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         I want to start an organic vegetable garden in my yard and I would like to know how to combine crops to make better use of time and space.               
    — Val Thomason, Denton, Texas

         Most commercial farms concentrate on growing a few select crops to supply a wide variety of customers, but gardening at home is a different story entirely. Most backyard food gardeners are looking to augment their family’s diet with a variety of seasonal fruits, vegetables and herbs throughout the growing season.
         For those of us who face time and space constraints in our gardening endeavors, combining crops within the same planting areas makes a lot of sense. Such techniques are particularly well-suited to organic gardens where chemical fertilizers and pesticides aren’t used to artificially boost crop productivity.
         {mosimage}The most common way to combine garden crops is via an age-old technique called interplanting, which in essence means planting various garden edibles with different growth and spacing attributes together in the same soil beds or rows. One example involves combining fast-maturing vegetables, such as lettuce, field greens or beets, with slower-maturing ones like winter squash or pole beans. According to the informational “Our Garden Gang” website, mixing tall plants, like sweet corn, peas or staked tomatoes, with low-growing crops such as melons or radishes, is another way to maximize diversity and yield.
         Building on the idea of interplanting, Better Homes & Gardens magazine suggests that gardeners combine plants that produce vines and can be grown on trellises or fences along with low-growing crops. So-called “vertical gardening” concentrates much more production into each square foot of planting area. Also, the magazine reports, crops grown off the ground “tend to be healthier because they are less likely to contract fungus infections or soil-borne leaf diseases.” Tomatoes, pole beans, cucumbers, snap peas, melons and winter squash are all examples of crops suitable for vertical gardening if staked or supported properly.
         Another common technique often employed by “weekend” gardeners, organic or otherwise, is succession planting, which entails replacing a finished crop with a different one, or planting a single crop in small amounts over an extended period of time. One example would be to replace a spring crop with a summer crop, such as planting cucumbers — which thrive in warmer weather — where the peas had been growing earlier. Another form of succession planting involves staggering the planting of seeds from one specific crop throughout its growing season to ensure a continuing supply as long as possible.
         Some crops particularly well-suited to succession planting include bush beans, lettuce, spinach and radishes, each of which have long growing seasons but can be harvested after only a few weeks. A related technique would be to plant both early- and late-maturing varieties of the same type of crop around the same time, and harvesting the resulting crops successively. Tomatoes and corn, for example, each come in varieties that ripen at different times during their respective growing seasons.
         And while it may be easy to get carried away with edible gardening, don’t forget to plant a few flowers to spruce up the look of your garden and also attract bees to help pollinate your food crops. Marigolds and sunflowers are good choices as they are relatively easy to grow organically and tend to attract lots of bees.
         CONTACTS: Our Garden Gang, http://ourgardengang.tripod.com; Better Homes & Gardens, www.bhg.com.
    GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EarthTalk, c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; submit it at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/thisweek/, or e-mail: earthtalk@emagazine.com.

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         There is a bumper sticker that reads “Army Wife – Toughest Job in the Military.” I do not think there is much doubt in anyone’s mind that being a military spouse is an extremely challenging role to fill, but where does being a military child rank? As we celebrate the Month of the Military Child in April, we need to reflect on what it truly means to be a military child. {mosimage}
         For those on the outside looking in, it means mom and/or dad is fighting a war in Iraq or Afghanistan. It means having to live without their soldier for six, nine, 12, maybe even 15 months. It means not having their soldier home for holidays and birthdays. It means constantly moving. It means facing numerous challenges on a regular basis.
         To the civilian world, this is often what is thought of in regards to military children. I do not know about you, but to me, this is not what being a military child is about. Yes, much of this is true, but it is not the essence of our children. 
         So, let me ask the question again. What does it mean to be a military child? It means the chance to live in foreign countries and several different states. It means the opportunity to visit places others only read about in books or see on television. It means understanding at a very young age that there is a whole world out there beyond your street, school and city. It means having “best friends” all over the world. 
         It means having brothers and sisters born in different states, maybe even different countries than you. It means having a bond with your family that is stronger than many; after all, they are with you no matter where the Army sends you. It means swelling up with pride when you hear the National Anthem. Above all else, it means the ability to say, “My mom and/or dad is a United States soldier!” 
         If you ask five children what it means to be a military child, you will likely get five very different answers.    Being a military child is challenging, exciting, rewarding and unique. They are a special group who begin to make sacrifices at an age so young they do not even know what the word sacrifice means. Children growing up on or near a base with a soldier for a parent rarely realize the extraordinary lives they lead.
         Being a military child may indeed be one of the toughest jobs in the Army. These kids are definitely worth celebrating this month, and all year long.

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         Rogue Roller Girl reporter Risky Biscuit is on the derby trail again this time in search of an infamous recluse.  As luck would have it, the trail was not difficult to trace for she followed the stench that could only be the sweat, tears and humility of the many outwitted opponents of Leif Mia Lone.{mosimage}
         Q: First of all, please explain your extraordinary name.
         Leif Mia Lone:  I’m the Viking warrior from the barbaric North that doesn’t play well with others...“Leave Me Alone”... Get it? Good. Now go away... Just kidding!
         Q: What is your favorite part of derby?
         Leif Mia Lone: The girls. *grin*? But no — really — the girls. They rock. They’re some of the coolest ladies I’ve met in my lifetime. I feel like I learn a lot from them.  Plus, you know, beating up other chicks on skates is fun, too. Oh, and the after parties. You know how much Vikings looove to party! *grin*
         Q: Describe “derby funk.”
         Leif Mia Lone:  “Derby Funk” isn’t a dance. It’s actually the raunchy scent that your gear (socks, helmet, pads, skates, etc) takes on as you play more and wash them less. I am the QUEEN of derby funk. I’m the “smelly girl” on the team. I just let them fester in my bag. I just take it out for derby. And let me tell you — the smell? It’s kickin, that’s for sure. The girls can smell me coming a mile away. But it works as a good defense, because nobody wants to touch me. *grin* But in all reality, I have to wash my pads soon — they’re even starting to make ME gag now...
         Q: Are you superstitious?
         Leif Mia Lone: Yes. Very. I had this one pair of lucky tights — key word: HAD. I got them before a bout in Columbia, S.C., back in November ‘07. I wore them for EVERY bout and did well. Then after our bout in Jacksonville, Fla., somebody threw them away. The next bout after that — Season’s Beatings — I separated the AC joint in my shoulder.     Go figure.
         Q: Give me a basic rundown of the typical derby girl.
         Leif Mia Lone: There is no such thing as a “typical” derby girl! We’re all so different. But we all share one common bond — the love of the game. We love to skate hard, play hard and hit hard...if it wasn’t for derby, I never would have approached the majority of these women and yet some of them are the most amazing friends I’ve made. They’re my Rogue family.
         Q: You’re also a pro-wrestler for Ring Wars Carolina (The Scandinavian Sweetheart). If Leif Mia Lone and the Scandinavian Sweetheart were to ever bout, who would win?
         Leif Mia Lone:  Oooh. That would be a GREAT match-up. Honestly? I think it would end up being a draw. They would beat each other senseless, each out-smarting the other over and over again. But in the end, they’d probably end up going out for some Aquavit or something.
         Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?
         Leif Mia Lone: I want to be an achiever of my dreams. I want to be happy.
         Q: What makes you so awesome?
         Leif Mia Lone: Um, I’m not. Not really. I’m just me. *shrug* your typical average girl with flaws all her own, trying to find her way in the world.

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    Easter Egg Hunt
    E.E. Miller Recreation Center
    April 3
    The hunt is free, but bring your own basket. Parents or guardians must attend with each child. For more information, call 433-1220.

    Easter Egg Hunt
    Spring Lake
    April 4
    The City of Spring Lake will host an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 4 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Mendoza Park. Kids up to 12 -years-old are welcome, as are their families. There will be free baskets for the first 25 children who show up. The Easter Bunny will also be on hand to lead the children in games and activities. And, there will be great food as well. For more information, call 436-0241.

    Easter Egg Hunt
    Stedman Recreation Center
    April 4
    The Stedman Recreation Center is pulling out all the plugs for this special Easter celebration. Bring the family for a breakfast of pancakes, sausage and scrambled eggs. In case you didn’t guess, the Easter Bunny will be your host. The cost for breakfast is $3 per person, and it starts at 9 a.m. and ends at 10:30 a.m. At 10:45 a.m., there will be an Easter Egg hunt, which is free, but you have to bring your own basket. Tickets will be sold in advance. Call for reservations. For more information, call 433-1440.

    {mosimage} 

    Easter Cantata and Drama
    Green Springs Baptist Church
    April 3 and 5
    The music ministry of Green Springs Baptist Church will present an Easter drama on Friday, April 3 and Sunday April 5 at 7 p.m. Join the church family for refreshments following each performance. For more information, call 425-8602.

    The Last Living Supper
    Village Baptist Church
    April 5
    Village Baptist Church will present The Last Living Supper at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. For more information, call 678-7178.

    The News That Changed the World
    Northwood Temple
    April 9-12
    The music ministry of Northwood Temple will present the musical The News That Changed the World at 7:30 each night, with a matinee performance on Saturday, April 11 at 3:30 p.m. For more information, call 488-7474.

    Easter Egg Hunt
    Eastover Central Recreation Center
    April 9
    The center is hosting an egg-dyeing event on Thursday, April 9 from 6-8 p.m. Supplies are provided, but you need to pre-register before April 6 or you will miss out on all the fun. For more information, call 433-1226.

    Easter Egg Hunt
    Smith Recreation Center
    April 11
    The center is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt for children ages 6-12. It runs from 10-11:30 a.m., and costs $5, but all supplies are provided. Pre-register by April 9 to save a spot. For more information, call 433-1435.

    Easter Egg Hunt
    Stoney Point Recreation Center
    April 11
    The center is hosting an egg-dyeing event for children ages 6-12 on Thursday, April 11 from10-11:30 a.m. Supplies are provided, with a fee of $5. Pre-register by April 9. For more information, call 433-1435.

    Spring Carnival
    Tolson Youth Center on Fort Bragg
    April 11
    There will be plenty of games and activities. The party is from 2-4 p.m., with an Easter Egg Hunt at 3:15 p.m. For more information, call 396-5437.

    Easter Egg Hunt
    Green Springs Baptist church
    April 11
    The Children’s Ministry of Green Springs Baptist Church is sponsoring a community-wide Easter Egg Hunt in the Grey’s Creek community from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. There will be kite flying, crafts and lunch. For more information, call 425-8602.

    Easter Egg Hunt
    Snyder Baptist Church
    April 11
    Snyder Baptist Church is having an Easter party and the public is invited. The event will run from 10-11:30 a.m., and is open to children up to grade 6. There will be activities, crafts and games. For more information, call 484-3191.

    Spring Fling
    Spring Lake
    April 18
    Spring Lake is hosting its 8th annual Spring Fling on Saturday, April 18. There will be live entertainment, local bands, cloggers, kid games, food, carnival rides, bounce houses and more. The event will be held at Mendoza Park, and it’s free and open to the public. For more information, call 436-0241.

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         The Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation Friends of Children was started in 1991, and is based on the premise that both children and their families are in crisis when a child is ill. Over the years the organization has contributed in a mighty way to help sick kids in our community. 
         “We’ve done things such as starting a pediatric asthma program, which serves all of Cumberland County and the surrounding area,” said Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation Friends of Children Coordinator Marian Morgan.
        {mosimage} “Another thing that we have done is the regional Diabetes and Endocrine Center — we donated about $50,000 to them and they are using that for things that they need with pediatric endocrinology. We’ve also helped out the rehabilitation department with an outdoor playground so that kids can receive their therapy outside like other kids. It looks like a regular playground but it is designed to help the kids with their therapy.”
         When an organization is making contributions of that scale on behalf of children, 18 holes of golf may be the last thing that you would think that they would be doing. Au contraire, golf is a big part of how they raise the money to pull it all off, in fact, they’ve raised more than $1 million in the past 13 years.
         On Friday, April 3, Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation is hosting the 14th Annual L.B. Floyd Friends of Children’s Classic at Cypress Lakes Golf Course. This year’s proceeds are earmarked for the purchase of a bed for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). “This bed is designed so that the babies don’t have to get moved,” said Morgan. “We bought one two years ago and now we see that the need is great, so we want to buy another bed for the neonatal intensive care unit.”
         While the Pediatric Emergency Department sees tens of thousands of kids every year, the Friends of Children consider it their duty to make as many of those experiences as good as they can be. “One of the things we feel is very important is that a child’s perspective is never lost. It is nothing for an adult to go into the hospital and have a procedure because we’ve done it or we have seen it on TV. It is something we are familiar with or we can ask the right questions and get some answers, but for a child the terminology and the machines are scary and a lot of times you have people coming in with masks on,” said Morgan. “Just the little things you take for granted but for a child it is a big deal.”
         That fact is not lost on the event organizers. “All these people work really, really hard. They are working together for kids that they’ll never meet,” said Morgan. “Everyone coming together to help kids in our community is what is most rewarding to me and like I said, the kids don’t know we are doing it but that is our responsibility as a community to look after the kids.”
         The adult tournament has various levels of sponsorship but it is $500 per person to play. That includes a shirt, golf shoes, a hat, lunch and dinner, which is provided by Texas Roadhouse. Two tickets to the awards banquet are also included in the registration fee. Trophies area warded for the top performers and there is also a raffle with great prizes like a 42’ flat screen TV donated by Best Buy, a 13-month Healthplex membership, a round of golf for four at Pinehurst #7, two tickets to the Coca Cola 600, jewelry items from Carlyle & Co. and Jim’s Pawn Shop, and some Nike items.
         Even if you can’t play everybody is welcome to come out.  “Cypress Lakes is so beautiful and there are so many places that you can stand and actually watch foursomes come in,” said Morgan. For more information or to become a sponsor, call Marian Morgan at 609-7521.

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         The peak of the marrying season is upon us.
         So far, the Dicksons have six weddings of dear cousins and wonderful friends on our social calendar between now and August, including two on the same spring day. {mosimage}
         Five are of young couples marrying for the first time. Each has sent out a “save-the-date” mailing; two of which are refrigerator magnets with color photographs of the good-looking prospective brides and grooms. The other three are handsome cards with the names of the happy couples, their special dates and listings of hotels where one might stay if attending their weddings from out of town.    
         I am so relieved that no one seems to be referring to save-the-date notices by initials.    
         The sixth couple is baby boomers with grown children; marrying for the second time with no save-the-date announcement. Theirs will be a family wedding, followed by a larger celebration at the home of a close friend.
    Three of the 20-somethings are having large church weddings, followed by wingding receptions with music, dancing and plenty of food and drink. The other couples have planned festivities at two of North Carolina’s loveliest beaches, both with amenities. 
         A tremendous amount of thought, planning, energy, not to mention money, is going into the five younger generation weddings. I am blessed to count the brides’ mothers among my friends. Each can converse quite knowledgeably about caterers, wedding gowns and bridesmaid’s dresses — long or street length; strapless or with sleeves; up-dos or down-dos; and which churches require what in the way of pre-marital counseling. Houses are being painted and yards re-landscaped. New furniture is on order.       
         Their daughters — the brides — have just as much infor mation about all things wedding and even more opinions.  
         The last time I inquired, my friend, the “mature” bride, was not quite sure what she was wearing on her big day, but she knows she will find something. Nor was she confident about the time of the wedding ceremony or who was to be where when.
         She and her intended just know they are showing up at the appointed time and place and that they will be married. They are both radiant. The rest is gravy.
         Getting married can be among the most exciting times in one’s life. The brides and grooms become stars in their own nuptial dramas, with family and friends acting as the supporting cast. Their every wish is considered, and many of them are granted. Their photographs are taken, new clothes are purchased and activities are planned with them always at the center of the wedding universe.     
         For most of us, the spotlight will never be so bright and focused again. 
         My mature bride and groom know, though, as do many of us who have been married since before these young couples were even born, that getting married is the fun part.         
         Being married is something else.   
         It is an evolving challenge that ebbs and flows throughout the stages of marriage; newlywed-dom; parenting; juggling family and work; inevitable ageing and all the unimagined joys and crises along the way that make all human life both an awesome wonder and the deepest of mysteries. 
         None of the young couples has asked my advice on marriage. But if they do, I will tell them several things.      I hope they always love each other, recognizing the intense emotions they feel now that often shut out everyone else will, over time, expand to welcome others into their circle; and those relationships with family and friends will enrich their marriage. It is true that you do not marry just one person. You marry everyone that person knows and loves.   
         I will tell them to find and enjoy mutual interests and activities, but to reserve something special just for themselves. She does not have to go to every game with him, nor does he have to go on every shopping jaunt with her. No one human being is ever going to have exactly the same interests and inclinations as another.   
         Try to know and enjoy each other’s family and friends, but if one or two just are not your cup of tea, be pleasant and polite and keep going. You do not have to love them just because your spouse does.
         Both of you are going to succeed some of the time and fail some of the time, as all of us do.  Rejoice with and support each other as need be.
         As with all aspects of life, honesty is always the best policy. Yes, it can be painful, but if you are in a marriage for the long haul, dishonesty and deceit are like acid. They will corrode, even explode, a relationship more thoroughly than anything else.
         My mature couple will never ask me for any advice. They know where they are heading and are going there lovingly and with eyes wide open.
         I wish all my upcoming brides and grooms, young and mature, long and happy years together.
           
       

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         The last thing I wanted to do on a Saturday morning was get up and go to work. But, I’m glad I did. My destination was the Crown Coliseum, and the Fayetteville Futures II event. If you didn’t make it, you don’t know what you missed.
        {mosimage} I have to admit, I was surprised when I pulled into the Crown parking lot. There were more cars in the parking lot than I have seen at some entertainment events. To say that I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement.
          I slid in just a few minutes late (remember, the last thing I wanted to do on Saturday morning was go to work,) so I missed a lot of the welcoming remarks. I did get a chance to hear Kirk deViere explain how the process works; to hear George Breece thank the long and varied list of people who made the event happen; and to hear Congressman Larry Kissell applaud the community for its efforts.
         As I looked across the room, I was again amazed by the sheer number of people in attendance. Remember, this was 9:30 a.m. on Saturday morning. The hospitality room, where the event was held, was filled almost to the point of overflowing. A rough count put the number at 500, but more people came in as the morning wore on.
         Yes,  there were the people you expected to see there: local politicians and business leaders. There were community activists and educators. But what impressed me the most was the everyday citizens of Cumberland County who took time out of their hectic schedules to become part of the process. There were men and women, and people of all races. They all had one goal: making our city better.
         If there was anything disappointing in the event it was the lack of involvement by young professionals - the 25 to 35-year-old demographic was by-in-large absent. It is those people who must take ownership of our community. They are the ones who, in the coming years, will step into roles of leadership.
         So, to all of those involved, kudos for taking the first step. Now stay the course. For that noticeably absent group, where were you? It’s your future, too.

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         How many times have you walked down the sidewalk on your street and seen a stray piece of litter carelessly thrown there? How many times have you taken the time to stop and pick it up?
         How many times have you driven down one of the back roads of our community and seen an illegal dump littered with couches, washers and dryers and even commodes? How many times did you stop to try and help clean it up?
    That’s the type of questions that Bobby Hurst, chairman of Fayetteville Beautiful, might be asking on Saturday, April 18 at the kick-off of the Fayetteville Beautiful Spring citywide clean-up. Hurst, who heads up the non-profit organization, has overseen a number of these events, and he has watched them grow as more and more residents begin to take pride in our community.
         {mosimage} “Over time, you expect these kinds of events to dwindle,” said Hurst. “The first event is always huge, but people drift away and it doesn’t become as important. That isn’t the case with Fayetteville Beautiful.”
         In fact, this year’s event is expected to be the largest event ever. There are many factors that have added to the success of the event, but the main factor is community involvement.
         “We’ve got churches and civic groups participating. We’ve got Boy Scouts from all across the county involved. There are school groups, and there are families – all working to make our city better,” said Hurst.
         This year’s event is getting a shot in the arm through the involvement of the Church of the Latter-day Saints. According to Anna Molgard, the director of public affairs for the area churches, the church participates in an annual Day of Service across the country. In Cumberland County, the church decided to adopt Fayetteville Beautiful as its service project. That means that more than 300 members of the area churches will come out in force to participate in the event.
    “We are joining with congregations from our church throughout the Southeast United States in a day of service,” said Molgard. “We decided to partner with Fayetteville Beautiful after we talked with the mayor’s office.”
         Molgard said she called the mayor’s office to see what needs the city had.  She was looking for an event that could accommodate a large number of volunteers, and that would make a big impact on the community.
         “Service is a big part of our church and our faith. This is the largest scale project that has been done in this area in the last several years,” she said. “We are glad to serve and join our friends and neighbors to clean up our city and make it a better place for us all to live.”
         Quality of life is one of the main reasons Fayetteville Beautiful was initially formed. The city recognized that people want to live in a safe, clean community. That was one of the agenda items that came out of the first Fayetteville Futures study. Hurst, who became the trash czar for the community, began building a group of volunteers and put the plan into motion.
         He noted that many people do not understand the impact litter has on a community. He related that just recently the county hosted individuals who were looking to locate a business here. As the delegation pulled up to the county’s business park, economic developers were shocked to find an illegal dump at the entrance.
         “They didn’t even want to go in,” said Hurst. “It made a real impact on county leaders, and they are hoping to either join us or start a similar program of their own.”
         He noted that during past clean-ups many of these illegal dumps were eradicated; only to be refilled by county residents. In the weeks leading up to the April 18 event, Hurst and members of his committee will tour the community to find areas of high-concentration litter. These high-litter areas will be targeted by the committee during the clean-up.
    Mayor Tony Chavonne is excited about the event. “We have two citywide clean-ups each year, but there’s something exciting about the spring event,” he said. “Maybe it’s all the color or the newness of the season, but we always have a wonderful turnout for this event, and we look to this event to be the most successful so far.”
         Hurst said that many organizations that adopt roads will also take part in the event. He said over the past several years a great partnership has developed between his organization and the N.C. Department of Transportation.
    “Really, we’re all working for the same goal: a cleaner community,” said Hurst.
         This fall, the organization will turn its attention to the Cape Fear River and its banks. Hurst said this event will not have as many youth participants due to the nature of the event. “We’re actually going to have people in boats cleaning the water,” he said.
         But, for now, Hurst is still actively seeking volunteers. If you’re interested in pitching in and helping clean up the community, visit the organization’s Web site at www.fayettevillebeautiful.com. Volunteer organizers will assign             you a location, and you can pick up your bags and gloves at the kick-off.     

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         There are some pretty amazing things on the Internet, some good, some bad and a lot that are just useless and mediocre. In the really good category would be the Flip My Landscape competition on local radio station WKML’s Web site. If this event brings to mind shows like Extreme Home Makeover, Flip this House, DIY and Designed to Sell, then you are right on the money.
          {mosimage} In the spirit of bettering the community, Cape Fear Landscape and Lawncare of Fayetteville owner, Garrett Fulcher and his sponsors, are offering up to a $5,000 landscape makeover to each winner of the competition, and the chance to have the entire experience broadcast on Time Warner Cable’s Channel 9, and we aren’t just talking sod and a few hostas either. Fulcher’s company deals in things like outdoor kitchens, retaining walls, outdoor lighting and custom pavers too. Set your DVR’s and mark your calendar, the first episode airs on Saturday, April 4 at 10:30 a.m. 
          So how did this traffic-signal installer and landscaper decide this was a project he wanted to initiate? “I was just sitting around thinking of something I could do to give back to the community because they’ve been so good to me,” said Fulcher. “I wanted to kinda give back a little bit to them and do it in a profession that we are good at, so we came up with the idea of flipping someone’s landscape.”
           The Cape Fear Landscape crew has already done a few makeovers, but none of them have been filmed or aired yet, although each one has surely been a blessing to the recipient. 
           “We’re looking for people who are down and out or are disabled and can’t do it any more,” said Fulcher. One of the winners  is a dual military couple. The husband has just returned from his fifth deployment and the wife is on her first deployment right now. “They just didn’t have the time to keep things up and he wanted to surprise her. He just wanted something nice for her to come home to.”
           While the bulk of the digging, planting and installing is done by Fulcher and his crew, there are plenty of local sponsors who are pitching in — Hubbard Pipes, Accubrick, Custom Pavers, the Fayetteville Guard, Thurman Trucking, Highland Paving Co., Horne Farms, Ican, Up & Coming Weekly, Vista Outdoor Lighting and Twin Oaks Nursery. Fulcher said that the response has been so good that the plan is to keep doing make-overs and wowing the community as long as the sponsors are willing to hang in there with him. When someone drives by a home that has used Cape Fear Landscape and Lawncare of Fayetteville, Fulcher’s hope is that people who see it will automatically know that his company has been there, and that the people who live there will enjoy the outdoor living spaces that they’ve created for years to come. 
           “We want people to know that when you need landscaping you need to be calling Cape Fear Landscaping,” he said.  “I mean we do it all from  one end to the other. We do outdoor kitchens, custom walkways, drive ways, sod, irrigation, landscape lighting. We do it from one end to the other; if it has got anything to do with the outside of your house we can do it.”
           While the first round of competition has closed, it is not too late to enter for the second round. Entries are being accepted until April 5. They will be posted on WKML’s Web site Monday, April 6 - Thursday, April 9 until 11:59 p.m., when the next Flip My Landscape winner will be chosen by popular vote. Visit www.wkml.com to enter and find out about the contest rules. Even if you don’t enter you can still vote and help choose the next prize recipient.

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         Fayetteville is looking for a few good men — and women — who are truly interested in making a difference in the community. And on Saturday, March 28, county leaders are hoping those folks will join them at the Crown Coliseum to participate in Greater Fayetteville Futures II, a community action plan.
         Greater Fayetteville Futures II is an offshoot of a 2001 project that bore the same name. Greater Fayetteville Futures was, according to Fayetteville Mayor Tony Chavonne, the “first honest assessment of our community.”
         “That’s when we acknowledged that we didn’t have the economy to create the jobs we needed to build our economy,” he said. “It was recognition that we were not where we needed to be.”
    {mosimage} At that time, the group tackled three major goals: image, a unified vision for economic opportunities, and leveraging the military’s presence in the community for greater economic opportunities. From that project came a unified economic development presence in the form of the Chamber, the development of the History, Heroes and a Hometown feeling slogan and a closer examination of economic opportunities tied to the military that are not service-related.
    Key to the success of the first Fayetteville Futures was the involvement in the process by a wide segment of the community. It is, in fact, an action plan for the future. When the group convenes this month, it will focus on 10 objectives that will help the community reach its 2020 Vision: Greater Fayetteville will be recognized as a top 10 place to live in the Southeastern United States for all with safe neighborhoods, cultural opportunities, a model education system, well-connected and a strong, vibrant local economy.
         The 10 objectives are:
         VO 1: Create a model education system that supports and networks workforce readiness and sustainable innovations.
         VO 2: Effectively implement the community’s economic development strategy.
         VO 3: Ensure safety and security for all.
         VO 4: Expand and develop services that lead to a better living environment.
         VO 5: Leverage the region’s defense technology assets.
         VO 6: Increase/improve traditional and non-traditional connectivity infrastructure (transportation and information technology.)
         VO 7: Improve and sustain health services and wellness
         VO 8: Grow and sustain a “green” community.
         VO 9: Communicate our community story.
         VO 10: Sustain and grow cultural and recreational opportunities.
         Over the past several years, several studies have been conducted throughout the community to help guide the direction and firm up the 2020 vision. Chavonne said the community has the information it needs to meet the vision, now it’s time for people to “roll up their sleeves” and do the work to get the community where it needs to go.
         To do that, community leaders pulled up the original Fayetteville Futures model and put it back on the table. According to Chavonne the reason the first project was so successful was that it was “inclusive.”
         “It’s an action place, not a white-paper exercise,” he noted. “We already have the benefit of the reports. We know what we need to do, and now we need to energize the community on these action items.
         Kirk deViere is helping facilitate the process. He explained that during the meeting at the Crown, citizens will get an overview of the objectives and the mission, and then they will have the opportunity to break down into smaller groups and explore objectives in a more depth. “Citizens will get a chance to plug into two objectives,” said deViere. “They will then discuss a series of initiatives and create project teams with definite, measurable goals. Each initiative has a one-year time for completion.”
         That’s when the ball is squarely in the hands of the community. Once the project teams are created, they become responsible for setting their meetings, creating their plans and working to meet their targets.
         “This is a completely action focused, action-based project,” said deViere. “The community has the direction, the resources have been spent and a blue print is in place. It now becomes a community playbook.”
         He noted that there is a wide spectrum of the community involved from large stakeholders in the education, healthcare, governmental and other agencies, to individual citizens. “People who make up the community are represented at the table to put the final shape on what we are going to do,” he said.
         Chavonne said that cross-segment of the community will help to look at the bigger picture and seeing how issues are not one dimensional. “Crime rates aren’t just an issue with the city,” said Chavonne. “They impact across the community in a number of ways. If we all work in a collaborative way we can find an answer.”
         He was adamant in that this is not a “study to study” our community. “Through this process we will have specific steps to move our community forward,” he said.
         deViere said at the end of the year, a community scorecard will be issued letting the citizens see what has been accomplished. “This is a very open process. We will use a variety of means to keep the community informed so that they can gauge how we are doing,” he said.
         But, both men pointed out that it begins with the community. The meeting is open to the public and the process is community driven. “We need people to be energized about the process, roll up their sleeves and make a difference in our community,” said Chavonne. “We want to find people who will engage and move forward.”
         The event begins sat 9:30 a.m. at the Crown and runs through noon. For more information, visit the organization Web site at www.GreaterFayettevilleFutures.org .

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         Did you hear the one about the tap dancing biochemist? No?
    Actually, it’s no joke … On March 21 at Methodist University’s Reeves Auditorium there will be a tap dancing biochemist hoofing across the stage, along with a molecular geneticist, a software engineer and a second-grade teacher. This seemingly disparate group of professionals make up the Footnotes Tap Ensemble, a nonprofit, Research Triangle-based professional tap company dedicated to bringing tap to the masses.
         {mosimage} Co-founder Mimi Benjamin — who works as a physician when she’s not treading the boards along with the other members of Footnotes — says everyone in the troupe holds down a “day” job, though their real passion is the dance.
    “All of our dancers work regular jobs,” said Benjamin, who founded Footnotes in 2005 with former dance school classmate Robin Vail, “but they find time to put their careers on the backburner to entertain and educate people about tap dancing.”
         Benjamin says dance fans that show up at Methodist on March 21 will be treated to a display of old-fashioned tap done in the style of some of the legends, including a tribute to Bill “Bojangles” Robinson.
         “We will perform three different types of tap,” said Benjamin. “We’ve worked hard to preserve the old historic dances. Among the ones we’ll be doing is ‘New Lowdown,’ made famous by Mr. Bojangles, himself.
         “We’ll also be doing ‘The Walkaround’ that was previously performed by the great Henry Robinson,” said Benjamin. “We also have dances we’ve commissioned from contemporary choreographers Dorothy Wasserman and Lane Alexander, as well as our own compositions. People are usually very surprised at the variety of what makes up tap dancing.”
         In addition to bringing some of their own dance creations with them, Footnotes will also bring its own band, consisting of a pianist, bassist, drummer, singer, banjoist and sax player/flautist.
         And while Footnotes will certainly bring the noise, Methodist brings a little something special itself that will contribute mightily to the performance: “The floor on that stage (Reeves Auditorium) is just legendary,” said Benjamin. “It’s got a great reputation as being an extraordinary wood stage.”
         In addition to a widespread reputation for its dancing abilities, Footnotes is also well known for its educational programs, bringing tap classes and workshops into communities across the region — workshops and classes that attract a broad spectrum of participants.
         “There are so many different styles of tap that can be performed in conjunction with so many different types of music,” said Benjamin. “I mean, when we hit the stage we have to appeal to all ages, from 4 to 80. And a lot of these folks get into dance after seeing us perform or attending one of our workshops.”
         The show is scheduled for March 21, 8 p.m., at Reeves Auditorium is entitled “Live Rhythms,” and if you want more information about how you can catch it “live,” call (919) 475-5444 to purchase tickets; tickets are $10 — $5 for students, seniors and NCDA members.
         You can also check out the Footnotes Web site, www.footnotestapensemble.org, for more information about the organization as well as a schedule.

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    Match Dot Con
      A woman wrote me on an online dating site. Her profile said she was 42. I’m 37, which isn’t a big age difference, so we went out. We had a blast and were planning to go out again when she e-mailed and confessed she’ll be 49 in August. She seemed really cool, had a great sense of humor, and looked older than 42, but was definitely still cute. Should I be worried she might have other surprises in store?  
    — Numbers Racket

      A seasoned shopper on an online dating site doesn’t just wonder if everybody’s lying, he expects it. People will tell you right in their profile that honesty is extremely important to them — then sandwich that claim between more fudge than you can buy in one of those candy stores you see in the mall. And, because men and women have different hard-wired preferences for what they seek in a partner, they lie about different things. Men tend to lie about their height and income. Women are likely to lie about their age and weight.
     {mosimage} Deception has always played a big part in romantic marketing. Mascara is a lie. Wearing a slimming color is a lie. Frankly, deodorant is a lie, but let’s hope the masses continue to embrace olfactory dishonesty. Online, people can get away with much more. When they create their dating profile, they aren’t lying to somebody’s face, they’re lying on a resume they’re sending off into the ether. And, they aren’t doing it as themselves, but as GolfBeast or ChocolateLuvr89. So, you see “Husky dude with most of his hair and a quirky sense of adventure...” — instead of “Male-pattern-balding, out-of-shape weirdo, teetering between thoughts of suicide and mass murder, seeks model.”
      Many of these hyperbolists seem to forget that there’s going to be some point of reckoning. Or, they keep telling themselves they’re planning on losing the weight or rolling off the couch and looking for a job.
      As for Miss 42-and-counting, try to have a little compassion. Guys tend to go for younger or much-younger women, and guys on dating sites do searches with an age cutoff, which means she never gets the chance to be judged for her looks instead of her age. Regarding your worry that she might have “other surprises” in store, consider it a good sign that she confessed her real age after the first date. If you don’t think she’s too old for you, keep dating her, and see whether she seems inclined toward convenient dishonesty. There’s a good chance you’ve heard the worst of it.
      (c)2008, Amy Alkon, all rights reserved.

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      Over the past year, controversy has swirled over the Myrtle Beach Spring Rally. The City of Myrtle Beach has enacted new laws and regulations that seek to limit the activities of the bikers including a new helmet law. The city has made it plain that they do not welcome the idea of the Spring Rally, but its voice seems to be falling on deaf ears.
      Last week the Carolina’s Harley Davidson Dealers Association announced that it will hold its spring rally May 15-16 in New Bern.
      “This new venue will allow us to get back to basics and offer our existing and new customers a rally experience they will appreciate without restrictions and with the ability to enjoy the freedom of riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle,” said Mark Cox, the association president.
      {mosimage}With all eyes focused on New Bern, the city’s officials have thrown a warning flag.
      Tom Bayliss III, the mayor of New Bern, said that he was told the dealer rally will draw less than 4,000 “older people” and their families to the historic port city. The current plan calls for the rally to be set up outside the city limits at the fairgrounds. Bayliss said that an influx of thousands of bikers, the number that usually hit the Grand Strand during Bike Week, would not be welcome or easily accommodated in the smaller locale.
      “We couldn’t handle it. There’s no way in the world,” said Bayliss, who is also a rider.
      He pointed out that the city lacks the sheer number of hotels needed to accomodate the influx and the entertainment venues needed to enterain the attendees. Unlike Myrtle Beach, which is a resort town geared toward providing entertainment to its guest, New Bern is more of a sleepy coastal town. It’s historic streets are not known for the wildness that usually ensues at bike week.
      It is that rowdiness that has led to the restrictions by the Myrtle Beach government. Last year a Coastal Carolina University student was killed during one of the many rallies that occurred at the beach in a dispute over a parking space.
      While many of the Carolina’s bike enthusiasts are still planning on making the trek to Myrtle Beach, city officials breathed a sigh of relief following the announcement by the association.
      “The issue for the city has been that we’ve had two or three … back to back motorcycle events that occupied 20 straight days and that’s too much. So, we’re not going to be in the rally business in May,” Mark Kruea, a city spokesman said.
      Earlier this year, the city and its chamber of commerce lauched a Web site stating that bike rallies were over in the city. It remains to be seen whether bikers will honor the city’s wishes or not. The question to be answered locally is: When May rolls around, where will you be?
      Please send your comments and feedback on the issue to editor@upandcomingweekly.com

  • Details
      I thought it would be somewhat comical to send our regular movie reviewer Heather Griffiths to review the Jonas Brothers movie. But, as Heather is more at home with slasher flicks than boy bands, I started to rethink my plan. Then, as I thought back to the terror she had at merely being in the same multiplex with all of the die hard Hannah Montana fans, I decided it would probably not only be cruel, but downright mean to ask her to review this movie.
     {mosimage} So, since my 8-year-old son thinks he is one of the Jonas Brothers, and since their latest CD now holds slot number 5 in my car’s CD changer and since I will admit it I can now sing along with the CD, I decided to take one for the team (and get cool points with my son) and take in the flick.
      I’ll be up front. If you are over the age of 13, you’re going to want to run screaming into the night after the first five minutes of the movie. If you are between the ages of 8 and 13, you are going to be in a state of bliss that can only be compared to an ice-cream induced coma. If you’re in that target age group, you’re gonna love this movie. (Parents: You’re going to have to endure it. I suggest meditating before going.)
      The Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience is exactly what the title says. It’s outtakes of the brothers’ latest concert tour. You see them getting their 4 a.m. wake-up call, and being kept in line by their bodyguard/rapper. You see Joe, the cute Jonas Brother, and also the player of the three, chatting up the chicks and inciting little girls to frantic screams. (Hey Joe Jonas, I’m still mad because you dumped Taylor Swift via a text message. Swift, by the way has a cameo in the movie.)
      You see Nick and Kevin (the curley-haired Jonas Brothers) hitting some hot licks on their guitars. And, there’s even some 3D effects. You would think with the movie being made by Disney the effects would be awesome. Think again. There’s only so many times a guitar pick can be shot at you before it becomes old. But hey, the kids loved it.
      The movie wasn’t made with cynical adults, looking for deep storylines or intricate characters. It was made for the kids who have sent these three guys zooming to the top of the pop charts. It is in the same vein as the recent Myley Cyrus movie and even the High School Musical machine.
      For the adults though, some of you may take exception to the movie’s awkward attempt to put the brothers in the same light as the Beatles. You’ll see what I’m talking about if you watch the movie (or even look at the movie poster), but they’re just kids. Don’t run out and protest or burn their records.
      It’s innocent. It’s harmless, and the brothers try to set a good example by sporting their abstinence rings and by being very up front about their views on teen sex. (This earns them some hard knocks from comedians, but I say good for you Jonas Brothers.)
      So for those reasons, I would sit through the movie again, and yes, when it comes out on DVD, I’ll probably be coerced into buying it. There are worse things I could do.

  • Details
      Luck, leprechauns and lots of beer.
      That’s what many Americans think of when considering March’s best known and best loved holiday— St. Patrick’s Day. We don green to avoid pinches or perhaps eat a slice of corned beef — slight nods to the Irish on a day that is, for most of us, little more than an excuse to drink green beer.
      But if you sit down with an Irishman and talk about St. Paddy’s Day (not Patty’s, by the way, as there is no such name in Ireland) you might find that luck and leprechauns don’t have a lot to do with a day that is more about faith and friends than four-leaf clovers (which also do not exist in Ireland — shamrock is the preferred term).
      {mosimage}Such was my discovery when I sat down with one of Fayetteville’s best-loved entertainers, Paddy Gibney. Gibney is the owner of Paddy’s Irish Public House on Raeford Road. Though he originally hails from Dublin, Ireland, he has made Fayetteville his home since the ‘90s and has been entertaining audiences with Irish folk music almost as long.
      When passing by Paddy’s, it’s almost impossible to miss the bright green sign. While many bars in the Fayetteville area appeal to customers by advertising $2 drink specials or football on every channel, Paddy’s pub takes a different approach. In fact, their message is not about luring people in, it’s about keeping people out. The current message reads, “No Wankers” and if you do happen to find football on any of the TVs, it will be the English version.
      The sign was my first clue that the Irish go about the business of entertaining, and perhaps life in general, with a refreshing air of authenticity. And when it comes to the celebration of the Irish holy day, St. Patrick’s Day, that authenticity is expressed in ways most Americans completely overlook.
    Gibney embodies this authenticity in his personal and public life. A man of faith, Gibney will begin March 17th by attending mass. He’ll end the day at his bar. To some, this might seem a contradiction. While he admits that some of his most popular songs are not for the “faint-hearted” he also professes that he thinks that if Jesus were to visit Fayetteville, Paddy’s pub would be the kind of place Christ might like to visit, and if he did, Paddy hopes that he’d feel welcome. Religious commentary might not be what you would expect to find in a bar, but in Gibney’s words, “faith and religion are not the same thing.”
      Gibney lives out his faith in the way authentic faith ought to be demonstrated — quietly. While most of  Gibney’s fans might assume that this talented entertainer and his musical partner, violinist Bill Ayerbe, would have plans to party into the wee hours on St. Paddy’s night,  what they might not realize is that these musicians have plans to serve in several places in the community during the earlier hours of St. Patrick’s Day. Paddy and Bill will spend the morning teaching elementary school students about St. Patrick and the afternoon entertaining the elderly at Village Green Retirement Community.
    But you won’t hear Paddy and Bill singing their own praises for their good works later that evening. Though the talented duo have plans to perform at 5, 7, 9 and 11 p.m. at Paddy’s pub, their songs will be sung to entertain the crowd, not draw attention to themselves.
      In addition to entertaining throughout the evening, Gibney will be serving corned beef and cabbage to his customers, a meal that he says he rarely ate in Ireland, but is symbolic of the Irishman’s struggle to survive in this country. Clearly, Gibney’s success is proof that the Irish have not just survived but thrived, and have a thing or to to teach us — not about leprechauns but about the struggle for peace and prosperity — a struggle that both Irish-Americans and native Irish know all too well... And about learning to appreciate what we’ve been given.
      And that’s what “No Wankers” is really all about. Paddy welcomes all people from all walks of life into his bar, on St. Paddy’s Day or any time of year, but desires that his customers show courtesy and appreciation to one another, the staff, the musicians and themselves. Those who cannot comply, need not enter.
      So if you’re looking for a place to show off that green on St. Paddy’s Day — and you have an appreciation for good music, genuine people and, yes, lots of beer — then Paddy’s is the place to be.

  • Details
      God City Artist is the name of a growing collective group of African-American artists from Charlotte. The artists formed God City in 2005 due to their appreciation of art and hip-hop culture. The group, which exhibits extensively in the region, opened with an exhibit in Rosenthal Gallery on the campus of Fayetteville State University during the month of February.
      The exhibit, God City Artist, will remain in Rosenthal Gallery until March 20, 2009 and includes work by the following artists: Antoine “Raw” Williams, Donovan Lyons, de` Angelo Dia.15.18, John Hairston Jr., Tamika Elise and Jen Woods. 
      {mosimage}The exhibit is a colorful collection of paintings and prints. The works submitted by each artist contributes to a collective body of work that is unified, each work complimenting one another in addition to their own individuality.
      The art of Williams is mainly composed of mixed media that includes spray paint. Prophet vs. Profit and His-Story are two 48” x 30” paintings that greet the viewer. These two works set the tone for his style. 
      Prophet vs. Profitis a painting of a male in front of a yellow and white background accompanied by graffiti stencils of smiling faces at the top and stenciled bug shapes at the bottom. The bright colors in his work compliments his subject; while the graffiti stencils balance the composition and create spatial tension.
      His-Story shows another male, illustrated in pencil, wearing headphones with a blue background, white paint splattered around him. The white tone of the splatters is an important element in the work and creates an overall pattern of harmony.
      Donovan Lyons is exhibiting two political-oriented paintings. Black Ties: Bushed and Black Ties: Obama 365. The latter shows President Barack Obama in a yellowish outline, three-quarter view, in front of a map of the United States. The many variations of blue in this painting are visually stimulating. Yet the painting is flattened; the outline around him does little to bring Obama towards the viewer. Obama’s center position in the composition directs the focus of the painting.   
      Dia.15.18 collaborated with Woods and Elise for three mixed-media works on canvas. The painting titled Gravity is Dead You See…is abstract and emphasizes circles without being overly repetitious. The color choice is mostly bright colors with limited tones of black. The colors evoke movement due to their many directions in the same work. 
      The God City Artist exhibit would not be complete without Hairston and his series titled My Favorite Ladies. The series is composed of five 48” x 60” paintings of women he has dated. In the work titled Incense, Blogs, and Conscious: Rap Lyrics Can Only Bring So Much Change, he shows an African-American female donning an afro-puffed hairstyle. In her hand, it appears she is holding a Molotov cocktail.
      Hairston paints detail in most of the female forms; however, from the waist down, the figure is clearly incomplete. Shown only as heavy strokes, the female’s legs are easily an eyesore, disrupting the flow of the figure in its environment.  
      In the painting titled Being for the Benefit of Mr. Green, a green-colored female has a spray paint can in her right hand. The lady stands in front of a background partly composed of a darker green. Hairston uses color to move the figure spatially closer to the viewer from the background. The background itself holds its own interest with a variation of line making marks across the surface.
      Although Hairston’s series has its painterly flaws; the females depicted in the series have enough detail to make a near complete set that is pleasurable to view.
      The artists have achieved their goals of inspiring change through unity and challenging the viewer. The beauty of God City is that each artist presents us with their own voice and way of expressing harmony. Their use of graffiti elements in the different works unifies the exhibit and moves the viewer from work to work. 
      Rosenthal Gallery, on the campus of Fayetteville State University. The exhibit is free to the public. For information call (910) 672-1057.

  • Details
      There is something distinct and almost Norman Rockwell-ish about the Hamont Grill and Steakhouse. Maybe it is the worn linoleum floor that has seen repeat customers, out-of-towners and GIs passing through over the years. Perhaps it is the paisley vinyl on booth benches, where families, business associates and young couples have broken bread together. Maybe it’s the wall by the cash register where pictures, certificates of appreciation, and newspaper articles collected over the years are displayed.
     {mosimage} Surely, all of these things are part of the charm that makes up the old time diner atmosphere; however, the people who frequent the establishment also help to make the down-home scene complete.
      On the day I visited there was a toddler having lunch with his “mimi,” while a few seats away two older ladies lunched and chatted animatedly with a middle-aged man at their table. A group of what seemed to be business associates huddled over a nearby table working out what seemed to be very serious business plans.
      My favorite was the customer who yelled to the chef “Your onion rings are horrible!” as she grinned at the waitress, handed her an empty plate and wiped her mouth with a napkin. Noticing my dismay, she said with a wave of her hand, “I’ve known him forever. I can say that. Actually, they are quite delicious... You should try them.”
      I didn’t make it to the onion rings this time, although they are on my list. Instead, I treated myself to a glass of water, Greek salad, a gyro with fries and a piece of Baklava for dessert. The salad was all that I was hoping for: lettuce, onion, kalamata olives and a ton of feta cheese with a brightly flavorful vinaigrette dressing. My gyro was a toasty warm piece of pita bread, open-faced on the plate with seasoned meat, lettuce and a few tomato slices. The creamy white tziziki sauce was in a separate small bowl. I happily spread the sauce on the bread, piled on veggies, folded the pita in half and treated myself to the medley of flavors that blends so well. The fries were crispy on the outside and feather-soft inside, not too greasy — just perfect for dunking into the puddle of ketchup on the side of my plate. The baklava was the perfect ending to my meal. The layers of paper-thin dough layered with nuts crunched delightfully when I bit down and a drop of honey dribbled onto my chin sending me reaching for my napkin.
      If the food was exactly what I was hoping for, the service only enhanced my experience. The waitresses were fast and friendly and seemed intent on serving their customers good food, giving them a cheerful smile and keeping their beverage glasses full. I am sure that it can be hard to find that balance between providing good service and being a bother to your customers, but the waitresses at the Hamont Grill have it down to a science.
      Even if you are not a fan of Greek food, don’t let that stop you from giving this gem of an eatery a try. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and offer a wide selection of food choices at decent prices. My entrée cost $8.99 and left me feeling full and completely satisfied. I was in and out in well under an hour, well-fed, well-served and ready to finish up my day.

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      As the Crape Myrtles begin to bloom, thoughts turn toward spring and the great outdoors. Every spring, I try to learn a new sport, from canoeing to rock wall climbing, I have tried everything and this year will be no different. This year, I have decided to tackle the somewhat illusive sport of golf. I will do this with the help of the PGA Golf Professionals at Stryker and Ryder Golf Courses.
      {mosimage}Golf has been a favorite past-time in America for years and its not surprising that it is a multibillion dollar a year business. Golf is a fun way to network, socialize and simply enjoy a great day outside. My husband has been golfing for a good portion of his life. He enjoys it immensely but for me it just seems so impossible to learn. This year I have two great mentors and their staff willing to help me overcome my fear of looking stupid — hopefully without tearing up the greens in the process. The PGA Golf Professionals at Stryker and Ryder Golf courses are working hard this year at the Spring Golf Clinics to train everyone from amateurs, like myself, to more advanced skill levels, the wonderful game of golf.
      With the help of the Spring Golf Clinics I will finally be able to grasp the game of golf. The clinics are available to all military and government identification cardholders 18 and older, both men and women, The clinics include unlimited range balls and instruction by a PGA golf professional and a knowledgeable staff. Classes are small and fill up fast, so early registration is encouraged.
      Robert Taylor is the golf pro at Ryder which is a beautiful golf course set among tall Carolina pines and rolling hills. Ryder has several water holes, which come into play. The greens are small and undulating. The fairways are tree-lined and hilly. The bunkers are well positioned and, at times, deep. While not long in length, Ryder is very challenging for all skill levels. Jeff Johnson is the PGA professional for Stryker, which was designed by Donald Ross and features a large clubhouse, a well-stocked golf shop and new locker rooms. This state of the art facility is sure to please even the biggest critics of golf.   Both facilities offer a pro shop and a very knowledgeable staff answer all of your questions.
      The main reason I go to Stryker and Ryder is the staff. The staff does everything they can to make me feel comfortable when I visit. They take time to break things down into terms I will understand. That’s why Stryker and Ryder Golf Courses are my (and my husband’s) “First Choice.”

  • Details
      If you’re a Gone with the Wind buff or simply enjoy a good story,  you’ll want to be present for Sanford’s Temple Theatre presentation of Ron Hutchinson’s Moonlight and Magnolias from March 12 through March 29.
      “The production is a true story based on the making of the epic movie Gone with the Wind,”  said Peggy Taphorn, producing artistic director of Temple Theatre. “It is really funny comedy and has a lot of dramatic moments.”
      {mosimage}Taphorn added that there are references to the racism in Hollywood that was going on at this particular time.        
      Moonlight and Magnolias is set in  1939 and legendary producer David Selznick is frustrated with an unworkable script and has shut down production of his new epic Gone with the Wind. Desperate to make this film work, he sends for famed screenwriter Ben Hecht and director Victor Fleming. Selznick locks himself, Hecht and Fleming away for five days with nothing but peanuts and bananas to fuel them until the ailing script is restored. The show follows the trio as they create the blueprint for one of the most successful and beloved films of all time. 
      The cast members are Michael Brocki, who plays David Selznick; Tim Brosnan as Ben Hecht; David McClutchey plays Victor Fleming; and Peggy Taphorn will play Miss Poppenghul, Selznick’s secretary.   
      The Temple Theatre is a nonprofit cultural center for Lee County and the surrounding region offering professional and children’s theater to the area as well as touring groups and special events. The theater produces eight MainStage and four Black Box productions per season ranging from musicals to dramas.  It is an intimate setting that consists of 333 seats, an advanced communication network, a computer controlled lighting and sound system and an old-fashioned orchestra pit.      
      The Temple Theatre is located at 120 Carthage St. in historic downtown Sanford. Tickets are $20 for adults, $16 on Thursday nights and $10 for students. There is a discount for the military and Lee County educators. The theater is equipped with an assisted listening system and is accessible to people with disabilities. For more information call (919) 774-4155. 

  • Details
      Residents of Cumberland and Robeson counties are in for a treat as the Cumberland Oratorio Singers, along with the Fayetteville Symphonic Band and the Methodist University choirs, hit the road March 20-21.
      The group, under the direction of Michael Martin, the director of choral activities and music education at Methodist as well as the Oratorio, will perform one concert at Methodist University and one at Robeson Community College. The concerts will feature Vincent Persichetti’s Celebrations. The concert at Methodist on March 20 will be held in Reeves Auditorium. The Robeson Community College concert will be held in the A.D. Lewis Auditorium on March 21. Both performances begin at 7:30 p.m.
      A special highlight of this concert will be George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue featuring Dr. Scott Marosek, music professor of piano studies at Methodist. Accompanying Marosek will be the Fayetteville Symphonic Band. The band is a community instrumental group consisting of both student and adult musicians from throughout the region. Currently, the band consists of approximately 65 musicians, and is open to all interested wind, brass, and percussion players and is conducted by Dr. Larry Wells, Director of Instrumental Studies at Methodist University.

  • Details
      Mark your calendar for Friday, March 20, if you’re in the market for love.
      Or rather, Love, Sweet Love.
      The play Love, Sweet Love — produced and directed by Cassandra Vallery — will be at Highland Country Club and marks the 12th Annual Evening at the Theater … the chief fundraiser for Cumberland County-based nonprofit healthcare provider Better Health.
      “We’ve been receiving a good number of donations despite the poor economy,” said Judy Klinck, executive director for Better Health. “But there is still an urgent need for funds to help us provide our services for the community.”
      Better Health was founded in 1958 by a group of citizens who were concerned that the indigent could not afford their medications. From that simple starting point Better Health has bridged the gap in healthcare for 50 years.
      Better Health became a United Way agency in 1959 and was incorporated in 1991 as a nonprofit organization under federal law 501(c)3. The agency expanded to become a full time, full service agency governed by a volunteer board of directors.
      Among the many service sit provides:
    •Prescription medications;
    •Vision exams/eyeglasses;
    •Emergency dental extractions;
    •Orthotics & prosthetics;
    •Medical supplies;
    •Medical equipment;
    •Gas assistance to out-of-town medical appointments;
    •Diabetes monitoring clinics with education session;
    •Glucometer training;
    •Exercise classes for diabetics;
    •Diabetes and blood pressure screening;
    •Diabetes supplies;
    •Foot care clinics;
    •Vision screening for eye disease.
      “We were founded in 1958 to help the poor who left the hospitals and couldn’t afford follow-up care or medical supplies,” said Klinck. “Unfortunately, there’s still a great need for our services here in Cumberland County.”
      Klinck says the production of Love, Sweet Love was a resounding success last year, drawing about 250 theater-goers. This year’s show, which kicks off at 7:30 p.m., will include hors d’oeuvres, spirits and “festive sweets,” as well as some familiar faces.
      “The same local cast has performed Love, Sweet Love the past several years,” said Klinck. “They’re very talented and very enthusiastic and do a great job.”
      For more information about the 12th Annual Evening at the Theater, call 483-7534, or check out the Web site, www.betterhealthcc.org.

  • Details
      Kevin Summers has accomplished a lot in the past few months. He’s opened not one, but two successful restaurants. He’s held one grand slam Halloween event, and now he’s pulling out all the stops to open the 2009 season at the Sol Rose Amphitheatre in a style that he thinks would make Rose proud.
      “I think Sol Rose would be very pleased with our plans for the season. I’ve talked to people who knew him well, and knew what he was doing down here and they say he would be really happy to see what we are doing,” said Summers.
      Hoping to kick the concert season off in style, Summers and friends are hoping to start an annual tradition with the first annual Shamrockin’ St. Patrick’s Day celebration at Campbellton Landing on Saturday, March 14.
      “I really wanted to have a fun first event to kick of the season,” said Summers. “From what I understand there hasn’t been a big St. Paddy’s Day celebration in town since Bennigan’s closed. So we’re hoping to take advantage of the first taste of spring fever that everybody’s getting, incorporate it with good food, music and Guinness and have a great party.”
     {mosimage} The idea for Shamrockin! came from within the Up & Coming Weekly family. Kidsville News! Editor Joy Kirkpatrick first suggested the idea for the event to Summers long before Christmas. After discussions with Up & Coming Weekly’sPublisher Bill Bowman, the event started coming together.
      “This is the kind of event our community wants and needs. Up & Coming Weekly is proud to be a part of,” said Bowman. “This music, food and fun ‘gathering at the river’ is the type of entertainment venue that uplifts the entire Cumberland County community. We are proud to be the host sponsor for the event along with our friends Healy Wholesale and Pepsi. We are also excited about the valuable media partnership that has been formed by Kevin and Campbellton Landing with Q-98 and Rock 103, which will really help to bring this event to life. Fayetteville and Cumberland County deserves this concert.   When business works together we can do some really great things in the community. We will support this effort throughout the year.”
      While this event is open only those who are 21 or older, Summers said that wouldn’t always be the case.
      “We have 15 to 20 events planned for the season, with an eye to eventually having 25 to 30 events each year, and most of those events will be family events,” he said. “But this one is not.”
      Shamrockin’ will feature the music of The Breakfast Club, a perennial favorite at Fayetteville After Five. For those not in the know, The Breakfast Club is the longest established ‘80s music tribute band in the United States. The band, formed in 1993, plays some of the greatest songs of the ‘80s and usually has the crowd on its feet.
      Performing with The Breakfast Club will be a local favorite DL Token. It wouldn’t be a St. Patrick’s Day party without some Irish music, so Summers has managed to lure Paddy Gibney away from Paddy’s for a set.
      “It’s going to be an absolute blast,” said Summers. “We’re going to have a lot of different food, beer, wine, a margarita station, a Red Bull and vodka station — a little something for everyone’s taste.”
      The food will be typical outdoor stadium fare — ranging from hamburgers and hot dogs and other nibbles. If you want a little more for dinner, Locks Creek and The Riverside Grill will be open so you can grab a bit before or during the event.
      Summers hopes people will get in the spirit of the day and wear green, after all, on St. Patrick’s Day everybody’s got a little Irish in them.
      With the hopeful success of the event, Summers is already looking at upcoming events. In May, the Cape Fear Regional Theatre will take over the amphitheatre for its annual River Show. This is the 25th anniversary of the River Show and the CFRT is pulling out all of the stops. Encore will be a look back at all of the shows that have made the event so successful. The event is slated for May 15-24.
      In the coming months you can expect to see some other great events like a beach music festival, a wine event, a world beer festival, concerts by some up and coming acts and some concerts by some acts that are in their second run.
      “Look for the kind of performances that you could expect to see in an intimate venue designed for 2-3,000 people,” said Summers.
      But while you’re thinking about the upcoming events, don’t forget Shamrockin’. The event will kick off at 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, and run until 11 p.m. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at Lock’s Creek or The Riverside Grill or online at Campbelltonlanding.com. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the gate. There is a 10 percent military discount; however, those tickets can only be purchased at Locks Creek or The Riverside Grill. For more information, check out the ad on the back page of this edition or visit www.campbelltonlanding.com.

  • Details
    Imagine being selected as one of the best two players of all time in a major university athletic program that has existed more than 100 years.
    That is the honor bestowed upon Fayetteville’s Chris Cammack. The Fayetteville High School graduate and retired local businessman joins college roommate Mike Caldwell and their coach, Sam Esposito, in comprising the inaugural class of the brand-new N.C. State Baseball Hall of Fame.
    {mosimage}The trio was recognized at halftime of the Florida State-N.C. State football game at Carter-Finley Stadium in October. Induction ceremonies will be held prior to a Wolfpack home baseball game later this season. Plaques of Cammack, Caldwell and Esposito will be mounted at the main gate to Doak Field, home of the Pack baseball team.
    “I’m obviously flattered,” Cammack said of his Hall of Fame selection, “especially being one of only two players in the first class. Going in with Mike … well, that’s just the best. That is really special.”
    Cammack and Caldwell roomed together all four of their years at N.C. State, and they were coached all four years by Esposito, who had a 10-year career as a major leaguer. As freshmen, Cammack and Caldwell led the 1968 Wolfpack to its only College World Series appearance in school history.
    “That season is my fondest memory,” Cammack said. “Nothing has ever surpassed that year. It was magical. We weren’t expected to do much; talent-wise, we were about the fourth-best team in the Atlantic Coast Conference. We had to win the regular-season conference championship to go to the regionals, and we did that on the last day of the season. We ended up coming in third in the World Series.”
    Cammack, a third baseman, batted .351 and drove in 19 runs as a freshman. For an encore, he set a State record which still stands by hitting .429 as he led the ACC in batting and with a .500 on-base percentage. He was named the ACC Player of the Year for his efforts.
    A career .362 hitter, he was a four-time All-ACC first-team selection, one of only four players in conference history to be accorded that honor. Making it more meaningful is the fact that, in those days, voting for the all-conference baseball team was done by the league’s players. Being chosen by one’s peers is the ultimate honor.
    Cammack was named an All-American his first two years and should have been selected as a senior, when he batted an ACC-leading .381 with four home runs and 20 runs batted in, both career highs. He felt it was his best all-around season, one in which he finished second in ACC Player of the Year voting to Caldwell, his roomie.
    The two remain extremely close.
    “He has been my best friend all these years,” Cammack said. “Actually, most of us from that 1968 team are close. We stay in touch with e-mails and phone calls. We had a 40-year reunion at State last year, and all but two players from the team w“Mike and I have talked about this (the HOF induction), and it means more to us than anything. It’s not just the Hall of Fame, but being the first two players chosen. (Current State baseball coach) Elliott Avent told us the vote of the committee was unanimous. They took a lot of time and looked at the statistics of players from way back.”
    Surprisingly, Cammack never played professional baseball. He was drafted by the Washington Senators out of high school, was picked by the Philadelphia Phillies in the winter draft during his junior year at N.C. State and was taken by the Baltimore Orioles in the spring draft following his junior season.
    “I was not going to sign early,” he said. “I had told my parents that I would finish college. I went to college to get my degree, and I got my degree. That’s what people did back then.
    “After I graduated, I was ready to sign. I talked with Washington again, and they had me over a barrel. I had no bargaining power. Their offer was not what I thought it should be, not after the year I had just had for State. So I didn’t sign.
    “I had always wanted to play major league baseball, but when it was over, it was over. I have no regrets. I have had a good life. I am blessed.”
    Cammack made his mark in basketball at Fayetteville High School. He scored 23 points in the North Carolina 4-A championship game in 1966, helping the Bulldogs and Coach Len Maness to their second straight state title. He was inducted into the Fayetteville Sports Club Hall of Fame in 2007.
    A retired independent insurance agent, Cammack operated his own business the last 15 years of his career. He still lives in Fayetteville.

  • Details
      March may very well be the beginning of the 2009 party season. From St. Patrick’s Day parties to the impending Dogwood Festival, this month has a little something to offer everyone. For lovers of art and music, the Fayetteville Museum of Art is planning a party that will definitely make its mark.
      On Thursday, March 13, the museum will host the premier party for its new exhibition: Raw Identity. The exhibit, which features the works of Harry McDaniel, J.J. Ohlinger and Doug VandeZande, focuses on the deconstruction of traditional portraiture to reveal the raw identity beneath.
    McDaniel, a sculptor from Asheville, explains that his work is “diverse in materials, style, technique and content.”
      {mosimage}In his artist statement, he notes, “It is difficult to explain the diversity, except to say that I love to experiment and I am drawn to new challenges. I work with wood, metals, cement, plastics, and found objects. Some of the threads that tie my work together are humor, a fascination with curves, motion (or implied motion), and an interest in the human condition. My sculptures can roughly be divided into two parts — decorative works and social commentary.”
    His decorative works include freestanding sculptures, wall pieces and mobiles, which range in size from tabletop pieces to 55’ long mobiles. The works are curvy, abstract, distorted geometric forms.
      “A significant amount of my artwork has included the human figure in one form or another. My work has included life-size figures, portions of figures and installations using mannequins,” he said. “I find something particularly compelling in life-size human figures. They tend to create a strong presence in a room regardless of the style or material. We are ‘programmed’ (psychologically if not biologically) to relate to the human form in certain ways. When a viewer encounters a figurative sculpture he brings a certain familiarity which at least for a moment, allows him to feel a likeness to the sculpture. The viewer also feels his difference of course, and from this contradiction he must draw some meaning.”
      Ohlinger,  a native of Nebraska, and VandeZande focuses on the human form as well. Both are celebrated artists who have shown throughout the United States.
      The artwork will be complemented by the music’s of the Chapel Hill folk duo Birds and Arrows. The husband and wife team comprised of Pete and Andrea Connolly offers a new twist on folk music.
      Their work thrives on “the relationship’s intimacy, spinning songs from domestic images like the blue flickering flame of a gas burner and the trove of persistent memories that remain like love’s kindling.”
      The party begins at 6 p.m. at the museum, and offers ligh hors d’oeuvres and bar beverages. A gallery talk with the artists will begin at 7 p.m. The party is free and open to the public.

  • Details

      Tanking stock markets, home foreclosures and rising unemployment aside, we Americans cannot seem to get enough of things Obama.
      We have learned about our president’s penchant for scrimmage basketball and his ironclad attachment to his Blackberry — the current version having been put on security steroids by an ultra cautious Secret Service.
      We can hardly wait to see what the First Lady is wearing. The unveiling of her official portrait in a sleeveless dress and ladylike pearls generated a national debate over the propriety of bare limbs in the White House. I am old enough to remember that Jacqueline Kennedy was also fond of the sleeveless look.
      Then there are the little girls, Malia and Sasha, whose inaugural outfits upped the stock price of the company who made them.
    It seems, though, that the First Parents are firmly set on making their daughters’ routines and daily lives “normal.”   
      Being fascinated by all things Obama myself, I devour every article on life in the White House I can find, and there are plenty. Recent ones have reported that the First Lady has given instructions to the White House staff that the girls are to make their own beds. Bedtime is 8 p.m. sharp, and they must set their own alarm clocks and get themselves up and dressed for school on time. What’s more, when the First Mutt finally arrives, it will be Malia and Sasha strolling him on the grounds, rain or shine, with the requisite plastic bags at the ready in their pockets. The president and First Lady are presumed to be nowhere in sight. If what my children refer to as “parental units” are not available, their maternal grandmother is living in to make sure the girls’ lives are just so.
      All of this reading made me think of my own childhood in Fayetteville. I know my sister and I had household responsibilities, although I am a bit hazy on exactly what they were. The one I do remember well was taking care of my dog, Angel, a Pekingese I received for my ninth birthday. This involved feeding him and keeping him clean, a task which was much harder in pre-leash law days when dogs roamed the neighborhood just the way the children did, sometimes with us, sometimes on their own.
      {mosimage}Anyone who thinks a Pekingese is a Paris Hilton, teacup sort of pet has never known one. Ten pound Angel was the leader of a pack of neighborhood pooches which included Dalmatians, Weimaraners and a hefty German shepherd. Angel was simply oblivious to the fact that he looked like a girlie dog, and he was always dirty and matted.
      Angel’s personal hygiene was complicated by the fact that a 9-year-old was not only not particularly interested in washing and brushing him, but not very good at it either. My patient mother and I had many “discussions” on this topic and Angel had many less than sparkling clean days; eventually, I got the idea that he was my dog and my responsibility.
      I also recall that my sister and I had set bedtimes, because I cheated on this regularly. I was an under-the-covers-with-a-flashlight reader and I learned to sense when my mother was coming down the hall. In retrospect, she and my father probably chuckled over my bad habit, but she always confiscated that flashlight and I always found it the next day.
      All of this reminiscing made me ponder the critical importance of routine and structure in the lives of young children. As much as I procrastinated about washing and brushing Angel, and even worse cutting the mats out of his soft under hair, I learned that having a pet is more than just snuggling with him and giving him a biscuit. And as much as I wanted to read one more chapter, I was secretly relieved some nights when my mother made that decision for me and I could drift safely off to sleep.
      A friend has taken in foster children for years. Many of these children arrive in her home having had both difficult family situations and next to no structure in their young lives. They are shocked to their little cores when my friend announces “homework before anything else” and pulls the plug on television, video games, computers and the like to meet the assigned bath and bed times. Some newcomers rebel, even kick and scream, but every single one of the children she has fostered has adapted and thrived in the daily structure of her household for the duration of their stays.
      Malia and Sasha strike me as smart little cookies, and I suspect they are going to read with flashlights, fudge on the pooper scooping, and otherwise push their limits — not to mention their parents’ tolerance levels in ways we will never know.
      I salute and admire their parents for keeping the lights low in the White House fish bowl and for striving for normalcy, whatever that is in any American family.
      They will not be sorry, and neither will their beautiful girls.

    Contact Margaret Dickson at editor@upandcomingweekly.com 

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