to experience all it holds for you. Herrick famously put it this way:

“Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,

Old Time is still a-fl ying,

And this same fl ower that smiles today

Tomorrow will be dying.”

Amorous college students are fond of sharing this advice with girlfriends in hopes a little affection, and the poets certainly thought of that as well. But the poetic advice and the reality of human life is much broader.

None of us really knows what any day holds for us.

My friend did not know that she and I would never have our lunch together any more than I can be sure that I will arrive safely in Raleigh this week or that you will wake up next Tuesday. Life may be predictable most of the time, but it is ultimately unknowable.

Neither our bride nor our mother-to-be has asked my advice, but if they do I will remind them of the poet’s advice to enjoy and treasure each day as if it were their last, to love their family and friends as if they will not see them again, and to take care of themselves not only for themselves but for those who love, need and depend on them.

Life is indeed a gift.

Carpe diem.

Benefits Agency With Big Dreams

On Saturday, March 27, Fayetteville residents will Dream Big!at the 13th Annual Evening at the Theater. The signature fundraising event benefits Better Health, the first independent non-profit organization in Cumberland County, and will be held at Highland Country Club.

Dream Big!is produced and directed by Cassandra Vallery and features local theater performers Ken Griggs, Greg King, Jenny Beaver and Libby Seymour. Most of the performers have volunteered for the event for several years and are regulars on stage at the Cape Fear Regional Theatre.

“I think it’s really remarkable that we are able to put together this caliber of show and they all volunteer their time. Needless to say we couldn’t do it without them,” said Judy Klinck, executive director of Better Health. “They put all of this work into a show that will only be seen one time. But that’s also an incentive for people to come out and see the show.”

The show, Dream Big!, has been created exclusively for this event and is a lively production of song and dance, both dramatic and comedic.

It features favorite Broadway hits such as “Dream the Impossible Dream” from Man of La Mancha, and other recognizable standards like “Dream” by Johnny Mercer.

“We try to choose stuff that we’ve always wanted to do,” said Vallery, who has produced and directed the show for four years.

“Dream Big! is a cabaret-style show. What that means is it’s an intimate show. It’s not big on props or sound effects, but strictly about the audience and the performers. It’s a special relationship. In a cabaret the material is unique. Each song stands alone. Each is separate and has a different message or story,” she explained.

“I hate to be called the director of the show. A director’s job is 90 percent done in casting. Ninety-fi ve percent of mine is done in asking the right people,” said Vallery. “Libby Seymour (joining the show for the fi rst time) is an actress of the highest level. Jenny is adorable and funny and everyone loves her. The two guys — Ken and Greg — are amazing voices and great people.”

This year the individual acts of the show are pulled together with a common theme, explained Vallery.

“The theme is dream big — I was trying to tie in with what they do so beautifully at Better Health. For an agency like that to succeed you have to see the potential of your community and its people, and really dream big. Having a dream — having a goal — is so important in order to have 52 years of service. Its something I also learned through working at the theatre [CFRT] — it doesn’t come from thinking small — you’ve got to have an idea of something big to reach it.”

Better Health has certainly seen the realization of big dreams. The organization has been serving Cumberland County since 1958 by bridging the gaps in healthcare for under-served, low-income residents. The organization has grown from the initial vision of Ruth Peters, the organization’s founder and fi rst executive director, who housed the organization in her apartment for 25 years.

“Better Health was founded in 1958 on the need for prescription assistance. Even though healthcare has changed a great bit in 52 years, that need is still here. That’s part of our direct aid — the most funding is spent on prescription aid. We also do a lot of help with medical supplies,” explained Klinck.

Better Health has certainly seen the realization of big dreams. The organization has been serving Cumberland County since 1958 by bridging the gaps in healthcare for under-served, low-income residents. In those 52 years, the organization has grown from the initial vision of Ruth Peters, the organization’s founder and fi rst executive director, who housed the organization in her apartment for 25 years, to its move to its own facility on Bragg Boulevard.

“Better Health was founded in 1958 on the need for prescription assistance. Even though healthcare has changed a great bit in 52 years, that need is still here. That’s part of our direct aid — the most funding is spent on prescription aid. We also do a lot of help with medical supplies,” explained Klinck.

In 2009, Better Health provided diabetes education and management to 338 people, fi nancial assistant for medical necessities for 1070 individuals, medical equipment loans to 190 families, and information and referral series to 1,587 residents of Cumberland County.

“We’re best known for our diabetes education programs. We have a seven-week management course — and it’s A to Z. It’s a free class and we have clinics that meet every week where anyone could walk in and be checked and seen by a nurse to check weight, blood pressure, blood glucose. And we screen at those clinics for hypertension and diabetes.”

There is no income qualifi cation for those services. Better Health also has a unique medical equipment loan program. They have commonly used medical equipment that is donated to the organization and then loaned out to people in need.

“We have an exercise class for people with diabetes that is fl ourishing. They have a great time. Exercise is like insulin for people that have diabetes,” continued Klinck. “A few years ago we decided to get into prevention. We use a state program “Eat Smart, Move More.” It’s very informative and entertaining. We’ll present it anyplace there is a group gathered that wants to learn about a healthier lifestyle, such as churches or civic groups.”

Better Health is a United Way partner agency, and also receives funding from individuals and corporate donations. According to Klinck, the organization is almost entirely funded by funds from within Cumberland County. Funds from the Evening at the Theater event go into the general operating fund and are used for all of the organization’s programs.

“We usually raise about $30,000 with this fundraiser. That’s our goal this year, after expenses. At least 200 people will attend the event,” said Klinck.

Reservations for Evening at the Theater are $175 per couple or $100 single. The evening includes beverages and hors d’oeuvres before the show and coffee and dessert following. For reservations or more information, please call Better Health at 483-7534 or go to www.BetterHealthCC.org.

The Cumberland Oratorio Singers (COS), the CANTATE Chamber Choir and St. Patrick Church Parish Choir, under the direction of Stephan Barnicle, will combine their choral talents in a performance of Franz Schubert’s Mass in G and Giovanni Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater as part of the St. Patrick Music for Charity Series on Friday, March 19, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 2844 Village Drive, in Fayetteville.

The mission of the St. Patrick Music for Charity Series is to “provide outstanding musical performances to the Cumberland County community” and “heighten awareness of and raise funds for local charities through the performing arts.”

“The event is the first time that COS will partner with the Music for Charity Series,” said Michael Martin, Artistic Director and Conductor of COS. “It’s a great opportunity to work with Stephan, who is nationally known and an accomplished composer.”

Barnicle, Director of Music Ministry at St. Patrick Catholic Church and Artistic Director for the Music for Charity Series, is equally excited about the concert.

“Both composers were very young when they wrote these pieces,” said Barnicle. “Pergolesi was only 26 when he died. Stabat Mater was one of his later works and is regularly used for devotion of the Stations of the Cross, and we will be performing the piece during Lent. Schubert only lived to 31 and wrote his Mass in G when he was 18. It is very simple and a great piece for choruses to sing. The pieces are very contrasting in style. Pergolesi composed during the baroque period, and Schubert was a master of the early romantic period.”

The CANTATE Chamber Choir will open the evening’s program with Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater. COS and the St. Patrick Parish Choir, accompanied by a small string orchestra, will perform Schubert’s Mass in G.

Proceeds from the performance will benefit CONTACT of Fayetteville, Inc., a nonprofit Christian-based 24-hour telephone crisis hotline and referral service. Anne Rogers, Associate Director for Music Ministry at St. Patrick Church and soprano soloist in the concert, volunteered at CONTACT upon first moving to Fayetteville.

“It was one of the most valuable things I’ve ever done,” said Rogers. “It is a very worthy cause.”

The Cumberland Oratorio Singers began in 1991 and currently has 65 members. Supported by the Arts Council of Fayetteville and Cumberland County through private contributions and grants from the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County and the North Carolina Arts Council, the group offers three full-length concerts and a free community Messiah sing each year.

“We have members from all walks of life,” said COS President Mary Potter. “Retirees, senior citizens, students, teachers, doctors, young and old. We pay dues to buy music and raise money from ticket sales and through donations. If you have a love of singing, show up, buy the music, and sing!”

Tickets are available at the door for $12; students are admitted free.

For more information about the concert, call (910) 323-2410, ext. 117 or email arogers@stpatnc. org. For more information on COS, call (910) 822- 4447 or (910) 630-7153.

Kate Gosselin and Pam Anderson are just a couple of the celebrities who are set to wow the nation when the hit show Dancing With the Stars returns to TV.

While names like Val Applewhite, David Hinkamp and Soni Martin might not cause a papparazzi feeding- frenzy like the national stars, they will cause quite a stir locally, as the Women’s Center of Fayetteville asks local celebrities to tap, swing and shake their groove things in the 2nd Annual Dancing With the Fayetteville Stars on March 20 at the Crown Coliseum Expo Center from 5:30-10 p.m.

Last year’s event had people talking, and organizers hope this year lives up to the hype as more chatter means more votes and more votes means more money for the Women’s Center to impact the lives of local families through the Lease to Home Program.

Lease to Home is designed to help people transition from homelessness to homeownership. So far, this effort has changed the lives of 33 families, moving them from either shelters or transitional housing or being on the verge of eviction to being property owners. The program includes support, guidance and counseling throughout the process.

In case you missed the event last year, here is how it works: 20 couples made up of local celebrities (in some form or another) will perform. They are working hard to put on a good show, but they are working just as hard to raise money, so they will be out in the community asking for votes (you can vote for them at www.wcof.org). Each vote costs $10.

“It is incredible how hard they work because no one wants to get on stage and do a bad job,” said Teresa Dagaz, The Women’s Center of Fayetteville project director. “They do a phenomenal job dancing and spend lots of time working on their routines, but it is actually about votes. They go out into the community and request votes. We have this thing called vote box, so they get vote boxed ahead of time and then at the event people can purchase votes. It is the only event where the contestants can win by having all of their votes paid for.”

The night of the “competition” will play out much like the TV show — except it will be even better for the audience. There will be a buffet dinner, with two wine tickets and there will be a cash bar as well.

Not only will there be emcees on stage, but there will also be two roaming emcees out in the crowd chatting with the audience. The dancers’ performances will be broadcast on big screens for those not seated near the stage. The three judge format will be the same as the TV show as they provide comedy, critiques and commentary.

“The food will be catered by Center Plate, that is always done by the Crown,” said Dagaz. “Last year the food was absolutely fabulous. We are doing it again at the Crown because they have been exceptional to work with and Moonlight Communications.”

“All of the proceeds go directly to our home program — no administrative costs are taken out it goes just strictly towards Lease to Home to build low to moderate income housing for needy families,” said Dagaz. “It is all worth the work we put into it because we know the end result — everything goes into housing. This is a collaboration with the city, the county, Restore Warehouse and the Women’s Center. It is so great to have all of these resources going back into the community.”

To reserve your ticket, vote or get more info call the Women’s Center of Fayetteville at 323-3377 or visit the Web site at www. wcof.org.

Is there any better feeling than to be able to lend a hand to someone who really needs it — to change a life (or country) for the better because it is the right thing to do? The soldiers of the 82nd’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team know the answer to that question. They have been providing relief to Haiti since a 7.0 earthquake on Jan. 12 reduced a portion of the country to a pile of rubble, affecting millions of people and crippling the Haitian government.

The first paratroopers stepped off the plane on Jan. 15 and got right to work “We’ve done a little bit of everything since we got there,” said 2BCT Public Affairs Officer Capt. Christopher Brautigam. “We started off just handing out food and water and we came in as fast as we possibly could. We treated a lot of people for injuries. If there was anyone still in the rubble, we were going to help as best we could and help the search and rescue teams find those people and get them out.”

Used to taking the lead and doing the heavy lifting in executing their missions, the paratroopers have played a big part in working with other non-governmental agencies to deliver the goods and services that will help in putting the country back together.

“We didn’t actually do the search and rescue. Our goal was to secure areas and provide logistical support for the search and rescue teams because they are really the experts and they’ve done this all over the world,” said Brautigam. “We provided security and gave them room to work and allowed them to go in. In one case though, the White Falcons heard some rumors and had time to get a search and rescue team there and they were actually able to dig through some rubble and help save a guy. It was a really great thing.”

While the 82nd trains hard to be ready for most any mission, it has been a while since they’ve provided disaster relief.

“Most of the brigade are combat veterans and this is definitely different from what we have been doing — but for the most part we have been able to apply the lessons learned, the things that we did while we were in Iraq and Afghanistan, and some of the help that we provided to the people of Iraq and Afghanistan and we have been able to apply that here,” said Brautigam. “We were able to use a lot of those lessons in how to help people and how to organize and how to run the logistics of these things to get the most help to the Haitian people as quick as possible. The best thing we were able to provide was the ability to solve problems and to get there quickly with a lot of soldiers and equipment. We were able to get there fast and get right to work. We just go and say ‘Okay, we need to help people’ and everybody fi gures it out with little guidance. Every one of the paratroopers is glad to be helping out.”

Add that All American can-do spirit to the tenacity and scrappiness of the Haitian people and big changes have come quickly to the island, although there is still much to do. When the hard work of soldiers is met with hard work and cooperation from the people, lives are changed. Brautigam was impressed by the Haitians.

“They’ve shown their resilience in so many ways. A few days after the earthquake people — on their own, without any help — were starting to rebuild their homes, or if their home was destroyed they were starting to tear down the homes to see what they could sell for scrap and to see what they could salvage and begin trying to start over. There are countless people who went into their homes, got their things and basically said ‘Okay, I used to run an Internet cafe — that is gone, but I have some of my equipment so I am going to go to one of the camps and set up Internet at one of these camps and get my business restarted till I can get a new house.’ There were guys who were barbers before — they grabbed a couple of their sets of clippers that survived the earthquake and went out and started cutting hair again.”

According to Brautigam, what happened to the Haitian government was the equivalent of our White House, pentagon and five or six of the big federal buildings in Washington, D.C., falling. That would be devastating for any country.

“They are working as best they can out of the facilities they have. We are really working to be a conduit between the government of Haiti, the U.N. troops and the non-governmental organizations... bring it all together, get people to meet face to face, find out where the problems are and to find the best solutions to the problems because at the end of the day, they know that our presence is temporary. NGO’s, (non-government agencies) they are equipped to do this. They are humanitarian aid on the long term and they are positioned and structured better to do that than we are. So we are doing our best to set them up for success — find those places that needed the most help and let them provide that help.”

As conditions improve and plans for redeployment draw closer, the 82nd will once again leave its mark on the pages of history and bring home tales of glory to share with the families.

“They (the soldiers) have seen a lot of devastation and to some extent they will keep some of these memories, but I think for the most part they are going to take back the positive experience we are the 82nd — we were there first and we were able to help in doing something very positive, not only on behalf of ourselves, but as ambassadors for our entire nation,” said Brautigam. "They’ll take that back just like every one of us who have been to Afghanistan and Iraq and we will tell our grand kids we were able to go to Haiti when they had this catastrophe and we were able to help — that is who we are and how we train.”

Addy, Molly, Julie, Josefina and Kaya. No these aren’t the names of the latest girl band, and you won’t fi nd their faces gracing the pages of the tabloids. These are the names of five of the dolls that make up the American Girl Historical Character Line.

These are also the names of girls who have won the hearts of uncounted girls across America who have read the books, bought the dolls and who may just have bought the clothes to match their dolls.

On Saturday, March 20 and Sunday, March 21, the American Girl Fashion Show will return to Fayetteville for an event that is sure to delight the hearts of the little girls who collect the storied dolls, and their mothers and grandmothers who remember a simpler time and understand the fascination of these heroines.

The American Girl Fashion Show is an annual event to benefi t the Child Advocacy Center of Fayetteville. In its third year, the event is made possible through the American Girl Corporation that authorizes the fashion shows to raise funds for nonprofi ts that work directly with children.

Cindy Huguley, one of three co-chairs of the event, explained that the event was brought to the Child Advocacy Board by a former chairman, Beth Perry. “She was aware that the American Girl organization offered an opportunity to non-profi ts that benefi t children,” she explained. “This is a really great event — not only as a fundraiser. The dolls and the stories they represent help to build self-esteem in girls. They read about, and have these dolls, that represent very strong historical fi gures. The whole concept is very wholesome and lets little girls know that it’s okay to play with dolls.”

The American Girl Company only awards regional events, so the show held in Fayetteville will draw people from all over Eastern North Carolina. “It’s a really good event for Fayetteville,” she said. “It will bring families into town from Raleigh to Wilmington. We even have models from as far away as Wake Forest.”

While there are some models from out of the area, the majority of the models will come from Cumberland County. In November and December of 2008, the organization had open calls for models at the Downtown Library and the Hope Mills Library. Girls that fi t into clothes 6X to 10 could tryout to be a model in the show. The co-chairs looked for a very diverse goup of girls.

“We looked for girls who look like the dolls,” explained Huguley.

The historical line includes an African-American doll, Addy; a Native-American doll, Kaya; and a Hispanic doll,Josefi na.

In total, there are 130 models who will work the four shows.

“We wanted to give a lot of little girls the opportunity to participate, so we created four casts,” she continued.

In adddition to modeling on the day of the show, the models have the opportunity to go out into the community to raise funds for the center. Last year’s cast raised in excess of $17,000.

“It’s great that the girls have the opportunity to model, but it’s better that they have the opportunity to help children in need,” she continued. “That’s the underlying point in everything we do at the show.”

Besides getting a chance to see their favorite dolls comes to life, attendees will also have the opportunity to shop for “girly” things in the vendor area and to enjoy a tea party.

The event will be held in the Crown Coliseum Ballroom, with shows at 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. on Saturday and a 3 p.m. show on Sunday. Tickets are $30 per person. For more information on the show or tickets, call (910) 486-9700 or visist www. childadvocacycenter.com.

Ah, the glamour of the Academy Awards... does anything compare to the sparkle, so-phistication and pomp and circumstance of the Oscars? While most of us aren’t going to make it to this much-anticipated Hollywood event, several local venues are pulling together to provide an equally high-end, sparkly experience for Fayetteville including paparazzi,frenzied fans and red carpet interviews.

The Arts Council is rolling out the red carpet for a fabulous pre-Oscar party at 7 p.m. on Sunday March 7.

“We have paparazzi and screaming fans... and then we have some ac-tors from the Cape Fear Regional Theater,” said Maureen McKeon, com-munications manager for Partnership for Children of Cumberland County, Inc.

“They are going to be interviewing people on the red carpet, so you walk the red carpet into the party and then we’ll have heavy hors d’oeuvres and drinks inside.”

Just like the Academy’s event, come dressed to impress. It is the red carpet after all, and you never know who is watching.

“There is also a costume contest,” said McKeon.“We are encouraging people to come dressed as their favorite movie char-acter, favorite actor or actress or in their Hollywood finest — however they feel they want to come.”

Once inside, plan to bid on any of the several items that will be featured in the silent auction. There will be ev-erything from a trip for four to Disney World to a night-on-the-town pack-age, lunch with the mayor, a teeth whit-ening package, lawn services and more.

Inside the Arts Council there will be a big screen featur-ing Hollywood’s pre-Oscar party as well.

The Academy Awards begin at 8 p.m. (feel free to hang out at the pre-party until 9 p.m. if you like). The Cameo Art House Theatre will be showing the awards in their entirety, so it will be just a few steps down the block to catch the ceremony.

“It is really fun,” said McKeon. “We are going to have dessert and cof-fee available at the Cameo Theatre, too. Last year we had some impromptu things during the commercials — one of our guests (who played Gomer Pyle’s girlfriend on TV)Elizabeth McRae, she got up and sang during one of the commercials. I’m not sure if she is going to do that this year. You just never know what is going to happen.”

The funds raised will benefit the Partnership for Children of Cumberland County, Inc.“We have some programs for military fami-lies, and it also benefits the partnership’s Kids Stuff — the children’s area at the Dogwood Festival,” said McKeon.

“It allows us to bring in some really great stuff for children and families. We have some really awesome programs — we pretty much touch every child from birth to five-years-old in Cumberland County in some way.”

Tickets cost $60 per person, $40 for Cameo members, and $100 per couple. Call 867-9700 for reservations. Visit the Web site at www.ccpfc.org for more information.